Advent Calendar 2024

Advent is here - in the Christian tradition, this is the time that starts December 1st and runs through until December 24th. There are many ways to mark this from people who are Christian or raised in a Christian Culture. I was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition and Advent was marked by the weekly lighting of the Advent Wreath - a candle a week with evergreen foliage and purple ribbon. We sing Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel! I really like that hymn - we would sing it in church until the Carols by Candlelight service where we lit all our candles from one sacred candle - a reminder that no matter how much you share your flame, it never gets lower, less bright or diminished. You can light an entire congregations’ candles from one flame. It was a lovely gesture. We celebrate the coming birth of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the son of God and was tasked with liberating Israel from Roman enslavement. It’s all very odd and intriguing. In the Northern Hemisphere it also brings light into dark winter days.

We had advent calendars, an ornate card with little windows in and each day you would open a window to reveal a picture behind each day. It was simple and exciting - animals, toys, decorations - each day a little picture to share with your family.

Eventually chocolate calendars came in and now you can buy a calendar with whisky each day for £200 or expensive beauty products, makeup or other consumables.

I meant to get my husband a chocolate one but I forgot! I had a traditional one with the windows in last year - back to the simple delights.

This year I decided to make my own! With a local walk a day on a post-it note.

The benefit of this is that

• I don’t need to decide where to go for a walk - the ritual calendar decides this for me. Removing the decision is such fun and psychologically freeing.

• It’s a fun surprise each day - I of course know what I wrote on the post-it but I did not commit to memory the order they are in and in fact have forgotten some of the locations.

• I feel like succeeding at the ritual! I feel like doing it. I meant to go for a walk much earlier - today I meant to go at one o’clock and it’s now after four.

• I’m a grown-ass woman who can do whatever she wants so if I miss a day or go late then I remind myself, I’m a grown-ass woman who can do whatever she wants.

• Back to point one - decision making removed - I MUST find ways to add this in other areas of life too - where could you do it?

• I’m enjoying the walks and the way my body feels.

• Lovely surprises happen on the way - I have never in my 53 years witnessed the setting of a crimson crescent moon - that was some Ordinary Magic.

• It feels like Ordinary Magic - you never know what you will find. I’m paying attention.

• Speaking of Ordinary Magic - it’s the writing workshop tonight so I’d better get shoes on and get out for my Day 5 walk! And Come to My Senses.

I am currently procrastinating on today’s walk - I drew Higashi Zushi today - a 90 minute round-trip that I will embark upon as soon as this is written.

First was Tateishi - a beautiful spot just around the coast, second was my local Temple but I failed that day as I went to Tokyo and didn’t time it properly. I could have done it but I pottered too hard. Third was a walk to Kotsubo that was lovely. Forth was a walk to Hayama museum - quite a long walk that takes in 4 beaches and is about one and a half hours one way. But as I am not checking social media right now it was good because the time I might spend posting on and checking the usual sites, is now spent walking and listening to podcasts (last night was Roy Ayers).

I left at five thirty and was immediately met with the most exquisite orange crescent moon hanging low in the sky, with Venus overwhelmingly bright above.

I gasped and smiled. I felt into the ancient.

By the time I arrived at beach one, the moon; breathtaking was deep orange with the planet. Waxing Crescent 11.6%. A ribbon of the ocean was illuminated, orange. Venus above. Akarui. Twinkling.

Upon arriving at beach two, it was Venus illuminating the water - yellow, vivid. The moon had descended and was a crisp-edged deep crimson. From this beach I watched this deep crimson crescent set and dip below the horizon.

Venus dominates.

I sent a photograph to me dear friend in England who called me, so after the moon set, we chatted for half an hour until I reached my destination; the Hayama Museum of Modern Art, after passing beaches three and four. The bus arrived and we said our goodbyes. I lost a glove, bought two jars of jalapenos, and a bento for my love.

On my return I made miso soup, a loving gesture then listened to more Questlove Supreme (a member of Kool and the Gang).

So, that is my advent calendar. Post-it notes with with a location on each day until 24th December.