Spiritual Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a special time of year, and each person or family celebrates it in their own unique way. Traditions bring people together, and having traditions to look forward to can make the holiday even more enjoyable and memorable.

Many aspects of the modern Christmas celebrations derive from ancient Pagan traditions, including the Christmas tree and the Yule log. There are many ways to tap into the spiritual roots of the holiday, so here are our ideas for some special Christmas traditions to incorporate into your celebrations this year.

Enjoy the calm before the storm

Families with small children (or even big ones) know that the earlier you wake up on Christmas Day, the happier they will be. However, waking up before the sun to deal with excited kids and stacks of presents can often be a stressful start to the day. Even those without children most likely have busy days planned out, and so don’t have much time to relax.

Start your day off right by waking up a little bit earlier, and enjoy the calm before the storm. You could use this time to meditate and reflect, or simply have a cup of tea and enjoy the peace and quiet before the craziness of the day begins. Starting your day off in such a calm way will help you feel less stressed and more prepared throughout the day, which will make everything more enjoyable!

Practice Gratitude

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of opening presents on Christmas Day. We’re often so busy rushing to open gifts and see what everybody else has, that we can forget to practice gratitude. This year, take a few minutes to pause and reflect. Go round the room, and have each person say what they are grateful for.

Another great way to practice gratitude is to write thank you letters to each person who sent a gift, or even those who helped you in some way throughout the year. This could be a family member, a friend, a teacher, or even the person who serves your coffee every day. A small token of thanks can easily put a smile one somebody’s face, and make them feel appreciated.

Give back to the needy

Christmas can be an especially lonely and difficult time for those in need, such as the homeless, the elderly, or children living in group homes. Why not do something to make their day a little brighter?

There are many charities and other companies that run Christmas programmes, such as collecting boxes of gifts for children, or essentials for the homeless. Alternatively, you could volunteer your time. Visit a nursing home and give the residents some company, or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Or if you know somebody who will be alone at Christmas, why not invite them to join your family for Christmas dinner? It won’t be much trouble for you, but it will mean the world to them.

Look to the future

As the year is coming to a close, most people begin to look forward to the next 12 months. We all have things we want to achieve, and many of us will make new year’s resolutions. Why not share your hopes and dreams for the future with your loved ones? During dinner, go around the table and have everyone talk about what they hope to do in 2018. This act of sharing will make everybody feel closer, and it will be great to have people who know what you want to achieve  to cheer you on throughout the year.

Celebrate light

Give a nod to the history and meaning of the Winter Solstice during your Christmas celebrations, and celebrate light. The Yule Log tradition comes from the ancient Solstice traditions of lighting fires to represent the light and heat of the sun.

Honour the power of the sun during your Christmas celebrations. If you have a working fireplace, you could carry on the tradition of the yule log. If not, light some candles; there’s the added bonus that they add a wonderful atmosphere to the room with their flickering glow.

The post Spiritual Christmas Traditions appeared first on Psychic 2 Tarot.

source https://www.psychic2tarot.com/blog/christmas/spiritual-christmas-traditions/

What is the Winter Solstice?

Christmas is fast approaching, but before it gets here there is another day to celebrate, and you may have heard people talking about it. The Winter Solstice has been celebrated by Pagans for thousands of years, and many of the modern Christmas traditions are actually rooted in the early Solstice celebrations. So when is the Winter Solstice and what does it mean? Here we look at this very important date and how it is celebrated.

When and What is the Winter Solstice?

Thursday 21st December marks the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Many people think that the solstice is the name for the full day, but it is actually a specific point in time. The 2017 Winter Solstice will happen at 4:28pm GMT, and it is the moment that the sun will be shining directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere, and the North Pole is tilted furthest away.

The term Solstice comes from the Latin ‘solstitium’, which literally means ‘stand still’. On the day of the Solstice, the Sun appears to stand still in its position over the Tropic of Capricorn, and then changes its direction.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the day of the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with exactly 7 hours, 49 minutes and 59 seconds of daylight. However, from this point on, the days will begin to get longer as we approach Spring. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reversed, meaning that for those people it is the Summer Solstice, and the longest day of the year. Those people will begin to experience shorter days until their own Winter Solstice in June.

For those people who live in the North of the Arctic Circle, they won’t actually get any daylight on this day, as the North Pole tilts away from the sun at the point of the Solstice. This is called a polar night.

How is the Winter Solstice Celebrated?

The Solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years, and it is a very important date for Pagan people, as it is a day of rebirth. Stonehenge was built as a monument to track the sun’s progress throughout the year. Each year, as has been done throughout history, Pagans travel to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise, and take advantage of the daylight on the shortest day of the year.

Many of the traditions we associate with Christmas are also derived from the ancient Solstice celebrations, including the Christmas tree. The ancient Celts and their priests – the Druids – used evergreen trees, along with mistletoe and holly, to symbolise eternal life during their Solstice rituals and celebrations.

However, unlike modern Christmas traditions, the Druids did not cut the trees down and place them in their homes; they would have seen this as a destruction of nature. It is believed that it was actually Saint Boniface who cut down the first evergreen tree after he came across a group of Pagans worshipping it in 8th Century Germany. Legend has it that after he chopped it down, a fir tree grew in its place, and the Pagans returned the following year to decorate it.

The Feast of Juul was observed in Scandinavia pre-Christianity, at the time of the Winter Solstice. To celebrate, people lit fires to symbolise the heat and light of the sun. A special Juul – or Yule – log was burned in the fire to honour Thor.

In Scandinavia, a piece of the log was traditionally kept for good luck, and then used as kindling for next year’s log. However, in England, Germany and other countries in Europe, the log was burned completely, and the ash was then scattered in the fields to be used as fertiliser, or otherwise used in medicines. This is of course, where the tradition of the burning the Yule Log at Christmas comes from.

The post What is the Winter Solstice? appeared first on Psychic 2 Tarot.

source https://www.psychic2tarot.com/blog/winter-solstice/what-is-the-winter-solstice/

CAPRICORN INGRESS CHART – 16.28, Thursday 21st December 2017, London, UK.

At 16.28 on, Thursday 21st December 2017, the December Solstice occurs. The word ‘Solstice’ means ‘Stationary Sun’.  At this moment, the Sun in its apparent path around the Earth, reaches its lowest or southernmost point in the sky and appears to stand still before ascending North again. The word ‘Ingress’ comes from the Latin word ‘ingressus’ which means to ‘go in’ or ‘enter’. The chart for the moment of the Solstice marks the entry of the Sun into Capricorn It also marks the beginning of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The chart for this moment, known as the Capricorn Ingress, is thought to give a general picture what we can all expect over the next 3 months.

The Ascendant is in Cancer and is, therefore, ruled by The Moon. For us, as individuals, the Moon represents our emotional reactions and what we need to feel secure and emotionally nourished. The Moon, which represents the people of a country, or the world, is in the 7^th House, which is associated with a country’s relationship with other nations. This is likely to be a dominant theme and the focus of public attention during the next three months. For us in the UK, this, of course, relates to Brexit, which is still the issue which seems to dominate the country’s news and political debate. The Moon is square to Mars, which relates to disputes as well as war, terrorist attacks and the military forces of a country. So perhaps these and the nation’s security are issues that will be debated in Brexit negotiations and in our talks with other countries outside the EU. The Moon is also square to Jupiter, which relates to a country’s law and justice system. Therefore, the issue of British law and its connection with EU law is likely to be another topic of discussion.

The Moon I 7^th House (relations with other countries) square to Mars (war/disputes) in 4^th House (land) and Jupiter (religion/spiritual values) suggests that the feelings of conflict, competition and territorial or religious differences with other countries are mainly prevalent in the attitudes of the people. But the conjunction of the Sun, which signifies our Prime Minister, Monarch and Cabinet ministers or people in authority with Venus gives hope that our leaders are looking for peaceful and diplomatic solutions that will improve our relationship with other nations. However, the fact that the Sun and Venus are also in conjunction to Saturn suggests this will not be achieved quickly and that the solutions might contain more limitations than we might have hoped for.

In the astrology of the collective, Venus is associated with women’s issues and equality.  Recent news has highlighted the fact that the UK still has some work to do in terms of equality for women, such as equal pay. Venus in the 6^th House (work and employment matters) in conjunction with the Sun (those who govern) shows that this could be an area the government will be required to focus on, over the next three months.

Venus also relates to a country’s artists and the arts and entertainment. Its conjunction with the Sun (those who govern) suggests that, over the next three months, artists and entertainers may highlight values and political issues that the government might have preferred not to be challenged on. The chart implies that artists could potentially have a powerful influence on government policy. The conjunction of The Sun and Venus with Saturn, the planet of limitation, also suggests that the efforts of artists may limit the government’s power to exert their own will without giving due consideration to others and to fairness and justice.

The Sun’s conjunction to Saturn, which is associated with the elderly people of a nation in the 6^th House (health, sickness and the health service) may also suggest that how the country cares for its elderly people is another issue the government might be forced to pay attention to. Hopefully, the Sun-Venus-Saturn conjunction will see the government forced to have to look at all the ways it may be failing to promote equality and well-being in all social groups.

The position of The Sun (head of state) conjunct Venus (relations with other countries) may bring other countries’ heads of state into the spotlight in the UK. It has been mentioned that American president Donald Trump may visit the UK ‘early in 2018’. But the Sun’s conjunction with Saturn may signify that this will be delayed, or subject to some kind of limitation. So perhaps we will not see him visit the UK in the next three months. Or, he may visit, but the event could be lower key than what might normally be expected. It has been suggested that, as the heads of state of the UK may be somewhat reluctant to roll out the red carpet for him, his arrival in the UK may be treated as something less than a state visit.

In the ingress chart, Neptune, which can be can be associated with loss or sacrifice, is culminating on the MC of the chart. The MC is associated with authority figures such as the monarch, Prime Minister or government. Could this signify that we might see the Queen abdicate or be succeeded, the Prime Minister leave office, or a change of government?

In the astrology of world events, Mercury is associated with a country’s communication, trade and commerce, local transport and the way it conveys information through news and the newspapers. In the Capricorn Ingress chart, Mercury is square to Neptune, which can relate to secrets, confusion and deception. It may be interesting to observe the way the nations press, media, transport networks retailers and commercial outlets behave and conduct themselves during the next three months.

However, more positively Neptune signifies our search for the ideal and for collectivism rather than division. When two planets are square to each other, there is conflict between the two planetary principles, but the fact that they are connected also shows that there is an opportunity, through hard work and effort to reconcile those principles. Therefore, over the next few months, we could conclude that there is a potential for the country’s press and media to focus less on division and try to bring people together in a more united way. This could also apply to the world of trade and commerce. With Mercury in the 6^th house (work and trade) and Neptune in the 9^th House (long distance or international communications, philosophy, morals and ethics, could this, perhaps, be an ideal time to argue, throughout the world, for a more ethical capitalism?

Although, as in any chart, there are areas which suggest conflict and challenges, as always there are other features that seem to offer hope and the potential for positive things. The conjunction of the Sun, which could be seen as the heart of any chart with Venus (fairness, justice, affection and unity) hopefully indicates that, at this time of year, the spirit of goodwill toward all others is still present in most of us.

The post CAPRICORN INGRESS CHART – 16.28, Thursday 21st December 2017, London, UK. appeared first on Psychic 2 Tarot.

source https://www.psychic2tarot.com/blog/winter-solstice/capricorn-ingress-chart-16-28-thursday-21st-december-2017-london-uk/

Cheap and Thoughtful Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is fast approaching, and the shops are full of frantic shoppers trying to find the perfect presents for their loved ones. Christmas can be a stressful and expensive time for a lot of people, and it can be especially difficult if you don’t have much money, and feel as though you can’t afford to buy gifts for those in your life. However, not all presents have to be expensive or flashy, and there are many ways to give people gifts they will love without spending much, or even any money. Here are some of our best cheap and thoughtful Christmas gift ideas.

Make them a mix-tape

Though cassettes are hardly used these days, the idea of a mix-tape still exists. This is an oldie, but a goodie, and it guaranteed to make anyone smile. Get a blank CD and burn all of the songs that are special to you and the recipient. Every time they listen to it, it will fill them with joy and happy memories of the two of you.

Cook up a homemade recipe book

Do you have a friend or family member who loves to cook? Make them a scrapbook of all of your favourite recipes. Get creative and add in some pictures and add your special notes or tips for how to make it the best way. They will appreciate the effort and time you took to make it, and they might even thank you by inviting you round for dinner and testing one of the recipes out on you!

Show off your skills

If you have a particular skill or talent that a friend has always envied, offer up your services to teach them whenever they want. You could make them a gift voucher that they can ‘cash in’ for your time and expertise. Not only is this free for you and them, but you will get chance to spend some quality time together whilst you teach them.

Create a homemade cinema night

Everyone loves watching movies, so a great, no-fuss gift is a homemade cinema night. Get creative and make a ‘cinema ticket’ for your loved one, inviting them over to your house for a night of movies. Buy some popcorn and drinks, and make a movie gift basket with the ticket included. It’s inexpensive, but will lead to a lovely night with your friend watching your favourite movie.

Bestow your favourite book

Books are precious and sharing your favourite story with somebody is extremely thoughtful and intimate. You can either buy them their own copy, or gift them your own copy. You could make notes or highlight your favourite parts to make it even more personal, and to help them understand just why you love the story so much. You could even read the book together, or at least the same time, and then meet up once you’re finished to discuss what they thought about it.

Put together a photo album

It can be pretty cheap to get photos printed these days, so why not put together a photo album for your friend or family member? It could be a collection of photos from the last year, or from throughout their life. Or it could be a photo story of your relationship. Inexpensive, thoughtful, and full of fun memories that will last a lifetime.

Get poetic

A lovely, inexpensive present for a loved one is to write out a poem and frame it. You could get creative and write a poem yourself, or just choose one of your favourites. Print it on nice, white card in your fanciest writing, and put it in a frame so they can proudly display it in their house. If you’re not a fan of poetry, you could choose a favourite inspirational quote to motivate your friend for the year ahead.

The post Cheap and Thoughtful Christmas Gift Ideas appeared first on Psychic 2 Tarot.

source https://www.psychic2tarot.com/blog/christmas/cheap-and-thoughtful-christmas-gift-ideas/

How to Improve at Meditation

Meditation has a large number of benefits, from helping  you to connect with your higher self or your spirit guide, to providing time to reflect, or even to simply take some time out of your schedule and relax. Our lives are often busy and many of us don’t get much chance to take time for ourselves and unwind.

Meditation is the perfect way to get this sacred peace and quiet, but for beginners or even those who have been meditating for a while, it can sometimes be hard to switch off from buzzing thoughts and  focus on the task at hand. Often people give up on practicing meditation because it’s ‘too hard’ and they don’t feel the benefits. However, good meditation takes practice, and you should give yourself time to get used to the process. Here are our tips on how to improve at meditation, so that you can take advantage of the many benefits.

Create a dedicated space

If you simply plonk yourself down in front of the TV and expect to be able to focus on your meditation, you’ll never succeed. Meditation is a powerful spiritual practice, and so it should be treated as such, with respect and deep thought.

To be able to meditate well, you need to be in a quiet, comfortable place. Creating a designated meditation spot that is welcoming and comfortable, as well as away from noise and other distractions, will allow you to relax and focus.

Meditate at the same time every day

Similar to having a dedicated place to meditate, it is also a good idea to have a set time in your schedule to focus on the practice. Many experienced and successful meditators actually practice twice a day, often at sunrise and sunset, but this is obviously difficult for many people to fit into their schedule.

However, finding a time in your day to dedicate to meditation will help you form a healthy and regular habit, and will also help prepare your body; just as our bodies get hungry just before a regular mealtime, your body will anticipate the feelings of stillness and calm that are associated with meditation, and this will make it easier to focus.

Let go of expectations and self-doubt

Meditation is different for everybody, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. It can also be different for the same person on two different days. Try not to focus on how you think meditation should be, as that will cause unnecessary worry and will be counterproductive.

If you’ve had a particularly difficult or busy day and are finding it hard to focus your mind, don’t beat yourself up and quit. Instead, just use the time to simply sit and breathe, and give yourself chance to unwind from the stress of the day. Meditation doesn’t always have to be a huge spiritual experience; sometimes it can be just an opportunity to get some peace and quiet. So let go of any expectations and self-doubt, and just go with the flow.

Don’t try to control your mind

Our brains are complex organs, and trying to control our thoughts is often a fruitless tasks. When you meditate, you are sitting still and silent, and not being distracted by the business of life. This gives you the opportunity to really focus on your thoughts, and you may be surprised where they lead.

Often when we are meditating, our thoughts can surprise us. Without the constant noise and distraction in everyday life, we have time to notice and acknowledge things we may ignore otherwise. The key is not to try to control your mind; instead, let the thoughts and feelings flow, and accept them as they come. Though some may be surprising, they are important and need to be acknowledged.

Keep a meditation journal

A good way to keep track of your meditation is by keeping a journal. Once you’ve finished your meditation, take a few minutes to write down the thoughts and feelings that came into your mind during. This is a good way to reflect on what your subconscious deems important in your life, and what you should focus on.

The post How to Improve at Meditation appeared first on Psychic 2 Tarot.

source https://www.psychic2tarot.com/blog/meditation/how-to-improve-at-meditation/