Now, in the twenty-first century, we are so familiar with the qualities of electricity that we play with it.  We have learned, among other fascinating things, to make strings of lights for stretching out and wrapping around and decorating.

With this acceptance of electricity’s ability, this belief that energy can work this way under our belts,  we can reach just a bit further and see the possibility of stringing our own lights in our own way of playing.  A connecting game we can fire up and play any time we choose.  It goes like this:

• Imagine, pretend, or make believe you can, just by following your breath, travel in to your very center to see the spark of light that resides there.
• Beginning to play, image its shape, color, intensity.
• Imagine your light charging up, brightening, dancing even.
• Notice that you can “see” with your inner eyes the spark of someone you would like to connect with.
• Send out a filament of light to that spark, the first in the string you are making.
• Imagine that you send out through the filament the invitation for that spark to send out its own filament of light to one that it would like to connect with, beginning to build the chain.
• With the momentum that builds, there will be more invitations and connections and light flowing in all directions in the filaments so that the string may form interconnected patterns of lights spreading out all around.
• Enjoy!

The alternative title for this post could be “The Care and Feeding of Your Soul.”

Bodies need care and feeding, as we are well aware.  Our soul part has needs as well, on just as regular a basis as our body part.  Not to say that soul care and feeding requires participation in a religion.  Or a belief, beyond recognizing that humans are comprised of two parts.  And possibly not that; the offerings for soul care and feeding I make here may look very unlike what one would imagine nourishment of a soul to be.

• Find things that make you laugh.  Belly laughs have especially high nourishment content.
• Like yourself, warts and all.
• Assume that everyone, including yourself, is doing the best they can at the moment.
• Look for the good.
• Engage in enough exercise to cause heavy breathing.  Soul nourishment gets in the oxygen line behind the brain, the heart, all other organs.
• Do something for someone.  Size does not count.  Egos measure, souls do not.
• Take your soul out for a walk, enjoying the view, the sweet air, the sun, the rain, the snow, the wind, the stars.
• Show your soul a good time with caring company–friends, family, lovers, pets.
• Treat your soul to some beauty–art, dance, music.
•  Give your soul a little quiet, unbusy time, listening to your breath, feeling your heart.  Your body is its temple.

Just as bodies do not do well with toxins, there are things that are toxic to souls as well.  I mention this because an undernourished, poisoned soul will not leave us.  It will just not be able to offer us those experiences that give life its richness.

To give you an idea of soul toxins: anger, jealousy, holding grudges, violence, retaliation.  In short, anything we do that shuts us down, cuts us off from others.

And so, here’s to a robust, well cared-for, exuberant soul, no matter the circumstance or the challenge life here on earth may bring.

I feel a rite coming on. . . .

We’ve all got it in us, that desire for ritual.  I believe we’ve gotten lazy with our expressions of ritual with long established customs taking the place of fresher, and dare I say deeper enactments of what is close to the human heart.

(The one exception I see is the free-flowing rites around the Thanksgiving table, and more power to us for embracing the beauty in that sharing).

We need our own, individually created rites to mark passages, invoke aid, celebrate.  So if you are a far out kind of person, your rites can be reflective of that, and if you are of a more traditional bent, you can borrow from that richness in what you create.  Here’s a couple of examples to get the juices flowing:

The Star Celebration

On a clear night, in a location outdoors and away from the effects of electric lights, place yourself standing in full view of the celestial bodies.  Then, gazing up and opening your arms wide, breathe in, celebrating the brotherhood we share with all.

That, in case you missed it, was the far out ritual.

Three Candles This rite works nicely at the beginning of a new year, calendar or birth: Place three candles in a row facing you, and beginning on the left, light each candle.  Saying as the first is lit, “I express my gratitude for all that has passed that strengthens me.”  Saying as the second is lit, “I honor all that I have become.”  Saying as the third is lit, “I embrace all the opportunities that await me in this coming year.”

One last note–simple, everyday rituals carry as great a value as big statement rituals if we allow ourselves to put our hearts into them.  So go ahead, greet the sun, wash your hands of worry, blow kisses, post sticky notes, share drinks, save seats, wave good-byes, send up prayers.  Your world will be remarkably enriched when you do.

During the days I commuted, sitting in traffic and looking for ways to distract myself from time ticking away, rude drivers, and long long lines of cars stretching out in front of mine, I listened to talk radio.  Mostly news and traffic updates and opinion pieces.  Forgettable, really.  Except for one interview with a self-help kind of guy who said things that sounded not too outrageous, with the exception of something about maintaining your chakras, which I didn’t know I had, and how to deal with things going badly.  He said, in that cheerful tone early risers use when they genuinely are morning people, “Say, “That’s great!'”  I couldn’t imagine anything more foolish, saying what clearly isn’t, is.  And then I tried it.

Un-great didn’t turn into great.  What did happen with this forced bit of optimism was a sort of greasing of the wheels.  New thoughts started coming.  Helpful thoughts.  Moving forward thoughts.  Thoughts about what could be seen as good about the situation that I certainly didn’t see when it happened.  So I could move forward, find solutions and not feel like the universe just shat on me.

I recommend it.  It you find yourself stuck, you’ve now got grease.  And that, my friend, is very great.

They’re playing holiday tunes in the department stores.  Just yesterday I walked into to a jazzy rendition of holiday spirit in a cozy and inviting setting we all would like to imagine to be at the heart of our seasonal gatherings.  This inspires me, this stage setting, to share what I see as the secret to a truly wonderful holiday in five simple words:

Expect less and give more.

In that order.  Because, get real, we start from our own needs and wants before we move on to seeing what we can give. Get over imagining there is a moral high ground that puts others first and set your expectations at a level that won’t get in the way of genuinely enjoying ways to bring joy.

You’re going to have a hella great holiday season!