A Note About Christmas

For many people it is difficult to "get into" the "holiday spirit." Myself included. Even though I am not a Christian, I am still coerced by society (and, Ok...my family too) to celebrate it. For me it is a hard time of year to be happy, which is unfortunate. It can be the most wonderful time of year. The solstice is a Magickal time, which I think needs to be approached with the innocent eyes of a child. Even without the promise of presents, as a child I recognized the certain something in the air.

It is a stillness of the soul, as if the world was holding its breath for something. My fondest memories are of lying in the glistening snow on my back and staring up at the stars. The sounds muffled and the "worries" of the day left far behind.

My family would take a day in December to go to Bear Mountain State Park to hike and drink hot chocolate in the lodge.

To me, it seems as if the older we get, the more we become mired in the daily grind. What was once a magickal time of year is transformed into a time of obligation and consumerism. Everyone is forced to conform to unspoken rules. And we all hate pressure.

*Sigh*

I guess I tend to get a little down this time of year. Most Capricorns tend to age in reverse, so hopefully I will find Christmas more magickal as I get older again.