Comedian George Carlin often talked about ‘stuff’ in his monologues around our contemporary way of life. Among his various insightful comments is this one: “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”
With the holiday season fast upon us, many of us are stressing and worrying about what ‘new stuff’ to get. What new and cute object should I buy to decorate the house? What does my partner, or child, or sibling really want for a gift? What size of tree do I want to bring into my house to decorate with plastic objects and lights most likely made in China? Etc.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, or a combination. And whether you even believe in any of these holidays, that all coincide (approximately) with the shortest day (and longest night) of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – most of us now are spending our often-hard earned money on ‘holiday stuff’.
I spent the other day with a woman who currently lives in Finland, but her family live in western Canada. She was lamenting having to go home to Vancouver for the holidays.
“So much stress to make the perfect holiday meal. So many people crowded in stores to buy things. And then typically someone gets upset at the family gathering because it is not quite ‘perfect’ enough, or how they wanted it to be.”
She sighed.
“What’s it like in Finland?” I asked. I knew Finland has often been cited as the happiest country in the world.
Her face lit up as she spoke. “Christmas there is so nice. It is quiet. People just spend time with family. It is not so commercial. I feel calm and relaxed there on Christmas. Not like back in Canada.”
I told her that the holiday season had not seemed quite so commercial when I was a child. Of course, we had Christmas trees and got presents from Santa and such, but there just did not seem to be so much commercial hype around it all. We did a lot of cookie baking, and I went through a period where I handmade all the presents I gave to my family.
My friend and I discussed if the current hyper-consumerism of mainstream holiday celebrations helps any of us – except for the stock market and big companies?
Of course, each family and each person have their own ways to celebrate holidays that are meaningful for them. We do need special holy-days, which give us time to celebrate and be thankful for each other, and the world around us. Such times are critical for our health and well-being, and for bonding and laughing and feeling joy.
But if this holiday season (whichever be the holidays you celebrate) is ultimately about honoring the light at the time of deepest darkness – how might we make our celebrations as light as possible? How might we, in a word, lighten up?
As I contemplated what to write for my column this month, I drew a card from the oracle deck: Gods and Goddesses of Japan. The kami or deity that came up was Shinatsuhiko-no-Kami. This is a wind god.
Part of the message was this: Piles of junk and unused items hinder the passage of wind that brings good fortune. Make sure Shinatsuhiko-no-Kami is able to reach you. Look around at your space and select at least three things to throw away.
Since one purpose of all holidays has traditionally been to call upon the energies of life and Spirit to bring us good fortune moving forward, how can we in this time when we are urged to get more ‘stuff’ know when enough is enough?
This year, we have decided to do a Secret Santa gifting, instead of each of us buying a present for all the others in our family. This will simplify the ‘stuff accumulation’ and be more affordable. We plan to focus instead on finding a few fun holiday games to play, and enjoying each other’s company as fully as we can – in a simple way.
Whatever you decide to do for whatever holidays you will soon celebrate, may good fortune come to you and your kin. And to all the beings in this whole beautiful and (sometimes) challenging world. Light and joy. And peace in your heart and soul.
From The Monadnock Shopper News December 6-12, 2023
SKYE'S WRITING 