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Re-Imagining the Holidays: 6 Ways to Resist Overabundance and Create Gratitude, by Sara Wiseman

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Are you dreading it, already?

You know…the whole shopping-gifting-cooking-cleaning-eating-drinking socializing-relatives-traveling season just ahead?

From Thanksgiving to New Year's, many of us get trapped in a cycle of overabundance—the state of having too much. As in: more than we can use. More than we can process. The cup not just full, but overflowing.

It's gotten worse in recent years, starting with Christmas decorations that go on display at Halloween to the frenzy of Black Friday. We've become a culture of excess and a society of waste, moving from the next new thing to the next…without ever taking the time to enjoy any of it. We have so much, and it's arriving so fast that we can't use or even experience it all.

This overabundance—having more than we really need—creates stress, lowers vibration, and zaps energy from mind, body and spirit.

Now, I'm all for abundance! I'm certainly not one to pass up on anything that brings pleasure or beauty or connection to my life. But when we become trapped in the cycle of overabundance—the endless circle of want, get, want, get—our lives fall out of balance.

Six Ways Overabundance Causes Holiday Stress
During the holidays, overabundance shows up in different forms. It's not just eating rich foods or excessive gifts, as you'd expect, but less obvious ways as well, including: too much socializing, complex family relationships, rigid tradition, and low vibration group thought.

Here are six areas where overabundance can create stress in your life:

1. 1. Overabundance of Food
      Rich, sweet, fatty holiday food lowers your physical vibration, which affects mind and spirit, too. If you work in an office or with a group of people, it's hard to escape the sweets in the break room! Alcohol from frequent social events adds to this mix. Don't worry about weight gain—instead, be focused on the energetic signature of the food you eat. Is it processed? Will it make you feel good? Does your body really want it? Pay attention, and don't let the season of indulgence lower your vibration.
   2. Overabundance of Gifts
      The cycle of shopping, buying, wrapping, giving, and receiving can be very stressful, even if budget is not a concern. The sheer energetic reality of involving ourselves with objects, or "stuff," can be overwhelming, especially when we understand that every object has its own frequency, vibration, or energetic signature depending on where it came from, how it was made, who made it, and so forth…this is a lot of new energy to add to your reality!Consider your energy as you decide how or if you will give and receive gifts this year. Consider your energy if you decide to do without, do less, or give experiences or to charity instead. Once you break the gift cycle, you will be surprised how free you feel.
   3. Overabundance of Socializing
      Office parties, school events, the annual party you've gone to every year for ten years…All of this has a certain clamor of "must attend" attached to it, when in reality, you can change plans, opt out, or do something different. Don't rely on what you've always done—you're a new person now, and you may want to try something different. Reassess every year.Introverts especially may need a lot of private time during this season; give yourself the gift of quiet and solitude.
   4. Overabundance of Family Relationships
      There's that saying: you can't go home again. And yet every holiday season, most of us continue to swim up river to our birthing place. Many times, the wounds, past hurts, and misunderstandings are still there. And because we're so busy during the holidays, we don't have time to work on our relationships with our family members. Understand that family karma is complex, and the stress of the holidays makes it more so. Be gentle with yourself and others. Have an exit strategy if things go awry. If it's just too much, opt out and try again another time.
   5. Overabundance of Tradition
      Just because you've always done it a certain way doesn't mean you have to do it that way now. This might include: going to a certain event, party, gathering, or church service; wearing certain clothes; decorating a certain way; eating certain foods; being with certain people; and so on. Break free from the rigid traditions your family has "always done" and see what else the Universe might have up its sleeve for you and yours!
   6. Overabundance of Group Thought
      Understand the power of group thought or collective soul to affect your mood. We've all seen what fear-based beliefs can do to collective thought: hate, violence, financial ruin, and war are all products of low-vibration thinking. During the holidays, mindless consumption is the culprit: everyone is stressing out on want, get, want, get. This creates enormous stress, and when this is done in the collective, everyone feels it. During this time, connect to your own higher self, God/One/All/Divine/Source, frequently and deeply. Use Thanksgiving and Solstice as markers for the season—times when you can easily dip into gratitude and joy.

The Joy of Doing it Differently: Releasing Worn Out Traditions, Creating New Experiences
For years, I traveled north for Christmas—packed up my partner, kids, dog, and a car full of gift-wrapped presents and hustled the I-5 corridor from Portland to Seattle.

The trip was no over-the-river-and-through-the-woods…everything about it was stressful! Traffic on Christmas Eve was difficult, at best. We were cooped up and restless in my mom's tiny one-bedroom condo. And we were stuck in the city, instead of out in the nature we loved. And yet, I gritted my teeth and did this trip for twenty-nine years because it was my family tradition.

Until last year, the Universe stepped in and simply said, "no."

Early that fall, I'd had two (successful) surgeries for cancer. But I was still in recovery, and by the time the holidays rolled around, the Universe started informing me, at first gently and then persistently, that I wasn't up for the trip.

What? Not go to Seattle? Not do the family trip? Really? Yet every time I asked for guidance, the answer came back loud and clear: No. Not this time. And so, after a very long family discussion, we opted out.

For the first time ever, we stayed home in Oregon for the holidays. We cooked a little food, and opened a few of gifts—inexpensive, silly things. We decorated our tree. We slept in late, and took long winter walks in the woods, and at night we bundled up in blankets on the porch and watched the winter stars move across the sky.

It was low-key, it was real, it was absolutely us…and it was one of the best Christmases ever.

Since then, I've let go of all the old ideas about how the holidays "should" be, and begun to recreate them as truly authentic celebrations—genuine expressions of gratitude for this amazing human journey. I've recognized the holidays for what they really are: holy days, outside of any religion, that ask us to go quiet and still as we give thanks for our lives. A beautiful time, filled with deep appreciation and joy.

I'll admit, it wasn't easy. It took a very active releasing of the cycle of overabundance in all its forms—food, gifts, socializing, family, tradition, and group thought—to allow this lovely clarity to shine forth.

In fact, stepping into this way of living authentically can be quite difficult at first—it may require letting go of tradition, from what the mainstream dictates. It might mean something as big as deciding not to visit home during the busy season. Or, it could be as simple as choosing to not indulge in holiday foods, so your body—and you—feel better. Or maybe giving only a few, inexpensive gifts. These decisions are yours to make.

When you allow yourself the freedom to create your holiday your way—not the one dictated by mainstream society, or handed down from your ancestors, but yours alone—everything about the season shifts.

Gratitude, which might have seemed the furthest thing from your mind in that cycle of "must dos" and mainstream stress, becomes alive in you again.

Most importantly, you begin to understand that overabundance isn't actually what you need—after all, you don't really require a cup that's overflowing. You just need a cup that's full.

Ten Ways to Jump-Start a Holiday Filled with Gratitude

1. 1. Travel outside of peak season, if you travel at all. Booking a flight Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve is an entirely different experience.
   2. Limit gifts to small, inexpensive tokens. Or gift "experiences" instead.
   3. Make a bucket list of what you really love about the holidays: walking in the snow, sleeping in, watching Frosty the Snowman. Do these, and let the rest go.
   4. Graciously decline invites that no longer fit. A simple, "I'm sorry, we can't make it" is all you need.
   5. Sleep, rest, be still. It is winter, after all.
   6. Play cards, catch, dolls…connect with younger ones and your younger self.
   7. Sing.
   8. Revisit the holidays as holy days. Go to church, if that feels right, or a spiritual service in your community. Celebrate the Winter Solstice as an end of darkness and arrival of light.
   9. Give hugs, the best gift of all!
   10. Get emotional, feel it all, and celebrate, in your heart. Life is a miracle.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2013. All rights reserved.

My question concerns a strange experience I had about six months ago. Since childhood I have had precognitive dreams, some of which have saved the lives of those around me. I have always known things about people that I had no way of knowing, as well as things about my own past and future. Until now, however, I had never experienced a physical apparition. I woke up one night with a feeling that something was there. In my bedroom doorway I saw a floating being. It was black, red and orange with beautiful flowing ribbon robes. It had no face and no appendages. I didn't feel threatened or scared, just perplexed as to why it was there. Not believing my eyes, I looked away and then looked back, and it was still there. I closed my eyes and rubbed them - still there. I continued this for about 30 seconds until finally it was gone. It hovered in that same spot the whole while. At this point I woke up my husband to confirm that I wasn't dreaming. I wasn't in a negative mood, on medication, overly tired or stressed. It hasn't appeared again. I sensed it wanted to communicate with me, and yet it said nothing. What was this?

Toni

Astrea:

Being precognitive since childhood will certainly open you to seeing apparitions of all types. You know to trust in what you feel and see, so this sort of thing isn't unusual at all for someone with your ability. Apparitions come to those who are open to them, and from your letter, it seems that you are.

All the Holy Books speak freely of people seeing entities, angels and ghostly beings. Prophetic dreams and signs were common and often employed to provoke changes or get things going. Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament are filled with warnings and messages to ordinary people.

Of course, at the time these things were written, people were more open to the mystical and magical, and seeing things wasn't considered unusual or even very special. Most people at one time or another experience something like you describe, but in our day, many people are afraid to acknowledge it for fear their loved ones will think they're nuts.

Sensitive people see entities such as the one you describe often, but usually when it's time for a change in their lives. Angels and other entities usually come with messages that only the person seeing them can decipher. Perhaps at the time you saw this creature, you were concerned or worried about something in your life that you felt you couldn't control. Problems of any kind seem to draw helpful entities to us when we need them the most.

While what you saw didn't appear particularly angelic, remember that Angels come in many guises. You weren't afraid of it, so it was probably benign. You didn't speak to it, so it felt it was able to communicate to you simply by showing up. It hasn't appeared to you since the time you first saw it, so its job was probably done. Whatever you needed to know and change happened, so the creature's mission was fulfilled.

One time apparitions are hard to draw back to us when we want to see them again, for usually a different entity will come through depending on the message or concern we're facing. Seeing something like that opens up an avenue that many people never consciously experience. Even if you don't see that exact same entity again, be aware that more and different ones will try to come through to you as time goes by.

Since you woke your husband at the time you saw this being, I absolutely believe you were awake, though in that meditative state that is between sleeping and waking. I encourage you to welcome your new ability to see and use it to help yourself and others.

*****

Susyn:

It's apparent that you've known about and embraced your psychic powers over the years. Many people don't realize that these powers grow and expand as we mature, so it's not surprising that you've just discovered a new aspect of your gifts.

This apparition appeared to you because you were ready and open to see it. Though it must have been a bit of a shock, the ghostly figure refused to disappear when you blinked or rubbed your eyes. It was smart to wake your husband up so you could make sure you weren't dreaming.

From your reaction and feeling around this spirit, it doesn't sound like the entity itself was alarming or negative; instead, it was your ability to see it that threw you off center. Based on that, this spirit is most likely one of your guides - a supportive entity or angel that is always near you and chose this time to show itself.

When you encounter a spirit that seems to want to communicate but no words are heard, it can be quite frustrating. More than once I have encountered a spirit visually in my crystal ball. These spirits appear to be speaking - sometimes even shouting - but no sounds, words or messages come through.

Most spirit guides and loved ones on the other side communicate through our minds by forming thoughts that seem to come from nowhere until we learn to attribute them to these entities. This is common during channeling sessions, and most psychics will attest that the information they are receiving is definitely from an outside source. Instead of hearing audible voices, the messages come to them through thoughts or words that seem to just appear in their minds.

To learn more, you can call up and attempt to communicate with this apparition. Prepare by lighting two white candles and a sage stick or incense. If this entity is of a negative nature, it will not come near the sage.

Sit in meditation, asking the spirit to come forth and show itself. Clear your mind as you steady your gaze, and listen closely for messages. Ask who they are and what they want to convey to you, and then sit in the stillness and wait. The answers will come with a little patience, especially since you have already embraced and openly practiced your other extrasensory powers.

Once you have made contact with this entity, don't be surprised if it returns regularly or if other spirits begin to make their presence known. Once they realize you can see and hear them, you may find yourself a very popular channel for them to engage.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.