Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

Welcome to Day Two of the 12 Gifts of Enlightenment holiday gift list. Day One’s gift was: Give The Gift of Intuition and the Goddess

Today, I’m pleased to present the holiday gift idea of…

Enlightenment Gift Number Two:
Give The Gift of Light,  Illumination and Purification

One thing that almost everyone can agree on, is that no gift can compete with the beauty, simplicity and elegance provided by Mother Nature. From the uplifting scent of pine and balsam fir evergreen trees and garland boughs, to the glorious red, pink and white colors of pointsetta’s and amaryllis flowers, to the crackling sounds of the Yule log in the fire with chestnuts roasting, it’s a wonder filled natural holiday. The sights, sounds and scents of nature’s finest, renew the mind, body and spirit.

As we approach the Winter Solstice, which provides the shortest amount of daylight of the year, give your loved ones the gift of light and illumination. With this symbolic gift of light, it reminds us that no matter how dark the situation may appear around us, light and enlightenment will always return.  During the cold dark nights of winter,  we are given the opportunity to journey into dark recesses of our shadow selves, as ancient cultures did in ceremonial caves and temples. This personal journey is best taken with a light in hand, to guide us and remind us of the warmth, love and nourishment of the Divine, which is everlasting.

After careful thought and consideration, I believe that I’ve arrived upon the perfect natural gift of light and illumination – the Himalayan Salt Lamp.

The Himalayan mountains provide beautiful formations of rock salt crystals, which are now made into lamps and are available online and in many stores. The lamps are sold on a base and come fitted with a 40 watt bulb which is inserted inside the salt lamp. Once plugged in, the lamp emits a beautiful glow which can range from a deep orange red, to a soft pink, depending upon the color and density of the lamp that you choose. Beyond this stunning light, which softly illuminates a room, the salt lamp also emits negative ions, which are important for all beings.

Studies have shown that negative ions can assist with good health, especially to do with fatigue, headaches, and relieving stress. In addition, they can serve to purify the air and raise our vital energy. Perhaps most importantly, they counteract positive ions which when in too high of levels, can cause depression, insomnia, headaches and general fatigue. Positive ions are generated by pollutants in the air and electrical devices in the home. Natural ways in which we receive doses of negative ions include when we are near waterfalls, thunderstorms, where the waves of the ocean meet the shore and in powerful mountains areas such as in a dense pine forest. For most of us, who don’t live on the ocean or in a pine forest, a salt lamp can provide much needed relief as it releases negative ions into the home or office.

When giving this unique gift of illumination and purification, I highly recommend that you include a book which explains the expansive and valuable history of salt, as well as the unique properties of salt lamps and how best to use them. One of my favorite books which covers all of this information is: Himalayan Salt Crystal Lamps For Healing, Harmony and Purification by Clemence Lefevre. The book provides a wonderful overview of the history and properties of salt as well as covering the many benefits of negative ions, while also discussing the use of color through chromotherapy. Clemence provides a handy guide to salt lamps, from practical uses in the home, to how salt lamps are used in the paranormal sciences including: chakras, clairvoyance, crystal programming, dowsing, feng shui, magic, meditation, planetary consciousness, protection, purification, reiki, relaxation, shape waves, telepathy and visualization. This information alone makes the book a valuable resource for the metaphysically inclined loved one on your gift list.

During this peaceful, light-filled festival season of light, embrace mother nature, deck the halls with boughs of holly and give the gift of light, with a beautiful salt lamp and guide book to lead your metaphysically inspired loved one on a personal journey which can benefit the body, the mind and the soul.  And of course, don’t forget to hang a little mistletoe for a late night kiss. Thanks to the Celtic Druids for another fine custom that we can all enjoy!

Check back in tomorrow for Gift of Enlightenment Suggestion Number Three.

In the spirit of the season
*~Kala~*

More about Kala Ambrose:
Kala is an award winning author, intuitive and talk show host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. Her thought-provoking interviews entice listeners to tune in around the globe! Described by her guests and listeners as discerning, empowering and inspiring, she speaks with world renowned authors, artists, teachers and researchers delving into metaphysical, holistic and paranormal topics. Kala’s  book, 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled delves into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian mystery schools and explains their wisdom teachings. Kala lectures on Esoteric Teachings,  Developing Business Intuition, Working with Auras, Chakras and Energy Fields, and Wise Woman Wisdom (also known as the Divine Feminine). Kala’s Guided Meditations CD’s include Spirit of Hawaii and Egyptian Mystery Temple and Tibetan Mountain Journey.  More info: www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

As we shift into the 21st century, our expanding consciousness is leading us to examine our lives and lifestyles in order to review who we are. As we conduct this inner search and reflection mission, we take stock of what is working for us and what is no longer applicable in our lives.

As a teacher of the ancient wisdom teachings, the hermetic axiom of As Above, So Below and As Within, So Without has led me to reflect on how what is changing within us, is also being reflected throughout society. It also led me to ponder this question… Is it time that we begin to review and change our traditions as well?

Many traditions, wedding ceremonies for example, reflect a reserved antiquated victorian ceremony with the solemn party stiffly marching in uniform step by step towards an altar. This led me to think deeper and ask… In this new age of love, consciousness, abundance, and joy, should weddings and other traditions and holidays be celebrated in new ways in accordance with the changing times?

I also wonder… How much thought do we give into why we celebrate the way that we do? Because it’s always been done a certain way, should this be our guidance to continue? And has it always really been done ” a certain way”? Take the celebration of Halloween in the US. In the early 1900’s through the early 1940’s, Halloween was primarily a holiday celebrated by adults with elaborate costume parties in private settings.  The concept of trick or treating was virtually nonexistent. With the Baby Boom of post world war two, the celebration of this holiday shifted into a children’s holiday with a focus more on community festivals and candy. Fifty years later, we’ve seen the holiday shift again, becoming more popular with adults and Halloween is now the second most popular and celebrated holiday in the US, (the first most popular is Christmas).  Yet I know many people who are under the impresson that Halloween has always been celebrated by children in this country. This is because if a tradition has been celebrated a certain way in our home since we were children,  we don’t give the origin of the tradition much thought. We assume that it has always been this way, unless we are shown otherwise.

Holidays are not the only traditions that have changed over time.  The majority of weddings and receptions held in the U.S. from the 1900’s through mid-century were tame, small scale events. Many weddings consisted of the woman wearing a nice dress and the man a suit to a brief  civil ceremony at the courthouse with a family member or a couple of friends as witnesses or an intimate church wedding with a reception following in the church hall or family home. Some theorize that the traditions of weddings, receptions and honeymoons altered as Hollywood in the mid-century began publicizing celebrity weddings and elaborate parties and the adoring public viewed these events on the silver screen and the television and wanted to emulate their idols.

The scale and grandeur of weddings and receptions has risen to a frenzied state. Reality TV shows feature “Bridezillas”, “My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding” and similar shows where weddings and receptions begin at the $60K budget and quickly move into six figures on many occasions. What is most intriguing to note is that during the planning, production and actual date of the event, the bride and groom often appear miserable, exhausted and worn out physically and emotionally and often experience complete meltdowns from the stress, rather than experiencing a moment of communion, joy and togetherness.   It leads one to wonder… Have we forgotten how to simply have a good time? What has happened to us as a society, that the celebration of two souls joining together in a union, has become a competitive event that must rival every other reception in history?  What direction does this set the young couple on for their life together?  It appears to set the expectation and desire that too much is never enough. Many times these couples themselves go into debt to pay for their wedding extravaganza and enter their marriage in debt, which quickly triples as they now compete to have the best house, cars, furniture, clothes and vacations.  Do we have an identity complex or low self-esteem as a society? Would our friends not like us if we did not have the reception of a lifetime or a better house than theirs?

As I continue to ponder these questions, I came across the most delightful video of a couple being married in Minnesota that gave me so much hope for the future! Their wedding procession was so spectacular that I can only imagine how fantastic the reception must have been. The scene here reminds me of the 60’s when people connected to the energy of the event and that being together with other loved ones was the main point of it all. Love was celebrated as an adjective, verb and noun and expressed fully in every way imaginable.

So I ask you dear readers, Is it time to reflect upon the traditions we have and recreate them? Perhaps we can keep the integrity of the meaning, while allowing the concept to stretch and evolve as we do… What do I like most about this video here? Easy, the focus is on friends and family celebrating the joyous union of two hearts uniting in love.  It gives me Hope, so much hope for things to come….

Enjoy, *~Kala~*

View the  YouTube Video:

and read the lyrics to the song being played – Forever …. it’s you and me, moving at the speed of light into eternity…

It is February – the month of Love and chocolate. That should be every month – should it not? I pause a moment to reflect upon what Love means to me. I realize that my definition of it has evolved since the days of my youth. Thank goodness! I have discovered, along the way that Love is not an emotion that is trapped in the chest. It is more than a feeling – it is an awareness of ourselves and others. It is inclusive rather than exclusive. I think now that – Love is not fully Love until it is allowed to express itself. Love is action – an outward affirmation of God within Us. It has many faces – some are passionate, some may even be fierce, and others are soft in repose. Love comes in many forms but it only has one Heart. And, we have never been separate from it.

It seems ironic that we live in the era coined the “Information Age”, yet we accept so much disinformation as truth. It is time for a collective “Heart-ware” change. I think that we have become confused, not by Love itself but by our vision of it. On subtle and not so subtle levels, we have been led to believe that the love portrayed in childhood fairy tales, in romance novels, or in the sensation driven dramas of TV and tabloids are real. With these as references for love, it is no wonder that many of us perceive ourselves as lacking, unlovable, alone, and/or not perfect enough. To add to this disconnect, the word Love has been relegated to mean almost anything – a crush, a happy feeling, a rush of desire, and a myriad of other emotions. Love has even been used as a weapon, an obligatory and empty statement of affection, and as a standard closing on a letter.

We want to know what Love is! Intuitively, all of us know that there is something more to it. Our Souls yearn for something deeper and more meaningful. We are a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz – seeking the magic outside ourselves that never really left us. Dorothy, after quite a journey, made it home on her own with a bit of encouragement and faith. All of us are seekers searching for the Love that feels home. Like Dorothy, we will discover that Love has been here, all along. It is the wisdom of our Hearts, God, and our spiritual DNA.

We sometimes fail to recognize Love, as it comes in unfamiliar packaging and sometimes on unfamiliar ground. This Love asks us to know ourselves and to fully participate in the human experience – to embrace the gifts and the lessons of the light and the shadow.

Carter Heyward in a Passion for Justice eloquently defines this higher octave of Love:

“….Love is a choice — not simply, or necessarily, a rational choice, but rather a willingness to be present to others without pretense or guile. Love is a conversion to humanity — a willingness to participate with others in the healing of a broken world and broken lives. Love is the choice to experience life as a member of the human family, a partner in the Dance of Life, rather than as an alien in the world or as a deity above the world, aloof and apart from human flesh.”

I admit that it is challenging to love the world in its current state of affairs, just as it is challenging to love unconditionally. Real Love means to love ourselves and others unsplit off from our frailties, flaws, and gifts. It takes a great deal of courage, honesty, understanding, and forgiveness to be present for that level of Loving.  Are we ready to commit to Love in the higher octave? I believe so. We are already on the Path.

Wishing you Higher Love! Diana

More about Diana Harris….

Diana Harris is a nationally recognized workshop facilitator, spiritual counselor and psychic medium. She travels regularly to conduct transformational workshops and is often featured in the media. Most recently, Diana has appeared as a contributing author to Spirit Side magazine in the Jan and Feb 09 editions. http://www.bmse.net/bmse2008/spiritside . Her current creative projects include an animal oracle deck and her first book.   More info at: http://www.sacredspiraldance.com

Listen to Kala’s interview with Diana Harris on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows2.shtml#HARRISTOTEM