Time to re-mind yourself

As people here in the UK are getting themselves ready for the feast of Christmas, as we reach the silent point at the turn of the year at the winter solstice today, it’s a very appropriate time to shift awareness away from the stresses and tensions of work – especially as many here are not sure what work they’ll be coming back to in the New Year.

Families gather, people go shopping, thoughts turn to the anticipation of having a good time. Others are tired and are looking forward to a rest. Others too have holidays booked for the Christmas, although less than usual.

It’s easy to forget in the hubbub of activity that Christmas in a predominantly Christian country is the time when traditionally people celebrated the birth of their saviour, although now I read that only one third of people believe in the story of the Nativity. However, people still usually think that this is a special time of year. It’s hard not to feel the impact.

For a spiritual warrior however, now may be a very good time to pause to think about how she or he can also use this time to think about what really matters, to reaffirm his or her intentions, to reconnect with what is more cherished and vital in his or her life, and about what she or he might wish to put energy into as the old year comes to an end and a new year dawns.

This time of year is when the earth’s energy stills itself, and it is when we are drawn within. This is concealed by the pre-Christmas activity, but it is happening. So, as you go about your preparations for the feast, just have the thought that part of your awareness is also within. As it is a time of spiritual importance, whatever your orientation if any, allow that energy to infuse you. It’s a good time to go and meditate somewhere, if you have a place in your house for that, or pray if you do that. This is important, since that is one way that we can re-energise ourselves at a core level.

When we pause like this, we allow ourselves to connect with our inner vitality and thus with our purpose. This can get lost or put in the background in the busyness of current living. Now it needs to be got out, dusted down and given full attention. Because with a strong sense of purpose, of intention, you can then get out there renewed to face whatever is around in your world in the New Year.

This is a time of remembrance, of re-membering, of re-connecting. And it is also a time of celebration, of joy. Joy is part of who we really are. We are beings of light and lightness, of laughter, of fun, of enjoyment, of enthusiasm, of energy. The heavy stuff of life is when we’ve allowed our minds to go where we don’t really want to go, when we’ve got caught up in our stuff. Now is a really good time to re-connect with who we really are, to allow that energy to infuse our bodies and to have fun and pleasure.

So, make an intention for Christmas that you are going to have a good time being who you really are! Then notice whenever you’re feeling down and re-mind yourself of your intention.