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Wherever life takes me. Musings from a folk-rock musician and freelance writer who just had a baby in Rochester, N.Y.





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The annual Christmas letter

Saturday, December 25, 2004
9:09 AM

Silandara’s Year in Review 2004

We thought last winter would never end—and yet it did and the seasons turned and the world warmed up again.

Winter
In early January, Nany (my Mum’s mum) passed into spirit. She was the last remaining grandparent for both Kevin and I and so we felt like we were moving up a generation. No longer the grandchildren, not yet parents—it was an odd place to be.

Spring
I had a lot of gigs in the winter and spring—mostly coffee shops around town—some of which were more enjoyable than others. I went down to New York City in March and played at a couple of clubs—a learning experience, certainly.

Summer
Last year I began a course to become an ordained minister and certified medium through my national church organization. In June, I spent two weeks in Lily Dale, N.Y. (a Spiritualist community) for a pastoral skills course—a required part of the whole thing. I loved it so much I joined the Lily Dale Assembly. I’m more than half-way through the course now and have become very involved in my church (Plymouth Spiritualist Church).

I was promoted to Student Minister in the summer and have been leading services and even teaching a little bit. It’s never a position I expected to find myself in—but the church has been a place where I’ve found so much healing for myself and have met so many like-minded souls that it seems very natural and normal.

For the first time in my life I am finding a place of peace within myself where I feel I have purpose. Perhaps it’s not a very mainstream way to go about it, but then I’ve never been a very conventional person, have I?

Fall
As the fall rolled in and summer waned, Kevin and I decided we were ready—on enough levels—to start a family. (We also designed and installed a new kitchen complete with dishwasher and garbage disposal. :) At Christmastime I’ll just be through my first trimester and the little peanut will show his (or her) face around July 10, 2005. (Actually, the 1st trimester ends on New Year's Day.)

The cats will probably be relieved that I’ll have someone to dress up besides them.
And so we truly are being advanced a generation in the family, now that we’re having children of our own. Baby Gustina will very likely be named after his/her grandparents and great grandparents. We like to think that will evoke their protective spirits and it continues their legacy. Please send us your love and good thoughts—we’re new at this.

I would like to urge you to remember the true spirit of the season as you go about your way this year. Whatever your faith or belief, remember that this is a time of peace, love and celebration—not stress, sadness or fear that we don’t have enough (of money, love, freedom…).

It’s a time to come together with whoever we call our family—whether we’re tied to them by blood, marriage or friendship. Sometimes we are blessed with great folks at birth, sometimes we have to find our own.

Reach out to those you love and are connected to and let them in. Surround yourself with people that are good for you and help to nourish and heal your heart. I hope your find your peace—that’s my Christmas wish for us all.

Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth


by Silandara
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Comments:
It is my sincere wish, for each and everyone of you, that you may find in this season of journeys and renewal, of sun return and religious celebrations, a healing, a renewal of spirit and inspiration, but most of all, a touch of the warmth of love. In all things, we are emotional creatures, and even the most self sufficient and separate of us has feelings. Buried though they often are, in the illusions of what man has done to the world, but in the end, man is only a passing moment in the life of the earth, and a bit of noise in the ear of the universe. It is only our own relationships and support and sharing with each other that makes us more than we are.
Never have we been better than any other creature, and generally much worse. May we use the one gift we do have, that of mind, to extend and understand our hearts that we may find our place in the realms and begin to bring healing instead of destruction, joy and beauty instead of concrete and death.

May the blessing of the many Gods, whatever their form may take for you, be yours and all your loved relations.
Marion
 
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