Re: The meaning of Chanukah

[Guest guest]

Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to have them

fall on the same day this year!

Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday stress... I

just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here is the

beginning of it...

The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic state of

shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity. Yet

instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or

depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed schedules we

keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's natural

cycles.

" We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, " explains

acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Santa

, California. " So when we engage in behaviors more appropriate

for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no wonder

that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit thin. "

Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin

and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas

yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving energy

in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores

food for the cold months ahead.

In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days

indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food and

sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way

many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal

affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other manifestations

of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

" Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is the

darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of turning

inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season as a

result. "

For the full article...

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

[Guest guest]

Amazing, I guess the Australians are in the right cycle to really get

things done for the holidays, then.

Lynda

At 09:32 AM 12/23/2005, you wrote:

>Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to have them

>fall on the same day this year!

>

>Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday stress... I

>just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here is the

>beginning of it...

>

>The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic state of

>shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity. Yet

>instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or

>depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

>traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed schedules we

>keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's natural

>cycles.

>

> " We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, " explains

>acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

>University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Santa

>, California. " So when we engage in behaviors more appropriate

>for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no wonder

>that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit thin. "

>

>Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin

>and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

>characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas

>yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

>Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving energy

>in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores

>food for the cold months ahead.

>

>In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days

>indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food and

>sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

>winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way

>many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal

>affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other manifestations

>of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

>

> " Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is the

>darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of turning

>inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

>artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season as a

>result. "

>

>For the full article...

><http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183>http://www.yogajourna\

l.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by

>licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed

>health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

>

> " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you.

>Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live

>a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing,

>two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

>

>See our photos website! Enter " implants " for access at this link:

><http://.shutterfly.com/action/>http://.shutterfly.co\

m/action/

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

This is a very interesting article -- thanks!

>

> Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to have them

> fall on the same day this year!

>

> Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday stress... I

> just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here is the

> beginning of it...

>

> The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic state of

> shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity. Yet

> instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or

> depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

> traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed schedules we

> keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's natural

> cycles.

>

> " We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, " explains

> acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

> University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Santa

> , California. " So when we engage in behaviors more appropriate

> for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no wonder

> that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit thin. "

>

> Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin

> and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

> characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas

> yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

> Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving energy

> in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores

> food for the cold months ahead.

>

> In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days

> indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food and

> sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

> winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way

> many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal

> affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other manifestations

> of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

>

> " Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is the

> darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of turning

> inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

> artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season as a

> result. "

>

> For the full article...

> http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Makes sense to me! I really wish " east " would meet " west " much more

when it comes to our health. Our western medicine is so one

dimensional. They are really missing the boat on treating the

person as a whole. I tend to get very stressed out at Christmas too

with all the commercialism and the emphasis on gift buying rather

than love sharing and gifts that cost more than money. When we let

our children buy into this that just teaches them the " give me "

mentality instead of the true meaning of Christmas. I have often

thought of what a wonderful world it would be if we could all just

really love our neighbor as ourselves as Christ taught. War would

vanish in an instant. As much as I like living here on earth, I

look forward to the day I will live in harmony and peace with all

people and there will be no more hatred, tears, or pain. I wish for

that will all my heart! And I want to wish all of you a holiday

season filled with love, peace and joy. Molly and any of our jewish

friends, I want to wish you a happy Chanukah. And to my fellow

Christian

believers, I wish you a blessed Christmas and that Jesus' peace and

love would fill you to overflowing!

Love, Kathy

> >

> > Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to have

them

> > fall on the same day this year!

> >

> > Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday stress... I

> > just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here is

the

> > beginning of it...

> >

> > The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic

state of

> > shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity.

Yet

> > instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or

> > depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

> > traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed

schedules we

> > keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's

natural

> > cycles.

> >

> > " We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, "

explains

> > acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

> > University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in

Santa

> > , California. " So when we engage in behaviors more

appropriate

> > for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no

wonder

> > that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit thin. "

> >

> > Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of

yin

> > and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

> > characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet,

whereas

> > yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

> > Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving

energy

> > in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores

> > food for the cold months ahead.

> >

> > In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days

> > indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food

and

> > sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

> > winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way

> > many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal

> > affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other

manifestations

> > of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

> >

> > " Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is

the

> > darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of

turning

> > inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

> > artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season

as a

> > result. "

> >

> > For the full article...

> > http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Kathy! And a Merry and Peaceful Christmas to you!

And maybe we can all pray or turn our thoughts to peace this coming year.

Wouldn't that be something!

> > >

> > > Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to have

> them

> > > fall on the same day this year!

> > >

> > > Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday stress... I

> > > just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here is

> the

> > > beginning of it...

> > >

> > > The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic

> state of

> > > shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy activity.

> Yet

> > > instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious, or

> > > depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

> > > traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed

> schedules we

> > > keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's

> natural

> > > cycles.

> > >

> > > " We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, "

> explains

> > > acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

> > > University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in

> Santa

> > > , California. " So when we engage in behaviors more

> appropriate

> > > for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no

> wonder

> > > that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit thin. "

> > >

> > > Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of

> yin

> > > and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

> > > characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet,

> whereas

> > > yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted.

> > > Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving

> energy

> > > in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer stores

> > > food for the cold months ahead.

> > >

> > > In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days

> > > indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food

> and

> > > sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

> > > winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way

> > > many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal

> > > affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other

> manifestations

> > > of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

> > >

> > > " Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is

> the

> > > darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of

> turning

> > > inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This

> > > artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season

> as a

> > > result. "

> > >

> > > For the full article...

> > > http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Amen! That is the prayer of my heart. I hold each and every one of

you on this site dear to my heart and I am praying for all of you

that you will experience great healing in the coming year!

Love, Kathy

> > >

> > > ,

> > > This is a very interesting article -- thanks!

> > >

> > > --- In , " ktitko " <ktitko@y...>

wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Molly since you celebrate both combined how wonderful to

have

> > them

> > > > fall on the same day this year!

> > > >

> > > > Speaking of the commercialism and all of the holiday

stress... I

> > > > just read a wonderful aritcle about this very thing... here

is

> > the

> > > > beginning of it...

> > > >

> > > > The final few months of the year often find us in a frantic

> > state of

> > > > shopping, decorating, traveling, and other high-energy

activity.

> > Yet

> > > > instead of having fun, we often end up feeling ill, anxious,

or

> > > > depressed. The reason, according to Taoist philosophy and

> > > > traditional Chinese medicine, is that the action-packed

> > schedules we

> > > > keep at this time of year fall out of sync with the earth's

> > natural

> > > > cycles.

> > > >

> > > > " We naturally have less energy to burn during the winter, "

> > explains

> > > > acupuncturist Carolyn Cohen, L.Ac., who teaches at Yo San

> > > > University, a college of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

in

> > Santa

> > > > , California. " So when we engage in behaviors more

> > appropriate

> > > > for summer—staying up late and dashing around town—it's no

> > wonder

> > > > that the forced cheer of the holiday season can wear a bit

thin. "

> > > >

> > > > Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms

of

> > yin

> > > > and yang, complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin

> > > > characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet,

> > whereas

> > > > yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine,

extroverted.

> > > > Winter, the yin season, is a time for storing and conserving

> > energy

> > > > in the way a bear retains fat by hibernating, or a farmer

stores

> > > > food for the cold months ahead.

> > > >

> > > > In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest

days

> > > > indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing

food

> > and

> > > > sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between

> > > > winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic

way

> > > > many Americans spend their holidays can contribute to

seasonal

> > > > affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other

> > manifestations

> > > > of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

> > > >

> > > > " Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas,

is

> > the

> > > > darkest, most yin day of the year, " says Cohen. " Instead of

> > turning

> > > > inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity.

This

> > > > artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the

season

> > as a

> > > > result. "

> > > >

> > > > For the full article...

> > > > http://www.yogajournal.com/health/101_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv183

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>