Like many others, the last few days of the year are a time for reflection for me, and what strikes me the most about the last few years is the sensation of Time hurling, speeding, careening way out of control.
So, I want it to slow down, already. But how to slow it down?
I am thinking that building a deeper awareness of the seasonal cycles, of the ancient solar festivals of quarter and cross-quarter days might help control that feeling of wild speed.
So I pick up a 2010 calendar and remind myself that each day is a blessing and an infinitely precious gift.
Then first to write the old Celtic names on the Calendar:
March 21 -Vernal Equinox: Ostara
June 23 -Summer Solstice: Litha
September 23 - Fall Equinox: Mabon
December 21 - Winter Solstice: Yule
Then the cross quarter days (High Feast Days of the Old Ways)
February 2 - Imbolc - halfway between Yule and Ostara
May 1 - Beltane - halfway between Ostara and Litha
August 1 - Lammas - halfway between Litha and Mabon
October 31 - Samhain - halfway between Mabon and Yule
Then to add a few Saints' Feast Days such as:
October 4 - Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
December 12 - Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe
And a few days that are important to me:
June 16 - Bloomsday
August 29 - Katrina Remembrance Day
November 18 - Beaujolais Nouvelle
Then I'll add dates of Sporting Events, such as:
February 7 - SuperBowl
December 4 - USC-UCLA Cross-Town Rivalry Game Day
Then a few special birthdays....
Will this heightened awareness help slow time down? I don't know. Ask me next year.
I do know that life is too precious not to celebrate very single day with gratefulness and joy.
Two more dates to all to my calendar:
February 14 - Lunar New Year
March 15 - Japan's Hounen Matsuri Festival (Google it!)
OK Cheryl...you lost me on this one!! I guess the charts did it :)
I do agree that we ALL need to slow down. About 18 months ago when TLW was having all of her health issues I started mediating everyday. The first 45 minutes of every day belongs to me. I have a quiet spot where I read, pray, write and mediate. This practice has changed my life.
It has helped me to slow down, relax and quit being so frantic when it comes to my life and business. It also gives me time to really focus on what I am trying to achieve that day.
I highly recommend it.
Oh, and I also need to add our local festivals:
June 6 - Lummis Day, October 2 - Eagle Rock Music Festival, December 5 - Northeast Holiday Parade
Bryant, Re pausing to relax, ponder, pray and meditate: AGREED!
As far as the chart, just start with the major Solar Quarters: Spring Equinox, Fall Equinox, Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice. And visulaize the calendar as a circle... and those quarters mark the seasons on the circle.....
BB, I try to wake up earlier than the family so I can have some quiet time as well. :-)
Cher, very interesting dates you selected. Visualizing the calendar as a circle fascinates me... :-)
C, My mind is muddling through this idea even as I write it here. In our modern world, the calendar is linear, surging forward along a straight line at an ever faster rate.
For the ancients, the calendar was circular, a recurring cycle of planting, growth, harvest, winter, then rebirth.
Restoring the circular mode may have a slowing, calming effect. At least I hope so. :-)
Wow, Cheryl, I loved that! I loved the way you broke it down and I'm willing to bet it DOES work for you. When I'm feeling time is flying I just slow down...really slow :) Until it comes back to me--and somehow, it always does.
I wish you a WONDERFUL 2010 filled with lots of love and many blessings!