YOUR LIFE A-Z:CANDLE

Diversity and  Light Highlight This Time of Year

CANDLE

A CANDLE is a gentle tool that has many uses.  Originally CANDLES were created to give light in the darkness, prior to electricity.  CANDLES were used in very practical ways.  Electricity to homes in rural America did not start until the 1930’s and CANDLES assisted with gentle light in the evening.  Today CANDLES are abundant during the holiday season.  In Jewish tradition the lighting of the Hanukah CANDLE (Menorah) brings the story of how God kept the oil burning during the re-dedication of the Temple.   There are nine CANDLES in the menorah and one CANDLE is lit for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth CANDLE is the servant candle used to light the rest of the menorah CANDLES.   In Christianity there are five CANDLES in the advent wreath.  Three of the CANDLES are purple, one is pink and one is white.  The purple CANDLES represent hope, preparation, and love.  The pink CANDLE represents joy and the white CANDLE, which is lit on Christmas day, represents the Christ CANDLE.  The advent wreath was adapted from pre-Christian Germanic pagans who used CANDLES to invoke the sun god to return and the evergreen circle wreath as a reminder that life is full circle and spring will return.  Today CANDLES fill store shelves of multiple colors, scents, sizes, and shapes begging the consumer to add the decorating touch of a beautifully scented CANDLE as a necessary accent to one’s home.  I believe CANDLES can enhance the ambiance of any gathering and elevate one’s mood when depressed.  Be careful to make sure they are put out properly but enjoy the varieties and nuances of the presence of a CANDLE or two.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: SPIRITUALITY

THINK, REFLECT, PRAY, CHOOSE

SPIRITUALITY

What in the world is SPIRITUALITY and why does it matter to you?  I believe life is complicated and I realize some of you do just fine living in very pragmatic ways.  For me, I need something more.  I need ritual, ceremony, symbolism, metaphor, art, and all other sorts of things to keep the complications of life meaningful and interesting.  SPIRITUALITY for me is the essence of existence.  I find life boring without it.  It is easy to get to the place of “what is the point?”  

SPIRITUALITY keeps me in the center of the Labyrinth so to speak.  SPIRITUALITY helps me focus on the path and purpose of life.  SPIRITUALITY is about connection, deep connection to something greater than myself, something deep inside of my being that I yearn to know.  SPIRITUALITY is not out there somewhere; it is deep within the DNA, a memory of life greater than the sum of the parts of this life. SPIRITUALITY is the gestalt that sums up the need for creativity, experience, need, and purpose.  Think about the places in nature that you enjoy.  What do the mountains or the ocean do for you?  Where are those places within you that make you feel alive and vibrant?  For me that is the essence of SPIRITUALITY, that indefinable feeling of inner ecstasy that says I am not alone and I am home.  As the Kingfish of your life you get to decide what SPIRITUALITY means to you.   Don’t let others do that for you, but do spend some time exploring this important word for yourself. I know that SPIRITUALITY helps with Rigorous and Quality. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z:KABBALAH

WISDOM IS ALL AROUND YOU

KABBALAH

If I spent my 250-word allotment on explaining what KABBALAH is, I am afraid I would miss the point of this important K word.  Suffice to say that KABBALAH is an esoteric system of knowledge most prominent in early Judaism for the purpose of understanding the life force in each of us.  KABBALAH is often referred to as the tree of life; and by studying its ancient wisdom, especially numerology, we can gain insight into our current daily situation.  I am bringing the KABBALAH to your attention in order for you to remember that there are many resources and sources beyond our known self to help us live life in a more alert, conscious, and meaningful way.  We often limit our help from outside resources because we are practicing good old Western self-reliance or because we have been told some practices are evil or bad for us.  I believe we need to grab wisdom from many sources in order to help ourselves live productive and meaningful lives.  The KABBALAH is a powerful resource for us to explore and draw wisdom and insight from its wise teachings.  The KABBALAH is a system of wisdom and understanding that could be called the physics of our soul.  It is the systemic teaching that enables us to tap into our spiritual life.  It is being scientifically discovered that a spiritual life is not an add on of convenience but a necessary part of our wholeness. Emotional, Physical and Spiritual needs are a part of our biology, a part of our Tree of Life.  Carolyn Myss addresses this clearly in her book, ANATOMY OF THE SPIRIT.  Take a look. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z:TRADITION

MAKE IT SPECIAL, WHATEVER IT IS!

Tradition

Tradition is something that builds connection and internal affluence.  What are some of the traditions (stories, actions, rituals, thinking) that you practice today from your parents or grandparents?  Do you have new traditions that you have created in your adult life or the current relationship you are in?   I encourage you to start a tradition.  It does not have to be big, elaborate, or troublesome.   Allow it to be significant enough to produce positive feelings inside of you when you think about doing it and when you remember doing it.  

The easiest tradition to start is something that only you have to participate in.  For instance, if you were start a tradition for celebrating your birthday that is something you can do every year from this day forward, what would it be?  The only difference between a ritual and a tradition is that a tradition is something that you keep remembering and repeating as way of building positive blue prints in your daily and annual life.   A ritual may be completed often and regularly or it may be something that you only do once, such as baptism.  Tradition lives on forever and sometimes even after you are long gone. 

This word deserves your reflective time, planning and preparation as you examine what it is inside of that you want to add to your life on a regular basis that will become a meaningful tradition.  Matter of fact it may take a few times of experimenting with what tradition really nourishes, feeds, and helps you feel positive.  What tradition do you want to start?