A Christmas Poem by Thomas Merton and The Gift of Each Sign
During this year’s Christmas time, as the wars increase and so many are in poverty, without homes (refugees without nations), let us read the words of Thomas Merton. They help us remember who we are, why we are here and that we are truly are to be our “brother and sister’s keepers.” We remember the story of “no room at the Inn” for the holy birth. And so the parents of the holy child had to find a stable (cave) so Mary could give birth. “Into this world… in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it, because he is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it, his place is with those for whom there is no room…with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power, because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, tortured, exterminated. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present. — Thomas Merton
In our lives there are many who are marginalized. They have no home. Jesus (the holy child), born in a stable, emerged from the marginalized. He thus recognized the forgotten, the ignored, the outcast of the world. Let us pray this Christmas season that we recognize those around us “near the edge.” Let us offer them hope, realizing “Peace on Earth” for some means a place to sleep, have nourishing food, safety, freedom and being accepted. We pray for those who have been forgotten. Let us realize, in this season of giving, that we are to be the gifts given to each other. Let us remember. Gifts of the Signs: Following are the signs written with the thought that each sign offers many gifts. Let us understand everyone’s gifts, seeing each other through the lens of astrology. Recognition is most important. Recognition and understanding bring peace to our world. Peace on Earth, Goodwill andUnderstanding to All this Christmas season. love, Risa
ARIES: Aries initiates new ideas, is the forerunner of all new events. Aries needs encouragement to be patient, punctual and steadfast. Eventually they learn. Eventually they move from instinct to illumination to intuition, releasing all that is undisciplined. They learn how to serve, a principle of liberation, which saves and uplifts the world. They learn to love or their mission fails. So they love more.
TAURUS: …the sign of illumination, their minds like searchlights, directing for everyone the lighted Path ahead. They can be focused researchers. To accomplish this they fit themselves for service through exercise, sunlight, raw milk, organic protein, and a balance of work and leisure, comfort and a life without undue discipline. They reach into the source of light projecting light outward into the darkness. They teach us the Art of Living.
GEMINI: They stimulate and vivify all life (kingdoms) they contact, acting as a transmitter of knowledge, dispersing information, letting in the radiance of essential reality. They seek to find their destined service, to act as a bridge between everything and everyone. They are the Antakarana (Rainbow bridge), lifting all kingdoms into heaven, bringing heaven down to Earth.
CANCER: They, like Capricorn, are their own advisors. Cancers are very intelligent, instinctual and later intuitional. They need quietude, repose, tidiness and routine. Often their crabwalk circles these virtues. They seek to accomplish their tasks of developing equanimity and joy. Cancer can be fascinated with habits long after they are no longer useful. Cancers grow roses and honeysuckle.
LEO: When not assuming power over others, the lion can be playful, masterly and self-assured. They eventually realize fair play and sportsmanship are more valuable then competitive winning. Leos have a strong heart and are generous. The Sun shines directly into their hearts. They can often over-reach beyond safety, thinking themselves immortal. They are and they aren’t. Only with love.
VIRGO: These are the organizers and studiers of the zodiac, learning everything before embarking upon a game, a plan or endeavor. They leave no stone unturned and this provides them with acute perception and an intelligence that harbors great depths of consciousness (unseen). Sometimes they are shy. Sometimes they are afraid of their intelligence. They turn away from dazzling.
LIBRA: Librans are nicely balanced, understand beauty, have a keen precision always adjusting to circumstances. Sometimes they shouldn’t. They weigh each move, sometimes are so impartial they cannot compete. This is good in the future Sharing Society Librans will help create with the New Group of World Servers. Libra is an extraordinary ally with splendid judgment, always focused on collaboration. Everyone wins.
SCORPIO: The most courageous, the most battle-worn and weary (along with Pisces), the most hard hitting, the most tenacious and persistent (like their shadow, Taurus), the most powerful (internally), the most defended (sometimes), the most feared (by those who don’t understand astrology), the most excessive, the most experienced in knowing the underbelly of society, the ones who most wear black and purple. They understand shadows.
SAGITTARIUS: These secret foodies, also musicians, are game players. They don’t like defeat. They play long and hard. Ideals and goals form their long-term value system. They’re very sensitive, can lose in games to those who concentrate on repetitious humdrum actions. Sagittarius is the opposite of uninspired, opposite of humdrum. Sag is restless, seeks freedom, is the magnificent archer on the white horse (car), galloping (driving) over the plains. Oops, he’s gone.
CAPRICORN: They work hard at everything. They’re dignified, prudent and very serious, until their dry sense of humor erupts. Then everyone’s startled that Cap has veered away from their solemn demeanor and constant tasks at hand. They are traditionalists and cannot overcome criticism or ridicule, which no one can overcome, actually. Their natural somberness needs to be met with light-hearted confidence. They are unicorns.
AQUARIUS: Many are graceful and artistic, a bit detached and from the future. Aquarians are often misunderstood. As they stand within the future, they’re considered dreamers. They’re visionaries. No one sees the future as they do. They must not be hemmed in. Their hearing and eyesight are extraordinary, sighting objects no one else sees. They do not humiliate. They are praiseworthy.
PISCES: They win by retreating, never forcing the river, the pace, the play. In a Piscean lifetime there’s an attempt to perfect an ideal, a spiritual ambition and to gain loving regard. To achieve the ideal they concentrate their mind, emotions and body. Their senses predominate. That is their protection. They see potential.
They are vessels of compassion. Protect them.
Risa is Founder & Director of the Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute, a contemporary Wisdom School in the Ancient Mysteries tradition
Email: risagoodwill@gmail.com
Website: www.nightlightnews.org/
Facebook: Risa’s Esoteric Astrology
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~Risa – writer, founder and director…
Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute
—a contemporary Wisdom School studying the Ageless Wisdom teachings. The foundations of the Teachings are the study & application of Astrology & the Seven Rays.
~Email: risagoodwill@gmail.com
~Web journal: www.nightlightnews.org/
~Facebook: Risa D’Angeles – for daily messages
—Astrological, esoteric, religious, news, history, geography, art, literature and cultural journalism.
