Advent is getting closer

I’m noticing signs that Advent is getting closer.

I can feel it in the light that streams through my window earlier and earlier every morning. The light wakes me and more often than not if it’s a sunny day I’ll head straight outdoors before breakfast to enjoy the light.

The baby tuis wake me up too. They are now practicing their two note song loudly and joyfully. They’re not yet tuneful, but they will be by the end of summer. As soon as it is light they start singing and they won’t stop until nightfall.

November is always a month when I feel motivated to get outdoors and ready the garden and courtyard for the summer months. I always intend to do my spring cleaning in early spring, but invariably it’s November when I get the urge to sweep away cobwebs, clean windows and scrub the steps.

All of this makes me feel like I’m in preparation mode for Advent. I'm getting ready to count down to Christmas.

The light is coming.

The angels are proclaiming.

It’s time to prepare for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ.

It’s time to get ready.

My signs of Advent are based on living in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are my personal sensory signs I make as I connect with the seasons.

What are your signs that Advent is coming?

Our Counting Down to Christmas resource begins for paid subscribers on Saturday 27 November. The theme for this year is Rhymes, Rhythms and Rituals. I’m really excited about sharing it with you. I started dreaming the ideas for this one in late December 2020, so it’s been a long time in the creating. I hope it will bring you a gentle daily dose of hope and peace, joy and love in what is proving to be a really tough time across the globe.

I’ll pop back into your inbox with another free post next week and some instructions on how to access my Rhymes, Rhythms and Rituals playlist on Spotify. Each daily email is based on a song from this playlist and includes a short reflection and an experiential activity.

There’s several clickable buttons below you can use; if you want to know more about Counting Down to Christmas, if you haven’t yet subscribed to the paid version, if you want to give Counting Down to Christmas as a gift, if you want to share this free email with others.

On the journey

Caroline