While we may be experiencing one of the most globally turbulent times in recent memory, as these words join this post, we are also riding through one of the most turbulent times of the year for a great many people. I’m talking about what most of the westernized world refers to as “The Holidays” stretching from Halloween on October 31st all the way to Valentine’s Day on February 14th of the following year. With the commercialization of the holidays, the “season” can be argued to begin as early as August.

Plenty of souls (both those awake and asleep to their true nature) thrive during “the holiday season.” Enjoying special meals and desserts, reveling in celebrations and planning for family events can naturally elevate the spirit. Plenty of others do not.

For some other souls (both the completely disconnected as well as those seeking, but not yet at peace) the holidays exacerbate general anxiety/depression and/or bring painful reminders of relationships lost, family members deceased or other earthly tragedies. For souls not 100% grounded in divine connection, these feelings can turn the holiday season from festive to foul. Many suffer in silence, not wanting to “drag down” their fellow souls. Others have a very pointed desire to jab holes in the celebratory canvases of those around them. And there are a whole spectrum of souls manifesting their emotions somewhere in between.

Still other fellow souls fall into an entirely different category. They have no past trauma or serious mental entanglement triggered by the holidays. Still, they choose (some consciously, some unconsciously) to adopt negative states in “response” to any number of holiday-related stimuli. As mentioned in a previous post, their “flesh,” in this case specifically their brains, have learned to send signals of discontent in response to factors that don’t naturally affect it, like the presence of holiday music or the appearance of holiday-themed merchandise in stores… even the choice of words their fellow souls use to express holiday cheer!

Like every other inanimate stimuli on the planet, these souls have the choice to ignore it. Instead, they choose to seize upon it and rail with impressive zeal about the irritation caused to them by what they’ve decided to label as irritating. This self-imposed mental entanglement can be as debilitating as the others mentioned in this post.

For any soul who suffers during the holiday season, no matter where their suffering originates or how they manifest those feelings, there’s good news. It may not sound like good news. And to any soul struggling with PTSD or another mental entanglement surrounding this season, it may even sound like victim-blaming, but this really is good news, whether a suffering soul can put it into practice this year or not. The truth about how the holidays make us feel is simple: The holidays affect us exactly as we allow them.

A stated before, that may sound harsh. It may not ring true for all souls, but no matter how it sounds, it remains true. Why? Because it’s true about everything earthly. When a soul has established a sound connection with divine love, nothing earthly or external can shake that connection.

Plenty of the aforementioned traumas or mental entanglements can make this truth feel impossible to actualize. This is when dedication to the pursuit of inner peace through the practice of meditation will naturally guide us to seek out additional/external help we may need to work toward the resolution of any such mental roadblocks. (And yes, that work can take months, years or decades, but it is the work we’re called to do.)

 

As our spiritual journey and our commitment to our meditative practice advances, we will find this truth about the holidays, as well as everything earthly, all on our own. “Irritation” and negative states fall away effortlessly once a soul gains solid connection with divine love.

Once again, the faithful practice of meditation is truly the best gift we can give our souls as well as all of our fellow souls on the planet.

Wishing you peace this holiday season and beyond ❤