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Christmas Has Celtic/Pagan Roots

Winter Solstice/ Yule, December 21, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. It is the time of the greatest darkness and is the shortest day of the year.

Since the BC years, Yule has long been viewed by pagans (people that worship nature) as a time of divine birth. The Goddess gives birth to a son, the God, at Yule. This marks the point of the year when the sun is reborn. Bonfires were lit in the fields. The ceremonial Yule log, traditionally ash wood, was placed in the fireplace decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Candles are also lit to welcome the sun’s returning light. The Goddess, slumbering through the winter of Her labor, rests after Her delivery.

Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes nature sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit the residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration. Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun. The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine).

Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today. If you decorate your home with a Yule evergreen tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions. The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son, Jesus.

Adapted notes from
The Celtic Connection

Wendy Chaffin
December 2015

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A Couple of Hours with Wendy and Emmy on a Hiking Trail

There I sat under my favorite oak tree at Mission Trails on a beautiful, warm, and lightly windy fall morning – my initial goal was to get out of the house and exercise, so I did – I worked up a sweat walking all around and finally plunked myself under a great tree to ponder what to write about – I had never taken this long to figure it out – my mind was searching for what seemed much longer than it should be. Then the random acts of spirit began to talk to me – and this is what showed itself to me in my sacred silence, NOISE! – “Emmy!-Emmy!-Emmy!- Come here! Where are you?”

Someone was calling out from a distance – this person seemed pretty perturbed that Emmy would take off and go so far away. And then Emmy showed up in front of me. A sweet dog that looked like a fox. She looked right into my eyes like she was on a mission to meet me. So I took a moment, tuning into her eyes and asked, “What’s the message, Emmy?” –

I heard, “You lie to yourself.”

“What?”

“Yeah, you know that there’s nothing more wonderful, nothing more sacred, nothing more interesting than the present moment right here right now.” Then Emmy left to go meet her family.

Hmmmm – I thought about it for a moment. For most of my life I have not accepted the truth of my power, the presence within me and all around me, in each present moment. Thinking that I am present when I’m not IS a lie.

Now the wind began to blow through the trees, moving them and making sounds as if to say, – “Shhhhhh … Dummmmmmmy … This powerful presence is here with you always and we are one with you.”

I caught a chill there, disciplined by nature. So I got up to get back in the sun on the trail so that I could see and hear what else spirit was trying to tell me. And then it occurred to me: Nothing is trying to tell me anything. It’s me trying too hard as usual. Thinking that life has to always be hard. I have to over-try to make something happen for myself. All my wants and needs can only manifest through trying. There is a fine line between trying and BEing. When we start to BE, we feel wonderful and we begin to manifest by being present and recognizing abundance in the moment. Once I notice the abundance that’s there in front of me, I have to try to create again. The trap of trying! So, then in front of me on the trail are hundreds of rocks making it really hard to figure out where the trail is. I tripped over a rock and almost fell. It was then that spirit reminded me, “Choose! – and while you’re choosing, pay attention to what’s in front of you.”

So I looked in front of me, to the sides of me, to my backside all around and up! – And what I discovered was that I was in the middle of a panorama that took my breath away and filled me with joy.

As I continued along the path, I came upon a bridge with a sign nearby displaying the words, – “Life and Death.” It was a message about forest fires, how they affect the trees and the animals there, and how nature rebirths itself and sustains itself again – the very bottom of the sign had a quote I had never noticed there before. It said,

“For certain is death for the born and certain is birth for the dead; therefor over the inevitable thou shouldest not grieve.” –Bhagavad-Gita

Wow! I walked that trail many times before yet never saw that small writing at the bottom of the sign. The bridge told me, simply put, “I join the two sides together.” I thought immediately of my mother’s recent passing this year – although terribly confusing and painful to lose her physically, I feel her close-by in spirit in a comforting way. My thoughts moved to the pain of trying – I was ready to end this pattern and allow the death of it. “I’m sure there’s comfort on the other side of that as well,”- I thought.

Further on the path, the words “Presence-BEing-Creating” came to me in that way and in that order. “I can’t create unless I’m present.”

I was taken aback by a funny looking tree all slumped over, partially alive, but seemingly dead. I thought to myself, “Geez, I feel that way often. Why would we be so alive and then act dead at the same time? Why not live out presently what’s being shown to us, absorb every moment with all the love we have and get everything out of our creation rather than shirking it off or doubting what is in front of us?” – I knew in that moment that I’m doing life in fast-forward, hoping for better ahead in the future. But I also realized that in many ways I have a slow way of doing life, too, looking back so often. I’ve acquired a lot of knowledge along the way and I have a lot to share. So I walked on with my shoulders back and my eyes open. No need to slouch like that tree.

These spiritual messages that Mother Nature gave me filled me up 100%. Spirit, my Higher Self, God, Goddess, the Universe, the Cosmos are supporting me 100%! – Everything I need is right here, right now, currently present in the make-up of my life. I am blessed and so are you. Pay attention: You’re being spoken to. –

Thanks, Emmy. You put me on an intuitive course for success.

Wendy Chaffin
November 2015

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Loving Self – A Gift of Immense Proportion

One day in a conversation with a kind, elderly man I was compelled to relay how important it is to love himself. He asked me, “Why do I need to love myself and why is it necessary?” He was a dedicated and devoted husband and spent his whole life loving others. He also said, ” I am a drop in the pond of life. I am as insignificant as a grain of sand on the beach.”

So I reminded him that he is infinitely small and immensely large as the ever expanding universe with all this happening at the same time.

He may not leave this earth until he recognizes not only love for another, which he has done successfully, but to love himself.

As he learns to love himself, he will reflect back his self-love to others and they will in turn love themselves more easily.

We both agreed that love is the ultimate truth. After all it is heart-warmingly pleasant, peaceful and exists energetically in and around all matter. The matter itself is a facade overlying this beautiful vibration.

Wendy Chaffin
September 2015

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ascension

I asked for an ascension message, The Elohim and Mother Mary expressed
this to me in a vibrant meditation:

“Dear Ones, you struggle to acknowledge the Divine Inspiration already within your hearts. Through loving compassion and service, we bless you with Higher Love. Higher Love activates within you unlimited abundance and joy. Utilize the awakened I AM presence to create with us in service.

Continue with your prayers for others.
See your light in the light of other’s eyes.
Let your hearts be light, and free to BE.
Your brothers and sisters of humanity awaken
with you.

We all Are One.

Close your eyes, feel, know this.

You are one with all plants and animals of the earth, all beings seen and unseen. You are air, fire, water and all that is earthly. The planets, stars, galaxies and universes, the infinite microcosm and macrocosm is in the light of your eyes.

We Are One.”

Wendy Chaffin
September 2015

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Choice Points

In each present moment you are given choice points, small nano seconds to act out on your heart’s truest, deepest insights. How will you use these blasts of knowing?

In each present moment there is a multitude of feelings moving through you. Can you savor this flow of emotion as it happens?

In each present moment a kaleidoscope of colors and images are signs showing you the way to your soul’s purpose. Are you paying attention?

In each present moment there is a wealth of love and abundance waiting for you. Will you reach out and claim it as your own?

Wendy Chaffin
June 2015

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Letting Go of Resistance, Crossing the Three Bridges, Soaring with Dragons

The movies, How to Train Your Dragon I and II, are set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons. Hiccup, a Viking teenager, doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.

What captured me the most was the beautiful relationship Hiccup develops with this dragon in particular. They assist each other through and beyond their handicaps becoming one. They protect each other and take many risks. Together they soar to amazing heights!

The movie theme mirrors a message: When we have faith from our own inner truth, we are loved, protected, nourished and fully provided for. I like to envision Source as my friendly, strong, helper, protector dragon going everywhere with me.

The first bridge that I must cross with my dragon is the Bridge of the Heart. On the other side will be memories that bring out beautiful, loving feelings. I remember nice moments, pets, chocolate, people who love me and I love them. I am filled with joy.

The second bridge I must cross with my dragon, is the Bridge of the Soul. I am led right into the garden of my soul reminding me that everything we love doesn’t last physically, but will remain in my heart forever. I understand I must continually let go and still love with all of my heart. Here, I forgive, accept, and appreciate what was, what still is and what may go at any time.

The third bridge I must cross with my dragon is the Bridge of Source. Light is all around me as well as darkness, but I am safe. I feel the peace of “no mind” and clarity that heals and renews me.

Wendy Chaffin
September 2014