#45

When Christianity first started its growth, officials knew that in order to allow followers to continue to celebrate with the rest of the community, or probably more accurately, for it to have a better uptake, it was essential to choose dates similar to those already being celebrated by Pagans. The synchronicity of the dates can't be missed at all, Winter Solstice and the birth of Jesus, Spring Equinox and Easter.
I haven't realised so clearly until now that the modern Christian world has taken age old Wiccan and Pagan celebrations as it's own without paying respect at all to those traditions.

(Miche you may want to add more here because it's so much better from the horse's mouth!)

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I've just been reading a fascintating book called "The Secrets of the Christian Festivals" and this is what Arnold Bittlinger says about the 1st Advent:

Advent Sunday - Day of the Earth

The first Sunday in Advent is the Day of the Earth. On the first Advent we light one candle. This one candle is the symbol for Oneness or Unity of all of Creation. It speaks to and of a world where we all originate from and will return to. The Earth is our Mother.

One of the oldest symbols that respresents The Earth is the Bull. In the German language, the word Stier (Bull) reminds us of the words Starr (rigid) and Stur (obstinate). The Bull character represents the unyielding stubborn unwavering Earth. The Bull reveals the perservering and dependable character of the Earth.

Fascinating stuff!!!!!!!

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Advent is huge here. Everyone, and I mean all households (except ours), woke up Saturday morning and decorated their windows, front doors and trees in the garden with all things christmassy. The nativity sets are out. And the town councils put up fairy lights in the main streets and shops have all their decorations out for sale. Christmas markets are on every weekend with Glühwein and kitsch in abundance. It's slightly over the top. I mean, it's November! But because they take Advent seriously, that's why Christmas begins now. I am kind of glad to get to experience a couple of weeks of this and hopefully it will snow 1 or 2 days before getting on the plane home. Less than 3 weeks to go!

#43

you have probably worked out that i am a big and i mean BIG procrastinator,

which leads to a lot of paralysis and not much to show for.

it saddens me i have this in spades and i know it frustrates the hell out of my

husband who wants me to be doing a whole lot more than i am.

i have ideas. lots of them. most i don't even write down. which i have no real reason why

i don't. i think i gave up long ago when i realised that i rarely followed through on things

i was days before very excited about.

so this week i started to learn how to crochet. a friend who lives nearby is a bit of an expert

on these things and i had mentioned i wanted to make a blanket for my kids?!? so she has

been making space to teach me for the last few weeks and i finally ran out of distractions that

had me not showing up for my lessons.

i am not that crafty a type and anyone who knows me could attest. and i know we were

only doing crochet 101 - the easy beginner steps - but i actually could do what i was shown.

the stitches and casting on pattern that i learnt is all leading to creating a beanie, which

i love to wear, but not where my passion lies, but even still it felt really good to be making

something with my hands. i'm kinda sad in a way that whatever i am making as a practise right

now is really not leading to and end product, although both my girls are bagging it as beanie for

their favourite toy!

i just watched a short inspiring tedtalk with the theme about just making stuff, whatever it is

just make - given by the creator of threadless - that great online t-shirt&hoodie company that

we love in our house. so i am feeling like i am sort of getting on track here, getting messages

supporting what i am doing and even though i can't imagine crochet as my way to save the world

or be my income path, who knows, sillier things have happened.

maybe it will just get me back into creating, and then i can try and weave or crochet that into my

other passions like herbs, healing and consciousness raising.

have a look here for some inspiration