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Dec. 25th, 2004 05:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
triple_flameI'll start off with a Happy Christmas to everyone reading this, it's been a good day for a change, not too busy, good food and a distinct lack of parental type arguements - bliss!
It's strange, the more Midnight and Christmas morning services I attend the more direct correlations I find between the old religion and the (relatively) new, like walking into a church decorated with Holly boughs with a pair of wrens living in the eves of its porch, like that line in the Nicene Creed where it is acknowledged that God made all things seen and unseen - so they do admit that there are things beyond the obvious that aren't miracles then - and a certain line in "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - "Hail the Sun of Righteousness", the very fact that the "light of the world" is born at their adaptation of the Solstice festival...and yet they frown on us and claim we are damned simply because we prefer a different face of Deity...
Philosophical tonight aren't I?
There are also all those lovely contradictions that I noticed just a few more of in the readings but they didn't stick as well, you get used to it and they start to wash over you. I know there are plenty of people out there on both sides of the fence who will insist on being shocked that I, a confirmed pagan with her own share of beefs about the church, volunteer to go to Midnight Mass and the Christmas morning service and thoroughly enjoy myself, I've found my confidence in singing again and I love carols, I relate to parts of the sermon and agree that much needs to be done in this world. I pray to that particular facet of Deity because it would be rude to name another when in a building built for his worship, my mind is open to anyone else who should be listening and I do not exclude them - At Christmas we tend to pray for peace, since Brigid has been adapted into the ranks of Christian saints why should I not include my Lady's name in prayer as well. Tolerance is a wonderful thing. Besides, walking out of the church into a light fall of snow lifted my heart and my mood as much as anything else, like walking into a Christmas card.
Anyway, enough of this random religious/philosophical/sentimental rambling!
Random cool presents and a shopping trip tomorrow...it was odd though, I think I'm growing up (*waits for shocked gasps*) I actually found it more enjoyable watching the reactions of my parents to presents than I did openning my own...not entirely sure what's going on there but if any body parts start turning funny colours or dropping off I'll be sure to let you know! It's been the kind of quiet family Christmas that you always think it should be and never is, now I just feel like having another glass of wine (no all the warmth and seasonal good will isn't drunkenness!) and settling down with the TV and a notebook and seeing if I can be inspired.
I seem to be making New Year's resolutions early this year, having looked back at everything I've come to the conclusion that my life has kinda fallen apart over the last year, I haven't been me, I need to start being me again. I'm going to sort out the job I keep promising myself, get enrolled for next year on the english 'A' level that I should have done this year and didn't have the cash for, then get back to Uni or college or somewhere and get a teaching qualification, the more I hear about it the more appealing it gets - Goddess alone knows why given my general attitude to school while I was there, some of my teachers would have fits at the thought of me behind their desk, although whether of giggles or hysteria depends on how well they knew me *grins*. In short I'm actually going to stop lounging around and do something with my life the way I always dreamed of! Added to all that the fact that I plan on getting back into my flute and I should find plenty to keep me busy, I've got my book of folk music that I was after complete with the most useful little CD of demos and backing tracks so much practising is in the offing for the next few months much to the probable dismay of both cats and neighbours! They'll all be sick of Greensleeves when I'm done although I'd like to take a day or two to get Loch Lommond playable for New Years at Rob and Leslie's.
In slightly less fluffyness I found the letter I mentioned last entry and sent it, now it's a case of waiting with baited breath and praying I haven't screwed things up - no not to any male face of deity, a certain beautiful Lady of very long aquaintance and many "conversations"...."Nothing but trouble, that's what my life has been...Just LOOK what the gods have put me through....." Yes, well - that's the other thing, must find theatreness in the coming year, I will NOT have my father spending more time on the stage than me! Speaking of father dearest, the Peas (mushy ones) and Quiet went down very well, started the morning off with a shared laugh, I swear there were tears in his eyes by the end of it, it's been a while since I heard him giggle.
And now I really must stop rambling, the happiest of Christmases to all or a rather belated Yule if you'd rather.
*pixie dust*
It's strange, the more Midnight and Christmas morning services I attend the more direct correlations I find between the old religion and the (relatively) new, like walking into a church decorated with Holly boughs with a pair of wrens living in the eves of its porch, like that line in the Nicene Creed where it is acknowledged that God made all things seen and unseen - so they do admit that there are things beyond the obvious that aren't miracles then - and a certain line in "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - "Hail the Sun of Righteousness", the very fact that the "light of the world" is born at their adaptation of the Solstice festival...and yet they frown on us and claim we are damned simply because we prefer a different face of Deity...
Philosophical tonight aren't I?
There are also all those lovely contradictions that I noticed just a few more of in the readings but they didn't stick as well, you get used to it and they start to wash over you. I know there are plenty of people out there on both sides of the fence who will insist on being shocked that I, a confirmed pagan with her own share of beefs about the church, volunteer to go to Midnight Mass and the Christmas morning service and thoroughly enjoy myself, I've found my confidence in singing again and I love carols, I relate to parts of the sermon and agree that much needs to be done in this world. I pray to that particular facet of Deity because it would be rude to name another when in a building built for his worship, my mind is open to anyone else who should be listening and I do not exclude them - At Christmas we tend to pray for peace, since Brigid has been adapted into the ranks of Christian saints why should I not include my Lady's name in prayer as well. Tolerance is a wonderful thing. Besides, walking out of the church into a light fall of snow lifted my heart and my mood as much as anything else, like walking into a Christmas card.
Anyway, enough of this random religious/philosophical/sentimental rambling!
Random cool presents and a shopping trip tomorrow...it was odd though, I think I'm growing up (*waits for shocked gasps*) I actually found it more enjoyable watching the reactions of my parents to presents than I did openning my own...not entirely sure what's going on there but if any body parts start turning funny colours or dropping off I'll be sure to let you know! It's been the kind of quiet family Christmas that you always think it should be and never is, now I just feel like having another glass of wine (no all the warmth and seasonal good will isn't drunkenness!) and settling down with the TV and a notebook and seeing if I can be inspired.
I seem to be making New Year's resolutions early this year, having looked back at everything I've come to the conclusion that my life has kinda fallen apart over the last year, I haven't been me, I need to start being me again. I'm going to sort out the job I keep promising myself, get enrolled for next year on the english 'A' level that I should have done this year and didn't have the cash for, then get back to Uni or college or somewhere and get a teaching qualification, the more I hear about it the more appealing it gets - Goddess alone knows why given my general attitude to school while I was there, some of my teachers would have fits at the thought of me behind their desk, although whether of giggles or hysteria depends on how well they knew me *grins*. In short I'm actually going to stop lounging around and do something with my life the way I always dreamed of! Added to all that the fact that I plan on getting back into my flute and I should find plenty to keep me busy, I've got my book of folk music that I was after complete with the most useful little CD of demos and backing tracks so much practising is in the offing for the next few months much to the probable dismay of both cats and neighbours! They'll all be sick of Greensleeves when I'm done although I'd like to take a day or two to get Loch Lommond playable for New Years at Rob and Leslie's.
In slightly less fluffyness I found the letter I mentioned last entry and sent it, now it's a case of waiting with baited breath and praying I haven't screwed things up - no not to any male face of deity, a certain beautiful Lady of very long aquaintance and many "conversations"...."Nothing but trouble, that's what my life has been...Just LOOK what the gods have put me through....." Yes, well - that's the other thing, must find theatreness in the coming year, I will NOT have my father spending more time on the stage than me! Speaking of father dearest, the Peas (mushy ones) and Quiet went down very well, started the morning off with a shared laugh, I swear there were tears in his eyes by the end of it, it's been a while since I heard him giggle.
And now I really must stop rambling, the happiest of Christmases to all or a rather belated Yule if you'd rather.
*pixie dust*
