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5 Surprising Truths About Easter

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Aren’t Easter festivities fun? What other holiday has an egg-laying mammal that comes to your house at night with goodies for children? Decorating eggs allows kids and adults to express some creativity, but who thought of dyeing eggs in the first place? How did the resurrection of Christ come to be connected to the Easter Bunny?

While Easter is officially a Christian holiday, contemporary Easter celebrations are a mash-up of stories, traditions, and practices from several cultures and religions that have evolved over centuries, including customs that predate Christianity. That’s right—some of the most popular Easter traditions are older that you think!

Even if the commercial aspect of the holiday is a little out of control—plastic grass and Peeps everywhere—the essential symbols and customs that have survived still bear traces of their original intent: to honor the miracles of resurrection and rebirth.

As a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I find holidays with such cultural complexity fascinating, and I hope you’ll enjoy these five surprising truths about Easter.

 

1. “Easter” is Named After an Ancient Fertility Goddess

The word “Easter” comes from “Eastre” or “Eostre” who was a goddess of spring in the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon tribes of Northern Europe. Each year at the vernal equinox—which is when the day and night are approximately the same length—the Anglo-Saxons honored Eastre by holding a festival to mark the beginning of spring and celebrate all the promise of rebirth in nature. Eastre is also a fertility goddess, as spring and fertility go hand in hand, and the celebrations were designed to honor renewal and rebirth, the cycle of life, and the promise of fruitfulness.

 

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As Christianity spread across Europe, many missionaries adopted pagan rituals and traditions into the Christian faith and gave them a context within the religion. The Eastre festival of rebirth and fertility coincided with the time of the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so these two holidays that commemorate renewal were blended into the beginnings of our contemporary Easter.

 

2. The Easter Bunny Came from Germany

It’s probably no surprise to you that the Easter bunny is not in the Bible, but do you know why the mascot for this resurrection holiday is a rabbit?

Pagans used the rabbit as a symbol of fertility and the abundance of life in because of the rabbit reputation for quick procreation and large litters. As pagan customs were absorbed into Christianity, the pagan bunny hopped along. The rabbit association is also likely connected to Eastre, who was often either represented as a hare or depicted as being accompanied by a hare.

 

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Scholars believe the more recent version of the Easter Bunny as a creature that delivers candy was brought to the United States by German immigrants, who told stories of “Oschter Haws,” an egg-laying hare.

Oschter Haws was said to fill nests full of decorated eggs for children who were deemed “good”—much like Santa Claus filling stockings—and as the practice spread throughout America, the deliveries started to also include candy and chocolate. You can thank the Germans for the first chocolate bunnies as well, which evolved out of pastries and cakes shaped like Oschter Haws that they began making in the 1800s.

 

3. Eggs Mean Rebirth—Literally and Figuratively

Eggs have long been associated with new life and rebirth. After all, life literally hatches from eggs. Eggs are the vessel of new life about to be born—what more appropriate symbol is there? Ancient cultures across the globe have incorporated eggs into their springtime rituals and celebrations for centuries.

 

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Decorating eggs is seen in many countries and seems to go all the way back to the 13th century. Orthodox Christians in the Middle East and Greece painted or dyed their eggs shades of red to signify the blood Christ shed on the cross. German parents distributed green eggs as gifts, Austrians created patterns on eggs by boiling them with plants, and in Poland and Ukraine, eggs were often elaborately decorated with dye, wax, and silver and gold paint.

 

4. Eggs Were Not Originally Hardboiled for Fun

During Medieval times in Europe, the church forbade the eating of eggs during Lent. Any eggs that were laid during the forty days of Lent had to be preserved, and boiling was often used. Since Easter marks the end of Lent, these preserved—hardboiled—eggs were a big part of the Easter meals and a cherished gift for children. Parents would hide eggs as a game for children and kids would roll eggs down hills for fun.

Easter egg hunts and egg rolls seem to be the contemporary versions of these traditions, including the famous White House lawn egg roll that happens every year.

 

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5. Easter Is a Great Time for Spiritual Awakening

Could your life use a spiritual awakening, or reawakening? As a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I want to stress the importance of the rebirth aspect of this holiday. Spring is blossoming and signs are all around of life coming out of its shell, moving its face toward the light, and you can bloom, too!

 

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Now is the perfect time to begin a practice of daily meditation, or recommit yourself to meditation if you’ve let your routine slide. Easter is also a good time to take stock of your chakras and the health of your energy field. To find out if your chakras are spinning correctly, you can take energy healing workshops or healing courses. An energy healer will be able to realign any imbalances in your energy field. A practitioner of energy medicine can also assist you in experiencing spiritual initiations which are steps toward higher consciousness. How’s that for spiritual renewal?

If you would like to learn more about energy healing, meditation, and how to read your chakras, be sure to check out my Hay House LifeForce Energy Healing Course, now live, that will teach you all about energy medicine and its incredible benefits, and how to heal yourself and others. Plus, the course certifies you in the exciting field of energy medicine!

 

 

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Anticipating the Light

Newgrange, Irland

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned
that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
~ Albert Camus

 

As the seasons continue their relentless cycle, once again we find ourselves nearly at year-end, facing the darkest day of the year. December 21, 2013 marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when we’ll experience the shortest day and longest night and see the sun peak at its lowest point in the sky. The term solstice means “sun stands still,” and for a fleeting moment the sun actually seems to pause in the sky – a signal to the world that the long night is over and we can look forward to the weeks to come when the days lengthen and the sun once again begins to work it’s magic here on earth!

 

For most of us today, the challenges of winter don’t go much beyond travel delays, ice on our windshields and the need to bundle up in warm coats, scarves and gloves. To others, the grey, gloomy days of winter can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) a mood change that’s associated with the change of the seasons. To ancient cultures, the winter solstice had much greater significance as each year citizens calculated their odds of living through the winter, dreading the approach of cold and darkness as they longed for spring to return.

 

The longest night of the year marks the return of the light in many cultures and has long been held as a sacred time of year. We can see evidence of these ancient tributes in places that were built to acknowledge this astronomical event, and in many of today’s winter holidays and rituals.

 

At Newgrange, a Stone Age passage tomb in Ireland, the sun shines down its long passageway into the central chamber at the first crack of light on the winter solstice. Each year, people gather at Newgrange on winter solstice to wait for the dawning of the light, and just as it did over 5,000 years ago, for seventeen minutes as the sun rises the whole chamber is illuminated. It’s an extraordinary experience to wait in the darkness for the longest night of the year to come to an end, as the old sun dies and the new sun is born. In 2007, for the first time, the illumination at the passage tomb was broadcast live so that people around the world could experience this magical moment in their own living rooms.

 

Gods have a way of appearing just as things are at their darkest! The infant Jesus, whose birth is celebrated right around the time of winter solstice, brought light back into the world. In the days of the Roman Empire, many of their gods were born near the time of the solstice: Apollo, Attis, Baal, Dionysus, Helios, Hercules, Horus, Mithra, Osiris, Perseus, and Theseus. In the third century, their festivals were combined into one “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun” on December 25th. In Japan, the sun goddess Amateratsu emerges from her cave at this time of year.

 

Simple rituals, ancient and modern, help us to shed our own light on the darkness. All over the world people gather together with loved ones, light candles, decorate their homes, share meals and/or exchange gifts. All these winter holidays—Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Saint Lucia Day, Dong Zhi (which literally means “the extreme of winter”), Diwali, Koleduvane (a festival in Belgium for the birth of the sun), Gody (in Poland), Shabe-Yalda (rebirth of the sun as celebrated in Iran) – are celebrating the return of the light during the darkest time of the year.

 

As a spiritual teacher and energy healer, I encourage you to remember that without darkness, there can be no light. To celebrate the seasonal cycle, why not develop your own personal rituals to mark the passing of darkness and the ascension into the light! Take a hike to a high outdoor peak, attend a meditation retreat or energy healing workshop, create a special journal entry to process any darkness that you have accumulated this season, or find a way to spread some light to others who are experiencing hardships or depression.  Enjoy this mystical and hopeful time of year!

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Sacred Sites Close to Home

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Summer is here, and you want to do something a little different for your two-week vacation, or for a long weekend. You’d prefer to go somewhere like the pyramids in Egypt, or Stonehenge in England, or Machu Picchu in Peru and connect with the ancient spiritual energies, but . . . well, that’s just not going to happen this year. Never fear, you can visit sacred sites right here in the U.S., and you can probably find ones right near where you live.

We don’t often think about the places in the U.S. that are considered sacred, yet there are many. But first, what is a sacred site? Some are places that are held holy by certain religions or cultural traditions; some are geological features like mountains, waterfalls, or caves; some have man-made structures on them. What all of these sacred sites have in common is an energy field that surrounds and saturates them. The invisible field of energy at certain places can have the ability to heal the body and awaken the soul. When a pilgrim enters that place of power and connects to it through meditation, prayer, or ritual, he or she can link up with the power of the place. As a spiritual teacher and a seeker, I’ve often connected to Source at sacred sites.

So where in the U.S. might you go?

If you live in or near the Ohio River Valley, for example, you are in the heart of the great ceremonial mound-building culture that developed along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Over 10,000 mounds and earthworks once flourished in the area, built by ancestors of today’s American Indians. Many of these earthen hills are filled with burials and funerary objects, while other mounds were used mostly for ceremony. Of the many that once existed, 1,000 mounds are still visible. Others have been destroyed in the name of progress. You know, the “take Paradise, put up a parking lot” mentality. If you play golf at the Moundbuilders Country Club, for example, you could be teeing off on top of the Octagon Mound. But there are still fragments you can see of the Wright Earthworks or the Newark Earthworks. You can also visit the quarter-mile Great Serpent Mound (pictured) near Dayton, Ohio, the largest effigy mound in the U.S., which represents an underworld spirit being. The serpent’s head aligns to sunset on the day of the summer solstice.

In Illinois, the Cahokia Mounds are part of an ancient civilization of Mississippian peoples that was once one of the greatest cities in the world. Part of the complex, called the Monk’s Mound, is the largest manmade earthen mound in the Americas, with a base larger than the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Many of the places that are still sacred to the Native peoples are in the West, such as Crater Lake, Oregon, sacred to the Klamath people whose ancestors witnessed the eruption that formed the lake; Blue Lake, NM, sacred to the Taos Pueblo; The Black Hills of South Dakota, especially Bear Butte, sacred to the Lakota Cheyenne and Kiowa (the Lakota called it the “Heart of All Things,” and an astronaut on the space shuttle who photographed it from orbit said the outline of the mountains looks like a human heart); for the Snoqualmie people, the massive Snoqualmie Falls waterfall is their spiritual focal point, with the mists from the base believed to connect heaven and earth.

If you can’t get out of the city, visit any of the magnificent cathedrals and temples that you may have passed a thousand times without entering—such as Trinity Church in Boston; the Baltimore Basilica; St Patrick’s, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (the largest cathedral in the world), or Saint Thomas Church in New York—and spend some time meditating there.

From Mount Denali in Alaska to the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, from the Great Mother Mound in Mississippi to the Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, from Mt. Kilauea in Maui (the home of the volcano goddess Pele) to the Badlands of South Dakota, there are incredible places to visit that don’t need a passport to get to. All across the U.S., there are thousands of sites sacred to the indigenous tribes and nations of this country, each with their own mythology and imbued spirituality. So whether you are aware of it or not, you could be living and working on or walking or driving over sacred land.

Do some research in your local area to discover what once existed there, or what may possibly still be available as a sacred site you can visit. Go online to one of the lists of U.S. sacred sites to see some of the places available in your state. Or come to an energy healing or life coaching course (/events-workshops//) and learn to connect to the sacred site of your own heart.

Sacred sites are everywhere!

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What does 12.12.12 mean for you?

 

This year ends with several mystical dates: 12.12.12 and 12.21.12. Each one of these dates is related to specific cosmic forces that influence us.

2012 was a marker set in time by time travelers, many of whom are incarnate today on Earth. The date is a window of possibility—a time in which we can make an evolutionary leap, as well as the time of the ending of the last World Age. The forces have been aligned to create an opening that relates to the power of consciousness. It is about realizing your power to create a new world, for you and for others. On 12.12.12 you may feel a rush of insight as the gateway opens in preparation for 12.21.12, the Winter Solstice.
In numerology—a universal language for frequency and resonance of energy on multiple levels—12 is a number of universal import. There are 12 hours in a day, 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, 12 Olympian gods of the Pantheon, Jacob’s 12 sons who became the 12 Tribes of Israel, King Arthur’s 12 Knights of the Roundtable, 12 days of Christmas, and today there are 12 F-keys on PC keyboards. Within the 12, you have the number 3 (1+2=3). In 12.12.12, you have three 3s, which equal 9—the number for the completion of a cycle. This day of power is thus also related to your third chakra, where your powerful and creative fire is lit, and a new fire/light comes forth from the belly of the Earth to spark rebirth in the heart chakra.

Many of you may find yourselves pulled to certain people or places on these two mystical dates. What you will be focused on will likely be determined by all the inner preparation you have done during 2012. You may be drawn to places of power where you can be of service energetically. Or you may find yourself in a place related to a past life where you can reclaim missing pieces of your soul’s power. Light workers will be moving into key positions both physically and psychically. Acknowledge the gateway you have to travel across on 12.12.12, whether it’s travel into your emotions, across the planet, across dimensions, or some threshold that impacts your soul.

According to Vedic astrology, there will be five planets in Scorpio on 12.12.12. Saturn is exalted, which means it cannot allow this world to end at that time. In the 9 days between 12.12.12 and 12.21.12, Mars goes into its exalted sign of Capricorn. There may be earthquakes or other changes in countries whose horoscopes are controlled by Mars and the Sun. Most of them are surrounded by water on all sides, like the Pacific islands, Australia, or Sri Lanka. The supremacy of the superpowers may be threatened, and many changes in lifestyle, politics, and thought processes will see old ideas starting to be replaced by new ones.

There is an interesting astrological occurrence that happens on 12.21.12, which is that the winter solstice sun will align with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 years. It is possible that your intuition will receive more input than usual. Neptune in Pisces, which will be there through 2026, is a herald for more people to experience heightened psychic abilities. Power hungry Pluto will be making adjustments in December, which will be easier to comply with because Saturn is present to offer assistance. The holidays may not be overly exciting, but should go smoothly enough. The best gifts will be useful as well as life enhancing. You may need a lot of stamina to deal with the end of 2012, so rest up!

12.12.12 is a time of quickening on the planet. In your higher aspect, you should be dancing for joy because, in a very real sense, what occurs on 12.12.12 is the Ascension, and 12.21.12 is the initial birthing solstice of the New Earth. The New Earth is the expansion of Earth’s resonance into 12 dimensional fields and will expand humanity beyond the third dimension.

It is said that on 12.12.12, the last two remaining dormant Master Atlantean Crystals will awaken—the Crystal of Thoth (near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia) and the Ruby Fire Crystal (below Bimini). There will also be a new emergence of the Crystal Vortex of Arkansas, where the quartz crystals are infused with the energy of the Atlantean Law of One. Perhaps you personally have carried some guilt about the misuse and loss of control of the crystals of Atlantis, which led to the deluge and the destruction of Atlantis. It is time to release that guilt. The Master Crystals will never again be misused. You have waited a long time for this completion of 12.12.12. Rejoice!

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Summer Solstice Celebration: Tap into the Mayan Energy!

Our Summer Solstice is just around the corner! June 20th is the day we celebrate the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and what a magnificent day it is! The Summer Solstice is a magical time in the year when you can connect to the ancient Mayan energy and recharge your mind, body and spirit.

The word “solstice” comes from the Latin terms “sol” meaning “sun” and “sistere” meaning “to stand still.” Our Summer Solstice is the day when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from our hemisphere and appears to stand still before it heads south again. It is the day when the tilt of our planet in its hemisphere is most inclined towards the sun. It is also the longest day and shortest night of the year. While those of us in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate in June, folks in the Southern half of the Earth have their Summer Solstice celebration in December.

A major celestial event, the Mayans believed the Summer Solstice to be a time for spiritual initiation and change. They held special ceremonies on the solstice dates to balance the earth’s energy. The Summer Solstice for the Southern Hemisphere this December also happens to be the same date that marks the end of the Mayan calendar. While there are many theories about the significance of the Mayan calendar end and December’s Summer Solstice, I believe that this day signifies a time when our world as we know it will change for the better, and a new consciousness will spread across the Earth. So the Summer Solstice is indeed a time for celebration and change, especially this year in 2012!

Like the Mayans who were very aware of their different states of altered consciousness, you can learn to increase your own consciousness and embody your self-awareness and higher self during this enchanted time. The Summer Solstice is an ideal time for you to let go of your ego and old patterns of suppression and focus on what you wish to bring into your life. This is a time for you to invite the sun’s energy and connect with your higher self. And this is the perfect occasion for you to feel inspired, to follow your dreams, and to truly listen to your higher self.

Here are some tips on how you can embrace your own Summer Solstice celebration and renew yourself this year:

  • Live your truth: Be true to yourself and to others. Listen to your higher self and do what feels right to you.
  • Ground yourself: Hug a tree, lay on the grass, take a walk in nature.
  • Detox with a bath of sea salt and baking soda.
  • Consult your Spirit Guides to assist you in your healing process and to help guide you through changes.
  • Drink lots of water!
  • Make a list of what you wish to bring into your life: people, qualities, events – what do you want to see change?
  • Nurture yourself: this is a great time to lose weight, clean your house, change your nutrition, develop a passion or new hobby.
  • Spend some time outside – enjoy the sunshine!
  • Find time to relax and time that is just “you” time – no kids, family, work – just quiet time for you to let your mind and body refresh itself!
  • Get enough sleep: change can be exhausting on the body! Make sure you get enough zzz’s!
  • Proper Nutrition: it is vital, especially during this time, that you are strong, healthy and balanced.
  • Be open to change and new energy, and you will increase its presence within you!

Great growth and change are just around the corner! The fulfillment you are seeking in your life can be achieved! Listen to your higher self and be open to this wondrous change! Let the Mayan energy in and embrace its power and awareness. Enjoy your Summer Solstice celebration – you are in for a real treat this year!