The Center will be open this coming Saturday from 10-2:00 so for those of you that were not able to attend the Aurapalooza last week end you can get a massage by Tina McGee, a reading from Kathy Kurta, gifts from the Gift Shop and beautiful hand crafted jewelry by Deb Amon of Amondesigns and Christie Umboh of Holistic Arts.

It’s hard to believe Christmas is a week away. I’m getting a lot of emails from people who are at the end of their rope considering suicide. A lot of people dealing with the loss of a loved one. And then there’s the whole “flu season” with lots and lots of people very sick right now, myself included. Don’t you wonder why so many people suddenly get sick in December? Is it the stress of the holiday’s? Is it our bodies cleaning out the crud that we internalized throughout the year? Is it the financial burden of coming up with extra money to buy presents for the people in our lives? Is it settling into winter, being couped up? December definitely has an added burden of expectations, being stretched financially, dealing with family members who are a source of contention. We’re expected to be happy, jolly and gay. Bing Crosby sings that this is the happiest time of the year, but for so many it’s just the opposite. I wish there was a way to get back to the simplicity of the holiday. We’re celebrating the birth of Rabbi Yeshua ben Yoseph. (Did you know that’s actually Jesus’ name? Jesus, son of Joseph).
I sit here wondering what would he be telling us to do to celebrate his birth. He would probably think it’s nice that we buy gifts for the people we love even though it has nothing to do with his birth. He probably thinks it’s great that we get together with people we love to break bread and celebrate our love for one another. He probably appreciates the nice things people say about him, wish him a happy birthday, etc.I’m sure he loves the fact that people go out of their way to help one another at this time of year.

But I doubt he would want us to be financially burdened, get depressed, sick or commit suicide because we’re not happy at the “happiest time of the year.” It seems like people dwell on what they don’t have rather than what they do have and I think that’s a huge part of it. People that don’t have a significant other, people who don’t have money to buy presents, people who are in crummy jobs or have no job. People whose life is not turning out the way they want it to. For some reason, what we don’t have seems to be the focus during the month of December AND WE CAN CHANGE THAT. I think realizing THAT would be very important to him.

No, I’m not going to get religious on you. That’s the churches job. I simply want to remind you that all the crummy-ness in your life can be temporary if you let it. If you are stressed right now, would you please remind yourself that this too is going to pass and before you know it, you’ll be into the new year which means a new beginning. Make a list of all the things you are grateful for and all the things that you would like to change in your life. Don’t let the holiday hype dictate your preferred religious celebration. If you are suicidal or depressed, you can get help for that. Suicide is not a solution for depression simply because the depression is in your soul and you’ll take it with you when you die. It’s best to work on getting that depression healed while you’re here.

I believe what would be most important to Jesus right now is that we understand the Christ part of ourselves and live from that Christ part. His life was extremely important and he had so many wonderful messages for us. He came to teach us who and what we are. If you aren’t familiar with the Christ part of yourself (Jesus’ last name is not Christ. He is Jesus, the Christ), I highly recommend a book called Jesus, His Words Decoded, His Mystery Teachings Revealed by John Van Auken. I’ve read lots of books about Jesus and this one is by far the best. A.R.E. Press is the publisher. Putting On The Mind of Christ by Jim Marion is my other favorite. Jim is a former priest and his book is geared more for Catholics, but it’s a great book for everyone.

My Christmas wish for you is that you discover the Christ part of yourself and live from that place from now on. Don’t let gift buying stress you out. Be a gift to the people in your life. Be a gift to yourself.

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Live meditation Friday, Dec. 26th at the Center and on Saturday, Dec. 27th from 7-9:15pm, Astrologer Nancy Jernander and myself will be doing a Psychic Astrological update for the new year. No need to register.$40.

Have a blessed holiday.
Love,
Echo