  Spiritual
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about how the holiday season(s) can inspire our spiritual writing.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred. 
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The Most Inspirational Time of the Year
If the month of December is not the "most inspirational" time of the year, it is certainly right there near the top because of the many holiday celebrations observed by several religious and spiritual traditions at this time of year. Of course we can't help but notice the Christian celebration of Christmas in December because all of the decorations and music we have been seeing and hearing since before Halloween  . But there are other spiritual observances are observed by a variety of people of faith during these weeks at the end of the calendar year.
For example, Pagans celebrate Winter Solstice on or around December 21. Solstice is seen as a sign that the sun will soon be returning to rule the darkness, since after the longest night on December 21/22, the sun begins its long journey back to us after a long, cold, dark winter -- so there is much reason to celebrate. And this week people of Jewish faith are observing Hanukkah, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE after it had been desecrated by the Syrian King. (After the Jews returned to Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple, they held a service of rededication – but there was only enough oil in the lamp to last one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days, long enough for them to replenish their supply.)
Kwanzaa celebrations also occur during December and, though not religious, are a growing tradition among African Americans. Kwanzaa centers on the Nguzo Saba, seven principles of black culture developed in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Pan-African studies and black cultural leader in the United States. These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each evening, families and communities light one of the seven candles in a kinara and discuss the day's principle.
Some of these holidays are considered to be among the most sacred within their traditions, not only from a religious standpoint, but also because of the time spent with loved ones, often involving the giving and receiving of gifts to and from family and friends. Special music is enjoyed, as is wonderful food, games, and many other unique traditions that are practiced only at this time of the year. All of which create great fodder for our spiritual writing.
Perhaps one could write from a spiritual standpoint about a family gathering -- it could be a happy one, or one that is difficult because of a recent tragedy -- or both. For instance, I remember the first Christmas my family experienced a short two months after my father died, which provided me with numerous opportunities for spiritual writing (blogging, poetry, essays, story) which included a wide variety of emotion and experience, including grief, of course, but also humor and poignant moments.
Maybe one is spending the holidays alone for the first time and will be far away from family. You could write honestly about the loneliness that may be experienced as you face the challenge of a holiday that is traditionally "bursting at the seams" with people. You could write about the true meaning of the holiday season from your point of view -- or take on the challenge of writing about the same theme, but from a different perspective from your own in order to learn more about another tradition or religion. Or maybe write about memories of holidays from the past -- factual, fiction, or a mix of both -- that offers a spiritual message of hope. Get or give a unique gift one year -- write about that, and how it was received or what the experiencing of giving it meant to you.
The possibilities are endless -- for just as most, if not everything in life, has a spiritual component, the holidays often inspire even more ideas for writing opportunities for spiritual creations than usual.
Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season, whatever spiritual path you follow!
SophyBells |
Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members who wrote about their own personal memories or experiences during the holiday season. Perhaps they will inspire you to write something yourself. As always, please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Now for a few comments about my last newsletter about the Joy -- but first, one related to a previous newsletter on Compassion:
From n8ivgoddess
Compassion is something that I have rarely experienced in life. I have plenty of compassion for others going through rough spots in their life, but as far as compassion shown to me, well.. that goes without saying. This life is hard and can be cold, mean and so very ugly. Nobody knows this more than I do. Any chance I have to make someones' life even a wee bit better, I jump at. Perhaps if we all did just that, the world would be a far less brutal place.
Sorry to hear that you have not experienced much compassion in your life -- but am glad to hear that does not deter you from showing compassion to others. Perhaps that can be a sort of reward in and of itself?
            
From Zeke 
We have good friends who are raising two teenage sons. Each evening at dinner, they start out by describing something that had made them happy that day; no matter how small it was. That tradition causes them to focus on good things rather than only bad.
Zeke
What a wonderful tradition, thank you for sharing it with us!
From Katya the Poet
Ah, joy! It is so important, and, for some, so hard to find. Thank you for spending time with joy in this newsletter. I truly feel joyful lately, as there is so much to be thankful for. In joy, one can look kindly and compassionately on all, and find the strength to help others. Thank you, too, for including my poem!
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us! And thank you for connecting joy with compassion in such a lovely way.
From THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
Thanks for the newsletter about JOY, and for sharing your insights.
Anne Frank makes a reference to this in her diary - finding joy where one can, instead of dwelling on suffering.
Thanks also for including my story!
- Sonali
Thank you for the Anne Frank reference -- what an inspiration to us all that Anne Frank could find joy in her situation.
From pammierose
Hello Sophy, Excellent edition. I am a christian, but I know a truth, when Jesus walked the earth, he did NOT preach or teach religion, only love. Religion is man-made. I could not agree more with all of these comments and your words.
Really excellent job!
Glad you appreciated the comments, and thank you for sharing yours. Yes, it IS all about love, isn't it?
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!
Until next time! SophyBells |
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Spiritual: December 16, 2009 Issue [#3447]
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