"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!"
-- Hamilton Wright Mabie |
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Gary O Smith, for sharing your especially beautiful holiday photos!
In the Celebration Circle we honor and nurture the Sacred in ourselves, each other, and all Creation.
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Just click on the e-mail address below:
circle4peace@yahoo.com
with "subscribe" in the subject line and you'll receive a bit of the Circle, sent with love, every day.
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Photo by Gary O Smith
As the Holiday Season moves into full swing, I really hope you can join us for our special Sunday Morning Circle and/or our amazing Underground Sounds Solstice Concert in the Cave Without a Name on Sunday night (details below!!) But whether you can or can't join us in person, I hope you'll enjoy the following story I wrote to celebrate the season:
Of course you know what happens on the night before Christmas, when Santa Claus travels all around the world in a sleigh, sliding down chimneys, and leaving lots of presents. But did you know that on the night after Christmas, Santa's twin brother makes a similar, but very different trip? That's right, Santa Claus has a slightly-younger, twin brother named Santa Pause. You've probably never heard of him; most folks haven't. Although Claus was born just one minute earlier, he's always been larger, louder and more visible than his twin. Tall and thin, Santa Pause avoids wearing the Santa family's traditional red and white furry outfits, mostly because colorful, tropical shirts and baggy shorts are much more comfortable to wear in sunny Hawaii, where he lives, far away from the icy North Pole.
Being a quiet, easy-going guy by nature, Pause doesn't mind that his brother Claus receives all the fame and glory. Because for most of the year, while Claus stays busy inside his Arctic workshop making long lists and checking them twice, Pause is chilling out under a palm tree, soaking up some rays, playing guitar, reading and spending long hours in prayer and meditation.
Yes, Santa Pause lives a blissful life in Hawaii, and he could easily stay there all the time, except that he shares a strong family trait with his brother, Claus: they both enjoy giving. They just do so in very different ways. And that's why, every year, just as Christmas Day is drawing to a close, Santa Pause sits down on a meditation cushion under his favorite palm tree, opens his arms wide to embrace the light of the sun setting over the ocean, smiles a big smile and begins chanting quietly to himself: "Om Santa, Om Santa, Om Santa..."
Soon, the lilting syllables lift him up, up and far, far away... to here and there and everywhere... traveling through the Santa Dimension to arrive in each home where someone has invited him. He magically alights in the most comfortable seat in each place he visits. It might be on an easy chair, right next to the warmth of a fireplace. Or it could be a spot in the bedroom, or a hammock hung on the back porch. But wherever he lands, he lives up to his name by taking a good long pause, breathing deeply and feeling just as peaceful as possible. Then he silently showers blessings on all who are asleep in this home. When he's done, he opens his arms out wide, smiles a big smile, takes one long, last deep exhale - and just disappears back into the Santa Dimension. How does he do it? No one really knows, because no one has ever seen him do this, and yet many, many people have experienced the sweet peace that settles into every house and every heart he's ever visited.
Would you like to experience that for yourself? Then consider doing the following sometime on Christmas Day. Take a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of cooking, eating, wrapping and unwrapping presents to go sit quietly by yourself. It might be before dinner, or afterwards. The house might be totally quiet, or full of other folks who are making lots of noise. It doesn't matter. Just go off and sit alone in your favorite spot. You do have one, don't you? Someplace where you like to sit and read, or pray, or just stay for awhile to relax? If not, you might want to consider creating such a spot in your house. It could be on an overstuffed sofa, or a firm, straight-backed chair. It could be somewhere in your yard, or on a straw mat, a flat rock or a soft cushion. It really doesn't matter. It just needs to be a place where YOU like to sit peacefully from time to time.
Now take a few quiet breaths and quietly invite Santa Pause to come visit your home that night after all the Christmas food and fun and festivities are done. That's all. Nothing fancy. Just a few minutes of sending your quiet invitation is enough. Then, whenever you're ready, just get up and go on to enjoy whatever you do and whomever you're with for the rest of Christmas Day.
Then, whenever you get up and get dressed, go to where you think he sat, and you'll experience the gift Santa Pause left behind as you sit silently... and breathe... and feel... the deep peace that comes from taking such a special pause during the Holidays - and every day.
With love and blessings,   | |
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Sundays
Photo by Gary O Smith
THIS SUNDAY
December 20th
"Do You See What I See?" We'll explore and experience the joyous, Light-filled interconnections of the Solstice and Christmas, as Rudolf leads us in uplifting music and meditation, with more great music from Sarah and the Circle Band.
NEXT SUNDAY
December 27th
"Ring Out the Old"
Share in our powerful, annual Burning Bowl ritual as we release "old stuff" in preparation for the New Year.
Sunday Morning Circle meets at 11:00 am
at the Jump Start Theater
located at the Blue Star Arts Complex
Building B
In the heart of King William
(near the corner of Alamo and Probandt) |
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*PLEASE NOTE - there will be no Wednesday Evening Meditation Circle 12/23 & 12/30. We will gather again in the New Year, beginning 1/6, at 7:30 pm each week at the San Antonio Quakers Meetinghouse - 7052 N. Vandiver, at Eisenhauer Rd., two blocks west of Austin Hwy. Come experience meditation woven with Tibetan singing bowls, live music, sacred silence, led by Rudolf. Suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike. Love offerings are accepted, and support our use of this beautiful, peaceful space.
Photo by Gary O Smith
THIS SUNDAY, December 20, 2009
Underground Sounds Solstice Concert
6:00pm
Cave Without A Name, Boerne
Mark your calendar for our 7th annual celebration of the Winter Solstice, performed in the extraordinary beauty of the Queen's Throne Room in the Cave Without a Name. With music and meditations from Rudolf Harst (vocals, guitar, flute, Tibetan singing bowls); with Paul Lewis (didgeridoo); Rene' Ford (saxophone); Sarah Bading (vocals) and Carl Rush (percussion). Located 12 miles from downtown Boerne, you'll feel transported to another realm! Reservations requested. Tickets $20, available at our website (click here) or by calling 210.533.6767. For info about the cave and directions, www.cavewithoutaname.com or 830.537.4212
JOIN US ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 2010
5 pm - 8 pm
326 W. Josephine - High Wire Arts
Put it on Your Calendar and Make Plans to join us for the Celebration Circle's 1st Annual Happy, Healthy, Hopeful New Year's Day Fun(d)Raiser Party!! It's all happening on Friday, January 1st, from 5-8pm, at High Wire Arts, located at 326 W. Josephine (at N. St. Mary's St., across from the Josephine Theater). Featuring good folks, good food, and the good-time music of Rudolf Harst, with Sarah Bading and the Circle Band. Start the New Year on a Positive Note! |
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