From here, the evidence of his archetypal reality bursts into a host of legends, icons, plays and folk practices drawn out of Eastern and Western Europe where he became the ultimate gift-giver, reflecting the Divine Gift celebrated at Christmas. We can only glean from this that he was a very generous man. You most likely all know the story of the three young orphan girls who were destitute for Christmas and hung three stockings over the dying embers in their fireplace as a gesture of hope. Nicholas was said to have thrown a coin of sizeable denomination into each stocking as he stood outside their open window. So the stockings of Christmas and the gifts of Santa arose. Today the image of the Santa in a red suit lined with white fur was sculptured by the Coca Cola Company in America. The image is drawn from St Nicholas’ red cope, the ceremonial garment worn by priests and Bishops at special celebrations, which in common belief was outlined with white orpharies (trimmings).

Our Santa Claus is a valuable mythical image. Real myths, such as what has grown up around Santa, as well as sacred occasions, invite us to engage in both sides of our fundamental psychological condition – the inner truth which is of dark and light and is always calling us on and into mystery. Whether we consider St Nicholas or Santa we need to be aware that to dismiss this wonderful man is not only a travesty to all children but also a sadness for grown-ups who want to be oh so adult. We need to believe in Santa. Not just the man at the shopping centres, but the spirit of Santa that resides within us and allow him to be real there. Allow him to be active there. Santa is real in the functioning of all human beings when we work for generosity, justice and creativity. These are the gifts of all mythical figures. These are the gifts of the embrace of Santa. The great core of that gift of course is love and how dare we ever deny that great life-giving spirit.

Santa may change aspects for us as we travel through life but we should never let the image die away. Christmas without such a wonderful image would be an austere thing indeed. What would our kids miss? Why is it that when we approach the Divine it has to be so bland?

As a child I remember groping my way around the base of the bed in the dark, trying not to wake Mum and Dad before they were ready. I would reach down and see how full the sack was and then sneak out of bed to see if Santa had eaten the biscuit and drunk the milk left out in the kitchen. Then it was back to bed but no sleep till Mum and Dad woke up for I always wanted them there with me to see what Santa had brought. No sleep because I was so excited and filled with expectation. I wasn’t that good for I always woke them no matter how quiet I thought I was and they would soon come in after enjoying a bit of mirth at my expense. The joy of Christmas morning filled a little fellow’s heart.

I invite you all to craft more Santa into Christmas and forget that he has been so commercialized. Let us ignite the joy of Christmas by celebrating St Nicholas as Santa. Let Santa roll at Christmas, not just for the kids, but for all whose hearts want to be young and involved in the creative, loving mystery of the Divine.

Wishing you, and those you love, a wonderful Christmas Season,

Geoff and Helen

For many Body Language is something for the experts, but the reality is that we all use it every day of our lives without being aware of it.  When we become aware we are able to read other’s thoughts and truths by the minute gestures of their bodies.  At a subconscious level we are already doing it anyway.

Our conscious mind has us say the “right thing” or what is expected and may not be in fact what we believe.  The higher consciousness, which is deeper than the subconscious mind, knows only pure thought.  It is the sacred part of us that carries our purest and highest ideals.  It is the subconscious mind that directs and governs our body language while the unconscious runs our bodily functions such as heart beat and breathing.  Body language from the subconscious mind will tell us if what someone says is different from what they think or feel.  It is a scientific fact that people’s gestures give away their true intentions.  We are all reading body language every time we engage in a conversation with someone.  We do this at a deep level and often don’t interpret it other than as a feeling.

Recall a time when you were talking to someone and you went away feeling that things weren’t quite right. You can’t put your finger on just what it is but you know that something isn’t as it would appear.  That is because, as you listened to what was being said, your subconscious mind picked up their unguarded subconscious mind’s language manifesting itself in hundreds of little signals and gestures.  Signals that can mean anything from “That’s a great idea” to “You must be kidding”.  Our radar picks them up while our conscious mind works on verbal message.  Our conscious mind then doesn’t deal with them fully unless we are aware and able to interpret.

Interpretation is an acquired skill but not hard.  It comes from awareness built on knowledge.  There are many books out there with which we can develop our awareness.  One of my favourite people on this subject is Allan Pease.  He is not only an incredible expert but presents his knowledge with a sense of ease that is the man.

Whether we realize it or not we are all giving out these signals every time we interact with another human being.  Boy meets girl body language is quite different to friend meeting friend etc and so if we master body language we can receive the real messages people are giving out and we then are able to move communication to a higher level of effectiveness.  With time it will not be an effort but part of the way we reach out to others because we are more able to understand just where they are at any time.