Dreamtime is many things - it is our connection with our higher selves, it is one of the easiest ways to access "universal" or spiritual wisdom, and it is the place where we work out our fears/problems/life issues and come to terms with them.

What goes into our dreams? All of our life experiences - everything that happens to us on a daily basis, everything that helps to support us, and everything that challanges us. Holidays are a wonderful time to create the back drop for dreamtime - to instill memories that we can draw on to support ourselves in our personal growth, and to create that "safe zone" of positive experiences.

The month of December is a time when we celebrate in many ways. Each religion has its own traditions that draw it's members deeply into the true center of life. Each family has it's personal traditions that form that link between the generations, and with ancestors and ancestral knowledge. We feel less alone at this time, we are drawn to recognizing our deep connections with all peoples.

December is a time to reconnect with what is important in life. We need to encourage that within ourselves, and within others. Parents have the role of creating holiday memories for their children. Couples have the role of creating joint holiday traditions that bind them to each other. Single people have what is perhaps a more difficult role - creating tradition for themselves. I see this as a more difficult role because when you are single it is all too easy to just "not" do anything, to withdraw into ones self.

In what ways can we connect with the spirit and wisdom of this season so that we can create the memories that will sustain us in the future? We can do this in any way that comes to us! We can help with volunteer activities - collecting gifts for those who have nothing, voluteering to serve food at homeless shelters, working with church programs, becoming involved with activities in our work environment, donating our money, our time, and our expertise where it is most needed.

We can make the effort to continue the traditions of our ancestors - our family traditions. This is our time to honor and reconnect with the the core of our true faith - in family, in self, in whatever we consider to be a higher power.

Looking behind the traditions gives us a new look at the holidays. Santa Claus actually derives from a real person - Saint Nicholas, patron saint of travellers and children, born in the 14th century and well known for his personal generosity. Evergreens are brought into the house and decorated to bring in the energy of continued life during the harsh winter months. Candles and other forms of light (such as Christmas Tree lights) represent both a literal "lighting of the way" and ancient wisdom. Mistletoe was a sacred plant to the Druids (and is part of a very nice tradition - standing under the mistletoe to be kissed!). Holly is used in decorations toward off evil spirits.

Poinsettias are part of a wonderful Mexican tradition, and are a colorful addition to our holidays. The Yule log comes from ancient Scandanavian beliefs. It represents the change in seasons, and is part of a ceremony in which each member writes one wish down on a piece of paper and puts it on the log to be burned. (Smoke traditionally is a carrier of messages to the Spirit world.)

The candy cane is shaped to represent a shepherds cane, and was used in the 1600's to literally keep the children's choir quiet during long services. Wassail is a toast used to mean "Be in good health." The tradition of sending Christmas cards originated in London in the 1800's.

May thus holiday season be on in which you reconnect with the traditions in your life and create many memories to aid you on your personal journey.

Thank you for visiting my Dreamtime pages. May your day be Blessed.

Personal Lifestyle Reading - I offer a Personal Lifestyle Reading using Tarot that looks at past, present and future influences in your life, at the energies that are currently available to help you along your path, and at those energies that are appearing as challanges. My goal is to offer you insight into your decision making process, as well as tools that you can use to both better understand your path and make conscious, choice centered decisions.

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