Category Archives: health

health, meditation

The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Swans a-Swimming

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The other day, I was driving our son through a nice Christmas snow so he could volunteer at the museum, and he said, ‘you know, mom, everything is pretty with snow on it.’

I agreed. The world is so beautiful when covered with snow. And I have to think that the last bird mentioned in the twelve days of Christmas is the most beautiful of them all. And I want to be reminded to look for the beauty that surrounds us, like in the snow.

It could be easy to look at the snow and only see needing to shovel it or how hard it is to drive in it. But it also makes everything look so pretty, and it makes the world glow. It’s such a common thing, and it’s everywhere, but it is beautiful.

We have a pair of cardinals that like to sit in the tree outside our window. The male is such a vivid color, especially against the snow and the bark of the bare tree. The female is the same shape and just as graceful, just s beautiful. Together they will make another generation of cardinals that will flit in the tree in years to come. I don’t know how many generations I have already watched.

We have old windows, and on nights when it is cold and damp enough, we can wake up to feathers of frost blooming on them. I dread ever getting new windows because they don’t have that little bit of beauty anymore.

When my mother was living with us before she died, she had a teddy bear she loved dearly. She was so beautiful when cuddling it.

Every where we turn, our lives are surrounded by beauty. If we define beauty too narrowly, however, we will miss it. Defining it broadly— sun glinting off ice, a brown bird with the promise of more, an old woman’s smile— and our lives are full of beauty.

And the world certainly needs more of it.

So when I remember the swans-a-swimming, I will think of beauty and try to remember to look for it everywhere, even where I don’t expect to find it.

Back to introduction.
Forward to Eight.

health, meditation

The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Geese a-Laying

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My mother would tell me a story of how the Romans used geese instead of dogs to guard their cities and soldiers. I am not sure how widespread through out Rome this actually was, but there is historical evidence that the Romans and many many others have relied on these birds to sounds an alarm and defend them or their property from intruders. So on this sixth day of Christmas, I am thinking about defense.

I am thinking about the defenses we set up that actually hurt us, the ones that our animal brains put into place to deal with hurts when we don’t have the tools to deal with them in a healthy manner. You probably can name a couple of your own right now, and know exactly what I mean. I have been under a great deal of stress over the past few years, and have learned some needed but not healthy ways of defending my psyche. Now that the stress is loosening up, I need to remember to shift from non productive defenses to productive ones.

For example, I have a procrastinator’s habit of doing busy work: when you keep moving and get things done but they are not the things that will actually move your life forward. Yes, the refrigerator needs to be cleaned and dinner needs to be cooked, but that looming bill needs to be paid and that dreadful task needs to be done as well. But by busying myself with other tasks, I can keep pushing off what needs to be done, working hard, and still feeling guilt, stress and not moving forward.

So when I hear this line, I will think of defenses that are good and ones that are dangerous and will remember to work against the ones that will not help me in the long run, even if they make me feel better in the short run.

Back to introduction.
Forward to Seven.

health, meditation

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Calling Birds/Colly birds

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Depending on where you are from, you know the fourth gift is either four calling birds or four colly birds. ‘Colly’ is British for ‘coal dark’ (or grimy, but let’s stick with the coal dark) and would have meant black birds.

Black birds have been revered in many cultures as a symbol of the divine link. I have a friend who always takes it as an omen when he sees them. I am far more skeptical, but I still think that a link with whatever you consider divine is helpful and can be productive.

One of the reasons we like celebrating all the twelve days is because our farming ancestors used this time to relax and reassess and visit during the time when there was no work to do outside (indoor work was never finished). Work no longer stops for the winter, but the snow and the early dark still beckon for us to slow down and enjoy life differently.

We are in Buffalo, and it’s currently -17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 C) and we have about 8 inches if snow. It’s been flurrying off and on all day. It’s the type of day where soft clothes and warm drinks are exactly what you want and need. And for me, that’s a chance to slow down and reconnect with myself and my family. And, by extension, the divine within.

I know I should be looking outward and recognizing the divine in you, and that’s wrong. That negativity, that deflection, that pushing away from self comfort into self criticism is harmful. Many of us do that, though. We put ourselves down and only focus on what needs to be done, not on what we’ve accomplished. In truth, it is often those of us who get the most done who only look at what we still need to do. I will slow down, I will look at what has been accomplished today, this week, this year that’s nearly over, and I will not beat myself up over what hasn’t been done yet.

So when I remember the Calling Birds, I will remember to be gentle with myself and recognize the divine link within.

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Forward to Five.