This time of year in the calendar of the Christian churches has traditionally been called Advent, and it is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. This year, this season heralds another type of preparation. The planet Mars appears to be going backward in the sky; it is in retrograde through the months of December and January, slowing our forward motion down and suggesting that we look within and prepare for our future and the awakening and growth of our individual Christ Consciousness as well as the awakening and growth of the Christ Consciousness of our planet Earth and all her inhabitants.

The last period of time before the impending birth of a child is called travail or labor. How have you been feeling lately? Have the pangs of labor pains been contracting you? Have you felt constricted in any or all areas of your life? Been feeling like you are in the “winter of your discontent?” If so, you are not alone.

Indeed this is a time for us to use this energy to clear away those thoughts, beliefs, persons, places and things that we don’t want to carry forward with us into the New Year – or the new reality! And just like a woman in labor, it doesn’t do any good to push before it is time. All that will do is create stress and pain. It doesn’t hasten the birth. Just like the time of labor is about opening the cervix so that the baby can finally emerge from the womb, the time of Advent can provide the perfect opportunity for us to open ourselves to receive higher consciousness, to awaken the Christ within each one of us.

How can we do this? First we have to make room, prepare the place, to clear out the clutter of fear, judgment and inappropriate beliefs. Just think about how people prepare for the arrival of a new baby. The nursery is decorated, supplies are bought, little clothes are hung in the closet and parties are held. Then they wait…wait for the signal that the time is right.

That child is waiting within each of us, ready to be born; ready to fill our lives with joy, to grow, to learn, to love. It only makes sense to use this quiet time to our advantage to search out the hidden dark areas of discontent and clear them away. Make your plans. Create your lists. Check them twice (or more). Examine and re-examine your priorities until you are clear about who you are and what you want to create in your life. Remember, if you haven’t found your truth and clarity, you will send mixed messages to the Cosmic and you will manifest chaos rather than what you desire. A good measurement is that if you are not creating what you expect, you probably need to refine this list and pare it down to improve your focus.

Here are a few suggestions to help with this:

1)      Narrow your “wish list” down to your top three goals. Three is a mystical number. It isn’t a coincidence that the Genii offered Aladdin three wishes or that there were three wise men who brought gifts to the infant Jesus at his birth. Choose yours! This doesn’t mean that you can’t have it all – everything you desire. It just means that for you to be successful in the birth process of conscious creation, you need to focus your energy.

2)      As you examine your priorities, what information or knowledge are you missing in order to make them reality? Under each goal, list three actions you might take to hasten the result, and under each action attach a timeframe for a) starting it; and b) how long you think it will take to do it.

3)      You now have a plan based on the reality as you see it from your present vantage point. The next step is to allow your Higher Self to assist you in creating the perfect solution. Your conscious self is generally not able to see all the possibilities, and when we attempt to create from what we “think we know” we limit ourselves; we put God in a box. Surrender your plan to the Universe and ask for help. Allow your Higher Self the freedom to expand your horizons. One way to do this is to offer up your plan to God and your Angels and ask that “this or something better comes to me now” and give thanks that this is so.

4)      Meditate. Open yourself to receive the inspiration that will enable you to find your answers and manifest your desired outcome on the physical plane. This reminds me of the story of Archimedes, who was commissioned by his king to determine whether or not his newly minted crown was truly made of solid gold. Archimedes struggled with this problem for a long time. He knew how much the crown weighed. He also knew how much gold was supposed to be in the crown, but he just couldn’t figure out how to tell if the crown was pure. His servant finally suggested that he give himself a break, rest, take a bath and then come back to the problem at hand. As he was lowering himself into the bath he became aware of how his body was displacing the volume of the water in proportion to the volume of his body. He climbed out of the tub and yelled Eureka! His muse, coming to him in the relaxed and meditative state showed him the answer. And the crown turned out not to be made of pure gold. You will find your own Eureka if you allow your muse to inspire you.

5)      Finally, for each of your three goals, make a list of your fears concerning the attainment of each one. What I do is to say, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I achieve this goal?” and write it down. Then I repeat the question, “What is the next worst thing that could happen if I achieve this goal?” Continue doing this until there are no more answers. Then move on to the next goal on your list. Once you have brought all your fear out into the open, you can let it go. It can no longer block your manifestations.

You have prepared the way. Now all that is left is for you to open your heart to receive. You are the creator of your own reality. This is your time for rejoicing. Give thanks!