Living in Season: the creative flow

As a child, I remember making loads of Christmas cookies. Tins and tins pilled high on top of our refridgerator of cookies--trees, wreaths, bells covered in a variety of colored sugar.

And I also remember my mother making baskets full of fruit, wine, cheese, crackers, and our homemade cookies to give to the postman, the hairdresser, our neighbors, or anyone else she wanted to either thank for their services or for their friendship. It was fun to give away what we made. And it was fun to deliver those baskets.

I am learning (relearning) the magic of homemade gifts this year. For my birthday this year, my son wrote me a story and some riddles, my husband wrote me poems, my daughter a card. Each one offered something they love to do in the form of a gift for me. They were the best gifts I have ever received because they came from that magical place of creativity and love.

For Christmas, I made crowns for each family member (for the Feast of the Three Kings/12th Night on the 5th of January). I loved making those crowns because I had to think about each person (favorite color, what symbol represents that person, what season of the year were they born, what kind of design to embroider). And thinking about each person in turn allowed me to cherish each one for who they are. Wedding creativity with gift giving fills me up with love and generosity. And I guess that is the true meaning of this season--connection, love, generosity, and new life. For when we are seen for who we really are, when we are encouraged to be who we really are, then we can step into our real place in life. It is so affirming to offer a gift that says: this is from the creative flow in me, offering to you a gift that sees the flow and fullness of you.

I have read loads of posts lately about the joy and busyness of making gifts during this season. Creativity seems to be this energy force that encircles the Earth. This time of year seems to be about making, creating, and giving. I wonder what making gifts means to you?

It is funny how until this year, until I stepped into the creative flow, I always wanted to make gifts but never thought I had any particular talent. Now I see that when creativity becomes a spiritual practice, I have loads to share--pottery, cookies, bread, and I can even try new things like embroidery, knitting, and sewing.

I associate this time of year with birth/rebirth, and the creative spirit is one way to connect deeply with oneself, with loved ones, and with the one creative flow. Creativity is one way I keep learning about myself. And learning about myself and the ones I love are just many mini-births.