Non-Traditional Celebrations

If you want to ring in the holidays by creating your own traditions to reflect your deepest values, astrologically the heavens are aligned in your favor.

Also, it’s good to note that from time immemorial, people across the Northern Hemisphere have celebrated during the darkest days of the years. The celebrations differed according to the culture, but they share certain aspects: sharing, gathering together, gift-giving and feasting. Creating your own tradition in this season links you to chain of human celebrations that date back thousands of years.

These celebrations have been as varied as the peoples and countries involved. Arguably then, what matters is the fact of celebration – what and how you celebrate can be entirely up to you.

In general, a good holiday shares all the elements of a great party: good food, convivial company and a sharing of lives. If you’re of a social nature, you could design a special party to reflect your own ideals, philosophy and desires. It doesn’t have to be a traditional Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa party, unless that suits you. It can be held any time that you choose, just make the party redolent of who you are, what you value, and what you want to celebrate this year.

If you’re a solitary, spiritual sort – perhaps consider designing your own quiet, private ritual to celebrate anything that is of importance to you: your gifts, your loved ones, or life itself. Let it be a ritual inspired only by your ideals. Good nights for rituals are the New Moon and the Full Moon, depending on what you want to emphasize. The New Moon is the time of new beginnings; as such it’s a good time to step into a new cycle unencumbered. The Full Moon is a time of great magic; it’s the time of creation, manifestation and birth. It’s the New, brought to fruition. Once you’ve chosen the time, then choose symbols for your ritual, light candles, set your intention and live out your spirituality.

Perhaps instead you’re intrigued by other cultures, practices or religions. Choose to investigate these other offerings and see if they inspire, intrigue or give you fresh ideas for your own celebrations. You don’t have to want to convert to attend a Buddhist ceremony, a Kriya yoga practice, a Native American sweat lodge, or even a Catholic church. With the influence of Sagittarius in the heavens above, there’s no better time to seek out new influences and winnow them for what resonates for you.

Sometimes enjoying this season, or any season for that matter, is a function of intention. It is said that even cooking a meal can be imbued with holiness and reverence, if only you make it so. Let your creativity flow and gift the world with your own special, spiritual approach to this season. And whatever you do, don’t let a lack of what society perceives as “traditional” stop you from creating your own traditions!