Speaking of Spirit

Angels: symbols of hope, safety, enlightenment Photo Credit: (c) 2018 Linda M. Rhinehart Neas As I decorated for the holidays, I became acutely aware of the many symbols I have found comfort in over the years. Symbols that belong to the stories of how peace and love can be found in the darkness of hate and chaos.  For example, after a prolonged illness as a child, when it was believed that I might die, the sister superior of our school gave me a little paper Angel to remind me that God was watching over me and sent me Angels to protect me from harm. That became a story of great importance in my life; one that, for me, was valid, real and for which I have had many qualifying experiences. But, for other people, angels are so much fluff. Some people classify angels with the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, myths told as a child that hold no real usefulness in our adult world. Karen Armstrong, a former nun, writer and creator of the Charter of Compassion, wrote in "A S...

The days have been getting shorter as we whirl toward the Winter Solstice on a planet where the daily news seems darker than the skies. How do we keep our balance?  In ancient times, the people of the North brought in evergreens and lit huge fires, both reminders that life continues. Many of the traditions in cultures around the world focus on the balancing of Light and Dark at this time of year.  Unfortunately, as humans evolved and our world went from agrarian and hunter/gatherers to industrial/technical, we have cast aside many of the traditions and rituals that helped people keep the equilibrium. If these rituals and traditions are practiced, often, the meaning has been long forgotten. Like bells without clappers, there is no rhyme or reason to what we do any longer. How do we cope? How do we find meaning in chaos?  On Doctor Oz's website, the physician, Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, suggests using ancient ayurveda practices to help maintain a healthy balanc...

Photo Credit: Office Publisher Clipart Several years ago, I heard the term Blue Christmas Service for the first time. I was not aware of this term or tradition. I looked up the term and found this explanation:  " Blue Christmas, also called the Longest Night in the Western Christian tradition, is a day in the Advent season marking the longest night of the year. On this day, some churches hold a church service that honors people who have lost loved ones in that year. The Holy Eucharist is traditionally a part of the service of worship on this day. Some churches hold a service of worship on the longest night of the year, which falls on or about December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is an interesting convergence for this day as it is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This linkage invites making some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of Jesus' resurrection, the long nights just before Christmas, and the strugg...