Select Videos, Winter Solstice Inspirations
In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. Albert Camus Each month, Succeed and Soar shares short videos chosen to lift the heart and spirit, awareness and humanity. Saturday, December 21, 2024, the Sun paused its southward journey across the Tropic of Capricorn’s stars. After a moment, the Sun reversed course. For Earth’s northern lands, the Winter Solstice finished the year’s longest night. For the next six months, sunlit days lengthen. Insights on this celestial turning point include, May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night, that each day forward is blessed with more light. That the cycle of nature, unbroken and true, brings faith to your soul and well-being to you. Rejoice in the darkness, in the silence find rest, and may the days that follow be abundantly blessed. — Unknown Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. — J.R.R. Tolkien These encouragements join others beautifully presented in Renewal, my newest, inspirational book offered below. Following are short videos presenting different solstice traditions. Joyous holidays! Blessings, best wishes and enjoy the featured and accompanying videos below. Sandra Gould Ford Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire. Comment Click Here to View. Unexpected Origins of Christmas Traditions 3 MinutesAlso see Winter Solstice in Cree [Native American] Tradition. 1 minute How to Play Dreidel, a Hannukah Game, 1 minute 30 seconds History of Yule Log, 3 minutes, Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Soul Words: The Present Moment & Mindfulness
Winter Solstice Traditions 2-Minute Video Click here to View The Present is the point at which Time touches eternity. C.S. Lewis December 21 is Winter Solstice. Viewed from Earth, the Sun ‘moves’ from the constellation Sagittarius to Capricorn. Above our planet’s equator, the year’s longest night is experienced. In some places, the sun won’t even ‘rise’ [for 40 days in Murmansk] , which requires making our own light, especially inside. For 2022, Succeed and Soar promised healing, uplifting “Soul Songs” at the eight celestial turning points. This year’s octad concludes with: Mindfulness. Each of us is magical. We can time travel, experiencing our pasts and possible futures. These journeys can bring joy and security. Otherwise, as Anthony James said, “Remind yourself: You can only deal with the present moment. Everything else is a memory, a hope or a fear.” The Mayo Clinic describes Mindfulness as, “a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment.” Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now added, When you make the present moment, instead of past and future, the focal point of your life, your ability to enjoy what you do and with it the quality of your life increases dramatically. [free The Power of Now download] Mindfulness benefits can include: Higher brain functioning, increased immunity and less anxiety [see Positive Psychology] Also, less depression, improved memory and stronger relationships [see Very Well Mind] How to pause and use all five senses to live in the here and now? WikiHow offers these 14, steps with pictures. ENLIGHTENING, SHORT VIDEOS: Let Go of What’s Keeping You from This Moment [1 minute] Mindful Breathing for Anxiety [4 minutes] How to Get Into the Present Moment in 10 Seconds [5 minutes] The Neuroscience of Mindfulness [9 minutes] Succeed & Soar! The Wisdoms Collection Shop Enriching and Beautiful Posters Click Here to Visit
To Be Great Again
You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly. ― Rumi Of late, I’ve wondered what ever did Make America Great and whether those acts should be repeated. After all, in 1637 Thanksgiving became an annual event to celebrate the massacre of the Wampanoags, the people who saved the Pilgrims from starvation. See New York Times. In pressing President Lincoln to make Plymouth’s annual feast a national holiday, Thanksgiving’s Godmother saw the celebration as a white-only event. See Washington Post. Have yhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/11/27/how-fourth-thursday-november-officially-became-thanksgivingou ever wondered: Was the United States receiving stolen goods when it purchased the Louisiana Territory? After all, how did the French come to own then sell Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, parts of Minnesota and Louisiana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado? See As described in Doug J. Swanson’s Cult of Glory, the Texas Rangers ‘ role in taking Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California from its first settlers is sordid. See These acts plus slavery enabled the United States’ growth. Despite this country’s building blocks, might the ideals that always made this nation great be beliefs that here, as nowhere else, human beings can build a world-leading civilization based on: Generous, big-hearted spirits Social activism, always our brothers’ keepers Innovative thought, pioneering projects and progressive achievements Recently, America has experienced plagues of fearfulness, paranoia, intolerance, prejudice, divisiveness, isolationism and stinginess. A cure for those dis-eases could be re-presenting ourselves as described in the contender for our National Anthem. [Maybe “America The Beautiful” should replace the “Star Spangled Banner.”] See video below. An African wisdom advises: Face the sun and shadows will fall behind you. As we approach the Winter Solstice-New Year holy-days of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Pancha Ganapti, Saint Nicholas Day, Matariki, Sanghamitta, Dong Zhi, Soyal, Yalda and Yule, face the sun. Let’s make ourselves, everywhere greater than we were. We have wings. We can fly! Wanderings & Wonders Collection The inspiring and beautiful work in my Fine Art America collections is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks for your support! Sandra Gould Ford NOTE: size and placement of the art and words]can be changed as well as background colors.
Happy New Year & Delicious Dishes
We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are. Adelle Davis Click for 30-second Happy New Year greeting. Thank goodness winter starts with bright holidays. Best of all, Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule and Kwanzaa all include great food gatherings. Here are some delicious ways to fortify the body, mind and spirit for 2020’s adventures. Super-Easy Hanukkah Classics Holiday Salads Special Kwanzaa Recipes New Years Treats Blessings and best wishes for a joyful and tasty start to the new year. Eat well. Be Well. In heart and mind, body and spirit, succeed and soar. Photo: Kwanzaa Quinoa Peanut Soup The Wisdoms Collection Shop Enriching and Beautiful Posters Click Here to Visit