[Updated 11/28/2024 in New York, U.S.] It’s Thanksgiving week here in the United States, though the underlying notion of giving thanks, or gracefully receiving, and having some appreciation and gratitude (magic!), can be summoned up at any time, in any place.

Of course, like many folks, I’m thinking about the soon-to-be-feasted-upon holiday dishes common to the Northeastern U.S. Thanksgiving festival table; and even moreso, the camaraderie of cooking and sharing a meal together.

However simple, that’s a blessing of abundance to feel grateful for, for sure.

Night of the Living Dead, and a typical “Black Friday” rampage.

At the same time — particularly given the seemingly perpetual turbulence between humans amidst the rather gritty and grating Energies of Now — I’ll be amongst those who are intending to practice into the greater Spirit of the Season (vs. the “Black Friday” types of displays during which people trample other people down so they can snatch whatever product has fueled their mania, leaving an unholy mess for the retail workers to clean up. Yay! So NOT our best look!).

Add in leftover Agida Vibes from the recent Full Moon, and, with the current November 2024 update, we’re just past a rather polarized and derision-filled U.S. election-month Full Moon with Pluto, Mars and Uranus, Etc. playing Trickster and Zapster within and among us.

Oh, and let’s not exclude those annual holiday season stresses (yes, and joys too, but a lot of folks feel hurried and stressed and/or depressed and stressed as well). Need I say more?

So yes, not a bad time to buff up our recollection of keeping cool in the midst of Tantrum Yogis and Hissy Fitters, or the Haters or just overly stressed Psychic Vomiters, who don’t really need a reason to go ballistic and ruin a perfectly nice moment, meal, or day, any day, any time.

Fear not, though. There are (almost always) some finer things and energies stirring, too, and perhaps one or two that are more flowing, rooting, and/or centering.

Gratitude for the tips and tactics (and our experience with having to use them too often!) that help us to be even slightly more skillful and chill with folks who may lack of both.

We can be centered, breathe deeply, choose our centering intentions and respond from there (and maybe react a bit less, too) and go with the flow a bit more easily. And take frequent bathroom breaks as needed for an Island of Calm!

Here are a few In the Spirit of the Season attitude-and-vibe adjusters:

Cornucopia, by Rachel Ruysch (3 June 1664 – 12 August 1750). Public domain image courtesy of Wikimedia.

1. The example that inspired the Thanksgiving mythos — the immense generosity shown by the Wampanoag Indians to the struggling, starving Puritan newcomers (and the unfortunate lack of generosity shown by many (though not all) of the colonial leaders and settlers towards the local the Indigenous peoples after that – having ancestors on both sides of that table, I’ve felt compelled to have a deeper “beyond memes” understanding of it).

We already know that we can learn from both when it comes to which part of our inherent nature we might choose to express now — we can either be serious jerks and ripple out poison, like there’s not already an over-supply of that, or let the Better Angels of Our Nature rock their own serious mojo, and add a bit more sweetness or just relief to our own and other peoples’ days.

2. The yummy, delicious, frequency elevating and energy restoring values or virtues of generosity, graciousness, hospitality, welcome (and one hopes it’s a warm one), and abundance (in its varied forms).

I know. I’m a Seven Godlies virtue geek, what can I say (though I do like to explore the Seven Deadlies — some old-school energy Wisdom and definitely energy-adeptness behind that tradition).

At the end of the day (and along the way through it), I prefer the effects and consequences of the Virtue qualities better than their shadow-expressions.

Not from some “high and mighty” attitude — ’nuffa that around these days — but just because it feels better and has a much lovelier effect on others than being a chronic Walking Nasty.

How about you … which feels better to you?

We can be Ambassadors (and Role Models) of these qualities if we choose to accept that inspired mission and sow those seeds. That’s a facet of The Return part of The Hero/ine’s Journey.

Nice (it makes a positive ripple effect, and it feels good, too).

Continue reading here (and find related inspiration-links and intel).

Wishing you all, wherever you are and whatever you celebrate, a very happy Thanks.Giving holiday.

If it’s a rough time for you (family dynamics, heart-challenging losses), the Energy Hygiene & Empaths series might offer some tips on the former, or this Grief musing might offer an initial kernal of comfort (as might reminders like this one).

Thank you for reading and sowing good-juju seeds via the blog-o-sphere.

Big Love, Be Well, and Keep Cool When the Hot Heads Flame!

Jamie

Featured Image Credit (top): Autumn Lake, PD Pics.

Give, Receive & Support the Work

If you’ve found regular inspiration … or a super-handy dose of it … in this and other Sophia’s Children articles and offerings, consider supporting the work in one of these ways:

Check out the easy options here.