The Mystic Roots of Christianity by Theodore J. Nottingham The word "church" is a translation combining several Greek words and a multitude of images and metaphors. It comes directly from a word meaning "those who belong to God." The New Testament writers used many descriptions to express the meaning of church: slaves of Christ, the people of God, the family of God, the bride of Christ, the body of Christ. In the Book of Acts, the term "brothers" is used thirty times to describe the fellowship we call church. Be Selfish This Gift-Giving Season by Michael Skowronski It’s hard to believe that it is Christmas time again. Every year goes by faster than the last. As my friends and I mature, I find it encouraging to notice how the ways we buy and give gifts also mature. Many families have gotten so big that they draw names from a hat and exchange only one gift, rather than having to buy dozens of them. Others simply agree to buy gifts for only those they feel drawn to do this for. I know others are also searching for new and more appropriate ways to give. But still there is that expectation. There is that pressure from society to "do the right thing" and give gifts to families and loved ones. How does that feel to you? It has never felt good to me. Yoga and the Spiritual Path by Kathy Walker If it weren’t for yoga, I would be dead. I don’t mean I would have committed suicide; I’m too much a coward for that, although the thought did cross my mind at one time. What I do mean is, if it weren’t for yoga, I would be dead in other ways. I would be one of the living dead. My energy and vitality would have been lost. I would never have learned to love my body and allow it to be so healthy. My creativity would have never soared, expanding into recording, drawing, creative writing, and teaching. I would never have learned to relax, breathe, and find a quiet place within myself to rest from all the hectic craziness of life. Manna from Heaven by Bill Douglas When my son died, the walls of the dark hospital began to squeeze in late in the night, as the entire world pressed in on my heart. In that moment, I realized that the way we "run away from our lives" is all illusion. At that moment, no television program or sports event or tasty food or new car or shiny product could do anything to save me from the reality of life, even though the advertisers promised they could save me from anything, from everything, and give my life "true" meaning.   StarWatch by James Jarvis By adding the universal year 2002, (2+0+0+2) = 4, to the 12th month of December, we come up with the vibration of 16/7. The 7 month is about taking the time to tune into what has meaning in your life. It is a time for inner reflection, contemplation, and rest. Use this month to tap into what has meaning for you through art, meditation, being close to nature and, if possible, retreat time. Look to see how you can create alone time for expanding your insights, creativity, and practical accomplishment. Sagittarius: Searching for Meaning by Pam Younghans This is the ninth article in a series exploring the 12 astrological signs. In Western Astrology, the sky is divided into 12 equal sections, beginning with Aries at the Vernal Equinox and continuing through the rest of the zodiac. Exact dates for the beginning and ending of each sign vary from year to year. Please consult a qualified astrologer to verify your sun sign, and to get a more complete picture of your entire astrological chart. Although the description below applies especially to those who were born when the sun was in Sagittarius, it also applies in varying degrees for everyone, as we all have Sagittarius represented in our charts. Intuitively Speaking by Deborah Ilg The month of December feels quiet and contemplative. I sense a need to pull inside. When our bodies go through growth spurts, as they have recently, we feel physically raw and open, and we need to be nurtured. Pulling inside ourselves is a positive thing. Our bodies are telling us to slow down. Take time this month to have fun and explore new ways to take care of yourself. This is always interesting, because you will notice that the mind automatically goes to learned concepts of nurturing. Stay focused on what really feels good to you. This is a fabulous month to discover what moves you and what is passionate for you in terms of nurturing. These revelations will then transfer over to other areas of your life. Instead of placing yourself in situations that don’t feel good or are energy-zapping, you will be able to place yourself in more nurturing environments. If you are in situations that don’t nurture you, you can choose how to take better care of yourself. The holiday season is a perfect time of the year for this lesson to show up for us!