Solstice Greetings

Solstice Greetings

When I was a little girl, I attended a Catholic school with nuns in long black habits.  They were mysterious and intriguing.  The story I was told about them contained total devotion and purity.   Every day they encouraged us to be the same.  At Christmas time we made "spiritual bouquets" to give as gifts to our parents.  These contained pledges to complete spiritual and charitable tasks.  We were also encouraged to take on some personal self-improvement or prayer practices to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ-child. 

Here is a photo from my 1st grade year at Christmas.  I can't believe I found this! 

The activities and stories of my childhood are so ingrained in me and in the culture that I still think about those spiritual bouquets and pledges to better myself in preparation for the return of the light.  I have a little plan for myself about what I will take on to clear out more of my internal clutter and ask myself, "What can I do to hold more light?" 

This year is no different and I have a commitment to complete some deep clearing work before Tuesday. 

I hear people complain about the Holidays: the commercialism, the busyness, the stress and yet, I wonder how many people also have something else going on, something meaningful and maybe even transformative.  Perhaps something so personal and private that it is not shared often.  Are most of us thinking about prayers for other people in our lives and taking time for that "spiritual bouquet", or maybe focusing on charity to others in our community but doing this quietly without fanfare, or maybe taking on some big personal issue and working to clear it out and make ourselves better for the world?  Is kind of stuff happening but just not getting any press?  not part of the small talk at parties? 

Tell me friends, what is going on?