The 12th Day of Christmas On the 12th Day of Christmas, we celebrate the Eve of Epiphany. This means we are on the cusp of change. We end the 12 Days of Christmas and move into Epiphany. I rather like the decision of the Council of Tours in 567 (what a great date!) that there should be celebrations from Christmas Day through to Epiphany Eve – which gave birth to the 12 Days of Christmas – or what we Brits call Christmastide. This is a splendid idea since most folks don’t really come back to work until about 10th January! Holding to this tradition and adapting it to the modern work pattern, we’d have 12 Days of feasting and 4 days to detox! In fact, the ancient pattern wasn’t that far away from that - because there is a tradition of fasting during Advent to get ready for the feasting. Fasting, feasting, detox! From tomorrow, Epiphanytide will run until Candlemas. What is Epiphany? This is traditionally when the Three Kings came to adore the baby. Thus, the Irish tradition of adding the figures of the Three Kings to the Nativity scene on Twelfth Night ready for Epiphany. But that’s tomorrow… let’s talk about partying! The famous Carol, “Here we come a wassailing,” refers to this evening where the poor would often go door-to-door singing songs of good cheer and blessing each household in return for a drink from the wassail bowl – filled with hot ale, apples, spices, and mead! The noun, “wassail,” refers to the drink. Where the wassail is more cider than ale, it can be connected to a more rural request for a good cider apple crop in the year to come. To wassail, as a verb, means to party on in the lively way associated with twelfth night, and also to go from house-to-house singing carols. It should, therefore, be a jolly good evening! Another tradition you may enjoy bringing back is the King Cake – baked with a bean and a pea. I’m guessing there was a separate cake for the boys and the girls as whoever gets the piece with the pea in gets to be Queen for the night, and whoever gets the bean gets to be King… for one night. We can be heroes just for one day. Servants would become masters. This could become a fun family tradition for you and yours - if only for one night! Do we need any deep spiritual message for today and tonight? I don’t think so. Epiphany, tomorrow, is deeply significant, but for tonight let’s enter into the spirit of celebration, blessing, thanksgiving, and generosity… and if you don’t have the energy for that, you could always watch Shakespeare’s comedy, “Twelfth Night.” (But that’s another story.)

Imagine being asked to leave a monastery for being too extreme. This was part of the journey taken by Simeon Stylites - a famous "Pillar Saint". Focus gets results.

Jesus was presented at the Temple, as was the Jewish tradition. This involved circumcision as the child's name was presented to God. We'd talk about a Christening nowadays, and a lot less blood and pain! In the classic movie, "Dances With Wolves," we learn of the Native American tradition of naming someone according to their most visible or memorable characteristic or characteristic behaviour. Kevin Costner's character was seen dancing with wolves, hence the name. What would your Native American Name be from your current lifestyle? What would you prefer it to be if that's not a happy answer?

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄THE 9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS Saint Basil on Social Justice (and more!) The 16th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations is, "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions." Goal 10 of the 17 is, "Reduced Inequalities." Goal 1 is, "No Poverty." Goal 2 is, "Zero Hunger," and Goal 5 is, "Gender Equality." Saint Basil would approve. Quote 1 When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor. Quote 2 A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. Quote 3 While we try to amass wealth, make piles of money, get hold of the land as our real property, overtop one another in riches, we have palpably cast off justice, and lost the common good. I should like to know how any man can be just, who is deliberately aiming to get out of someone else what he wants for himself. Enjoy more of Basil's wisdom here: https://lnkd.in/gUxyujtx and https://lnkd.in/gKQ8GmmZ #4thDayofChristmas #SocialJustice #17SDGs #B1G1 #money #sustainabledevelopment #gender #kindness

"Let It Be" When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be [Songwriters: Paul Mccartney / John Lennon] This is a necessarily shortened version of the video that can be seen here: https://youtu.be/qaPxbFurxKk In the video, I lose it... touched by the loss of my own Mum. The space 'works' on the video because you can see and thus understand my grieving, but not necessarily on the audio. I wonder if the Reformation was a rejection of Motherhood? It's an interesting thought given the venom against Mary. What would have happened if Sigmund Freud had access to Martin Luther? Imagine Luther on the couch and Ziggy saying, "Tell me about your Mother..." In this very emotional recording, captured last Christmas, I realise (watching the video again with some distance) that my own loss of my Mum is impacting what I share. Mum died in 2019, and the wounds are still raw. However, this is the point of the Podcast and the Vlog - we all need a Mother figure. [Pauline reference is 1 Corinthians 4:15 "For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News."] Enjoy then, a fresh, if emotional, appreciation of Mary and Motherhood on this, the 8th Day of Christmas. Oh, and also enjoy the shout outs to two other great Mother figures: Guan Yin and... Moominmamma, with her handbag full of wonders and compforts! Not content with bringing focus back to Mother Mary, here's a bit of Eastern Philosophy! https://youtu.be/5yZ8a_zAEl0 - it includes Guan Yin.

I sincerely believe this is the year to Choose Your Tribe – and to choose wisely. I guess that means also it’s the year to change your tribe. Your tribe may begin with a local association, for example, “Dorset.” I’m a huge fan of Dorset, which I’ve called my ‘home’ since the turn of the Century. This is why I think sites like designedindorest.co.uk are important as hubs for local arts and crafts and trades – and our identity as Dorset People, Dorset Folk. Your tribe may be centred on a product. Think Harley Davidson – more than a mere motorcycle. I’m always tickled at people who are passionate about Landrovers. I had a Freelander (if that counts) and it was the worst car ever! Clearly, this goes beyond the reliability of the product to a place in fans’ minds that accepts that the product says something about them. It gives them a group identity, a tribal identity. Some of the most powerful tribes focus on a belief system which is then expressed in choices in music, clothing, rituals. I was delighted to bump into a bunch of Steampunks in Dorchester. I hope they are taking over! The dress code set them apart even before we spoke. How about you? What tribes do you feel a part of? What tribes would you like to feel a part of? And this is an essential part of deciding which tribes to leave. If you’re not feeling missed by those tribes, if you’re not feeling valued by those tribes – leave! Today, Penelope and I were chatting about the Jehovah Witnesses. There’s a powerful tribe if ever I’ve seen one. What’s the attraction? I think the attraction is the tribe itself – and the strong sense of belonging – and the strong sense of identity. They have a set of beliefs that are matched by a congruent and consistent set of actions and activities. “People like us, do this…” And, most importantly, if you were ever ill or absent, I am certain you would know you were ‘missed’ and that you were cherished. Belonging is a powerful sense. Belonging is a powerful state of being. Belonging leads to a sense and state of wellness. My prayer and hope for you and for me in this coming year is that we always make people feel missed when they pull away for any reason. That we make them feel great. And that we commit to encouraging others on a daily basis. One of my favourite verses will take us back to the metaphor of Saint Sylvester’s Dragon. In the book of Hebrews it says, “…exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (You can find that in chapter three of the book of Hebrews, verse 13.) The Greek word for ‘exhort’ is amazing. It’s the word very similar to the one used of the Holy Spirit as the One called alongside to help. The Comforter. The Helper. The Encourager. The Advocate. The One you can call upon. Isn’t this the best concept for friendship? “Hey, you can call upon me…” Our mission is to be just like God! To be the Encourager, the Helper, the one called alongside to support, the one you can rely upon, your advocate, your fan, your ambassador. But what about the dragon? Dragons (somewhat sadly) are associated with evil in the Bible… as, indeed, is “sin”. The idea in this vital verse is that daily encouragement is good medicine. Daily encouragement can protect you and I from the hardening of heart (and thus emotions such as compassion) that comes from “deceitfulness of sin.” If we are discouraged, it too easy to slip into a really dark place. We need to focus on what we really want. Finding a tribe that encourages one another of a daily basis can protect us from the hard cynicism that leads to a bitter spirit. I wish you joy this coming year, a tribe you can thrive in, a tribe that wants you, a tribe that misses you when you’re not there, and I wish you encouragement on a daily basis – day by day. Joyful New Year! With love from God’s Goth.

The 6th Day of Christmas Saint Egwin (don’t think St Eggwhisk). Absolutely committed to supporting widows and orphans. He was very strict – promoting Christian marriage, and clerical celibacy – which made him less than popular with many! He was dispatched to Rome to seek vindication from the Pope. Miracles happened en route that led to his later recognition as a saint. The miracles are mentioned in the recording so I won’t expand here. My point – a man of principle whose actions matched his beliefs. He committed to caring for those that God places as a priority too. A man who left a powerful legacy since he went on to found the Abbey at Evesham. I learned a new word too: “Obloquy,” which means, “strong public condemnation.” The United Nations have identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals. To take practical action on this, I have been a member for several years of, “Buy One; Give One.” The idea is simple, and the execution is exquisite. Every time I sell a product or service, I pay it forward via a project that reflects one of the goals of the 17 SDGs of the UN. As you ‘buy one’ from me, I ‘give one’ – acknowledging gratefully that you have enabled this gift. I am very concerned about the loss of direct educational experience that has hit our Nations for over two years now. Whilst I most certainly mean school students, I include anyone of any age who has a love of learning. In response, I am seeking to resurrect the programmes that were at the heart of my happiest times with Buzan Centres. Buzan Centres were the brainchild of the late Tony Buzan (Creator of Mind Mapping) and the birthchild of the very present Vanda North, who set up Buzan Centres Internationally. We used to run family study weekends together where students of all ages could come and experience the joy of seeing their speed-reading skills increase, their memory boosted, and their ability to organise their thoughts revolutionised. This recording was captured last Christmas, and in it I made a promise that I haven’t yet kept – to begin those programmes again. Now you can hold me to that promise. And for every course place that I sell, or gracious gift to support our work that we receive (so we can provide free training too), we will honour Saint Egwin’s spirit by paying a portion forward towards fulfilling the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, via the wonderful B1G1.com Come, let us learn together, and make a difference together, forever. If you fancy supporting my work (and great intentions) you can give here: https://bit.ly/InvestStudySkills If you invest, don’t be a stranger – there are a 1000 ways I can say, “Thank You!” and add value to your life. Join the tribes I belong to and feel amazing about the contribution you make.

"SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER" 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄On the Fifth Day of Christmas🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 we celebrate Saint Thomas à Becket. These words, famously attributed to Henry II - "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" allegedly provoked the murder of Thomas while in the Cathedral!!! Why was the king so irritated with Thomas à Becket? Because Thomas didn't have a Paradigm Shift so much as a Paradigm Earthquake! He went from being a very effective fundraiser for the king through way of a profound conversion experience to become an ascetic (one who abstains from sensual pleasures in order to enhance spiritual focus). What I'm celebrating about Thomas is his courage to "speak to power" - a core principle of Improv! When we pursue "Authenticity" in Improv we become willing to challenge convention, tradition, and the established order. We break the rules when the system they support no longer serves us. I'm also celebrating his career shift. In this video, recorded last Christmas, I give a SHOUT out for Steve Jones FCMI who trained me in Motivational Mapping. Steve shared with me a powerful example of the difference between recruiting on the strength of your gifts and talents versus the 'authenticity' of recruiting according to what motivates you. The example of the freedom-driven, creatively motivated Barrister becoming a Landscape Gardener still makes my heart sing - thanks Steve! 🙏🥂 WHAT ABOUT YOU? If you feel something isn't quite right with your own career journey, let's get your motivation map done and dusted with a debrief. It may be the current disatisfaction could be your best friend... a better future always lies ahead when you align yourself with what truly motivates you. In the meatime, "Courage, mon Brave!" Speak truth to power, challenge convention, break some rules... ...and watch your back! (+44)7990015489 #motivation #disruptiveleadership #entrepreneurmindset #career

What can we learn from the massacre of the innocents? Recorded last Christmas as a video (hence the days being 'wrong'). We can fight against evil, including Covid - and what it has stolen from our own innocents - our children.

What do you think is the biggest living organism ever? If you think a Sequoia, you're pretty close. Listen to this podcast to discover one of the greatest works of nature. Lex 'Starflake' McKee goes deeper into what we can learn from the greatest organism on Earth.