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Born and raised in Canada, I’ve never been a fan of the winter cold, yet Christmas is one of my favorite times of year.
It’s a season when many decide to warm up with hot cocoa and cozy sleigh rides, to brighten the darker days with twinkling lights and sparkling decorations, and to spread the vibrations of Unconditional Love through festive sights, sounds and smells of precious holiday goodness! Like every gift in life though, it may begin with some hard-work and most importantly, the right intention.
Good intentions equal good results and happy deliverers and receivers. However, there are some who get entrapped in ‘expectation’ and grudgingly prepare for the festivities ahead with a scrooge-like grumble. To those I say slow down and ask yourself what is really important here?
As you reflect on the true meaning behind the work ahead, perhaps you’ll discover you don’t need to put up that display after all, instead it’s better to spend that extra hour building memories with loved ones or meditating on the ‘gift of love.’ Or, maybe you’ll feel your heart swell up with ‘Grinch-turned-Santa-Claus‘ excitement and you’ll find yourself looking forward to rolling up your sleeves, stretching out your muscles, and heading to the attic or basement to haul out boxes with an “X” marked for “Xmas.”
A Walk of Love
After redecorating our home, my husband and I bundled up our kids to go for a walk and wagon-ride to take in the Christmas set-up in our own neighborhood. As we walked from street to street, our son (3 years old) and daughter (2 years old) pointed out all of their favourite things: white lights, giant snow-globes, happy Santas and a smiling Frosty The Snowman. Then our little boy started to sing his own version of “Jingle Bells” which consisted of garbage trucks and pumpkins too (he loved Hallowe’en!).
As we turned the corner, heading for home, they happily laughed and pointed at the most exciting thing they had seen — a golden retriever in someone’s driveway.
We pulled their wagon up so they could visit this gentle being with his tail wagging and his tongue delivering a kiss or two. In this encounter, we met two neighbours and discovered that Dudley, a golden retriever, and our children’s ‘favourite Christmas display,’ was also a retired ‘love therapist‘ who worked in hospitals spreading hope. As we experienced our children’s joy with Dudley, we understood that he had never truly retired. Love was something he gave out freely and naturally, on display at all times and accessible to anyone ready to make a new friend. Dudley was a perfect reminder of what Christmas is all about.
Redecorating Your Life with ‘Holy Day’ Magic
This season, as you decorate your home with your favorite holiday treats and fill the air with jolly-holiday music, think about redecorating your life as well. Remind yourself that just as your outer world can be redecorated with splendid sights and sounds that celebrate the moment, so too can you redecorate your mind, emotions and spirit with the magic of Unconditional Love in the Present of Now.
1. Choose ‘holy day’ joy! Whenever your mind or emotions go into a painful, fear-based or cheerless place, refocus to the present moment to discover all of its glory.
2. Celebrate life! Take action to celebrate yourself and those you love. Give an extra hug or kiss today. Tell your family just how much you love them and why you do. Go for a blissful nature walk together. Begin a journal to reflect on why your life is worth celebrating. Take plenty of pictures and videos, then make a fun scrapbook page together to always remember.
3. Send out a Garland of Gratitude! Focus your mind and emotions on every thing you have to be grateful for and let this feeling of gratitude spread through every cell in your body, then outwards into the Universe, and back within you again.
4. Be the Light! Shine the energy of love within yourself and spread it to those you meet. Choose to find a smile in every situation. Be an angel in every moment. As you activate the Light within, you inspire Light from those around you.
Affirmation Reflections for the Holidays
Where there is darkness, I will make Light.
Where there is a wind that bites, I will Warm and Soften with vibrant scarves and mits.
Where there is silence, I will bring Festive Jingle Music.
Where there are blankets of white and muddy grays, I will bring Colors of Every Kind.
Where there is cold, I will start a fire and Spread Out Candlelight.
Where there is lack, I will make Plenty (cookies, pies, stuffing!).
Where there is ice to fall upon, I will Dance and Fly with Skates.
Where there is limitless snow, I will make a Field of Snow Angels and Smiling Snowmen.
Where ever there is loss, I will bring Hope.
Where there is a holiday, I will live a ‘Holy Day!’
Remember, the ultimate present, is being present.
Blessings to you and your ‘holy day’! May the lessons of winter magic permeate within you and shine for the nourishment of those around you.
*Photograph 1 provided by bortescristian
*Photograph 2 provided by normanack
*Photograph 3 provided by Simone Hudson
About the author:Unity J. Schmidt - is an Angel Clairvoyant, Life Path Guide and Founder of Spirit Awakes. She works with clients from around the world, helping them awaken Higher Self to understand the journey of discovery (present and past lifetimes), and to heal the Ego so that life may be lived fruitfully, consciously, blissfully.
To discover more about Unity and her services visit: www.ReadingsWithUnity.com
To reach her directly call 1-888-UNITY-11, write unity@readingswithunity.com or follow her on twitter.com/spiritawakes
15 Comments to “Make Every Holiday a ‘Holy Day’: Redecorating the Landscape of Life”
When we become present, we experience life and creation and view them as gifts. We then add to creation by being creative and unique with each special and unique moment that we experience. We can create miracles by dissolving tension and dispense magic by giving to the world that which we are….qualitative inventors of a brand that is new….spelling beauty upon the open land.
Hi Unity and Evita,
My birthday is in between Christmas and the New Year. And my wedding anniversary is also in December. So this month is a month that is full of joy. That said, I learned a while ago that what makes the holidays so special is love.
Here in America, the holiday is so commercialized, people forget what Christmas is all about. Not that I am a devout Catholic but the birth of Christ was the beginning of a message of love. Love is what should be celebrated and not just giving gifts because you have to do so.
As a result of seeing Christmas as being a celebration of love, I make hundreds of cookies and give those out to friends and family. I make the joke that cookies are “some lovin from the oven” and each year it is a delight to see the joy on people’s faces even though making the cookies is such hard work.
So thank you so much for writing this post and reinforcing the concept that the holidays are about love and gratitude.
Hope all is awesome!
Oh, Unity, you’ve offered a delightful illustration of the most important aspect of the Christmas holiday season. Thank you! Your children and Dudley are surely the wisest among us. :) So often, our best lessons and clearest messages come through the young and our animal friends. Their clear hearts filled with innocents shine so brightly…! St. Francis of Assissi’s prayer is one of my favorites; I just love your holiday take on it. :)
Hi, Evita! Thank you for having Unity here, today. It’s wonderful to meet more like-minded people. You’re a treasure for introducing us all!
~ Julie
Unity,
This is the best I’ve read this holyday season! Your energy is shining and bright right through my computer screen. I’ve got a sense of your fun loving spirit and look forward to reading more from you. Happy Holy Days!
Thanks for this — that’s a good point, that when we’re grumbling through holiday-related (or any) tasks it’s often useful to take a step back and notice the larger reason why we’re doing them and what we’re really celebrating.
As much as I’m a fan of bright lights and twinkly things, I really like to make this time of year meaningful for myself and others.
Unity and Evita, so true, love never retires and is not just coming out for the holiday season either. However as long as it brings out love and spirit like this besides irritations and busyness, celebrating Christmas is not wasted.
I love the idea to “be an angel in every moment.” What a wonderful way to word that. I really enjoyed your gentle energy in this post. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Hi Unity,
I love “be the light”! We can all do that…it’s just a matter of choosing that path. And your story of Dudley shines of this. We never have to retire from love. That’s such a great way to look at it!
And fields of angels and snowmen…that sounds like a great way to look at the snow all around (which is exactly what I see out my window).
Thank you to everyone who responded to the article. It’s lovely to hear back from you and your insights and comments are much appreciated. May every being be filled with the celebration of life this season and all those seasons that follow!
Bern: Thank you. Your words beautifully represent Creation->Creating->Creation. And yes, the moment of ‘now’ is the greatest miracle already. I also love your description of “spelling beauty upon the open land.” If only we all preserved and took care of this natural miracle all around us; Mother-Earth herself.
Nadia: Well then, Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & Happy Anniversary! The dates on your life path already embody the gifts of love perfectly. And your cookie gift exchange definitely gives to plenty, what a beautiful idea! Homemade gifts are the best, although those ‘commercial’ industries may not agree. ;)
Julie: Thank you! As for Riven, Sativa and Dudley, I agree that they are the wisest. I learn from my little ones daily and some of my favourite moments of inspiration has them as its guiding Source. :) I’m happy to be connected to this community as well. It’s cozy to find a treasure-trove of like-minded hearts and kindred spirits.
Tess: Thank you so much! Happy Holy Days to you!
Chris: Yes, it’s amazing when you take a step back, or notice someone else taking a moment to rein themselves in, and truly be present, how an awakening celebration is instantly available.
J.D.: Sharing the meaning behind the season is what it’s all about. As Charles Dickens once said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” :)
Wilma: Yes, celebration grown from love is never “wasted.” And love never “retires,” but only continues to heighten and transform and heighten again~
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Megan: Thank you Megan! I find gentle peace in understanding that angels are everywhere always — within us, beyond us, and beside us. Angel blessings to you!
Lance: The wonderful thing about ‘being the light’ is that as we do this, our path is even more clear and bright before us. As for the angels and snowmen, I can’t wait to build some with my little ones. :)
Warmest Blessings Everyone,
Unity
We forget the real reason for the holidays. Spirituality and friends. When we combine both of these we optimize the love.
We do need to be careful in how we celebrate our holidays. You make a good point. Why get all upset at the tangled Christmas lights? Take that time to have a cup of hot chocolate with your family.
I myself have found a way to simplify my lights. So it’s still fun to do and only takes a half hour.
Oh, no, Evita — you bring to me yet ANOTHER inspiring blogger? Yet another lovely spirit that I want to latch onto in my blog reading. I’m starting to feel very gluttonous :).
Unity, your message is SUCH a cure for the heartsickness I sometimes get when I see all the commercialization! I find it so easy to all “light and happy” in ordinary moments, yet at holiday times, with all the commercialization, I get lazy and want to just hide from it and have my own little private celebration. Good for you, reminding me that this is NOT the time to hide away, but to let the season be what it is, in all its original glory — a message of what Life is all about, ALL the time! Thanks for the redecorating your life thoughts. I feel so much better ~~
Hi Unity,
What a peaceful post. Spreading love and good energy:) I love the affirmation reflections–perfect not only during this holiday season, but every day!
Much peace…
What a truly lovely post for Christmas. Thumbs up to the sentence “Remember, the ultimate present, is being present”. Indeed, it is true! The greatest gift of all!
Have a Merry Christmas this Happy season! And continue to celebrate life, magic and love the whole year round!
I am enjoying being present to the tasks at hand to prepare for this holiday event in our family.
I just watched a video on a UK toddler helping his family decorate the tree – it just made my tree for my grown children a reminder of those precious moments and days.
I am knitting socks for everyone..to keep their feet warm and dry and hugged
no brass bands, but lots of homemade candles…I decided this was the year to light all the candles my children have made or purchased for me to light the table…there are 23 right now on display waiting their shining moment.
Thank you for this lovely walk and reminder – perfect discovery for me today