SHANGRI-LA SEDONA NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER WINTER 2006

Happy Holidays Dear Friends!

At this time of year, sometimes it feels like we are living two lives, one spiritual and one very 3-D. We are busy this time of year preparing for the holidays; shopping, planning and preparing; gifts, wrapping, tree buying, decorating, menu planning, and travel arrangements, keep us all hopping. And the other half of us connects with Creator and sees the spiritual beauty and significance of this blessed holy day. Let us all consciously, every morning and every evening, take a timeless moment and join our hearts in joy and gladness and wish for peace and prosperity, health and wellness, love and laughter to all. We send you big hugs of love and cheer!

May the Peace of the Season be with You!

Features In This Issue:

Article: What is the Spiritual Significance of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus?
Christmas Wishes in Many Languages
Feature Package: "Christmas Sweetheart's in Sedona"
Holiday Specials: 25% Discount on Selected Services now thru Jan 31, 2007
Updates: FREE Healing Day and Shangri-La's Prayer Altar
Menu of Services

What is the Spiritual Significance of the Christmas Tree and Santa Clause?

I remember when I was very small, sitting next to the tree on a quiet night. The house was still, Mom was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner and I was a very young little girl. I remember staring into the depths of our six-foot fresh scotch pine tree, adorned with hand-placed silver tinsel strands, candy canes, large colored lights, colored glass ornaments and our family ornaments, like the one with the "angel's hair in the round silver cage". Beneath lay the manger scene on a bed of soft "snow." I felt a wash of peaceful calm flow over me as I gazed into its depths. The memory is strong and my heart gets very full when I think about that simpler time of my life.

One of the many messages of the Christmas Tree is that it represents us as individuals with our chakra system's roots immersed in a (red) bowl of water to the star-studded crown (halo). The Tree of Life too holds great significance as we see the foundation of this Christmas Tree is also the crown (Kether) of another tree above it, seeing limitless trees and limitless possibilities. We notice the arms and limbs reaching outward in all directions also representing the myriad "trees" of the Holy Sephira Trees of Life reaching out like our own fingers and toes, reaching to touch the hand of God.

Now you may be surprised to hear this but Santa Claus (or St. Nicholas) holds a great spiritual significance for us as this beloved icon is a direct representation of God within our own lives. I know this sounds a bit strange; however, bear with me for a minute and I'll explain. When a small child writes his or her Christmas wish list to Santa asking for their favorite toy; whatever it is, be it a bicycle, dolly or train set, they know as they write this list that they will get this thing from Santa Claus simply because they asked for it. They know with certainty, come Christmas morning when they run to the living room where the tree stands shining and tall, underneath its fragrant boughs, their little dolly will be waiting for them or their bicycle will be with a pretty red bow and so on. Then follows resounding squeals of delight (i.e., confirmation of their innate trust in "the System's ability to deliver the goods").

We as parents do know a thing or two about Santa and therefore we guffaw and say, "Yeah, right but I'm Santa, that child just thinks it's some mystical imaginary person from the North Pole." Truly, however, there is a mystical truth in the innocence and unfailing trusting abilities of a child's power to wish certain things into existence. All it takes is to BELIEVE.

From birth until modification from their parent's and inner circle's strong influence, children have a greater understanding of the natural order of things, the laws of the universe. Therefore, it's a natural progression that they just know that they're going to receive whatever they ask for under the tree. We as adults work tirelessly behind the scenes wrapping presents late at night, stringing lights and hanging ornaments and getting everything in order so our child has a magical and beautiful Christmas. And, we believe we are helping make beautiful Christmas memories for our child; however, the underlying message of truth is simply reminding ourselves, every single year, of the real truth; the truth that we too can simply ask God/Creator for whatever we want and just know/believe that we will receive it.

We enact this out every year at this same time as a constant unending reminder. When we "lose the spirit of Christmas" its due to the fact that we have lost the effectiveness of refreshing our memory and that is why the long-standing films about people such as Ebenezer Scrooge are so popular; they act as reinforcement of the ultimate and inherent good in everyone, that God-spark within.

Let's take a partial look at the lyrics from the holiday song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town:

...
Oh, you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm tellin' you why
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out whose
Naughty or Nice
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows when you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sakes.

Thoughts:  To me these lyrics imply a higher power (aka someone who can wield enough power to make our dreams come true, read as Mom, Dad, God?!) can inherently and mystically know what we are doing at all times, even when we are sleeping.  

(As an aside, now, why would this individual power source Santa-being want to, or need to, know what we are doing while we are sleeping, and moreover, what is so important about what happens when we are sleeping anyway, why is it important for this being to even be concerned about what we do when we are sleeping? Well, food for thought.)

To continue, we therefore are recommended to not enter a negative state over the fact that Santa is coming to town, to see us, and we had better prepare.

Then Santa has a list with our name on it.  Could this be a representation of God or Creator in our lives, the all knowing being who knows each of us by name, who has our names written in the Book of Life?

And, then we see that it is recommended that we behave, well all parents want for their children to behave so there is this veiled threat within these lyrics.  Perhaps it is not so much a threat as it is a strong suggestion because, in the end, good always overcomes over evil. Hmmm, my thoughts will continue on ...

And, then there's the lump of coal, well, that's for another segment.

To end, let the children believe, they will teach us all. May the Star on your Christmas Tree be the Light that lights your way, your path.

Holiday Blessings,

Deidre

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Christmas Wishes in Many Languages

Feature Package: "Christmas Sweethearts in Sedona"

Sedona is one of the most romantic places in the USA ! And, . Sedona is extraordinarily beautiful during Christmastime ! Celebrate your relationship with your BeLOVED this winter with our Christmas Sweetheart Sedona package. Maybe the time has come to surprise him or her with that precious engagement ring, or to renew your vows. Wouldn't it feel very special to do this on one of the sacred vortex in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona?

A romantic relationship is a very sacred union and we want you to feel very special, so we start the day with a Bonding Ceremony on one of the powerful, healing vortexes. Feel free to bring your own sacred objects, poems, vows, etc. to be included in the journey. Write down your intentions for your future deepening of your relationship to bring with you out on the land. When you return to our sanctuary you will be treated to an insightful one hour combined Couples Intuitive Reading plus a one hour (each) Couples Massage where you are pampered in your own private sanctuaries and yet still connected via an open door between your private sanctuaries.

It doesn't have to be Christmastime to do our package . it can be setup any time of the year! Sign up early for availability. Make your Sedona journey an unforgettable memory for the both of you and be sure to bring your camera for precious photos to take away with you this Christmas! Call Toll Free (877) 782-8979 or email vortexjah@shangrilasedona.com MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

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Holiday Specials

BIG DISCOUNTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
'Tis the Season to be Gifting, and We Have the Gifts for YOU!

$90 PHONE READINGS (Regularly $120)*
One Hour Sessions / 60 minutes

$45 PHONE READINGS (Regularly $60)*
Half Hour Sessions / 30 minutes

Valid through January 31, 2007
*In person, may transfer discount to session of choice

25% Off
GIFT CERTIFICATES
HURRY ... We'll mail your Certificates to you, and just in time
for the Holidays ... They make great STOCKING STUFFERS!
Valid through December 20, 2006

Phone orders accepted with MC, Visa and Discover
(877) 782-8979 Toll Free, (928) 282-8979 Local

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Updates

FREE HEALING DAY AT SHANGRI-LA SEDONA : UPDATE: Our first Free Healing Day was such a great success we will be increasing our space and getting additional help from some of our healer friends. We give a huge THANK YOU to all our wonderful practitioners, Adele Sands our Massage Therapist who worked with love and support for all who came to her, Julie Maloney who led Reiki and IET (Integrated Energy Therapy - working with the Angels), Jannah Riemer who offered Emotional Release, Readings and Energy Work sessions, Aurora Spuhler who facilitated her loving Quantum Touch and Reiki Angel Therapy, and Deidre Madsen who gave Readings and Spiritual Counseling.

We thank each and every one for their tireless support and love. The community and visitors from around the world came forth to experience Shangri-La Sedona's beautiful healing space.

Our next Free Healing day is Saturday, December 23, 2006 from 11 - 4 pm. See you there!

SHANGRI-LA SEDONA'S NEW PRAYER ALTAR: UPDATE: Thank you to all who have called in or written with those you wish to have added to our prayer altar. We encourage others to do the same as we will continue to be adding names, especially now that the holidays are here. Sometimes our loved ones who are alone feel the acuteness of this holiday more than others and feel very alone, perhaps they are in hospice or far away, perhaps they are overseas in the middle of a war zone. We encourage everyone to please send us your names. Email to vortexjah@shangrilasedona.com or call us toll free at (877) 782-8979 or local at (928) 282-8979. Thank you and bless you.

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Menu of Services

Body & Energy Work: Holistic Integrative Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Reiki and more
In-Depth & Activations: Emotional Release, Inner Child Discovery and other deep healing sessions
Readings: Life Path, Tarot, Fairy, Angel, Astro and Spiritual Counseling
On-the-Land: Vortex Journeys, Medicine Wheels, Labyrinth Walks and Ceremonies
And our combinations of the above in our great Day Packages and our 2-7 day Custom Retreats
For evening events (classes, workshops and seminars) go to our Calendar and/or our Activities page

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COME VISIT US
We have had a lot of fun putting together these new packages and hope you come to Sedona soon and enjoy one of our Retreats and Adventours. Spring is in the air, the gentle rains and warming winds have brought a burst of color and beauty to the high desert areas in and around Sedona. You will find this time of the year is one of the most lovely and refreshing.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings and Namaste!
Shangri-La Sedona's Angels

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