"Wolf Moon" is a term used by North American natives to describe the December full moon, since it used to be the time, when hungry wolves howled at the moon in cold and long winter nights. Let's hope, that this sound will be heard in the future, too, since wolves still are an endangered species, suffering from a bad reputation (which was spawned by humans).
And just as all full moons before, it is a time to power up, gather energy and use the moon's power to rekindle the inner light.
This full moon was timed just right to spend me an extra portion of positive power, as it illuminated my way to work on the final day of my office week (even though it was a short one, interrupted by the holidays). Iwas able to capture its light on my way out in the early morning, as it was about to set, at the bus stop before entering the bus and also after exiting the bus, shining in a more industrial setting...
Even though it was shorter than usual, I still had that feeling of joy, that the week at work was coming to an end on this Friday, and also shared it with others, using my usual TGIF message...
Even though the two work days interrupted my holiday week barefooting (five days of unshod bliss), I was able to still give my bare feet their freedom before and after work, thanks to mild conditions. Even the often falling rain did not dampen my good mood, since it meant being able to enjoy the delight of splashing in puddles, refreshing myself on the start of the office day and to feel the coolness of wet pavement, cooling off after the office day on my way home...
Looking back on the holidays and a little on the past year, the event that rattled most people's mind was the interpretation of the Mayan Calendar, which many people read (or rather misread) as announcing the end of the world just around winter solstice. Actually, nowhere in the Calendar was any reference to the world ending... the real truth to be discovered was this:
All kidding aside, although Twinkies did end in 2012, the real truth behind the Mayan Calendar was nicely and truly summarized in a speech the Bolivian president Evo Morales held in front of the 67th UN general assembly in September 2012:
It would be really nice, if it turns out that way. This last year, I have tried my best to gather positive energy and spread out some of that to the people dear to me, trying to be the virtual shoulder to lean on, when needed and offering advice and help. My reward for this? Well, granted, I may have scored a few positive karma points, which might enable me to return to this world as a creature living on this Earth in the daylight, feeling Mother nature under by bare feet, paws or other appendages there might be (perhaps my whole body, if I return as an earthworm) and not being a cave-dwelling creature like a naked mole rat or an olm... although, being a naturist, naked sounds not too bad either.
The holidays themselves were a mostly lazy time for me, recharging myself and - especially on the 2nd day of Christmas, Dec. 26 - contemplating on things...
Don't worry, I wasn't drawn into depression or having suicidal thoughts in my head. I love life in general and mine in particular too much to do that... even though life has hurt my heart and soul at times, the wounds have healed over, leaving scars. And, honestly, all the things happening to me and people I met and people who have departed, have and had their purpose and function to shape me and my life as they did.
No, December 26 used to be the booster of family X-mas celebrations, being my father's birthday... that changed, as well as my personal view on X-mas, after he died on December 3, 1993, nineteen years ago. We would have celebrated his 83rd birthday this year.
Witnessing the sermon at his funeral, where a priest was prattling about "how God liked it to take him to His side", I also changed my views on church, swearing an oath never to set foot into one of those buildings again. I never again wanted to be part of a crowd, worshipping the interpretation of a creator who likes it to kill loved ones... Out of politeness and respect towards my brother's family, I broke that oath (partly), to attend my niece's and my nephew's confimation services. But I denied joining the crowd when speaking the Apostles' Creed. I do not believe in that church anymore.
So, it's not surprising, when I join in with many people believing that the holidays are merely an invention by the Christian church, establishing a fictional birthday of an enlightened being (which Jesus of Nazareth was, undoubtedly) in order to subdue the pagan faith in winter solstice as a feast of light in the cold season. What I still share with other people is believing in these days being a celebration of familial love - although my view of family extends the boundaries of lineage and blood relation.
So, I can safely say, that despite my less than usual sentiments about X-mas and the holidays, I had a nice time. Although, my gift, which I have chosen to present myself with (a new Mala, since my old one broke, two new cloths to make into a sarong, a fluffy blanket and a new supply of Nag Champa incense), will arrive after the X-mas holidays. Well, sometimes even Santa can be delayed, due to circumstance beyond his control...
Now, it's time to look ahead and hope for a happy new year 2013... although, there are dark clouds on the horizon... recently, a first sign of this world changing has emerged... and it can be spotted very easily, too. The future looks grumpy...
