Winter Solstice

Today at 17:11 (Universal Coordinated Time) the astronomical phenomenon of "winter solstice" will occur. This is the origin--the source--of all winter holidays/festivals, including Christmas. We in the northern hemisphere will experience the "shortest day, longest night" of the entire year. (naturally, in the southern hemisphere, the opposite is taking place) Because our ancestors realized their reliance and dependency on the sun, they chose to honor and pay homage to it; as we do today in the guise of Christmas. (Christ Mass) This is undisputed. Simply research the origins of Christmas and you will find that all symbols associated with Christmas are "pagan." (as is the case with Easter) Do I care that gift-giving, the Christmas tree, mistletoe, the yule log, Santa Claus etc. etc. all began with heathens? Not in the least. What I mind is the Christian attitude that there is a "war" on Christmas and that atheist's wish to "secularize" their beloved holiday.

Talk to a devout Christian about "wiccans" and see how they feel about "pagans." Yet, they will celebrate pagan festivals and claim them as their own. Worse, they become self-righteous and indignant if you don't adopt their views. It isn't the sun we worship, it is the Son. Shakespeare wrote; "that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I agree. Enjoy the season's celebrations. All I ask is that you don't paint a lemon red and try to convince me it's an apple.

Santa Came Early

November 16th I posted Sacred Masculine and described a series of events that led me getting back in touch with the first girl I ever dated. Well, a lot has happened since then. So much so, awhile back I asked permission to use her first name in the blog. She wondered why. I said I wanted my readers (we small band of brothers) to know her as something other than "the first girl I ever dated." She acquiesced.

To say this woman has brought a vitality, an exuberance back in my life would be an understatement. I have been "over the moon." Acting the complete and utter fool. But like Parsifal, the Innocent Fool, there must be an intrinsic charm to "foolishness" in its natural state. I simply can't fathom any other reason why she didn't dismiss me as a lunatic.

There is another side to being a fool, though. This side perceives new events with old eyes, and tries to construct the present within a framework of the past. This fool isn't innocent by any standard; only tired, trite, and altogether predictable. His tapes (unconscious, unresolved issues) play endlessly in his head. He is difficult to get along with because he is so certain. He "knows." He's been down this road before.

Last night the woman I am talking about took on my not-so-appealing aspects of the fool. The narcissistic, low self-esteem, oh so assured fool who engages in self-sabotage. And she walked him back from the ledge. She was enormously generous, understanding, and empathetic. She was wise, adroit, and patient. There was a nobility and grace with which she handled MY issues that left me stunned and humbled. And feeling very, very foolish.

Her name is Pamela. And she really is quite remarkable.

Back On Your Feet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EriieBV-nk

This is the day. Now is the moment. Break them. Go, fly! (your tears are dry)

Do you hear it? The laughter, the voices? Do you feel it? The light of heaven? (I know you do!)

Yes, you are strong. Yes, you are proud. Yes, you are standing tall.

Go live the life you've always dreamed of. Be the man (woman) you always envisioned yourself to be. Settle for nothing less.

(any and all emotions created by this post brought to you courtesy of Evil, Inc.)

Evil

Now comes temptation, darkness and waiting
While evil abounds, lurks and tries baiting
Cruel in appearance, morbid in taste
Day becomes night and all is in waste

Long are his arms, cold is his touch
Maims strong men then offers a crutch
If token is taken he haughtily jeers
Turns hearts to stone and contemptibly sneers

Promising much he miserly doles
Deepens his shadow and engulfs the soul
Swift are his lies though music to hear
Doom is at hand whenever he's near

~WPG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6d8eKvegLI

Oversight

December 9th I posted Just For Fun and listed my top 10 books. I forgot one. And it is altogether too charming to exclude. So let me introduce 10b; "The Book of the Dun Cow" by Walter Wangerin. This tale has little to do with the dun cow and much to do with Chauntecleer, a rooster of good repute. Chauntecleer's profession was crowing and he was responsible for crowing the "Canonicals." These were set times of day and would lend "direction and meaning" for the animals in his care. They enabled the animals to know "the day is our day, because Chauntecleer has made it ours," through familiarity and that "the day should hold no strangeness nor fear for them."

Remembering the canonicals, I had the thought to incorporate them into my daily life. Please realize I haven't any idea what the proper or correct way is to pray the "office." (one term used to describe the canonicals) Only that they entail much more praying than I'm going to do. No, I just want to use them in such a way I stay orientated--adjusting to the challenges and opportunities of the day. I want you to give thought to including them in your day.

Awakening:    LAUDS               Rejoice and be glad
6:00 AM         PRIME                Greet this day with love
9:00 AM         TERCE               Work is love made visible
12:00 PM       SEXT                  The best is yet to come
3:00 PM         NONE                 Bless my efforts
6:00 PM         VESPERS          Oh! Holy night
Bedtime:        COMPLINE         Thank you

Understand you are free to make any changes you wish. This is just a structure for you to use. Many of you don't rise till 9 or 10 AM. No matter. And your prayers may differ significantly than mine. All to the good! Personalize them--make them your own.

SPECIAL NOTE: Two people have informed me they made comments lately that haven't appeared after posting. This is due to an additional step that is necessary. There is a box beneath the posting area that says: COMMENT AS: SELECT PROFILE. You must click the box within "select profile" which then opens up a list that you may post under. Go to the bottom, click on ANONYMOUS and you can then PUBLISH.