The Reiki Cafe 

Feather,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- oh I quite agree; as I understand Christmas it is celebrating the birth of Jesus

- one view of this is it is a very personal matter - but organized religion has made it a communal thing - and commual pressures cannot be easily "ignored"

>:-}}

- but where does the commercialism come from?? It is said the Magi brought gifts -

- but I am not sure a new pair of $150 Nike shoes (perhaps made by children in a third world country) is a very spiritual representation of the Magi gifts (I include asking for such stuff as well as giving such stuff)

>:-}}

- it might be an interesting experiment next christmas to send only spiritual cards or notes to all those on your "list" - no gifts

>:-}}

reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi

I loved Finality's ideas of different cards - I was trying to think of some Reiki designs I could make up for next year. Someone sent me one with a chinese winter scene on it - neither she nor I had any idea what it had to do with Christmas but it was a kind thought!

Perhaps we could 'promote' the reiki principles instead - just the first two would help the frazzled shoppers in December. Make December the time of year we celebrate healing and life energy and love?

And you're perhaps right Firekeeper about still hanging on to bits of Christmas - I'd like to preserve the good bits i remember from childhood like being with people I love, the sense of community, hope perhaps. I'm not sure where the rest of it has come from - us being greedy, competitive and wanting to conform I imagine, same as usual then!

Sal
xxx

Great Idea! I will see how much progress I make in this respect. Now...defining "spiritual" for each person might be an interesting assignment. Come to think of it, I always try to make sure at least one of my gifts to my children is "spiritual"...that is, it speaks to who they truly ARE. That part of them that is unique. Perhaps some of the stress in gift giving is that inspirations about this don't come on demand....they tend to be revealed at the appropriate time.... Then, if one takes this route, one is compelled to truly question why one is giving gifts to some individuals......
I like your thinking!
Peace,
Feather

Sal,
Your post for some reason made me realize that part of the stress of the season is that part of us still has a hard time being truthful. That is, "I really don't want to spend time with you right now....and I really don't feel like giving you a gift." Most of us would have a hard time saying that, and most of us have a hard time showing it in action, even if it is the truth. How many of us could say, "I really don't want to spend time with this group because they bore me?" Or " I don't want to buy presents for this person because I no longer feel a connection..." Sometimes we have to face hard truths and the season often brings us smack into having to deal with truths OR continue to lie with our actions. Just a thought.
Love,
Feather

Hi Feather

Hmm, people you've grown out of can be hard to avoid, especially at Christmas. My best friend recently became an ex-best friend, and it would have been easy to pretend that nothing had changed between us. I didnt send her a card or a present (despite her card) and she rang me in the new year to check I wasn't dead. I was surprised how nice she was -perhaps the people that know you the best understand easiest why you can't do the same thing every year. And everyone else can take a spiritual hike...

And as for presents, well Ive always bought things I thought someone would like, I'll just change that to what I think they need (and if they don't agree, well, there u go)

Sal
xxx

Otoharo!

Sal, I am enjoying this thread emmensely.

finality

Hi Everyone,

From reading all these posts, I think the general desire is not so much letting of of Christmas completely, but letting go of the 'modern concept' of Christmas. To that I say, Why not??

We must remember, Christmas has evolved because of our choices to 'buy into' what is being presented every year. Not one of the big stores is forcing us to buy $100's of dollars worth of gifts for each other. It is our perception of what we should be buying/doing to fit in with the advertised concept of Christmas that is making Christmas for us. That we CAN change, if we choose to. It is up to each of us as individuals how we celebrate Christmas, we make the final choice.

This year after the gift exchange was done, I suggested instead of buying gifts for everyone next year, why not donate $100 to a charity we all agree on. The pooled money could pile up quickly so the charity could get a nice helpful chunk of change. Big mistake.... that only seemed to cause more stress. Why? Because everyone in the family wants to buy gifts for each other. So then they are thinking "how can I spend X number of dollars on gifts, then also contribute X dollars to charity? I can't afford it" - so they are getting stressed out again! LOL!! I just dropped the subject, and may bring it up again closer to next Christmas. Either that or when they ask me what I want for Christmas next year, I can just say "cash would be nice, so I can donate it to xyz charity". If they don't want to change, I can.

Will my ways of celebrating Christmas change next year? Who knows, but I would like to spend a Christmas relaxed for the whole day and not running from one family to another, to the friends house just to 'visit on Christmas'.

Not to worry though, we have a couple of hundred days to figure it all out!

With light and love,
Featherpoint

Wotcha!

Ooo three hundred and something days to go then! I'll be getting the advent calendar out any day soon - but not the chocolate version cos that seems to miss the point.

Talking of which, I wonder (and I ask any that may be reading) what devout Christians feel about their party being hijacked by commercial pressures. I felt ok celebrating a prophet's birthday when I didn't believe in him or anything else. So little of Christmas in this country seems to relate to religion or even to the common principles a lot of religions promote. If I was a Christian I think I'd be hacked off about that and try to reclaim it...

Out with the pitchforks and protest then?

Sal
xxx

Great Question!
Oh my, what is all the hoop la of this season all about?
Maybe the basic problem was the untruth of those "in charge" of the christian church, who decided to "hook on" to pagan celebrations to "sell" christianity. Like, maybe it does not really fit together.... And then the untruth of big businesses "hooking on" to the whole lot to "sell" their goods....birthing the commercial aspects of the season. No wonder we all feel confused and stressed. Off to
that cabin in the woods...and gifting the squirrels and chipmunks with seeds and apples!

You see, I even have a problem with what the Catholic Church says about the season...like we are supposed to be "waiting" for Christ during Advent. Well, what the heck are we waiting for? Christ is ever present....it would be like trying to reexperience my pregnancy before the birthday of each of my kids. What is important is who they are NOW.

Oh boy, I think way too much!
Well, 300plus days to go.....the only thing I know for sure is I need to be outdoors for the Winter Solstice, and preferably with like minded spirits!
Blessings!
Feather

Otoharo!

Feather, I agree with it all.

finality

Sad thing is Ive already seen Easter Eggs in the shops...

xxx

I guess that means we have eaten up all the advent calendar chocolate , heh?
Feather

I think what we didnt eat has been melted down and comes back to us in egg form. Bit like reincarnation only smells nicer (I've worked in a chocolate factory and it didnt put me off one bit).

Shall we put a note in our diaries then for say next September and remind ourselves only to do the Christmas things we like (if any). We could support each other for this and come up with suitable reasons for not buying aunt agatha bathsalts like in the past 10 years...

Sal
xxx

This was a great thread to read. Like many, we spent many Christmas holidays on the road, doing the 'rounds'. Solved that by moving to Canada! Not really, but it has meant we have been able to start up our own 'traditions'. Like having Christmas meal on Christmas Eve so we can do nothing on Christmas Day - stayed in our PJs all day this year watching soppy movies and eating cold turkey sandwiches - it was great. Find the commercialism of Christmas harder and harder to stomach as I get older..we are enjoying finding our own ways to celebrate the true meaning without family expectations etc. I wish everyone a blessed New Year in 2004.
Love, Light & Reiki Rainbows
Namaste
Eaglestar

Sigh, I think we have to meet here in October and fire each other up! It gets kinda like being in the rapids . you can think and think about how you are going to make it through, but once you are in, you better have a good team in the boat and think fast!
Have a great 2004 and stay mindful. Ho!
Feather