CREATE YOUR OWN SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON

      The holiday season offers us an opportunity to reflect on all the blessings we've already welcomed into our lives. It can be a time of great joy and contentment if we're able to stay centered and not get caught up in the holiday frenzy that many people experience at this time of year.
      As we've reviewed in past Monthly Inspirations, it's actually a matter of choice. In reality, we create our lives every day based on the choices that we make. If you take the time to carefully consider your choices this year, you'll be able to formulate a plan to create a very satisfying and fulfilling holiday. You'll find this well worth the effort.
     Keep in mind that it's easy for our inner child, the subconscious to become overwhelmed by the amount of tasks we may expect ourselves to carry out, and by the emotional responses of others who may be under additional stress themselves.
     Holidays bring up all kinds of emotions as we reflect on our memories of past seasons and think about what's to come. We remember loved ones who've passed on, we look forward to spending time with friends and family members or perhaps we're saddened by those who are unable to be with us during this special time. Either way, our subconscious may experience a kind of emotional roller coaster swinging from times of great happiness to periods of sadness and needs our help to manage these moods.
     As the soul, we can provide a great source of inner assurance and peace to the subconscious, just as a parent may relieve a child's anxiety with a loving hug and a reassuring statement that we're here to help, and everything will be okay. In essence, when we get conscious and realize the importance of treating the subconscious with consideration, the soul then sets a more balanced pace to follow, remembering to include enjoyable activities for ourselves instead of running ourselves ragged. When we're not conscious, our subconscious can easily get swept away in the chaos and our holidays are then stressed, rushed and over before we know it without any real pleasure.
     Have you had this kind of experience before? So busy that at times you can't wait for everything to be over, then "crashing" afterwards, disappointed that it's over so soon? The only way to avoid this drama is to think it through and then make a plan. To get started, allow yourself to daydream a little and imagine what kinds of ideas you would want to include in your own special holiday celebration. Don't limit yourself, thinking about how everyone else has done it in the past. This is your holiday season to create. Think about the specific details. Who would you like to invite? What kind of celebration would you like to have? Who would you rather not see? The choices are yours. A polite, "I'm not able to attend" is acceptable when offered in advance. Then stick to your decisions. Remember, this is your holiday.
     As far as the season itself is concerned, think about what activities you sincerely enjoy, rather than participate in out of obligation. If you have a tradition you enjoy, then keep it. If it's a tradition you've outgrown and you'd rather avoid, then maybe it's time for a change. We often stay with outdated ideas simply because "we've always done it that way." Does it still make sense in your life? The subconscious is a creature of habit and will stay with old ideas until we, the soul, provide new ways of thinking, new ideas to make our lives even better than before.
     Realize that when we make any kind of change, we often face resistance from our own subconscious who may be hesitant or afraid of what others will think, and from other people who have their own expectations of what we should or should not do. We must remember that each person has their own path to follow and that if each of us were brave enough to sincerely follow our own highest path, we would be great examples of love and compassion and joy. It is not selfish to pursue our own personal and spiritual growth and happiness. It is healthy.
     Make time to think about past holidays and focus on the events that were most special, those memories that make you smile. Be sure to include those activities or people in this year's celebration. Music can be added for a great uplifting touch for the subconscious enjoys singing or dancing or humming along to good music and soon forgets its troubles. It's sometimes the simplest things we can add to our day that make a difference.
     Finally, remember to acknowledge your loved ones and tell them how special they are to you. Too much is taken for granted where relationships are concerned. Thinking that your friends and family already know you love them isn't enough. Everyone longs to hear, "I love you" from those who are most special to us. So make a commitment to be generous with your love.
     Be sure to check on our upcoming Arche programs, which can assist you in accomplishing your goals. Our Meditation Retreat is a lovely way to get your season started in a positive direction, filled with peace and love. I think you'll find if you make the time to create your own beautiful holiday experience this year, you'll never go back to the old stressful ways of life. You deserve the best of life, including a holiday wrapped in love.
     Wishing you a beautiful, sacred holiday season!

SANDY DALIEGE

A CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

Like a Well-Kept Secret,
Messengers of God Move Amongst Us
Touching Our Lives like the Radiance of the Sun,
Lifting Our Spirits, Lightening Our Burdens,
Reminding Us that Life is Meant to be Celebrated.

They Work in Quiet Ways,
Centered in an Inner Peace with a Joyful Sense of Spirit,
Always Helpful if a Problem Arises,
Remaining Calm during Difficult Times …
A Person You Can Trust Your Heart With,
Knowing Your Confidences Will Never Be Betrayed.

For They Live by a Code of Spiritual Ethics,
With a Commitment to Truth and Honesty,
A Compassion for All People And a Wisdom that Goes Far Beyond the World.

By Pursuing Their Highest Spiritual Path,
They've come to Understand that
Each Person is Important with a Unique Purpose to Fulfill
And by Playing Out Our Individual Life Roles,
No matter how Small They May Appear,
In Truth, We All Contribute to the Greater Glory of God.
For just as the Mountain Demonstrates the Magnificence of God,
So too does the tiny Flower Express His Beauty.

Such Is Our Highest Purpose in Life ~
To Realize Our Spiritual Union With God
And Glorify Him Through Our Expression.

Well Done, Companions of The Light.
Though True Light -Bearers Are Rarely Acknowledged
As They Journey through this World,
We Celebrate You.
You Bless All Lives with Your Loving Demonstration.
All of Life is Grateful for the Presence of Your Love and Light!

SANDY DALIEGE