December on its way

I think you are most welcome. I admit that I only understand half of what you type, but that doesn't make you less welcome - that's my problem, not yours.

On a side note - it seems to me, based on how many people say that they don't fit in here, is that one of the things that makes anyone fit in here is the feeling that they don't fit in here.

Thank you A.

I had felt a need to "break" to re-calibrate myself / check my motivations / understand my meltdown.

Having reviewed what I have "missed" here,  I can better understand why I needed the break!

I have updated my profile text.....to remind myself.....and to inform any regulars who are interested.

I'm back.....like it or not.

Seconded! Good to see you posting here again Number

Dude....I get told that........A LOT!

I will try.  Thank you Desmond.

Keep it simple!

Thank you mate.

I have missed you.  3 good things = a thing worthy of "missing."  I like consistency.  I like honesty.  I like no fluff.  I like Hope.  I like no edge.  I like simple - [oh, ffs.....whilst I know I don't need me to tell you this, you will appreciate my feeling of need to make this explicit = Desmond, I don't think YOU are simple.....I merely like your simplicity, and the simplicity of 3GT.]

Great to hear from you, again, Mate!

I had a better day, today. Got up just after half ten, and had the time to hand my day over; then get s**t done.

I hear you......and yet......before JC arrived, , are you ABSOLUTELY sure that some of the pagan symbolism wasn't reasonably AOK and on some sort of "right/reasonably aiming" track for some of us?!  Tbh, the "Chrsitmas Tree", is 'one' of the things that I don't hate about Christmas!  Commercial presents (forced/obliged) = hate.  Consequential/inconsequential time with family/friends/acquaintances = loved.  Forced merry social interaction = hate.  Smell of Christmas tree/buying from a muddy field = love.

It sounds (to me) REALLY healthy that you have a recent Dobbie's purchase AND an "old family Nativity Crib" to help you celebrate/navigate Christmas.  All good, brother?!

Notwithstanding that above, fwiw, I personally like to think that Hope is a very best connection to the "divine" this Christmas time.....even though I know that this is counter to a strict scriptural interpretation of affairs.......fyi, I don't like "strict interpretations" of ANYTHING!

You know me now, Desmond (I hope) well enough, to know that I consider all animals, and all of the natural world, to be the VERY definition, of the "divine."

Then again Desmond, we both know, that I am probably a "weird fish" at best?!....specially here, at the moment?   A fish out of water?!

I have felt excluded and unwelcome......but I'm feeling defiant and justified in my current reflections....I think....but don't hold your breath?!

I'll be back to wish you a profoundly joyous Christmas moment, no matter how my brain lands.

With a profound (and healthy) sense of connection.

Yours

Number.

China has a Midautumn Festival; where 'Moon Cakes' are eaten.

Every culture seems to have a midwinter celebration and a midsummer one too for that matter.

Evergreens have always been part of it, something thats still alive and green in the midst of winter. Christmas was put on the old Roman festival of Saturnalia and mixed up with various different traditions over the centuries. The whole nativity is another graft onto Christianity, this time lifted wholsale from Mithraism, we couldn't be celebrating the birth of Mithras instead of Jesus, there's no biblical eveidence for the nativity.

The X in Christmas is an alternative spelling and comes from the Greek, the language the Bible was first written in after Aramaic.

I don't believe the spiritual aspect has disapeared, more and more are turning back to thier North European roots and celebrating the Solstice and the the days lengthening

Bah, humbug indeed. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, I guess. 

Desmond1979 said:

also the fact that a tree has Pagan symbolism.

The whole event of Christmas is basically the pegan winter solstice event that was adopted by the church when converting the pegans long, long ago and they made up a story about this being the birth of Christ (the details of this date were never recorded so it is just a marketing ploy).

https://historycooperative.org/pagan-origins-of-christmas/

The whole birth / rebirth symbolism is appropriate I guess which is why they chose that story to adapt the celebration.

So when you realise everything the church has sold us around this is a lie, it makes you feel less inclined to be all religious about it.

These days it is all about worshiping materialism and consumerism anyway and with declining church attendence and religious belief then it will slowly slide into obscurity anyway and be adapted for a multi denominational celebration (hence Xmas instead of Christmas) where money / stuff becomes one of the religions.

Bah, humbug.