Greetings my friends,
Life has been a lot lately dealing with my Mom, returning from Spain and planning for the holidays. Yet a guiding concept which was consistently reinforced during my return time was authenticity. As the days are getting shorter I am trying to take my cue from the Earth and slow down, let things lie fallow and let ideas percolate. For me as a follower of the Christos, this time is also a time of preparation, Advent. Two questions I am asking myself - Are how am I caring for myself and how I am preparing for the birthing of a new year, of a new unfolding of Christ with us.
During my time Spain for the most part we operated on dusk to dawn rhythm with dusk being the end of the day and the beginning of the new day; with dawn being the beginning of our daily work and play after a time of rest. I am trying to live this out a bit by participating in Morning and Evening Prayer at my church during the week, a midday painting practice and a time of listening guided by music.
Here are two poems for you to reflect on:
Holy Darkness Rises
Christ breathes in the womb
New life births inside us
The Earth turns
The rain falls
New possibilities emerge born of water and Spirit, of Earth and matter
We are here to create, to spread radical love
With Christ as the beginning an the End
She’s nothing but a shell caught between reality and anxiety
An occasional laugh or good story
But mostly carrying on her own soliquy of straightening and writing stuff down
We speak little
Nothing like our deep conservations of yesteryear - of mystics and mysteries, of sports and biographies, of current events and new recipes
Sometimes I have to repeat things and help her stay in the moment
As she drifts off to an unknown land
But a shadow of the mother I knew
Perhaps you are dealing with aging parents or other relatives or it is you who is experiencing the unexpected challenges of getting older. Please share your thoughts.
Consider giving a gift certificate for spiritual direction as a holiday gift or schedule a holiday break session for yourself during December or January for a special price of $30 and chance to play with assorted art materials.
Be well and thank you for being apart of the Mystic community.
Until next time,
Jennifer