birth of the Sun as spirit of the Earth

Following the Four Weeks of Advent are the Holy Nights - a period of twelve days or thirteen nights between Christmas and Epiphany - a special and unique observation held each year.

It is said that in this period, the windows of the heavens are open and a special connection forms between the spiritual hierarchies and humans on earth. 

cosmic kiss - ring nebula
image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow, N. Cox, R. Wesson

For spiritual seekers the Twelve Days and Thirteen Nights between December 24 and January 6 are a time of deep esoteric experience.

holiday reading list 2023

Book lists are a happy tradition here at wonder | wander | world. All throughout the year we read, read, read. We enjoy compiling and sharing our summer reading and holiday book lists especially. 

As we prepare to celebrate Yuletide 2023, here is the 100 best books of 2023, according to Shepherd. Looking for the best books of 2023? 

discover their best recommendations here

Shepherd canvassed 1,200+ authors and super readers for their three favorite reads of 2023. With 10,000+ authors have shared five of their favorite books around a topic, theme, or mood. 

They up the fun so we can discover the books they love based on a book you love, an author you adore, or a Wikipedia topic that interests you. 

To thoroughly enjoy your reading experience, we share with our readers an insightful article by emerging Mumbai writer Anoushka Zaveri - "A Year of Reading Women," Unlearning and Rediscovering Literature.

only one of these 17 artists is a woman

Happy Holidays and happy reading to us all! May we each revel in our own realizations and revelations. 

fortitude of gratitude

In the practice and application of gratitude we revisit past memories, become mindful in the present moment, envision what the future holds for us. Each requires a different lens to increase gratitude with the right focus.

Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can transform lives. Being grateful is more than just a list of the good stuff. Its feeling the emotions of a memory, a moment, an idea. 

We examine and reflect on the meaning and purpose of past experiences, enjoy peace in the present moment, and create a vision for a future filled with hope and possibility. 

liminal space

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.

space & silence

In a world of constant noise and distraction, we have forgotten the value of silence and solitude. We are constantly bombarded with information, from the news to social media to the latest gossip.

This constant stimulation adds stress, anxiety, and overload. wonder | wander | world pick of the week recommends the words and sage advice of author and podcaster Cal Newport of The Deep Life Movement.

photograph by Natalia Swarz

We need to create space in our lives for silence and solitude. This doesn't mean that we have to live in a cave or give up all forms of technology. But it does mean that we need to be mindful of how much information we consume and how much time we spend interacting with others.

When we make time for silence and solitude, we give ourselves a chance to relax, recharge, and reconnect with ourselves. We can start to see the world in a new light and come up with new ideas. We can also develop a deeper sense of peace and contentment.

It's not easy to create space for silence and solitude in our busy lives. But it's worth it. It's the only way we can truly find peace and happiness. ~ Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

lost women of science

This week's pick on wonder | wander | world is the Lost Women of Science. It tells the remarkable stories of groundbreaking women who never got the full recognition they deserved – until now. How many other unknown women scientists are out there - hidden and forgotten?

website art

The Lost Women of Science Initiative is a non-profit educational organization with the overarching goal of inspiring girls and young women -- especially those from communities chronically underrepresented in the STEM professions -- to embark on careers in STEM. 

The Initiative’s flagship is its Lost Women of Science podcast. As a full, mission-driven organization, the Lost Women of Science Initiative plans to digitize and archive our research efforts and make all primary source material available to students, educators, and historians of science. 

The Lost Women of Science podcast series is an exemplar of top-notch journalism, training a lens on forgotten but heroic women of science. Each multi-episode season will focus on a different female scientist and will be told as a deeply reported, scripted, and scored audio narrative. 

Please give a listen to the podcast series, Lost Women of Science which features a diverse group of women, scientific fields, and historical periods. 

all hallow tide

The triduum of Allhallowtide - All Saints’ Eve (Halloween, Oct 31), All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) brings much to the fore. Death. Transformation. Letting go.

The 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.

Dia de los Muertes - Day od the Dead

Autumn is the ideal season here in the east coast - lifting Spirit with its gorgeous and vibrant palette. Vivid reds, golden oranges, bright yellows, verdant greens. Chakra colors - root red, sacral orange, solar plexus yellow, heart green. Universal, centered - core colors within as all around.

mother tongue

Why do we call the first language we learn as babies our mother tongue? Our first language, native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period - that ideal time window in our brain development.

"There is a spirit or an originating genius belonging to each word." ~ Louise Erdrich. 

clouds over Negros Island

There is power in words - the older these words, the more energy they contain. No wonder we are enriched by our ancestral tongue - the mother's milk of our native language. 

empath, Alex Myles

wonder | wander | world pick for the week is Alex Myles - the creator and writer of Empath Planet. 

As we step into the captivating realm of October, we are greeted by an array of cosmic energies that promise to bring profound transformations and life-altering moments.

celestial bodies wallpaper detail by Chari Vera

This is a period where the Universe shares its secrets with those who listen attentively, and where our dreams have the potential to take flight and manifest in reality.

labor away

On Labor Day, we stand in solidarity with all the workers who lift our Nation to new heights and all the labor unions who give all workers power and voice. May we continue working to restore the American Dream for every person willing to work hard in our Nation by embracing what has always been the foundation of our country’s success: investing in America and American workers. ~ JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America 

labor day picnic - O. Naumenko, Shutterstock

American celebrate work and workers on this day by taking a break from work. The labor unions credited for this federal holiday began forming in the mid-19th century in response to the social and economic impact of the Industrial Revolution. National labor unions began to form in the post-Civil War Era in response to the dire need to create jobs in its wake. 

celestial guardians

Three divine guardians - a Chi Lin, a Fu Dog, and a Pi Xiu - celestial creatures sent to Earth by the God of Heaven to safeguard the trinity of Tien Ti Ren. Together, they form the trusted antidote to subdue the viciousness of the Three Killings (Sarm Saat or three conflicts). 

Feng Shui (wind water in English) is the Chinese art of arranging external structures and inside decor to harmonize people within an environment. This concept operates on the theory that living things have a life force or Qi (Chi or Ki). 

celestial guardian figurines

Feng Shui Three Killings are a combination of three sha - year sha, robbery sha, and disaster sha. Year Sha are obstacles that impede or set back. Robbery Sha could lead to financial loss. Disaster Sha cause accidents, problems, or trouble.

freedom, fascism, fiction

In her series of electrifying essays Arundhati Roy challenges us to reflect on the meaning of freedom in a world of growing authoritarianism. Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction, won the 2023 European Essay Prize. 

Her essays include meditations on language - public as well as private - and the role of fiction and alternative imaginations in current disturbing times. 

original book cover which has since been recalled

work in progress

Accept that you are a work in progress, both a revision and a draft: you are better and more complete than earlier versions of yourself, but you also have work to do. Be open to change. Allow yourself to be revised. ~ Dame Maggie Smith, Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change

moon over NYC

In a world cocooned and immersed in a constant barrage of externalized prompting, do we even realize who we are and what we do? Are we original individuals or mere sheep led out to pasture? 

Social media especially can all too easily lend itself to project an idealized or romanticized life. 

lifetime friendships

Each friend holds a different purpose in life and brings a different type of friendship to the table. They may be meant to stay forever or only for a short period of time - either way, they bring their own uniqueness into life and ignite ours as well.

childhood classmates & hometown friends - prepping & planning for our golden

There are those who come into our lives and they leave them for whatever reason - they satisfied what we needed from the friendship in that moment. Even though their presence was so important at that time, it may no longer hold the same significance. 

mandala cycles

Mandalas are a beloved symbol originating long before any recorded history. The most admired and discussed symbol of divinity and art is the mandala. Like guru and yoga, it is now part of the English language and our daily life. 

At wonder | wander | world the mandala captured our imagination in our formative years - circles and cycles, center and core, community and collaboration. It has permeated our being and pervaded our lives in countless ways. We have used it as a guiding force and vital compass in decision making, planning, and application. 

coloring book art by Issa Urra

Our latest project is a mandala coloring book for kids at heart of any age. An exploration of the joys and delights we all hold within us. These mesmerizing patterns were designed to provide a serene sanctuary in which to pursue pathways into our innermost being.  

read more

As we lie in bed nursing our battered and depleted psyches, we are grateful for the rich world of reading we can readily avail of for our needed rest and relief. 

Professed bookworms and curious nerds, reading is a love instilled in us early on, that has grown us into the beings we proudly are. 

At ground zero of the battle over books and censorship, national correspondent Jeff Fleischmann reports on book banning across America for the last six or seven months.  

the daughter of the daughter of my daughter

I am the daughter

of a daughter

Who is the daughter

of a daughter.

Who is also the daughter

of a daughter.

Some of us are mothers

but all of us are daughters,

all birthed through lines

that weave back to

that First Mother.

All connected from

the very beginning.

All connected in the now.

art by Julie Dillon

Mothers,

Daughters,

Grandmothers,

Great Grandmothers,

Great Great Grandmothers.

All daughters born from

One. Original. Egg.

from

One. Original. Woman.

So why the separation?

Why the animosity toward each other?

Why the arguing and fighting,

back-stabbing and lack of support?

The next time you see another woman,

look in her eyes and see the

Ancestral Lines – the lines of women –

that lead back to you.

Where are we going Mother?

And how will we get there Sister?

By staying connected Daughter

and allowing for difference.

For we are each one,

after all,

all Daughters

of the

One Mother.

The Daughter Line, Arlene Bailey ©2023

imagination creates reality

A recent post by Sandra Ingerman reiterates how she is always working on deepening her creation and manifestation work. It is work she teaches for decades and there are such wonderful journeys and ceremonies we can perform with this work to create the life we desire.

Pexels image by Hakeem James

“Thoughts do not recede into the past. Rather they advance into the future to confront us so we may see that which we had planted , either wisely or unwisely.” ~ Neville Goddard, Imagination Creates Reality.

According to Goddard's lectures and writings an awakened imagination works with a purpose. It creates and conserves the desirable while it transforms or destroys the undesirable. 

Humanity is an infinite series of levels of consciousness with each individual living based on their level of psychological consciousness. 

The ancients knew this great truth but we seem to have buried and forgotten it today. There is only one substance in the world - scientists call it energy while the scriptures define it as consciousness. 

This is why we watch our thoughts and transmute them when we need to.

wild hearted

Nature and wilderness have so many gifts to enrich ourselves and our lives. At the 2023 Nature Summit over thirty enthusiasts and leaders include us in these important conversations - sharing their experience and expertise so generously.

With crucial questions to address today: 

• What important lessons does nature have to teach us?
• How do we connect with the healing power of the natural world?
• How do we love the Earth, draw inspiration from its beauty and protect it in times of crisis?

free online nature summit - May 9 to 15, 2023

We are offered a different alternative. lose the fun flimsy fantasy of certainty and liberate the self from the need to control or predict what matters to us.

Even deconstructing the illusion of self as the individual to make it like a noun - letting go and letting the verb emerge. To be.

We are as an interconnected whole - be how we live in massively connected processes. Inter-connected. Intra-connected.

Freeing ourselves. Letting love emerge. Returning to our true nature.

life affirming life

We celebrate our two Taurian bookends in April - the eldest and youngest family members of our clan. The traditional way we pamper and show our love is with food.

siblings & cousins gathered together

Home cooked or finely catered - intimate family meal or wild grand fiesta - it's best declared with comfort food and a festive feel.

Since our father turned 80 it's become a tradition for the whole family to gather at home and spend the whole month celebrating these bonus years together.

as the day ends, we gather together to celebrate

For adults and kids alike we all hang out - mostly around the table or sala, chattering away about any and every thing.

We come and go, see friends, meet strangers, eat out, dine in, fling open doors and invite them all to gather with us in celebration of life - up, down, all around.

sunset skies ablaze

Now that the home compound is full house - we cross over through each other's homes. Sharing time, company, food, and conversation.

It is a rowdy and joyous gathering, packed with activities and overlapping timelines. Planning, chatting, or quietly sitting around - it does not matter.

new dawn panganod (cumulonimbus) clouds

We enjoy hanging out together - spilling over into normally empty rooms and areas. Making space.

Reverting back to a simpler time. Making the time to spend together. No schedule, no agenda.

Rest seems like a nice contrast to stress but enthusiasm always reigns over all else.

hang out time - the best of life

sainted being

Mid-April as we swelter in the cloying clammy heat of our island paradise we are reminded of these wisdom teachings from beloved sainted being Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. 

Mindfulness and compassion build community and nurturing space. A supportive mindfulness practice and the cultivation of deep compassion is a healthy environment that encourages growth and expansion.

Love freely offered nurtures kindness and builds a more caring world. Be well and stay healthy.

poetry | prayer | mantra

Poetry is the perfect companion to any meditation practice. It has a unique and innate ability to slow down time and connect us to the fabric of life. 

Looking to add a new dimension to a meditation or reflection practice? You might consider incorporating a poem, prayer or mantra in your next session. 

a personal prayer at bhaktiCD.org

Traditionally, a mantra is a “word, sound, or phrase repeated to aid in your concentration while meditating.” 

Mantra repetition is practiced for a state of peace and calm - to relax and ground action and intention. This elimination or absence of the negative can dramatically encourage overall wellbeing. 

a personal mantra at bhaktiCD.org

A mantra can inspire, motivate, center, and focus - an approach tolife from a more level-headed perspective. A mantra is a private practice to apply any way you want - the possibilities are endless. 

Live purposefully - health, healing, happiness, self-love, balance in a specific area of your life, writing inspiration - an unfoldment that goes on and on. 

a personal poem at bhaktiCD.org