I thought I would do things a little differently for my blog this week. This week, I picked a card from a Tarot deck for inspiration. (I used the Archangel Power Tarot deck from Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine.)
The card I picked was the 5 of Ariel.
The traditional 5 of Pentacles, which this card replaces, is often seen as a negative card, but I don’t see this card that way. This card has a lot of messages to help us improve our lives.
Our western society was based on the Christian church. Our major holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, have come to us through church traditions. Yet, for many of us, we have left the church behind. We have turned our backs on all that the church offered us.
At this time of year, as Christmas draws near, most of us find ourselves outside of the communities which church membership offered. We find ourselves out in the cold and all alone.
Even when we have family and friends with whom to spend our Christmas, we often feel isolated, even “lonely in a crowd”.
This card is a reminder that there can be light within the Christian church. Light is where the love is, and there is often a great deal of love within Christian churches, at this time of year in particular. This is the reason that some people return to the fold for Christmas service only – they can feel the love there at that time. They sing carols that they know, and they feel joy.
Surely this is the aim of any religious or spiritual experience – to feel joy, but also to share it.
For many of us, however, we have left the church far behind and there is no turning back. What many of us have forgotten, however, is that the light which occurs within churches at this time of year, is the light which we all bring to it. The same light and love can be experienced wherever there is a gathering of people, if, instead of covering our light, as we have learned to do, we let it out.
Churches at Christmas feel more loving and joyful, because, at this time of year, we allow our true selves to shine forth. We let the love and joy show and it becomes obvious to others.
Why not remember the love and light that shines within everyone, this Christmas? Just imagine a golden glowing heart, pulsing light within the chest of everyone we meet. Imagine that same golden glowing heart within our own chests emanating light wherever we go.
Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, but our modern society has turned this tradition into such a commercial and obligatory experience, that the true spirit of giving and receiving is often lost in the process.
At one time, no matter what the gift, it was appreciated for the effort it took in creating or selecting it, and the loving thought with which it was given. This Christmas, let us use our golden glowing hearts to, not only appreciate all gifts received, but also to give the gifts which we are giving. Also, remember that the greatest gift you can give may not be a physical gift, but a gift of time, or just sharing your love and light with others.
There are some within our society who would argue that leaving the church behind has led to all of the troubles we now have in our society, and that may be true. But I have no doubt that everything is happening in Divine order and everything is leading to the highest good for all.
Getting back to the imagery on the card, we have left the control of the church structure, and have been using this time to test our wings. Some of us may not be flying yet, but this was a necessary first step in taking off.
Already the snow is beginning to melt, from the warmth of our light. Although it still seems like we are out in the cold, we will soon start to realise that we no longer need the warmth of the church, as we have our own warmth within each of us.
We have to learn to fly on our own, but once we do that, we may find that we come full circle. We may find that we fly back to the church and change it from the inside. We may create a new community of those who can fly; but we will never fly off and leave the fledglings behind.
If you watch flocks of lorikeets, you will see that they allow the young ones to test their wings on their own. The young ones may not fly straight away; they might flap around on the ground for a while, and feel as though they are all alone. But their families are never very far away.
Jesus learned to fly over 2,000 years ago. He did not come to Earth to establish a church; he came to Earth to teach us how to fly, just like the angels. Like those lorikeet families, he is standing by watching, and ready to help in any way he can.
This time of year is a good time to remember that Jesus told us that whatever he did, we can do also. Even if we no longer embrace the Christian church, we can emulate the man on whose life the church was based.
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
So, rather than feeling all alone this Christmas, why not join me and millions of others who are practising their flying? If you are having trouble getting off the ground, there are many both in the physical and the spiritual realm who can help you.
Why not let this Christmas be a true reflection of the Christ after whom it was named? Christmas will only be a reflection of Christ when we are.
So flap those wings, polish up your light, open up your heart, and let your light shine out into the world for all to see.
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