challenge entry
I thought i might end up doing this by listing daily things id been doing or will do for all 13 days but as i planned and worked on things it was less of a defined activity each day rather a mindset and project that buillt on itself and still going.
A time when a shift from the peak of light and sun heads towards a time of growing darkness, its feeling like a sun version of tge moon cycle and this time of the year relates to the waning gibbous stage that might see in moon cycle, except in this case relates to the sun cycle rather than the moon.
Ive been using this time as a check in point to see where i was at and where i wanted to go for the coming year, changes want and need to make and been planning, creating books for areas of focus, adding colours and intent as i go.
Also thinking about the 'waning ā part of yhe sun cycle, Iāve been reflecting on what things i wanted or needed to let go of or clear away in order to achieve the goals that i have found have been on hold because of circumstances.
This is my check in point, my reset post on a path where im checking in to see where i am and where i need to go. I used to hike alot so thinking of being out hiking and following a path comes to mind and when folloeing a trail and markers, it helps you to know if still on right trail or if gone off the path.
So thats been my focus these past days. Ive started yoga each day, even just a lil session, candle, tea and other meditations to practice stopping and centering mysekf throughout the day, i even using the daily prayer blessing to help make a connection and honor my clan each day. While each day may hace specific deities i choose to honor specifically because of the correpondamce or association to that day i didnt want to not make regular connections if a xertain day was always insane and couldnt do much to connect to them and honor them regularly . So this way, i can connect and honor them each day and also it helps remind me im not doing tge day alone, i have them there as well. I can still do specific things on specific days relared to them, includibg spreads to talk to them ( i found a few spreads for each member of clan that related ti them and planned them out during rhe week, along with options to connect to elements, the day intentions etc).
I spent ages trying to figure outva practuce tgat was simple and able to be managed even when life gets crazy. Ive been trying to organise my life n each area to help manage all the craziness and making sure i take time to stop now and then to centre and grouns myself as well.
I had my family celebration for the Christmas ( or for me Litha, even if didnt tell family thats what i was celebrating) on last Friday. I was supposed to catch up with my best friebd and her family christmas day as she heard my family couldnāt do anything on Christmas day but they got sick with covid. But i was more sad for them because thats a terrible way to spend christmas day esp when they also invited the neighbour over that plays wuth her little girl that day too. I was glad we had caught up the week before chrustmas because for me i was ok with catching up regardless what day it was. I was more worrued about tgem all spending that period of family and fruends gatherung unable to leave their hones and all being unwell, and whether they had what they needed. . But i think from what ive read, others have had changes to rheir christmas plans and i ferl for anyone whose not heen able to see family n friends during this time or have had disaster hit because of storms and weather for those going through winter right now. For me, i feel lucky, i saw my friend and famuly the week before and my family a few days before christmas day, so jot seeing anyone or having contact with anyone in person for past 4 days not even christmas, i dont feel i can complain. The day itself doesnt matter to me because i had that time to see friends and family prior to that time. But i do feel for those who didnt have that, or that had illness or disaster hit during this period and really hope everyone is ok and safe.
Thinking about the rest of this challenge is strange because while technically christmas is now over and its alnosr new years, i cant help think of those who have had a rough christmas that would be heading towards the end of tge year and into the new year dealing with the outcomes of recent events. I hope that the impact is not too severe and that its stuff that can be recovered from ok. I cant help feel grateful for my circumstances even if they are not great because i know that what im dealing with is not so bad in the grand scheme of things. Im pushing through, and coping ok, i have my moments and while i wont go into things here i know during this time of waning period of the year that though heading into period of growing darkness ( for us in south hemisphere) there is a hope that by releasing all the stuff thats been holding me back, dealing with health n wellbeing issues, work issues and all of that that i will be able to rebuild and grow towards who i need to be and where i need to go. My things dealing with are not intense like dealing with major illness or disasters. But in saying that and not to make light of those that mighy of been through recent disaster or illness ( esp as ive been there in past myself) but i hope that anyone whose had a rough time lately would haabe the support and resources to cope and manage with whatever dealing with so that they too can find hope and light even in a dark time. Time has passed for me since my last major disaster or trauma ( not including illness or severe ongoing pains etc which is more ongoing and less intwnse in one go that a major incident like damage from storms ) so the impact doesnt hit me so much as it might of soon after it happened but i can understand how hard it is right after it has. So i say much of this trying to be sensitive to those who may if just gone through tough times during this period while sharing my care and concern for their wellbeing and safety. I may be at a different point of my journey to others but i havnt forgotten the impact of such things and i guess this entry has turned into a bit of a letting ppl know that whatever sort of christmas or yule/litha period that they are having, good bad or ugly, that your not alone and you have ppl here that care and want to support you.
Sorry if i may of gone off track from my challenge entry here, i guess my entry got me thinking about peoples experiences around this time that i knew of and wanted to show my concern care and support especially fir those who have had it rough this holiday season. I hope your all doing ok and are safe. Im not sure if i was going to write more for the entry but for now seeingbas this is probably a really long post i better leave this here, uts also really late and im afraid if i keep trying to write my exhaustion might cause me to not make sense. I hope everyone is doing ok and statibg safe and that the rest of you week and this yule/litha period goes ok and improves for those who may be having a rough time at the moment. Take care everyone 
but Iām gonna make time to read through everyoneās entries so far in a little bit!
I wanted to catch him too! I remember one year thinking Iāll stay up late until I see him!
I am glad, to have that experience as a child! It was some really good times! Anyway I enjoyed reminiscing with you and reading your post!
