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More and more religions - not just Christians or Protestants - are recognizing the spiritual significance of Advent. The spirit of the season is experiencing a revival through serious reflection, joyful expectation, and observation of traditional Advent customs.

The Advent season is a time for reflection and anticipation - reflection on our spiritual lives and anticipation for the arrival of Christmas. 

Hope, by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour

While Advent traditions vary based on religious persuasions and cultures one common practice includes focusing on four themes. The most common Advent themes are hope, peace, joy, and love. 

December 2023

With the advent of December the holidays are definitely upon us. As wonder | wonder | world breathe in the crisp and clear chill of winter's approach we turn toward these words of esoteric educator Rudolf Steiner.

In ancient times, a man felt himself on Earth, saying this: before I stood on Earth, I was in a spiritual - soul world, figuratively speaking - in a light world. This light still mysteriously shines in my inner me. I, as a human being, am a shell of the Divine Light that still continues to live in me.

"The Adoration of the Magi" tapestry - designed by Edward Burne Jones with details by William Morris and John Henry Dearle

In the process of development, a [hu]man loses his sense that he is a shell of the Divine. He no longer feels in the image of the Divine, as the Greek experienced.

The modern task of man is to find again this attitude of man to himself and to the Divine. A person must obtain the impulse of a living, living spiritual from his own mental strength.

NYC holiday delights

This year end festivities at NYC's Big Apple are a spectacular extravaganza of bright lights and colorful displays. 

One of the city's main attractions is a holiday walking tour of the fabulous store front windows in and around Fifth Avenue's shopping center in Midtown Manhattan. 

"Destination Extraordinary" theme designed by David Hoey

 

Here are three wonder | wander | world top recommendations for 2022. 

time & karma

We are smack in the seismic shock window of November 8 - blood moon total lunar eclipse at 16* Taurus, conjunct volatile unpredictable Uranus, overshadowed by Saturn, Lord of Time and Karma - this wild card eclipse acts as an influx on steroids, deleting the past as it sweeps our slate clean.

transforming human consciousness

This is the grand lead in for the coming attractions of 2023. As the evolutionary burn intensifies - a period and process predicted to induce extraordinary transformations in human consciousness - everything feels different.

Still reeling from the triduum of Allhallowtide - All Saints’ Eve (Halloween, Oct 31), All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) - our state of bardo is magnified and multiplied. Stumbling in the mystical mists that are intermediate, transitional, liminal - suspended in a state between death and rebirth.

colonialism | civilization, christianity, commerce

From George Washington to Barrack Obama, we tend to idealize our president. We put them on a pedestal, raise them above the rest. We conveniently paint wide swaths of praise, washing off any stain or whiff of wrongdoing or misstep they may have committed. 

United [?] $tates of America

The United States of America is adept at whitewashing its history and covering up crimes and horrors committed throughout its short lifetime. Indulging in egocentric praise for the nation's forefathers - the same group of men who ruined the land and its people through their avarice and mandate. 

The road to hell is paved with the intentions for these evangelists spreading their word with their forked tongues and personal agendas. Blatantly using the power vested on them by their office and the folks who elected them. Then and now government officials are tainted by the system they operate in. 

How do we fix and correct our information infrastructures? So facts are accurately reported rather than distorted or embellished or even fictionalized? So historical events are recorded across the board and not just by the winners? 

Even more complicated and daunting is the road we take to retrieve our lost histories - recovery, repair and reparations - to move us forward. Otherwise, we risk wallowing in and perpetuating the mistakes and crimes of our past. 

The choices we stand by today are the paving stones of our future. May we have better cause to celebrate future Presidents Days. 

origins of the Pinoy queso de bola

Holland shop with assorted Edam cheeses

What’s shiny, red, and almost always bound to make an appearance around the holiday season? Not Rudolph’s nose, but queso de bola - a cheese hailing from Holland, where it is known as Edam - named after its city of origin. 

In the Philippines, though the labels on balls of Edam still tout the marker “Imported from Holland,” queso de bola is inseparable from Noche Buena, and Noche Buena is just Filipino tradition - though it came from the Spanish, Filipinos have made it our own. 

Though the story of queso de bola is part of a much larger history, at face value, queso de bola is definitely distinctly Filipino. 

remember the true meaning & purpose of Christmas

We all have been exchanging holiday gifts for centuries.

Eleanor Robson Belmont

Few remember that only after the ritual became legal in 1680 following a ban by the Pilgrims, who considered it a crass anathema, was it made possible.

By the 19th century Christmas gifts were a firmly entrenched tradition.

Members of The Society for the Prevention

of Useless Giving were known as Spugs

But by 1911, when a few dozen women in New York City formed what would later be called The Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving, it had reached an early fever pitch.

Read the full article here. Women Rally Against 'Useless' Christmas Giving

Read this and other incredible stories at Atlas Obscura: a definitive guide to the world's hidden wonders. 

Advent Season is here

It is unknown when Advent or the preparation for Christmas first began. 

Advent Wreath

Some may even claim it goes back to the time of the Twelve Apostles or that it was founded by Saint Peter himself. 

crafty crafts for the holidays

The combination of returning to our childhood hometown and being surrounded by family - especially for the holidays - sure exercises the crafts part in us.

Having many parties and lots of entertaining to do can amp this tendency up as well.

season's greetings

Greetings and blessings this holiday season...

...from us and ours at wonder | wander | women ...

...to you and yours.