Beautiful Friend
a little song of waiting in wonder
I am waiting for You, my Beautiful Friend. Light of Beginnings, Love without End. My glazed eyes to open, my poor heart to mend. I am waiting for You, my Beautiful Friend. I am waiting for You by the Full Beaver Moon. She and the Stars announce it is soon. Precise time and place Sages riddle and rune. I am waiting for You by the Full Beaver Moon. I am waiting for You in the Cave of my Heart. The place where You've met me right from the start. Where You always return, though You never depart. I am waiting for You in the Cave of my Heart. ~Cheryl Anne Maris
Last night’s Full Beaver Moon ushered in the season of “Celtic Advent”, or “St. Martin’s Lent”; the 40 day period leading to Christmas. Since learning of this tradition many moons ago, I have appreciated the extended emphasis on spiritual preparation for the Midwinter celebration of the birth/return of Light. It feels like permission to descend into quiet and to rest in the soft blanket of natural darkness, even as much of the world enters into a heightened, frenetic season of artificial light, noise, and overspending. “I am waiting for You” does considerably more good for my anxious, exhausted soul than, “Oh, shit! I have so much shopping to do with money I don’t have!”
Even as a child I leaned into the solemnity of this time of year. My favorite children’s holiday television specials were “The Little Drummer Boy”, where a poor, abused orphan traveling through the desert overcomes fear, despair, and anger, to offer the only thing he has; the simple gift of rhythm from his drum and his heart. I will never forget the tenderness on the face of stop-motion Mother Mary and the golden light of joy beaming from the manger as he mustered the courage to play his drum. The other is one that few people seem to remember called “The Night The Animals Talked”, where the magic of the Light coming into the world that special night gave all creatures the power to understand and communicate with one another. How I wished that were true. I still do; maybe more than ever.
In previous years I have tended to follow some sort of book or program through this season of waiting. This year I am descending deeper into the quiet and dark, through the present desert of fear, despair, and anger, into the cave of the heart. There I hope to find the gift that is truly mine to offer the Child of Light, my Beautiful Friend. If I am brave enough, maybe the Mother of Tender Love will nod Her approval, and the animals chat about it happily!
Are there any special memories or practices that help you access the gifts of your heart in the midst of gathering darkness? Does this time of year feel stressful or restful to you? How can rest and preparation coexist?
Deep Peace of the Moon and Stars to You and Those You Love.
“I am waiting for You” does considerably more good for my anxious, exhausted soul than, “Oh, shit! I have so much shopping to do with money I don’t have!” — this cracked me up! Add to the midst of this season “Oh, shit! Too much to do before collapsing exhausted after the final Christmas Eve service!” One of the craziest Christmases was leading four different Christmas Eve services while deployed to a base in Southwest Asia. Of course who can forget collapsing after the Christmas Eve service in Georgia only to test positive for COVID on Boxing Day in 2021! Only to be followed with “how many days do we need to dock your pay since we will be closing the books out at the end of December.
The wonders that you shared from your past and the invitation to go deeper is a welcome gift. Thank you, my dear Sister, this gift 💖🙏✨🌹
So lovely, Cheryl Anne. I was not aware of this tradition. I am so blessed to find it now. Thank you.
This season used to be, when I was a child, a lovely hussle of family traditions in preparation for the season … saving our grapefruit halves to be scalloped (my job) for our Father’s Christmas fruit salad, doused with Geneva Gin, and topped with a marachino cherry … the first course of Christmas dinner. My Grandfather spending the month meticulously polishing the silverware. My favourite childhood book, Becky’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor, that I read every Christmas (I still put it out in this season … so so well worn). These traditions (except for my book) could not be sustained after my parents passed on. I hold onto the nostalgia. These past few years, it’s been rehearsals for our Comfort and Joy Sing along concerts with Tripoly and The North Grenville Troubadours. … I love the idea of a lent leading up to Christmas … a very different preparation. Thank you, Cheryl Anne.