Could there possibly be a more perfect place in time for the secular New Year's Day than right after Yule?  At Yule, we celebrate a new birth.  And now, the secular world is giving us a time to give the newborn a sense of direction.

What was born for you at Yule?  I gave you a little peek of what was born for me, but not so much that I would be accused of "spilling the beans".  The part about keeping silence has been sufficiently kept.  And you know what was born for you.

And now, between the mudane and the magickal, you can start guiding it.  The limits might not be what you think, and the limitations are rather broad.  The basic rules and principles apply as well as common sense.  But also be mindful of what does not apply.  You'll see what I mean. 

This is an opportunity to get rid of "old tapes" and see what can be!

And yes, it can be and it will be!

Let's not just celebrate Yule, let's celebrate Yuletide!  And why should we just celebrate it when we can be part of it!

We've talked before about visualization, and seeing things with the mind's eye.  At Samhain, you joined with me in the celebration with so many others all over the world.  And now, here's a full-fledged Yule celebration to join in, complete with a potluck feast to enjoy after the ritual!

All of this ties into why Yule is such a natural consequence of Samhain, and here we see how we can harness the power of the birth at Yule.

What is born here?  What will it become?  We can have some input into that if we want to, and yes we do want to.  And on the way, we'll discover yet another of the secrets that has been hiding in plain sight for us to find.

Blessed Be, and a happy Yuletide to each and every one of you!

This makes a good lead-in to Yule.  At Yule, we celebrate a birth.  And with the birth, it might be a good idea to have some idea of what course the new like might be able to take.

We've talked about what Saints and Ascended Masters are, and we know that they were people like you and me.  It might not seem that way if you read their official biographies. 

Official biographies might not be the best way to see them, especially as people.  But if you get beyond the official biographies, you'll find some common threads - and much to learn.  And even with their human shortcomings, you'll find something to learn.

And what if I told you that they had something in common?  What if I told you that there were three particular traits that they had in common?

Three traits, and those three traits can be summed up in three words. 

The formula is simple.  The pursuit of those three traits might not be as simple as it appears.  Or it might be just as simple.  You'll have to see.

What makes a Saint or Ascended Master?  Three traits are always there, and their pursuit can be a lifetime quest.  And that's where the excitement begins!

Dig into this, and next week you might be putting this and much else to use.  Next week will be a spiritual experience, and perhaps something special.

Here we examine the ten most popular ways to ruin your spiritual life.

Please note that I am not talking about letting it gradually weaken until you wake up one morning to discover that you don't have one anymore.  No, I am talking about really ruining your spiritual life, sending it crashing-and-burning almost like a scene in the movies!

It's surprising how easy it is to do, and I know that I've found myself doing some of the things I've listed in this show for you.

So, why would I be talking about how to ruin your spiritual life?

With Yule coming, there is so much secular hype that it's sometimes difficult to remember what Yuletide is supposed to be about.  And maybe here is a good opportunity to look for opportunities.  And maybe here is a chance for something powerful to come to be!

Maybe in here there are some hints about how to make your spiritual life actually come alive and gain strength!  And with that, your Yule (or whatever you are celebrating now) can be more than you ever imagined that it could be!

For those who think that only two things in life are certain, I will add a third.  We know about death and taxes as certainties.  Another certainty is that anyone who has a genuine, sincere spiritual path which he or she is seriously pursuing will get assaulted.  The assults might not be physical, but the assults will be just the same.

In my experience, I've had agnostics tell me that what I was following was a symptom of mental illness, while at the same time I heard atheists tell me that what I was pursuing was obsolete superstition.  And all the while, no matter the label on my spiritual path that I or someone else chose for it, there was always someone who claimed that my spiritual path was wrong because it wasn't the same as theirs.  Assaults.

And so, spiritual people need spiritual protection.

When I was given training in marital arts, the first thing I was shown was how to stand, and how to know that we were standing solidly.  It's the same thing here, only it is standing solidly on our own spiritual feet instead of physical feet.  And yes, there is some spiritual foot-care involved.

In both cases, it's easy to miss something and get tripped.  But if you are prepared, then you don't get tripped.  It's that simple.  Those who are the best prepared for a spiritual fight are usually those who get to enjoy genuine spiritual peace.

And it's not what a lot of folks think it's about, either.