A Pagan Advent

Even though I identify at this point as Unitarian Universalist Pagan, with minimal Christian influence, I still enjoy the season of Advent and Christmas.

I think the reason it still appeals to me so much is because with winter, Depression sets in more strongly. Seasonal Affective Disorder  is in full force, with the sunlight being shorter and the weather being more melancholy. The music is generally positive and is a good symbol for awaiting the coming sunlight, even if it is referring to a demigod.

Advent is, of course, a Christian period of time leading up to Christmas, a Christian holiday. I still celebrate Christmas, although it is primarily cultural and my "family" holiday, whereas Yule has the more spiritual significance for me. However, Advent can be easily adapted as a time to prepare for the light of Yule. Currently, I still have the readings printed out from my days as a Gnostic, as well as readings from the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship, which incorporates several different traditions - although I haven't been able to read them as much this year as I would like, due to my schedule. One thing I am considering for next year is making my own Advent weekly rituals incorporating common Yule themes and my chosen patrons.

Also, I'm making it a goal to write in this blog more often. I start a new job soon which I believe will make work/life balance much more feasible, and there are many things I want to start doing to practice balance.

Nothing Much to Say.

I haven't had time to write much of anything in forever. 

In March, I took an ethics class for my licensure process. At the same time, I attended the state NASW conference. There were some interesting topics, including one on LGBTQ+ issues and oppression. It's interesting how most of the trainings I go to regarding this topic, seem to basically have the same information as the presentation I gave, although altered for their particular style of presenting and focus. It gives me faith that I'm maybe actually good at something for a change.

For about a month, I was talking to another guy. Again, seems to have disappeared. I wonder sometimes if that's common in the LGBT community, or if I just have that effect on people. 

Work is overwhelming again. I'm exhausted all the time lately, and the to-do list never gets shorter, no matter how much I plug away. I'm just ready to get on with it. 

New Year

Well, 2017 pretty much went out with a bang.

The guy I mentioned in my previous post was pretty much a bust. Surprise, surprise. Such is life.

The presentation at work went great. I've been given the green light to basically try to get some LGBT-specific services at my work started, so I'm in the planning stages. First I made a rough draft of a survey to send to local LGBT-run agency, advocacy groups, etc, if I'm given permission to do so.  That will help determine demand, curriculum, and other finer details.

The week from Christmas Eve to New Year's was dramatic to say the least. My grandmother ended up in the hospital on Christmas Eve. Her heart basically just decided to stop working properly. No heart attack, no blockage, just not working. She has a pacemaker and is doing better. She was released from the hospital the day after Christmas.

The Friday after Christmas, my great-uncle's wife died. She was apparently in hospice, so this had probably been coming for a while. I'm not particularly close with that side of the family (even by my standards), so I don't know a lot of details.

On New Year's Eve, my grandfather's brother passed. Unlike my grandmother's brother's wife, this was not expected. I don't know a lot of details there either. Again, not all that close.

I've been trying to work more on engaging in hobbies I enjoy. Mainly reading and my spirituality. It comes and goes in phases, but I can feel the collective exhaustion and burn-out from work, so I have to try something.

Speaking of, I have a few ideas of upcoming topics for posts, so assuming I can make myself take the time to actually write, I'll be posting more frequently.