Welcome to this issue of the Spiritual Woman Ezine I am welcoming the cold winter sunrays , preparing the earth for another new beginning of the yearly cycle. a quick peek at todays topics: - Mistletoe Magic - Mistletoe Etiquette - Artful Winter Challenge - Seasonal Poetry - Tickling Tastebuds - New Webpages

Mistletoe Magic Misteltoe believed to be sacred to the ancient Druids be able to cure illnesses and ensure fertility protect against witchcraft Germans called this plant "gut hyl," or "all-heal." be a magical plant bestow blessings upon everyone who walks beneath a symbol of eternal life a symbol of immortality Since it thrives in trees rather than being rooted in the earth, it is considered representative of both the divine and the topsy-turvy symbol of peace for the Druids and the Romans Whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest they had to lay down their weapons and observe a truce until the next day. From this practice comes one version of the custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill. Anglo-Saxons and connected to Freyaógoddess of love, beauty and fertility. a man had to kiss any young girl who under a sprig of mistletoe. Mistletoe aa a parasitic plant symbolizes the feminine need for masculine protection and provision. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visualisation and Contemplation Lay your eyes on a sprig of mistletoe and contemplate modern interpretations of mistletoe words for your inner SELF Friendship Goodwill Love The laying down of inner "weapons" Offering a peaceful truce to yourself and your inner circle Visualizing eternal life "All Heal" energy Symbiotic relationship between male and female energies within -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mistletoe Etiquette with a twinkle in the eye: When standing together underneath the mistletoe , "correct" etiquette is for the man to remove one berry when he kisses a woman. When all the berries are gone, there is no more kissing underneath that plant. It is believed that an unmarried woman not kissed under the mistletoe will remain single for another year.

Artful Winter Challenge "Three Questions " This time of the year brings with it moments of reflection. Within wellknown organisational busyness the mind can be free to ponder greater meaning, higher source and placement of self within all that is much like the washing up bowl exercise - its finding moments of clarity and contemplations, whilst stuffing the turkey, peeling seemingly endless piles of potatoes, cleaning the house for guests to arrive and other mondane tasks So lets find some moments ( whilst swinging the broom, whilst washing up, whilst peeling sprouts, whilst decorating for your festival) to consider asking 3 questions: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenge: Part 1 If you could ask your Deity, Spirit, God/Goddess, All That Is or whatever you choose to call "it" Three Questions ( and only 3) What would they be? Contemplate and make a note of your answers. I always keep a journal to jot down anything that comes to mind during the course of a day, those fleeting moments of insight, so often otherwise lost... take a pen... think about it, then finalise 3 answers. Part 2 to follow :-)

Seasonal Poetry A Short Christmas Poem A little bit of poetic fun, use the words provided in this seasonal table of words to create your own personal christmas poem . Add your poem as an inspirational thought giving gift to a seasonal greeting card for a friend ,write a poetic splash of spiritual insight onto a giftag accompanying a present or simply send an e-mail to convey your thouhgts of the season- :-) Create Your Own Inspirtional Short Christmas Poem here http://www.religions-and-spiritualities-guide.com/short-christmas-poem.html If you enjoy the process and would like to share your poem then feel free to submit your entry in the Free Short Christmas Poem form online