I love the connection to the winter solstice and mark the sunrise and sunset in my journal each morning.
Quiet Christmas Eve for us. I usually host Christmas Eve at my house with about 20+ members of my family, then everyone leaves and I'm exhausted for Christmas Day. We celebrated this past Saturday so today has been one of ease.
The holidays are a mix of sadness and joy for me so giving myself the space to be in stillness prepares me for the highs and lows of Christmas morning.
Wishing you peace, joy, and lots of colorful dyes during your holiday season!
I am inspired by your marking the sunrise and sunset in your journal each day--what a great way to bring more awareness to the cycles of the sun into your daily life. And giving oneself the space to be in stillness today as a way to prepare for the mix of feelings on Chirstmas morning feels so nurturing and self-supporting, so thanks for sharing that in case others are looking for a way to handle that too. Wishing you peace and joy as well Janine!
Thank you so much for reconnecting me with Capote’s beautiful remembrance. My mother loved listening to it when I was a little girl, and I haven’t heard it in years.
Thank you Sarah for your continued insight, inspiration and honesty. I'm reflecting and remembering and gathering my thoughts. It is a very quiet time for me to heal after my Mom's passing in October. This season means so many things in different ways to each of us. The solstice is a very healing time for me. It is perfectly freeing to find meaning and celebrate life and this season in our own way. This is true for me even when life can be such an erratic journey.
I wish you all the best this Christmas and look forward to knowing more about your creative endeavors.
Oh thank you Roberta. I know what a long tender journey it's been with your Mom--holding you in my heart this holiday season over here on the other side of town.
". . . not an arrow . . . " What a wonderful way to see how silly that way of thinking about life really is. Cycles. (I could do without that extra spin that Fate likes to throw into the mix every now and then.) Stay merry and bright, my dear.
A very Merry creative Christmas to you Sara. I love winters. Love the subtle colors of winter. It’s quietest here in winter and I connect more intuitively. I would rather be in my little studio space painting right now with maybe some beautiful classical music. I want to connect more to a feeling while painting. I get very obsessive when painting everything else goes away. Time flies. Before I know it it’s dark out. I am very grateful for my husband, stepchildren, grand daughter, parents who are 92&93 my brothers and a close friend who has no family. Studio is always open and waiting. Unfinished work is calling as are new ideas. Can’t wait.
Love this paean to 'being' in the winter season. The colors and quiet. A chance to rest and withdraw while also feeling filled with gratitude for the people in your world. I get such a feeling of joyful "fullness of life" from this comment Sally--thank you!
Here’s to Christmas ✨🥂✨ Flexible. Am on an ‘off’ year. Went to a party that became my surprise sanctuary in cookies and a lovely tree. Then back to doldrums. It’s that kind of year for me.
Envious of being in your right brain deep creative mode. I’m in left-brain planning for the coming year. I have to earn my right brain time back into play by getting this done. It’s not always like this, thankfully!
Yay for Christmas flexible and cookies and sanctuaries. You know, it might sound strange, but I almost feel like I'm in the exact opposite situation as you--I have to earn my planning by doing this deep dive--by 'finishing' this creative project will allow my head to figure out what's next and other sensible things! Sometimes, when I get obsessive like this--lying in bed at night, thinking about it, thinking about it, imagining, wondering--feeling tired but doing more--I almost need the relief of chores! I want my head to be able to think about other things! But at the same time, of course, all this color is magical magical--lures me in and tells me other things can wait yet another day!
Happy Solstice and Merry Everything!, I’m also Christmas flexible… was all in this year as I was able to be with most of my family, not so much last year, but I always celebrate the return of the light and the rest in the dark of winter solstice. Peace, good health, good work and much joy to you in this new year!
A fellow flex--yay! Yes, I love the Gaia focus of taking time for a solstice celebration, even if it's a solo one. And yes, peace, good health and much joy to you as well Kerri!
Hope you are having a joyful and creative Christmas Day, Sarah! I am one of those who begins thinking about Christmas in October, and still making excuses in early February as to why I haven't taken the decorations down. I love to decorate for Christmas, and I am pretty kitchy, old-timey about it. Lots of red and green, or silver (the bathroom) and cherished decorations from our childhoods. The living room becomes a Christmas Cocoon (a friend christened it thus several years ago). I am lucky to have two of my siblings in town to help me celebrate, and we FaceTime with our out-of-state brother and his family on Christmas day. We are fairly minimalist with the gift-giving, not very commercially oriented at all really. No small children in town, just older teenagers trying to make their break from family traditions. Christmas Day is small, just 5 of us, so easy to deal with. The cookie baking day 2 weeks ago was exhausting this year, but everyone loves the joy of this activity, so we will keep doing it but likely cut way back on quantity and variety. I made the mistake of having new carpeting installed between Thanksgiving and Christmas in about half the house: a total disruption that I only survived by being obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness and orderliness in the pre-and post moving around of stuff. The installers were here for three days, and did a careful and expert job throughout. We all became good friends. As for the INTENT of the holidays, I see the whole season in this way: it is a season of Love fueled by the religious impulse to love one another and to help those in need, intersecting with the Winter Solstice's quiescence of Joy and Wonder for Nature.
I love how you painted this picture and how I can imagine it now! When I was growing up, we always had a live tree that my dad would plant in the yard in the spring, so we couldn't put it up until Christmas Eve and we had to take it down New Year's Day so it wasn't stressed by being inside too long. Then, as an adult, I married someone who just tries to endure the Christmas season, so being used to not decorating until the 24th made that not seem weird. Because I do love ornaments and bright and shiny things. I love when people get all kitchy with their decorations or go crazy with their lights on their house. And your definition of the INTENT is simple and wonderful and true. Merry Christmas Lissa, you are a source of joy and light yourself--before, during, and after the Christmas season. Giant Christmas day hugs!
I like your phrase, “Christmas-flexible.” It is indeed unusual! I like Christmas but I agree that we would all benefit from thinking more about the solstice and our connections to the earth.
I also envy your taking the “limbo” time to do a deep dive into your creative work. I can’t wait to hear more later about how that went!
I love the connection to the winter solstice and mark the sunrise and sunset in my journal each morning.
Quiet Christmas Eve for us. I usually host Christmas Eve at my house with about 20+ members of my family, then everyone leaves and I'm exhausted for Christmas Day. We celebrated this past Saturday so today has been one of ease.
The holidays are a mix of sadness and joy for me so giving myself the space to be in stillness prepares me for the highs and lows of Christmas morning.
Wishing you peace, joy, and lots of colorful dyes during your holiday season!
I am inspired by your marking the sunrise and sunset in your journal each day--what a great way to bring more awareness to the cycles of the sun into your daily life. And giving oneself the space to be in stillness today as a way to prepare for the mix of feelings on Chirstmas morning feels so nurturing and self-supporting, so thanks for sharing that in case others are looking for a way to handle that too. Wishing you peace and joy as well Janine!
Thank you so much for reconnecting me with Capote’s beautiful remembrance. My mother loved listening to it when I was a little girl, and I haven’t heard it in years.
Oh yay!! Love finding another fan of that story! Enjoy!!
I just listened to it, too, for the first time. What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing it with me!
Thank you Sarah for your continued insight, inspiration and honesty. I'm reflecting and remembering and gathering my thoughts. It is a very quiet time for me to heal after my Mom's passing in October. This season means so many things in different ways to each of us. The solstice is a very healing time for me. It is perfectly freeing to find meaning and celebrate life and this season in our own way. This is true for me even when life can be such an erratic journey.
I wish you all the best this Christmas and look forward to knowing more about your creative endeavors.
Oh thank you Roberta. I know what a long tender journey it's been with your Mom--holding you in my heart this holiday season over here on the other side of town.
". . . not an arrow . . . " What a wonderful way to see how silly that way of thinking about life really is. Cycles. (I could do without that extra spin that Fate likes to throw into the mix every now and then.) Stay merry and bright, my dear.
Thank you Paula! And I'm with ya on the Fate side of things. Maybe because of the "blind-siding delivery approach" it seems to prefer?
A very Merry creative Christmas to you Sara. I love winters. Love the subtle colors of winter. It’s quietest here in winter and I connect more intuitively. I would rather be in my little studio space painting right now with maybe some beautiful classical music. I want to connect more to a feeling while painting. I get very obsessive when painting everything else goes away. Time flies. Before I know it it’s dark out. I am very grateful for my husband, stepchildren, grand daughter, parents who are 92&93 my brothers and a close friend who has no family. Studio is always open and waiting. Unfinished work is calling as are new ideas. Can’t wait.
Love this paean to 'being' in the winter season. The colors and quiet. A chance to rest and withdraw while also feeling filled with gratitude for the people in your world. I get such a feeling of joyful "fullness of life" from this comment Sally--thank you!
Yes the Solstice is way more important to me these days. I miss seeing the sun ☀️
I love the primal nature of honoring the solstice too. And the sun is coming back!!
I love the not either/or such a relief to relax with rhythms not a straight arrow.
Gonna check out Capote
For the full feel…
💙🌹🦋
Here’s to Christmas ✨🥂✨ Flexible. Am on an ‘off’ year. Went to a party that became my surprise sanctuary in cookies and a lovely tree. Then back to doldrums. It’s that kind of year for me.
Envious of being in your right brain deep creative mode. I’m in left-brain planning for the coming year. I have to earn my right brain time back into play by getting this done. It’s not always like this, thankfully!
Yay for Christmas flexible and cookies and sanctuaries. You know, it might sound strange, but I almost feel like I'm in the exact opposite situation as you--I have to earn my planning by doing this deep dive--by 'finishing' this creative project will allow my head to figure out what's next and other sensible things! Sometimes, when I get obsessive like this--lying in bed at night, thinking about it, thinking about it, imagining, wondering--feeling tired but doing more--I almost need the relief of chores! I want my head to be able to think about other things! But at the same time, of course, all this color is magical magical--lures me in and tells me other things can wait yet another day!
Oh the mind of an Alchemist!✨
LOL. <3
Happy Solstice and Merry Everything!, I’m also Christmas flexible… was all in this year as I was able to be with most of my family, not so much last year, but I always celebrate the return of the light and the rest in the dark of winter solstice. Peace, good health, good work and much joy to you in this new year!
A fellow flex--yay! Yes, I love the Gaia focus of taking time for a solstice celebration, even if it's a solo one. And yes, peace, good health and much joy to you as well Kerri!
Hope you are having a joyful and creative Christmas Day, Sarah! I am one of those who begins thinking about Christmas in October, and still making excuses in early February as to why I haven't taken the decorations down. I love to decorate for Christmas, and I am pretty kitchy, old-timey about it. Lots of red and green, or silver (the bathroom) and cherished decorations from our childhoods. The living room becomes a Christmas Cocoon (a friend christened it thus several years ago). I am lucky to have two of my siblings in town to help me celebrate, and we FaceTime with our out-of-state brother and his family on Christmas day. We are fairly minimalist with the gift-giving, not very commercially oriented at all really. No small children in town, just older teenagers trying to make their break from family traditions. Christmas Day is small, just 5 of us, so easy to deal with. The cookie baking day 2 weeks ago was exhausting this year, but everyone loves the joy of this activity, so we will keep doing it but likely cut way back on quantity and variety. I made the mistake of having new carpeting installed between Thanksgiving and Christmas in about half the house: a total disruption that I only survived by being obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness and orderliness in the pre-and post moving around of stuff. The installers were here for three days, and did a careful and expert job throughout. We all became good friends. As for the INTENT of the holidays, I see the whole season in this way: it is a season of Love fueled by the religious impulse to love one another and to help those in need, intersecting with the Winter Solstice's quiescence of Joy and Wonder for Nature.
I love how you painted this picture and how I can imagine it now! When I was growing up, we always had a live tree that my dad would plant in the yard in the spring, so we couldn't put it up until Christmas Eve and we had to take it down New Year's Day so it wasn't stressed by being inside too long. Then, as an adult, I married someone who just tries to endure the Christmas season, so being used to not decorating until the 24th made that not seem weird. Because I do love ornaments and bright and shiny things. I love when people get all kitchy with their decorations or go crazy with their lights on their house. And your definition of the INTENT is simple and wonderful and true. Merry Christmas Lissa, you are a source of joy and light yourself--before, during, and after the Christmas season. Giant Christmas day hugs!
I like your phrase, “Christmas-flexible.” It is indeed unusual! I like Christmas but I agree that we would all benefit from thinking more about the solstice and our connections to the earth.
I also envy your taking the “limbo” time to do a deep dive into your creative work. I can’t wait to hear more later about how that went!
Thank you--I hope you have a great Christmas! And I hope to be sharing the fruits of my dyeing labor in early January! :D