"What is without periods of rest will not endure."
-- Ovid |
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In the Celebration Circle we honor and nurture the Sacred in ourselves, each other, and all Creation.
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 Photo by Gary O Smith
Our winter weather has been much colder and wetter than usual for South Texas, but that's fine with me. We really needed the rain, plus the hard freezes ought to help minimize the mosquito population during the long, hot summer which will be returning soon enough. Meanwhile, the unusually low temperatures have taken their toll on the plant life around here. Our yard looks particularly barren and ghostly, populated by tangles of angular, gray branches and spindly sticks. I can't look out the window without wanting to pick up my pruning shears and start trimming back the deadwood. But I don't, because conventional gardening wisdom says that in the San Antonio area we should wait until mid-to-late February before pruning most trees, shrubs, roses and perennials like plumbago, esperanza, lantana, and bougainvillea. Trimming any earlier will encourage them to sprout prematurely, making them vulnerable to a late freeze, (which can happen as late as the first week of March).
It's also important to remember that the dead limbs and leaves are merely a signal that these trees and plants are focusing their growth energy underground. Winter is the time for their root systems to spread deeper and wider, thereby making it possible for the canopy to grow higher and broader in the coming year. A tree can only bear more fragrant mountain laurel blossoms in spring, more juicy peaches in summer, and more tasty pecans in autumn than it did last year, because of the silent, underground growth that occurred during winter. Pruning too early can disrupt this vital process, dissipating this much-needed energy upwards and outwards too soon.
This process holds equally true for you and me as it does for the plants and trees. We, too, need to have a time of rest, a time to be non-productive, in order to be fruitful and productive later. This simple fact tends to get overlooked in the headlong rush of daily life in the modern world, but that doesn't make it any less important. Fortunately, right now is a good time to remember that this is the season for quiet introspection and reflection, for going deeper into the texture of our lives, for no particular reason. A time to allow these cold, wet days and nights to provide a perfect backdrop for slowing down. A chance to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea. To sit staring into the fireplace. For preparing a nice, healthy pot of soup for yourself and then taking the time to savor it alone -- or with a few friends.
In short, this is a great time to take a cue from Mother Nature and let go of your Doing and just Be for awhile. I really hope you'll allow your Self to be semi-dormant for a while, whether for a week, a day, or just an hour or two. I'm pretty sure you'll be glad you did.
With blessings and hopes of seeing you Around the Circle,
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Sundays
Photo by Gary O Smith
"O My Godness"
We're delighted to welcome Rev. Linda Martella-Whitsett, as she talks about "God, an insufficient name for the All and the Only." Why do we crave GOD, and why do we try to describe the indescribable? Rev. Linda is a New Thought teacher and senior minister at the Unity Church of San Antonio, as well as the co-host of "Spiritual Parenting in Unity" which airs on the online Radio Network, Unity FM. Meanwhile, Rudolf will be the guest speaker at the Unity Church, as he and Rev. Linda are "swapping pulpits" for the day.
NEXT SUNDAY
February 14th
"All You Need is Love"
Come celebrate Valentines Day with all the "sweet hearts" in the Circle! It's going to be a very special, love-filled Sunday, because Rudolf has cooked up an extra big helping of poetry, meditation and music with the Circle Band, featuring vocalist Sarah Bading and guest sax player, Rene Ford! And don't forget our Valentines Day Dance from 2:00-4:00pm. See you there!
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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Wednesday Meditation Circle meets from 7:30-8:30pm each week at the San Antonio Quakers' Meetinghouse, located at 7052 N. Vandiver, at Eisenhauer Rd., two blocks west of Austin Hwy. Come experience a calming, centering blend of sacred silence and guided meditations in one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in San Antonio. Sessions are typically led by Rudolf, employing Tibetan singing bowls, acoustic guitar, flute and chanting. Open to all: suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike; drop-ins are always welcome. Love offering.
THIS SUNDAY, February 7th - CircleSpace Work Party
120 Guadalupe, 1-3pm and lunch will be provided. Join us for a veggie pizza work party! Bring work clothes and help us make CircleSpace shiny for next Sunday's Valentine's Day Dance and our increasing number of upcoming events. Come ... lend a hand. Skills and tools welcome, though a willingness to help is really all that is needed!
NEXT SUNDAY, February 14th - Valentine's Day Dance
Come all ye cynics and you lovers...however you feel about the day, what better way to spend it than with open-hearted Circle folks? Forget the hallmark cards and chocolate--okay, maybe not the chocolate--and come remember the true meaning of the day of love. Dance your butt off to the live music of the Circle band as they play some sweet tunes. We'll provide fruity punch and a chocolate fountain...you bring something tasty to dip in it! 2-4 pm at CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe St., $5-10 sliding scale donation requested.
SUNDAY, February 28th - "The Sacred Arts of Rumi"
Join us in welcoming Nizami, a wonderful Sufi teacher playing traditional music of India and Pakistan, who will also be offering a workshop on Sufi dancing, and on singing the poetry of Rumi in the original Persian. If you love Rumi, or if you heard Nizami singing at our Winter Solstice event, you'll know this is a special treat not to be missed. 2-4 pm at CircleSpace, 120 Guadalupe St.
Saturday, April 10th - 10am-3pm
"Living in Harmony"
You'll want to be sure and join us for our 6th Annual Day in the Garden at the Hill Country Sculpture & Meditation Garden in Kerrville. Everyone who comes to this event loves it. Come see why! More details in this space soon.
Friday, April 30 - Sunday, May 2nd
Spring Retreat - Slumber Falls, New Braunfels
Set aside the weekend for yourself. Ahhhh ... |
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Abundant Gratitude
To each of you who share your energy with the Circle in the unique way that you do. May you, may our creative spiritual community, and may all beings be blessed by your willingness to be ... and share ... yourself. Gracias! | |
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