Sleigh and Reindeer
Posted by Joan Norton at 12/8/2010 7:54 AM 
Categories: Seasonal festivals, Christmas
Tags: Christmas traditions Christmas symbols
Categories: Seasonal festivals, Christmas
Tags: Christmas traditions Christmas symbols
I understand now why the most used symbols of Christmas represent northern Europe more than the desert place we're told the story is from. Christ came also from philosophies and ancient wisdom traditions centered in the far northern isle where many world spiritual teachers came from. Buddhist Mongolian lamas apparently credit a Celt druid philosopher named Sucundra with teaching the Buddha from this same northern source stream of spiritual wisdom. These same Celtic philosopher teachers saw in vision and welcomed the Christ Jesus as the new carrier of the ancient spiritual wisdoms. 
The reindeer I see in Macy's Christmas decoration department echo and symbolize the easier reach into spiritual dimensions at this time of year. Northern European shaman put reindeer antlers on their heads in ceremony to express the idea of going into the skyworld and bringing back gifts of the spirit to their community. Like Santa in his sleigh in the sky.
Jesus's maternal DNA placed him in the northern Holy Land where we still get our potent and mysterious Christmas symbols. No wonder Godde speaks in sacred geometric symbol language in the grain fields of Celtic lands. No wonder we can't help ourselves putting fir trees around the Christmas manger.
The reason I don't like snowmen as the new commercialized symbol of Christmas is it deteriorates our spiritual teaching story about reaching to the North Pole with wishes. The North Pole symbolizes the world axis which is the home of high evolutionary spiritual energies....the Godde within. The cold, cold snowman feeds nothing to the soul compared to the sight of the sleigh in the sky.
Symbols are the food of our own dear Western Mystery Traditions, kept alive by our love of them.
Dear, dear Joan! The teachings about Christmas that you are bringing to us at this time of year are uplifting, affirming, energizing, and simply beautiful. Thank you for the guidance and for helping me -- again and again -- to connect with my inner wisdom and discover my spiritual home.
I loved the re-covered vision of the triple-goddess you gave me last week in that image of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus on her lap and with her Mother and Grandmother joining her. The picture felt finished, finally, and I felt a stirring, a sense of completion and relief at being restored.
And now this reindeer message comes! I love knowing about the reindeer and the antlers and the world axis that spins within me and how it all comes from a spiritual wisdom connection that I am connected with genetically, inevitably, easily.
Those antlers feel like a crown to me, and they echo and then transform that other crown that Christ wore.
Joan, hese bright spiritual gifts come just when budget has made me turn away from the way I often celebrate Christmas by giving material gifts. and I was feeling impoverished. Thank you, Joan, for this clarity and these rich and gorgeous gifts!
Love and Blessings!
Reply to this
Hi Sandra, Thank you! You invariably bring the feelings to a fuller place when you write.......such a help to everyone. The observation you make about the antlers and the crown is wonderful..... the crown as intermediary point between the worlds. We all have on very high point-y crowns and reindeer antlers this time of year... hoping for a glimpse of the Lightworld or the Elfworld. Thank you again for lending yourself to our community with your writing. xoJoan
Reply to this
I subscribe to you blog because I love the nuggets of wisdom you share and the way you do it! Last winter season, rather than busy myself with the usual busyness, I tried to write a daily meditation every day from Dec. 1 through Epiphany, reflecting on the words of others. In the process, I learned SO much about the depth of meaning behind our holiday symbols.
Reply to this
Hi Cate, Thanks for writing and directing people on the east coast to your jewelry. I like the idea of "re-purposing" things. I also like your idea of a daily reflective written meditation during the Christmas season......thanks for being there. Joan
Reply to this
this gives me a much more meaningful Christmas season. I didnt realize that the celtic isles are considered the north part of the Holy Land but they are.........
Reply to this