Christmas Gifts

Advent - the days running up to Christmas time - can seem very preoccupied with material concerns. Shops and the media are filled with promotion of material gifts, and the only sign of any remembrance of the religious significance is often the children`s school nativity plays and carol concerts. 

However, it is certainly a time of year when more prominence is given to the magical symbol of the Star! Stars are shining everywhere in Christmas displays, and probably every child knows that three wise men followed a star to find baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

It is comforting to reflect (amidst all the materialism) that the star symbol itself has an intrinsic power which stimulates the inner Christ light to arise and shine out more brightly; it truly is a magical symbol!

And so are the three gifts - White Eagle`s teaching on these is very clear and inspiring. 

We were contemplating some of this in the Advent retreat I conducted at New Lands recently. Something I had not focussed on before is that the gift of gold, is not only the gift of love and light in every human heart, but it is also the gift of physical life itself and the `temple` of our bodies, which we have the opportunity to nurture and be thankful for throughout our physical lives. Even though our bodies can give us trouble - particularly as we get on in years - they are something to treasure and be kind to. So a different thought I offer for Christmas time is a gift of kindness to our bodies (a little rest and relaxation in the four days of the solstice - the sun standing still time). This could well be very hard to achieve, but even half an hour of doing `something for you` - a gift of kindness to yourself, may make all the difference to the bright light of happiness you can beam forth to your family and friends. 

Then the gift of myrrh (the bitter herb symbolic of the suffering of physical life) may not seem so bitter, and the gift of frankinsence (of sweetness and the awareness of the presence of angelic helpers and the continued companionship of your loved ones in spirit), will be more easily welcomed into your heart.

(See the White Eagle book `Festivals and Celebrations` for inspiring teaching for your quiet times this Christ-mass festival.)