I made a commitment to use what was on hand for the Yule season, instead of purchasing anything.
Nothing wrong with shopping, but this year I knew it’d make me lose my peace and center.
In contrast, creating a simple, homespun arrangement gave me peace and centered me. It does the same when I take a moment to look at it; just looking at it feels meditative.
I found pine cones on a walk. A friend could not cook her artichokes because they started to dry out. I let them finish drying.
Adding a bow to the pinecones and artichokes made the arrangement complete. I feel complete, too.
I wasn’t rigid about spending money for the holidays. I bought Paperwhite bulbs to force bloom indoors.
It felt right to buy them. They added to my being peaceful and centered, because I was buying them not to “have stuff”—I do not need more stuff—but to create an experience, an experience of floral scent filling my home midwinter, and of the oxygen inundation that occurs with winter bulbs indoors. Here are the paperwhites tucked behind my aloe plant:
I really wanted to get myself treats this winter. Using what I had in my home to make beautiful things created lovely treats.
I also made a donation to Standing Rock to help stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. The best gift to give myself was that donation.
A few days ago, I opened the mail to a lovely surprise. My friend who’s also my Faerie Druidism student made—MADE—me a pendant: a silver branch with nine bells hanging.
I am so grateful for and delighted by this generous gift.
I also felt that not cluttering my consciousness with unnecessary shopping opened the way for something really special and unexpected to arrive at my door.
