{"id":7274,"date":"2014-12-23T10:07:28","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T15:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/?p=7274"},"modified":"2014-12-23T10:07:28","modified_gmt":"2014-12-23T15:07:28","slug":"christmas-eve-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2014\/12\/christmas-eve-eve.html","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Eve Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"keepbloomingheavenward\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0\u00a0 Terree O’Neill Yeagle The Moment Photography<\/a><\/p>\n

I am an equal opportunity holiday celebrant. Raised Jewish, I embrace this time as a season of light and love. I have both a menorah and mini tree; neither feel mutually exclusive for me, particularly since the tree originated as a Pagan symbol which was adopted by those celebrating the birth of Jesus, who some scholars say was born earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

December 23rd. Listening to holiday music broadcasting from my favorite station called WXPN<\/a> as I am typing these words. This past weekend brought with it, precious time with family and friends- some I consider ‘family of choice’.\u00a0 We had our annual Latke party, featuring three kinds of yummy potato pancakes- some with spinach, some with butternut squash and the third, plain ‘ol regular\/standard potato and onion, fried ever so lightly this year in olive or coconut oil. This, in service to\u00a0the cardiac condition that arrived this summer. What was even more delicious was the energy that remained in my house long after the last guest left. Hugs, laughter, music,\u00a0as well as\u00a0the\u00a0gift of a new friend who does sound healing with Tibetan bowls and gongs, reverbed throughout.<\/p>\n

The next day, I went to Circle of Miracles<\/a> for the regular service that was anything but ordinary on this particular day. Dee Wallace<\/a>– best known as the mom in E.T.\u00a0 was the speaker. She kept the congregation enthralled as she shared about her spiritual journey and the ways that she incorporates it into every aspect of her life. She\u00a0reminded us that it was our gift to ourselves to view everyone as Divine and\u00a0as such, we have the opportunity to create from that Source energy. In the presence of such grace, I was willing and able to let go of a long standing\u00a0heap of baggage\u00a0and heal some gaping wounds.\u00a0 Washed them clean with my tears.<\/p>\n

That evening, in celebration of the Winter Solstice,\u00a0I sat in a circle of dear ones, by a blazing fireplace, that was\u00a0ready to receive the Yule Log into which we had symbolically placed what we wanted to release from the year. Mine contained the resentments, fear, anger and judgment related to what I referenced in the previous paragraph. We then wrote what we chose to call into our lives in 2015. Onto a card, I penned that I welcome love and abundance in all forms, as well as complete and total well-being. Seems like that covers it all.<\/p>\n

Today, I am prepping for time with my son and my little grand-dude for Christmas Eve and more friends on Christmas Day. A few more details to handle- gift wrapping and cooking dishes to bring to the Christmas gathering. Giddy with anticipation about seeing his face light up when he sees what is in the packages. Eager for more miracles to make themselves known.<\/p>\n

Grateful for it all~<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo credit:\u00a0\u00a0 Terree O’Neill Yeagle The Moment Photography I am an equal opportunity holiday celebrant. Raised Jewish, I embrace this time as a season of light and love. 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She has also contributed to several anthologies and personal growth books. Edie has interviewed such notables as Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. Marianne Williamson, Grover Washington, Jr. Noah Levine, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, Ben and Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She calls herself an Opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility. 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