We join our Jewish friends from all over the world on December 11th when the “Festival of Lights” commemorating the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, begins at sundown.  For those who need refreshing, this holiday was born in the century just  “BCE” or “BC” when a renegade band of Jews led by Judah Maccabee pursued their goal of regaining the holy temple in Jerusalem.

According to history, the Temple had been desecrated; its revered artifacts and icons, including a Menorah (a candelabra) made of gold; broken and ruined.  The reigns of Pompey and then Antiochus IV, Epiphanes were responsible for the allowing the Temple to fall into disrepair.

When the Maccabees succeeded in regaining the Temple, they set about, and I imagine lovingly; dusting, scrubbing, and polishing the entire Temple including the artifacts.  One of the more important of these was the golden menorah just waiting to be rekindled to its former glory of lighting the alter.

The Maccabees focused on celebrating with a rededication of the Temple, and they ran into what I am sure may have been one of many problems putting together a commemoration of that size.  They found only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, and they had planned a lengthy celebration.

To the wonder of all of the celebrants, the menorah continued to shed its light for eight days and nights.  The center candle, or “shamash” meaning “servant” or “guard”, is used to light the other candles, one for each night of Hanukkah.  Traditionally, a blessing is said as the candle for that particular night is lit.

Hanukkah is a time of joyous celebration and rededication, commemorating an important series of events in the history of Judaism.

THE 8 WAYS THAT WOMEN SPIRITUAL LEADERS MAY REDEDICATE AND CELEBRATE…

1.    Identify what needs rededicating in your life

2.    Strategize

3.    Set out to pursue your goal

4.    Surround yourself with support (perhaps a renegade band of troops who will help you ‘recapture the Temple’)

5.    Dust, scrub and polish in order to:

6.    Lovingly restore what that is to its Brilliance

7.    Light a Candle to commemorate what you have rededicated and offer a blessing

8.    Celebrate!

This article was written by Rev. Ruth Reiner, who is an ordained Interfaith Minister, spiritual counselor, coach, nurse, former wife, mother, grandmother, and entrepreneur.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, PUBLICATION, OR ON YOUR WEB-SITE?  You may, as long as you commit to leaving the entire article intact, do not alter it in any way, and include the following: “THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN SPIRITUAL LEADERS” was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions.  We invite you to download – as a gift to you- THE 5 SECRETS TO CREATING ABUDANCE THROUGH YOUR CALLING.
You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of tips and information for supporting you in your mission or quest.

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Today, the first Sunday in Advent, we celebrate with our Christian friends who look toward the “coming” of the birth of Jesus.  Although largely symbolic considering that Jesus has been born, there are those within Christianity who anticipate the second advent, or coming of Jesus.
Each Sunday preceding Christmas is marked with the lighting of an “advent” candle; four in all, usually contained within a wreath or other shapes of evergreens.  Advent is considered to be the start of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.  The celebration is alive with tradition, from the colors of the candles and the banners within the churches and raiment worn by clergy and other spiritual leaders, to the hymns and in songs sung by choirs and congregations alike.  The air is expectant, and the congregants eagerly look forward to the culmination of the festivities in the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning.

For those of us women who are spiritual leaders in our respective religious communities; for those of us who have solo or partnership practices as spiritual counselors, energy and other holistic healers; and for those of us who are feeling the flames of longing to birth our own entities, “advent” could be pregnant with enormous meaning.  In order to “birth” whatever it is in each of us, I offer the following:

1.    Each Sunday of this “advent” season, or other day of your choosing, commit to spending time cultivating your spiritual roots.  Whether it be in prayer, meditation, chanting, yoga, singing, drumming, dancing, being in nature, studying in your tradition, or writing… the very idea that you have committed to and have actually created an outlet and time for it, will alter your mindset and your attitude.

2.     Each Sunday of this “advent” season, or other day of your choosing, commit to spending time contemplating your goals in anticipation of 2010.   In order to be effective and successful women spiritual leaders, we need the direction that is contained within the framework of goal setting.  For those of us who depend upon the guidance that comes from our spiritual practice, being aware of our goals keeps us alert to the opportunities that may appear at any time and place.

3.    Each Sunday of this “advent” season, or other day of your choosing, commit to spending time evaluating where you spend your energies.  Are you, like most, spending time on the 80% of your activities that produce 20% of the results?  Or have you, like other successful women spiritual leaders, cultivated the art of identifying which 20% of your activities produce the 80% of results?  It is not difficult to achieve…  it takes the willingness to look at the big picture and to seek help in learning the tools…

4.    Lastly…  each Sunday of this “advent” season, or other day of your choosing, commit to spending time “weeding out”; letting go of what is no longer working in your life and/or in your practice.  As women, and as spiritual leaders, we each know what that means in our own lives.  As natural born intuitives,  we know what needs to be examined in light of its usefulness and contribution to our lives and/or our practices.  As women, and as spiritual leaders, we often feel that in letting go of that part of our practice/business that is no longer effective, or that relationship/s that is draining us of energy, we may inadvertently hurt people by our decisions to “let go”.  And… it is likely that people may be hurt by our decision to “let go”.  And therein lies the meaning, for me, of “advent”.  When we “let go”, it allows for whatever it is to be born… in us, and, if they so choose, the people who may be affected by our “letting go”.

May each and every one of us as women spiritual leaders experience this time of advent… expectancy… as a time of dedication to our spiritual paths, to identifying and to committing to goal setting, of evaluating our lives and practices for the “80-20” concept, and to intuiting/examining our lives and practices for what needs to be “let go”.

This article was written by Rev. Ruth Reiner, an ordained Inter Faith minister, spiritual counselor, coach, nurse, former wife, mother, grandmother and entrepreneur.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download—as our GIFT to you—the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Calling. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling.

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WOMEN SPIRITUAL LEADERS, do you often feel like the many armed Hindu Goddesses, especially this time of the year?  Can you identify with…

Durga, the fierce multi-armed warrior/mother/protector goddess who rides on a tiger or a lion?

Sati, the ancient loving wife goddess?

Umar, the ancient mountain goddess?

Parvati, the loving wife/mother goddess?

And, of course, Kali, the usually naked, blood thirsty and wild haired goddess?

The point being, there exist many aspects of us, as women with many roles… so much so that we can easily relate to the “multi armed” aspect of these goddesses.  As spiritual women who need help and support and often are in need of information to effectively run our ministries, our practices, and our personal lives, we often feel like the many armed goddess, especially in this busy holiday season soon upon us.  Multi-tasking and keeping “all the balls in the air” is something that just comes naturally to us… or does it?

Is there a place within you that longs for the peace, meaning, and true celebration that this season is meant to engender?  Let’s have a look into the life of a modern, “reformed”, multi-armed goddess, our woman spiritual leader:

•    She is committed to her mission that she was inspired to support, so she carves out the time each day to “go apart”, to be present, to listen to guidance, and to study in the tradition to which she is committed
•    She is organized and in control of her life
•    She has support, emotionally and physically, in order to run her practice
•    She asks for, and plans for, help as soon as she realizes she needs it
•    She takes care of herself first because, in doing so, she can best take care of those she serves
•    She allows time during the day for laughter, fun, and breaks, even if they are brief, so that she may be effective in her work
•    She works at doing her best to stay “neutral” in environments with people who usually have great needs and often throw off negativity
•    She surrounds herself with people who are loving and supportive in order that she may minister to those who need her

• She makes decisions quickly after she has gleaned all of the information she needs
• She has the business systems and team, if necessary, that support a religious community, or a holistic or spiritual practice in place, and she has control over it/them and has a semblance of knowledge as to its health
• She prioritizes regarding her practice, and has the knowledge and the willingness to make it profitable and self sustaining
• She has few worries regarding her personal life and her finances
• She experiences abundance and prosperity through the use of spiritual and business principles
• She is aware of her thoughts and feelings, and is an effective leader

O.K., now that we have a picture of our “ideal”, it is easy to see where we need to amend our lives and the way we do business.  Well, what does this have to do with the holiday season, kicking off with the American tradition, Thanksgiving?

If we would simply adapt perhaps just one or two of the actions above, it may just make this holiday season a little easier to navigate.  In starting with the first, being committed to your mission and why you chose to serve as you do, the decisions you need to make regarding how you celebrate Thanksgiving may be easier.

I challenge you, as we consider what we are grateful for, to look seriously at the list above, and promise to put into practice at least two of the principles.  I guarantee that, if you do, you will be less like the multi armed goddess and more like the women spiritual leader who is thankful that she made the commitment to her calling.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

This article was written by Rev. Ruth Reiner, an ordained Inter Faith minister, spiritual counselor, coach, nurse, former wife, mother, grandmother and entrepreneur.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download—as our GIFT to you—the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Calling. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling.

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