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What Do You Want for Christmas?
December 2006
by Gwilda Wiyaka

The lights are out and shining bright in my neighborhood. The parking lots at the shopping malls are full to bursting. I can only imagine the zoo in the mall as I will not step foot inside. I have resorted to doing what little shopping I do online.

Christmas music was blaring in my dentist's office when I had my teeth cleaned this week.

"Where are you going to be for the holidays?" my hygienist inquires as she is up to her elbows in my mouth leaving me no hope of answering. I point to the floor.

"Here? Well that should be nice." She responds and then goes into a long dissertation about her family dynamics, in-laws and out-laws that make her Christmas a challenge. I have learned over the years that nothing is expected of me except an occasional grunt while she visits on and cleans away. I like that. I can just drift listening to her stories. They make the time go faster taking my mind off the scrape of her instruments on my teeth.

As I hear her tell me about her decorations in her house I think of my home. I have no lights or tree up. Not that we are trying to make a statement or anything. My daughter and I discussed it and decided we did not care one way or the other so we chose not to go to all the work.

As I hear her discuss all the extended family she is obligated to entertain this year I realize I have no such obligations. Since my mother passed on, only my sister and I remain in touch. I used to have huge Christmases at my home for my family. My mother so loved Christmas. Now, my sister can’t make the trip and I have no contact with my brother and step father.

Those times were good, but I do not miss them now. Nor am I sad, just disengaged in a way. As I ponder it more deeply I realize I never questioned what I was doing with all that work cooking buying decorating and unreasonable expectation. I just did it because it was what one does. I did it because I could nurture my family in that way. I did it so they would love me.

"What do you want for Christmas?" Her question shakes me out of my ponderings. What do I want for Christmas? I think of all the things cluttering my house that I have not used in years if ever. I think of the ends my children would gladly go to afford to buy me more. Why? So I will love them? I already do. To show me how much they love me? I already know.

What do I want for Christmas outside of less clutter? I already have everything I could possibly want, my children, my health, my home and my life’s work.

For Christmas I want the same for you. May you be blessed with less clutter, less worry, less obligation and be truly present to receive all the abundant love that is your birthright.

Happy Holidays,
Gwilda Wiyaka

Given my bottom line....

1. When I stand in the center of my being, what do I really want for Christmas?
2. If I allowed myself the choice to create my own holiday season experience, what would it look like?
3. What do I need to know, do, or heal in order to bring my actual holiday experience closer to my ideal?
4. What could I ask for that will contribute to my path as I move into the New Year?

Happy Journey!

Journey Questions are designed for individuals that have taken Path Home Shamanic Arts School's Lower or Upper World Journey Class.These classes are designed to instruct a person on the successful access use and interpretation of the shamanic trance.

If you would like to learn to learn to journey, see Path Home Shamanic Arts School classes: http://findyourpathhome.com/ws_main.html#lowerworld or http://findyourpathhome.com/ws_main.html#upperworld

© 2006 Gwilda Wiyaka