I’m writing this on the infamous Black Friday, the day
after Thanksgiving where multitudes of Americans lose their minds in shopping
frenzy. I myself don’t partake in the event, and find the whole thing a bit on
the creepy side, but don’t blame those brave souls who choose to fight the
crowds. Who am I to judge the parent who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford
gifts for their kids unless they did? I just wonder why it has to be this
horrible, stressful event.
The thing that gets to me is when you hear about grown (supposed)
adults who revert to behavior that’s lower than any of our primate cousins would
exhibit. The fighting, pushing, and sometimes tragic violence is beyond bizarre
considering the reason behind this season of giving. Now I’m not Christian, but
I do enjoy celebrating Christmas, and I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Jesus had
in mind when he said, “Ask and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door
will be opened for you.” Not, “Go forth and pummel someone to get the best deal at Walmart.”
Unfortunately the materialistic mindset that we’ve been
handed through the media and corporate messaging has perpetuated this mess, and
it’s up to us to hand it back. How? Through conscious giving. And when I say “conscious”
I don’t mean that little Sally can’t have the Easy Bake Oven® or Tonka Truck®
she wants, and instead has to be happy with a donation to Save the (Fill-in-the-Blank)
in her name, but that we understand the motivation behind what we give and that
we teach these same principles to our children. Giving Sally what she wants so
she won’t be a brat is just going to make her more of a brat. But if giving
Sally that Tonka Truck® for being a generally good kid feels good to you, then
that’s a whole different story. Though the occasional gift of Save the
(Fill-in-the-Blank) in her name doesn’t hurt either, just sayin’.
And what about those kids whose parents are out there
pushing and shoving and exhibiting bad behavior in pursuit of the all-mighty
bargain? What kind of adults are they breeding? My hope is that they eventually
find some understanding of what they are doing. All we can do is start with
ourselves by increasing awareness, and let it serve as a way to get back to the
point of giving: joy.
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From Over There:
“Motivation behind
giving is more important than the gift itself. It is important to acknowledge
why it is that one gives to another at certain times or during certain
situations. To give may represent an actual article, or it may be giving of
time, or of advice, or of a compliment. Regardless of what is given, ask
yourself why it is you give. Ask yourself if it is simply for the joy of
giving, or from the desire to be accepted, or for manipulation. Whatever the
reason know this, the intent behind the giving is imprinted on the gift. The
receiver receives the intent along with the gift. This is why at times when a
gift is received – although it may appear pleasant – it does not bring joy to
the receiver.”
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Featured Guest: Barry Perlman
Barry Perlman (astrobarry) is an intuitive astrologer
who’s been counseling clients from around the world for over a decade. Since
2002, he has shared his astrological wisdom on his website, www.astrobarry.com, where
thousands of visitors enjoy his weekly “horoscopes that keep it real” and other
writings. Barry has appeared in The New York Times, on the CBS Evening News,
and on radio in the US and Australia. His horoscopes have appeared in
Sydney-based FAMOUS Magazine, The Livingston Weekly, and on
BettyConfidential.com. He is also co-owner of The Sacred Well, a metaphysical
shop in Oakland, CA. He lives in San Francisco with his partner and his lovable
90-lb. mutt JoJo.
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If you'd like more information, to book an appointment, or check out the current class schedule, please visit molliejensen.com.
