Beings of Light
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
December is my favorite time of year. In this month of darkness, in this the darkest month, the light of the human spirit shines forth in a fullness shown by so many, in so many ways. As the days grow shorter in North America, houses and trees are decorated, and snow falls. In the hushed silence of the nights, lights shine in windows, and the beauty is shared by passersby. For this season of giving brings the festivals of lights: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali. Each tradition incorporates light in its ceremonies and decorations.
A neighbor friend of mine who lived down the road, a donkey in his stable, reminds me of the story of another manger over 2000 years ago. And seeing him snug in his stable with snow on the ground gave the illusion that all was right in the world. But all is not well. Thousands know no peace in any season. Millions are cold and starving. Racism and religious wars prevail. Climate change advances in leaps and bounds, faster than most predicted.
Those who live closer to the land are especially blessed. They share their lives with animals who are constant reminders of humility and simplicity in this rapid, complex, multi-tasking world. They can drive around on a December night and see houses covered in lights with illuminated trees, houses warmed by fires, filled with laughter and conversation and love, and feel blessed. Blessed to have so much when others have so little. Blessed to be able to celebrate as they wish when others cannot. Yet even those living in the worst conditions show the light of the human spirit and celebrate the season of light in personal ways. For the human spirit is indomitable.
Einstein said: “A human being is part of the whole, called by us the ‘Universe”– a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest– a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” We are all cut from the same cloth and our inner light unites us.
In December’s darkness we light lights. For we are beings of light. A light glows within each one of us. And, at the most basic level, we are beings of light because we are made from stardust. Perhaps that is why the stars hold such majesty for us– we are all—Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, African, whatever– we are all made from star material.
And in this holiday season we behold the night sky as Christians say shepherds did over two thousand years ago on the birth of the holy infant, in a stable like the one down the road where my donkey friend lives. On that night they say a star lit the whole sky to guide the shepherds to the stable of the infant, Jesus, the son of God.
In these deep, long, silent nights as we light our houses, our candles, our trees, let us look inside ourselves and find the glow that may guide us each, alone but akin, to THE Light!
(Click to enlarge)
MOONSIDE 
beautifully said!🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼 thank you so much for your sensitive & compassionate words!🥰😘❤️
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December 18, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Thank you so much, Swadharma, for your most kind words!🙏🏽🎄❣️
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December 20, 2023 at 10:46 AM
❤️🌳🌞🌳❤️
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December 20, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Beautifully said, my friend.
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December 18, 2023 at 1:13 PM
Thank you, Dayle❣️🙏🏽🎄
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December 20, 2023 at 10:37 AM
⋆ᗰદ૨૨ʏ⋆ᐠ₍⁽˚⑅̆˚⁾₎ᐟ ⋆ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ⋆
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December 18, 2023 at 2:11 PM
Merry Christmas to you, Cindy and a very happy New Year in the Hollow or wherever you are. 💖🙏✨🎄
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December 20, 2023 at 2:58 PM
Beautiful.
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December 18, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Thank you! 🎄🙏🏽
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December 22, 2023 at 12:44 PM
😊
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December 22, 2023 at 4:11 PM
May the light that shines down upon us from the same heavenly sky that was above the manger of Jesus, grow within us when love is shared and offenses are forgiven. Thank you for your positive message about light.
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December 18, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Thank you, Nancy! Happy holidays to you and yours!🎄🙏🏽
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December 20, 2023 at 10:32 AM
We took a moment last evening while the “normal” lights were off to enjoy the lights that are part of our tree this December. And now, this thoughtful post has brightened my day!
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December 18, 2023 at 2:47 PM
Thank you so much! 🎄🙏🏽🙏🏽🎄 Merry Christmas!
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December 25, 2023 at 12:24 PM
Yes, we are beings of light. Love this, Ellen! ❤️
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December 18, 2023 at 8:01 PM
Thank you so much, Adelheid!! Happy 🎄❤️🙏🏽
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December 20, 2023 at 10:30 AM
Happy holidays! ❤️
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December 20, 2023 at 7:05 PM
Yes, true that we are all made from star material. Nice images, thanks.
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December 19, 2023 at 2:24 AM
Thank you so much! 🎄🙏🏽
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December 20, 2023 at 10:41 AM
Truly lovely Ellen, and poignant!
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December 19, 2023 at 9:19 AM
Hi, Julie! Thank you so much!! 💓 Lovely holidays to you and yours and wishing you a new year full of inspiration and good health and peace!!🎄🙏🏽❤️
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December 19, 2023 at 10:06 AM
Have a wonderful holiday Ellen. I will be thinking of the fact that we are all of the stars and connected. Thank you for reminding us of this. 🙏✨
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December 19, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Ellen, how beautifully you wrote. And very true. I, too, lately have been feeling this increased conflict between a person and the whole world, as if he is not the same creation as everything else in the universe.
Let there be light! 🌟🕯✨
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December 19, 2023 at 1:20 PM
❣️🎄🐘🙏🏽
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December 27, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Merry Christmas!
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December 22, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Thank you! Merry Christmas to YOU and yours! 🙏🏽🎄❤️
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December 22, 2023 at 3:14 PM