A Lenten Spiritual Journey, Regardless of Your Faith

Lent, the forty days leading toward Easter, is a sacred season of reflection for many Christians as they remember Christ retreating into solitude for forty days and forty nights where he resisted temptation and stood true to his connection to Truth and Light.

What is your truth? What, in your life, is tempting you? What is pulling you away from joy and light in your life?

Christ sacrificed his own popularity and acceptance by continuing to spread his teachings, which eventually ended in the ultimate sacrifice of his own life upon the cross.

“A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” ~Mahatma Gandhi on Jesus Christ

Many spiritual leaders walk the path of Salvation through Sacrifice. The Buddha abandoned his family to find his Truth. During the process, he too, avoided temptation of evil but through the demon, Mara. To find spiritual truth, the Buddha detached from all material wealth and attachments including comfort, food, family and most human contact. He fasted and sacrificed these luxuries, not to bring pain upon his earthly body but to move away from the greater pain of attachment to the material world.

“The sacrifice which causes sorrow to the doer of the sacrifice is no sacrifice. Real sacrifice lightens the mind of the doer and gives him a sense of peace and joy. The Buddha gave up the pleasures of life because they had become painful to him.”

In both examples, Jesus and Buddha went off into solitude to find their path to spiritual enlightenment. We are unable to connect to our Source without the silent solitude necessary to feed our souls. We need time alone, time to meditate, time to reflect and time to feel God or our Inner Light.

When do you find quiet time for yourself? Have you made it a priority to give yourself and those you love this sacrificial gift? When we take the time to care for ourselves, we are more able to care for those we love.

Regardless of your own spiritual or religious beliefs, this time leading up to Spring is a good time to consider your relationship to ‘things’ and emotions that are no longer serving you.

What are your attachments in this life? Can you let go?

During Lent, we often hear of individuals ‘giving up’ worldly things such as television watching, chocolate or bad habits. And while these are all good tests of our will and free us to focus on more spiritual work and healthy lifestyle, we should also include a Lenten sacrifice that can be looked upon as more of an act of service, or joyful giving.

This Lent, we can be aware of the hold material things have on us. Many of the comforts in life can consume us and keep us trapped, away from the true beauty of simplicity. These forty days and nights, we can work toward freeing our spirits from attachment and allowing unselfish love to flow into our lives.

“To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.” ~ Buddha

We can begin simply by giving others more than we give ourselves. This type of a ‘giving sacrifice’ can be in the form of a clothing or food donation, volunteering in our community or just simply turning off the computer or television and being present with our families. It is impossible for us to truly be with our loved ones or even hear the silence and be alone if we are constantly ‘connected’ to some form of technology.

In these modern times, are we ever really alone? Aren’t we constantly connected to something or someone via text, phone, computer, television or radio? Can we sacrifice the noise in our lives to lead us toward greater spiritual truths?

Those of us who yearn to find ourselves more deeply must first allow ourselves to be alone, free from material attachments and constant connections. At first it can be uncomfortable to be alone or sit in silence – but it is essential to our spiritual growth and physical health. Meditation and prayer are wonderful tools and especially fitting during Lent. You may also consider journaling each day of Lent as part of your Lenten ‘sacrifice’.

“The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are.Poverty for us is a freedom. It is not mortification, a penance. It is joyful freedom. There is no television here, no this, no that. But we are perfectly happy.” ~Mother Teresa

While the depth and meaning of this sacred time is not something we bring to the children with our words, the reverence we show in our homes this Lent will absolutely feed their souls. In addition, the sacrifice (or gift) of silent reflection and simplicity frees us to truly ‘be’ with the children each day… loving, eating, playing, learning, warming and sleeping.

What more do any of us truly need?

Share Your Holiday Traditions - A Giveaway!

This past Sunday was the first day of Advent and whether or not Advent fits within your family customs, the time leading up to the Winter Solstice and Christmas is a good time for contemplation, going within and working through unresolved issues in your heart.

In the Waldorf tradition, the weeks leading up to Advent are celebrated by creating reverence for each of the four different kingdoms: stones (earth), plants, animals and mankind.  There is something about this holistic look at this time of year that speaks to me so deeply and I do my best to use this time to dig deeper spiritually.

There are many traditions and customs during this season that families, schools and churches recognize.  Advent wreaths are often used with candles that are lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas time.  Baking cookies, lighting a menorah or adding an ornament to a Jesse Tree each day are other traditions that come to mind.

My family has begun our own unique traditions that I've shared in the Advent and St. Nicholas Festival E-Book such as our Advent Kindness Clock which includes a little act of kindness that can be done each day leading up to Christmas.

We also created a beautiful Advent Wall Spiral where my daughters place a special star each day of Advent time.

I would love to hear about the traditions and customs in your family this time of year.

In the comments section below, share with us your family traditions leading up to the Winter Solstice and Christmas.  On the second Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 9th), in the evening, we will randomly choose three winners to receive a FREE copy of our Advent and St. Nicholas Day Festival Book or another of your choice!  Be sure to check back here to see if you won.

Good luck!
xoox

Saying Goodbye to Stoli

This past week we had to say goodbye to Stoli... our puppy who followed me around every moment of the day and sat by my side through all of it, good and bad, for the last 14 years.

The house is emptier now. His spot next to my bed and where I sit in the living room is empty. I still brace myself before coming home because it's so hard not to have him greet me with excitement like he always did. I wish someone would have warned me about that.. it was the hardest the first time. I know it seems silly to be this upset over an animal but him and I had a special connection and it's hard to let him go.

It's amazing to me how much love we have for the animals we share our lives with. They give such unconditional love and comfort. I wish humans could be the same way.

At the end, he was suffering in many ways - one of the most difficult ways was night time dementia.  Not only was I getting woken up caring for him every 15-20 minutes but he was confused and upset and doing things that were strange and unlike him.  It was upsetting to me and I think also to him. I feel he was afraid.  

The funny thing is that the first night he was gone, I should have been able to get a good night sleep for the first night in months... but I couldn't sleep a wink without him by my side.

Time heals and I know it will get easier but I miss my boy and I'm so sad to not be able to share more of this life with him.

We said our goodbyes and there will be a void that no other animal can fill - it's his alone. I fed him his favorite forbidden food, pistachio nuts, and we had a gentle vet come to the house to put him to sleep. 

Before he left, I clipped some of his fur to keep when I miss him and just want to touch him again. I know it seems silly or maybe over-the-top and I'm sure a lot of people think I'm crazy... but it helps me. 

 

I keep trying to visualize him here like he used to be so I don't forget... but even with only a few days without him, it slips from you a bit. It's hard to keep the picture in your head just right. I'm grateful for photos to help with that.  (don't worry he's only sleeping in the next photo)...

So, time goes forward and life keeps moving. I keep thinking where has he gone? I try to hold onto faith that there is something more for all of us after this life. It goes by all too soon. 

The First Light of Advent...Remaining Hopeful

 The first light of Advent,

It is the light of Stones,

Stones that live in crystals,

Seashells and our bones.

 In Waldorf Education the first light of Advent represents stones. A pretty way to recognize this at home is to decorate your advent wreath with small gems, pebbles, shells, crystals or even a photo or sample of your child’s birthstone. For wonderful ways to celebrate the beautiful time of Advent and the festival of St. Nicholas Day, be sure to check out our e-book.

Today we attended a beautiful tradition at our church and made homemade advent wreaths with other parishioners. It is an event that I wanted to attend in previous years but our schedules never allowed. I am go glad we made the decision as a family to stay at this church. Recently I considered going back to the religion of my childhood, but after beginning the transition it became very clear that what we were searching for was already right where we were. Church for us should  be a second home, a place to connect to God, a place to feel connected to our community but MOST of all, a place that welcomes us and others with open arms no matter where we are on our paths. Just as we believe Jesus does.

Our days have been full of preparing for the holiday season. It's been a time of family and warmth and I'm grateful that the holidays can pull us together like this. I was also grateful that my oldest daughter was home from college and could be a part of all of our family time.

We made paper snowflakes (nowadays they have cool templates online to make it easier!)

 We decorated our tree and I made the girls take the obligatory 'decorating the tree together' photo (don't they look so natural?)

We put up our Christmas Village. My mother-in-law gave me each and every piece to this amazing village. It takes a full afternoon to get just right but it's really worth it and the girls love it so much. They look forward to finding each familiar piece and helping me to decide how our North Pole Village should look.

They each decorated their rooms with leftover Christmas lights and their own special little tree.

And we helped one another decorate the outside of the house. Their dad did most of the work to be fair. It really looks beautiful and took all weekend to get done. 

As we have been taught, the first week of Advent is for HOPE. 

So, as we blow out our first advent candle this evening, I make a wish that all of us remain hopeful.  Hopeful for ourselves.  Hopeful for our loved ones.  And most of all, hopeful for our world.

Walk into Spring

Finally! This winter has dragged on for me for so many reasons -  the cold being one of them, of course. We would get a taste of warm weather and then a snowstorm, over and over again and it is really hard to handle when it is that freezing bitter cold that numbs you both physically and mentally.  I'm trying not to get too excited but today I went for a walk and was so happy to see flowers blooming all around my neighborhood. Can it really be Spring? 

I have not even thought about my garden this year. No plan, no seeds indoors.. nothing. And the dandelions are popping up along with other flowers which means the ground is ready to plant. I will have to direct sow my seeds this year and hope everything grows.

I've been walking and exercising a lot lately. In addition to spin class which I love, I recently got a FitBit and have been competing with some other (crazy) competitive people like myself.  And, I've been walking everywhere to try to win... around my dining room table ten times, around the neighborhood, at my children's sports practices - you name it.  I feel like Forrest Gump (minus the running part). Today Keira walked with me while Maia practiced lacrosse...

I love the little messages I get from Mother Earth when I walk and look closely.  Today this heart rock right in my path...

At the shore this pretty sand dollar:

Walking is good therapy. On the beach, I looked behind me to see my footsteps leading me to where I am. 

Then when I looked ahead of me there was untouched sand, ready for me to decide which footprints to leave on it. For now, I'll just take in the view and stand still.

Battling Dragons

Today is Michaelmas.  If you are unsure what this festival is all about, click here.  When I became interested in Waldorf Education, one of the things I loved most was the emphasis placed on seasonal festivals and celebrations.  Being raised Catholic, I was taught to pray to many Saints and St. Michael the Archangel has always been one of my favorites.  St. Michael is the Patron Saint of Police Officers and being the daughter of a NYPD Inspector and a family of NYPD officers, this angel represented protection for our family.

Waldorf festivals are so beautiful.  They are not just celebrated externally but internally.  For Michaelmas, we are asked to search deep within to discover our innermost dragons and demons and pull from ourselves the courage we need to win our hardest battles.  These deep thoughts are not brought to young children in the Waldorf classroom but messages of bravery and triumph over evil are.  It's all a very beautiful spiritual process that I have always been drawn to.

If I am honest, however, although I have written a large selection of Curriculum and Festival Books - I struggle myself with remembering to celebrate and work on these things in my own life.

Waldorf families all over may be making their dragon bread (a fun tradition) this week or participating in their Waldorf schools Michaelmas Festivals.

Dragon Bready by Vanessa Mitchell Kohlhaas

I was lucky to squeeze out this little activity with my girls from our Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas Festival E-Book, Nature's Dragons... but that's about it so far.

We haven't baked in forever, my house is a mess and I've got a list a mile long of things that I'm not sure I will ever get to!  As I was sitting here trying to write an inspirational post for my Waldorf followers on how to celebrate the day, I realized that I needed to be honest that my own family has no celebration planned at all.  :) 

But the day did bring me to think about battling those dragons.  Lately, I have many I'm trying to conquer and sometimes I feel as if so much progress has been unraveled as I see myself struggling with  many of the same issues over and over again that I thought I had somewhat figured out. 

If this year we do not get around to baking our dragon bread, I at least want to take some time to look within.  

“It is the renewal of the whole human 

disposition of heart and soul that 

should be celebrated at Michaelmas—

not as an outward or conventional 

ceremony, but as a festival which 

renews us wholly and inwardly.” 

~Rudolf Steiner, extract from a lecture 

given in Stuttgart on 5 October, 1923

Hmmmm I could use some renewal.  In my work life, personal life and home.  I find this time of year I'm always feeling like I'm on a hamster wheel and not getting to where I need to be.  

From our Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas E-Book Caregiver Meditation:  

"At this time of year, the turning seasons remind us to slow down, come home, warm up, and 

consider. We are happier to look inward in the autumn and winter than we were during the 

summer months when we were busy living and doing. When we turn our attention inward, we 

can see our own inner dragons waiting for us there. They deserve our attention again because 

they've been patient—even faithful—waiting for us to remember them. Our dragons are our 

fears, insecurities, failings, worries, and procrastinations. And they have much to teach us. In a 

way, our dragons keep us honest."

For those of you who could use a little help celebrating this week or digging deeper into yourself like me, I am offering a 6 hour 50% off sale of our Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas Festival E-Book at Little Acorn Learning.  From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST today only - the e-book is only $12.49.

xoxox

Retreating into Sisterhood

I am back from a weekend away in the woods with a group of amazing women.  We share a large cabin with a wood stove, kitchen and bunk beds.  Knit, read, walk, talk and laugh... a lot.  Disconnected from Internet service and the constant demands of family life and obligations.  

Bliss.

There are a lot of things I do not like about the idea of organized religion but there are many things that are nothing short of beautiful gifts sent from above when you are a part of a congregation of any type.  I was not raised in this church but came here in an effort to find a place where my less conservative views about Christianity would be appreciated and where my husband would feel comfortable. I now find myself a part of an entirely new family of soul-sisters.  Women who listen, laugh, cry and enjoy one another.  Being an only child, I never realized how much I missed not having a sister until I was able to witness my own daughters' relationships.  I think it is very important that women find other women that they can connect with.  It has taken me a lifetime to seek out healthy friendships with other women and I find myself in a time in my life that I am so blessed to have found many...

While on our retreat, we taught ourselves to Arm Knit.  We were quite proud to say the least :)

A few of us also worked on clips to sell at the church fair.  I brought along supplies and found a few good tutorials online.  I can't believe I haven't made these for my own girls sooner.  

\

The felt flower clips are by far my favorite though.  I love them so much that I continued to work on some when I returned home.  They are so Waldorfy and soft.  I made a few for my girls and I'm making some to sell to a few women on my Waldorf Tag Sale Facebook page as well.  

Luckily, I am not short on adorable models to help promote the product.  :)

“Women who understand how powerful they are do not give into envy over meaningless things, instead they fight to maintain the beautiful bond of the sisterhood. These are the real women who know that we need each other’s love & support to survive in this world. Love is the essence of being a woman. We must be that light of love that seals the bond & unique beauty of our sisterhood.”  ~Bindu