December 2016 e-Newsletter In These Times when Daylight Hours Grow Ever Shorter
“What breaks your heart, what you really love, is the thing that will sustain you. That is what you ought to be doing!” – Andrew Harvey
Dear Friends,
We are going through some very intense times. It is as if the veils have been lifted and our nation’s darkest shadows lie fully exposed and emboldened.Thus, it falls in this time of year when daylight hours shrink to their shortest duration that we struggle to envision a way to deal with friends or family members divided among each other in a country that seems to have forgotten its motto to defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Each of us are now compelled to distill our own moral and ethical principles from the truths we recognize and choose to live by. We face a choice between protecting human rights and natural resources here on Earth, while trying to keep an open mind and an open heart toward the voices of those people who seem adamantly opposed to our own personal views.
In this darkest time of the year, we are being pushed to ensure our own “unalienable rights,” speaking up when previously we may have remained silent. Perhaps you feel guided to listen closer and withhold judgement, to seek out a more compassionate human response. Each of us is now being called upon to embrace more honesty and embody a deeper form of existence.
It is clearly a time for building community, sharing ourselves with others and for not holding back on our own unique means of self-expression. Perhaps this manifests in making a deeper commitment to personal integrity and truth. The world needs us now, more than ever, to express our individual gifts of light and love. There are so many things we can do on a grassroots level when we choose to stand together.
One of the most important and immediate actions we can undertake is to radiate warmth, compassion and kindness to all sentient beings as well as to ourselves. It is vital to cultivate practices that keep us in balance, open hearted and that extend a greater dimension of self-observation and perception of others. Expanding our personal circle by partaking in activities that connect us with others while supporting our own evolution and growth include: meditation, yoga, energy work, holistic health care, sound healing, the performing and visual arts, light therapy, the Talking Circle – all bring us together in greater community dialogue and interaction!
As we progress into the holidays, it is my hope that we take time to reflect on what is most important to us, to our friends and family, our community and to the world. In order to find answers, we might begin by asking ourselves questions and then journal our responses:
- How can I serve?
- What can I offer?
- What breaks my heart open?
- What gifts or passions am I willing to share?
- How can I make a difference in someone else’s life by shining love and compassion into their world?
When we ask these deeper questions, and listen for answers, we are always guided. If each of us makes a personal commitment to act and stand together, we can make a huge difference in this world.
I am grateful that each of you are in my life. I wish you a beautiful holiday season with your family and friends, no matter what faith you subscribe to and I invite you to gift yourself a daily practice of gratitude. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
Bright blessings and Love,
Dr. Melissa