“Ritual” Christmas Prose 2015 by Erin O’Malley -Gift for Family
and Friends
A bar of soap- essential for my daily ritual
Solid. Fragrant. Tangible. Handle this.
It glides. It slides. It rolls. Though
slippery-I have some control.
Hardly aware what I'm doing while going through routine motions
Roll, rinse, repeat-splash, stroke, stir-
Over and over again-physically reassuring myself-“It's okay”.
Method to my madness-a set way of doing things-an order
Far exceeding requirements for cleanliness- finding comfort and
security.
Ritual holding things together in a world continually falling
apart
Forestalling chaos, if only for a moment-
The world is not ending today...but the year is!
Year-end celebration-symbolic rituals holding Christmas together
Santa-the big round man from the North Pole, residing in his
magical unseen city
Taking to the skies with his big red planet-sized bag of wanted
presents
Ascending and descending, all through the sacred night
Delivering goods under Christmas Trees topped with lighted stars.
I believe!
Christmas symbols and rituals born of Saturnalia-festival of
lights-
December 22-assumed death of the sun god-rising 3 days
later-daylight begins to increase
December 25-birthday of the unconquerable sun-The Christmas God
The tree-essence of life in the shape of the world mountain
Finding common ground with pagan symbol and ritual
One people -one quest for knowledge and truth
Can you see it?
Traces remain- Spectacular Signs-Northern Lights-
Remnants of an Ancient Sky from Golden Age
Polar Configuration-reigning over the North Pole
Saturn, Venus & Mars-Father, Mother, and Son
Mars, big red planet- condescending and ascending
Plasma tree pillar-connection between heaven and earth
Signs in the heavens-planetary motion- all testifying of Christ
"Thou hast had signs enough"
Cosmo-ancient Greek word for order
Order and ordinances-a set way of doing things
Trying not to just go through the motions in oft-repeated temple
rituals.
Symbols, rituals- tangible reminders of unseen truths,
Not only cleansing but providing security
Families together-Father, Mother, Son
Safety from impending cosmic disaster
Reassuring everyone-It will be okay-don't fall apart-
Hold things together-forestall chaos...
Through ritual
