Conscious Living - Deeper Meaning for the Holidays

By Kathy Ryndak and Gord Riddell

As we prepare this article, Halloween is barely finished and the stores are already decorated for the holiday season. It almost seems that time is going faster and faster. No sooner are last year’s decorations put away than it is time to pull the boxes out of storage once more for this year’s holiday season. The television is flush with ads for children’s toys and holiday gift giving ideas. The commercialization of the holiday season is in full swing.

This season is not new. It has its roots in hundreds and hundreds of years of history in many cultures – from the Christian birth of Jesus and light coming into the world through his teaching, to the Judaic Hanukkah miracle of the oil lamp lasting for a full 8 days and saving many lives, to the Celtic which gave coal, bread and money to ensure a safe and prosperous year ahead.

In the northern hemisphere we also mark the shortest day of the year when we experience the least light in our part of the world (Winter Solstice – Dec.22, 2007).

Our historical stories and traditions fuel our modern day ones. We decorate our homes with lights to light up the dark nights and celebrate light being in the world. Instead of giving gifts of coal, bread and money, we have altered the tradition to giving merchandise from the store or catalogue. 

It is unfortunate in many ways that the richness of our traditions are often lost in the commercialization of the season. The temptations of toys, clothes or just plain things beckon us to buy or hopefully to receive from others. Yet for so many the season is like any other, a reminder of how difficult life can be when money is not readily available. Perhaps we can recapture some of the meaning of the season by remembering those who struggle to find warmth, food and clothing, not to mention wondering if there may be any gifts awaiting them.

Get Involved in Your Community

We invite you to consider those less fortunate, whether they are in your family or strangers in your community who do not have the luxury of gift giving and receiving. Your money, your time, and lightly-used warm clothing can all be contributed to help others and to help ourselves better understand and experience the deeper meaning of our holiday traditions.

Some ideas for your consideration:

1) Contribute food to your local food bank and/or volunteer in sorting and boxing the donations they have received for distribution.

2) Make donations of lightly-used warm clothing or new blankets and sleeping bags to out-of-the-cold programs in your area. Everything from coats and sweaters to hats and gloves are accepted for distribution to the homeless.

3) Give to your local United Way Association who assists so many social service organizations.

4) Donate to local toy drives for children who might not receive anything come Christmas morning.

5) Almost all local hospitals have an end of year fund-raising campaign. They deserve your support.

6) Deliver food and cheer to shut-ins through organizations like Meals on Wheels.

7) Visit and assist seniors and children in hospital and assisted living communities.

By reaching out at this time of year we can contribute to our community by assisting those in need; the essence of what community is all about. Ask yourself: do you really need another object that will sit there and gather dust or that you may turn around and “re-gift”? Make a pact with your friends and family not to exchange gifts but to make donations to help others. Not sure what gift to give someone? Change the tradition and make a donation in their honour.

There are so many possibilities that it is almost overwhelming. It also speaks to the need that exists both locally and globally. Choose what feels right for you and give of your time and money. We need to re-distribute our wealth of both money and time and compassion for each other on this planet. As we have received, the most spiritual thing we can do is to give and share in kind. Our ability to give and to serve others is a prayer of gratitude for what we do have. Even if you do not have the financial resources to give, the contribution of your time, your presence, will always be ways you can serve others.

So we invite you to put true “spirit” back into the holiday season and consider how you may contribute to ever-increasing needs in your community.

From all of us at Transformational Arts College, we wish you a warm and safe holiday season.

Gord Riddell and Kathy Ryndak are therapists and co-founders of the Transformational Arts College. The College offers both Full and Part-time professional and personal growth programs in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Holistic Health Care, and Coaching. Registrations for January 2008 Holistic Health Care Practitioner Training are under way. The ever popular “Discovering the Total Self” program begins its next rotation in January. For a calendar call the College at 416-484-0454 or toll free 1-800-TAC-SELF or online at www.transformationalarts.com