The Seasonal Power of Myth and Wonder

Recently, I sat around a dinner table with friends who were sharing their memories of holidays as children. We laughed about the family dynamics of Thanksgiving and then the topic of Christmas arose. Although, most of my friends at the table that night were of Jewish descent, to my surprise I discovered that their families made allowances for all their children to invite the magic of Santa Claus into their homes.

The conversations I heard were quite interesting. Each adult shared their family tradition of gift giving and then their very personal, heart sinking experience the day they were told that there was no real Santa Claus. Each one recalled in detail, where they were, who was the person who told them and how they felt . The memory was described as an awful moment for them because it marked a loss of innocence.  Once the wonderous belief in a Santa was gone, was there any magic left in the world to believe in? What else was also a lie?  These shared experiences of feeling shaken in their belief systems speak to the fragility of youth. How often we forget that the hardness of realities much greater than this simple example can rob a child of the power of wonderment in the world?

 This got me to thinking about the power of the myth and what occurs to a child who is prematurely stripped of their beliefs and myths?  Myths exist as universal templates in which the soul's imagination breathes color and enlivens one's world. The stories that accompanies myths develop a capacity to stretch beyond logic enough to believe in a sense of "more" to life than what meets the eye. Albert Einstein said " There are two ways you can live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as if everything is a miracle".  Without one's  little miracles which thus exercise one's capacity for imagination to be in wonder, the human mind and spirit becomes dim.

I recall stories of friends and clients who as children never had the opportunity to look forward to something special or if they did on occassion, then they clung onto the memory like a beautiful ornament hanging on a golden thread. Every child's mind and heart needs the power of some magic in their life to stir them toward the myth and mystery of believing in more. Adult children who lack experiences of wonder in their lives become hungry and restless wanderers. Their search for "more" is a desire to fill an emptiness within the soul that remains unmet. Many times those wanderers become seekers who ultimately discover that the greatest wonder of all is that everything is love and they too are lovable and worthy of feeling loved.  

If you chose to give a gift during this time of year, as most cultures find a reason to celebrate during the Season of Light, do remember to appeal to the wonder in all persons. Remember that every adult needs a reason to believe again that the world holds the return of light even in the darkest of hours; be reminded when you raise your eyes toward the winter sky that the stars in the heavens are streaming their light toward you. Allow yourself to reconnect with your ancestors and know you are not alone; behold the twinkle lights, bathe in the crystal world of snow, share your light with every one you meet and remember the Spirit of giving does its' magic only when we let the child in us believe once again.

Blessings, Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas 

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD

I have the good fortune to spend this week with my grandchildren at the beach in Florida. Lyle is three and a half yrs. old and was able to take hold of the wonderous possibilities that the day offered, in an otherwise adult day of outdoor dining, shopping and walking the posh streets and vias of Palm Beach.  

How so? When everyone else ran for cover in a spontaneous rain shower, Lyle danced and played with glee. When the outdoor bistro brought everyone else there lunch and forgot his pizza, he entertained himself patiently, with two lizards who enjoyed his small offerings of bread from the table. When Lyle and I strolled through the back vias off of Worth Avenue, and the adults window shopped, he found many a delight to see. 

How is it that we, as adults, lose the capacity to see all that is before us and managed to become "bored", "preoccupied" or "restless" to move on, while the moments, hours, days and years at hand slip between our fingers? Do you recall how it is when you are first in love? Every sound, every ray of light, the gentle breezes against your cheek , the words exchanged, all casts a special meaning on the moments shared.  You are in a state of illuminated living. A state of perception that children always perceive from when they are not crushed by the density of adult consciousness. This is a state that those on the threshold of dying also reexperience ,as their veils of consciousness are once again lifted and the soul's eyes can see again.

So the question becomes, how do we return to such a state of illuminated living that allows us to bathe in the joys that life offers us, dance in the rain that showers liquid light, see the beauty in the smallest of creatures, fall in love over and over again with the one you are with?

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO FREE YOUR INNER CHILD AGAIN by assuming, even amongst the terrible trajedies that also exist, that beauty and illuminated moments of grace are awaiting you too. Search with an open inquisitive mind for the wonder in every circumstance, find words of peace for your listening soul to respond to, receive the simplest gesture of intention from someone as a gift and then place this in your heart so you can feel nurtured. Open your eyes to small things so you can remember that there exist an exquisitely quieter world that reveals mysteries, rare findings and infinite surprises that will delight you. Find a small child to be your guru and teach you again the joys of this wonderous world called life. Blessings