ConsciousCreation

The original article was published in Frederick News-Post December 7, 2019 . Word on Faith. Since then, I have revisited it several times on the first day of Advent to remind myself of the significance of the season.  It’s been awhile since my last visit.  This morning, as I woke up in a new place, with a new perspective, and new ‘morning sounds’ that opened new spaces in my space, I was drawn to revisit.  This time there were some changes ~ mostly words and phrases that reflect a shift in my awareness of the truth of the season.

December is the month of amazing celebration.  Usually the four Sundays in December are Advent Sundays, with a focus each Sunday on an attribute of the season: Hope/Faith, Peace, Love, Joy.  Then, on the 20^th we experience the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  This event has been profoundly significant for thousands of years, for it marks the point at which the life-giving sun’s retreat before darkness finally begins to reverse itself.  It is the source of many concepts and myths of rebirth and sun gods for cultures around the globe.  In fact, nearly all aspects of our Western Christmas observance have their roots in Roman customs around the Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the Winter Solstice and honored Saturn, the god of sowing.  All of these myths have two common themes:  the triumph of light over darkness and a symbolic birth (or rebirth) that ensures life will continue.  And then on the 25^th, we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, the birth of the Christ Consciousness that is within, the time when we choose to awaken to the Divine that is us. We awaken to the truth that as we live, move, breathe, and have our being in that which we call God, that same Infinite Oneness lives, moves, breathes and has Its being in, through, and as us.

December is the Season of Light as well.  The light of reason, the light of faith, the light that heralds the immanent presence of the Divine – all of these resonate when we think about darkness giving way to light.  It has been said that light comes with an expansion of consciousness.  In Buddhism, those who pierce the illusion of the world are call “enlightened.”  We seek light as naturally as we seek nourishment, for light nourishes our souls as food nourishes our bodies.  Whether it be Mithras, Saturn, or the infant Jesus whose birth is celebrated during this month, the deeper truth is that light transcends religion and culture and speaks to the inner awareness.

To prepare for this amazing season, here are four passages  that I have used over the years, each from an issue of Science of Mind magazine, each one reflecting on one of the four attributes of Advent.  Each of them has lighted my path during the Advent journey to Bethlehem.  May they bring you light and love.

On Hope
“Hope springs from within us with amazing swiftness.  It only takes a positive word of encouragement or the prospect of constructive change, and we are hopeful again.  This positive surge of thinking is a prelude to the as yet unspoken promise of a brighter future.  Hope does not require that we know what the future holds.  The prospect of a better tomorrow calls forth positive thoughts and the willingness to experience life anew.  There was once a counselor who listened intently as people shared their problems and concerns.  Often the counselor would be as confused as the client.  He had to choose between entering into despair with the person or pointing the way to a new life.  The favorite phrase of this helper was, ‘There is an answer.’  He would continue, ‘I am as confused as you are, but I know there is an answer.’  These simple statements quickened hope.  As you move through the day, remain sensitive to the people around you and any problems they are having.  Your contribution to the world today is to be willing to say, ‘There is an answer.’”

On Peace
“So, here you are living and loving life to the max. You’re not making any excuses for being the peace that is God. You have set the intention to live from the emerging world of Spirit, where you live in the eternal presence of God’s smile. Everything is going great. Then, you might come in contact with people who are aggravated to be your presence. They may express their discontent verbally.  This is the time to be mindful of what is truly going on. The light of your being has touched something within them, and they do not know how to respond to the changes that are trying to take place. You see, your presence, or the presence that is God within you, has started to awaken the presence that is God within them, and they are not aware of what is happening.  Nor do they know what to do with it. So they may lash out at you. But be of great cheer – this is your opportunity to be mindful of the call for peace.  It is important not to allow their discontent to move you from living from within. The truth is that they have been brought into your vibration so that you may love them. No matter what, love them. There is never any excuse not to love. Be mindful of this, and do not be moved. You are the presence of God. You are peace made manifest.”

On Joy
“Have you ever heard someone laugh and it made you laugh or smile?  Or knew people who were so excited about life that it made you want to know what was happening with them? That is the energy that flows as joy.  It is lively and absorbing.  Now, we have all experienced over-the-top enthusiasts.  That is not what we’re talking about.  Authentic joy can be quiet and calm, yet still transmit power and excitement.  This kind of joy is contagious.  People who have it light up a room.  They are connected and are magnets for extraordinary experiences.  People want to be near them.  People want to hear what they have to say.  Whatever you bring into a space is reflected back to you.  People read and respond to energy.  This could be the day that you remember that you are a fantastic expression of the divine.  This could be the day that you are so joy-filled that you become unstoppable – you go out and light up the world!  The world is awaiting your incredible gifts.  Now is the time.”

On Love
“In the sixties, the Beatles rose to fame with their song All You Need is Love.  The lyrics are quite simple: “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done…nothing you can sing that can’t be sung…it’s easy…nothing you can make that can’t be made…no one you can save that can’t be saved…nothing you can do, but learn how to be you…in time…it’s easy…all you need is love…nothing you can know that isn’t known…nothing you can see that isn’t shown…no way to be but how you were meant to be…it’s easy…all you need is love!”  Time may have passed since this song was popular, yet things haven’t changed.  When we are in love, colors look brighter, food tastes more flavorful, jobs get easier, and our hormones secrete a delicious love elixir that gives us a natural euphoria.  We feel at our best, intuitively right on, and having a good ol’ time.  Unfortunately, this chemical high eventually fades unless we create a habit of ‘falling in love.’  We can fall in love everyday with everything and everyone around us.  Gazing about, we see the sparkle of being alive, the laughter of being human and the joy of knowing we are already perfect and whole and oh-so-lovely.”

May your December be filled with Light, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!