Tuesday, December 30, 2008
I usually love New Year celebrations. I look forward to stepping through the door of a new year, clearing the old, and bringing in the fresh and vital. I am usually happy and excited about the possibilities the new cycle will bring. After sleeping in on the first day of the year, I open a new journal and set my personal and professional goals. Then I usually attend my friend’s White Party in her beautiful home in Venice. To symbolize the unblemished canvas of the New Year, all the guests wear white, the food is white (think cauliflower, potatoes, endives, macaroni & cheese), and of course we sip champagne while toasting to our success and happiness. But this year, on the eve of 2009, I am in no mood for celebration because I am devastated, sad, and angry. The brutal military assault on a starving population held in captivity in Gaza has shaken me to my core. I have chosen to work towards a better world and I am willing to make many sacrifices necessary to achieve even a fraction of good. But I would be dishonest if I said that I didn’t expect to yield a promising return. To witness such inhumanity, such arrogance, such a brutal abuse of power, in an already fragile and violent world has discouraged and depressed me. Being angry and sad does not suit me, or anyone for that matter, so I must commit myself to shed such gloomy feelings. It might take some time, but I know that we can’t have light without accepting the dark. For you my dear readers, I wish much peace, happiness, and success. May 2009 be a year of breakthroughs and fresh starts. 
Monday, December 22, 2008
 The month of December is full of holidays and celebrations across religions and diverse cultures. St. Nicholas Day, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Hanukah, Las Posadas, Al Hijra, St. Lucia Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day pack December with joyful festivities and cultural ceremonies. For me, the magic crescendos on the Winter Solstice (this year the day falls on December 21st) as it echoes the earthy rhythm of changing seasons. Whether felt as an astronomical, spiritual, religious, or personal event, the day visibly marks a turning point in our 365-day cycle. On this shortest day of light, ancient and modern cultures hold solstice ceremonies to bring them closer to the skies as the giver of life and bounty. At the root of many ancient rituals was the fear that the dwindling light would not return without human intervention, creating the need for generous offerings and lavish celebrations to keep the gods and goddesses happy. The Winter Solstice has greatest significance to those that live closest to the earth, and whose lives are intimately tied to changing seasons and harvest cycles. Tuning in to celestial events was an especially important cosmic science for ancient societies who created meaningful fertility rites; fire festivals and offerings to their deities in hopes of procuring a bountiful harvest. While not widely known, many of these rituals are part of our modern traditions. Candles, evergreens, mistletoe, lavish feasts, and the giving and receiving of gifts are rooted in ceremonies performed thousands of years ago. Believe it or not, Christmas in particular is rooted in pagan traditions. As Christianity spread and the need to dampen the prevalence of pagan beliefs arose, the cosmic celebrations of the Winter Solstice were overlaid with the story of the Birth of Christ. Today the “Christmas Season” is a multi-billion dollar business that seems galaxies away from the deep connection to our earth that the Winter Solstice represented in ancient societies. Witnessing the manic and surprisingly unjolly crowds shopping for holiday gifts, it’s clear that a little retro paganism might do us all some good. This December, as the turning skies bring less light, we can find solace connecting with one another and give thanks for our blessings, or we can rejoice over discounted cashmere sweaters and bargain-priced electronic toys. This cosmic lady will be thanking the stars for a fabulous year of love, art, and adventure, and will be keeping her candle lit for an even brighter 2009! Happy winter! Ms. Cosmopolite
Monday, December 8, 2008
 As we all know, change is the only constant force in our shimmering universe. Most of the time I enjoy change unless I have been caught off guard and cling to outdated thinking when clearly the tide has shifted. To keep myself on top of the tidal waves, I follow cultural trends to keep me in the know. I don’t see trends as superficial, but an important indicator of changing attitudes and beliefs. I especially relish in learning about the new words created to match society’s new thinking. Given the events of 2008 and our current economic climate, my favorite new addition for 2008 is FRUGALISTA, defined as, “a person who lives a frugal lifestyle but stays fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc.” (Most likely the only time I have agreed with NYT’s William Safire, who voted Frugalista the best new word of 2008, on anything!) As Frugalista enters the mainstream lexicon, most will attribute its popularity and use to the current recession (or pre-recovery period if you prefer!). I would say that the ethos behind frugalistas has more to do with increasing the quality of life than falling stock prices. The word frugal is often viewed as a product of lack yet, the word is related to the Latin frui, meaning to enjoy. Frugality essentially means the best use of resources and the limiting of waste in the pursuit of a higher quality of life. As I mosey around shops and malls today in search of new possessions I wonder what has happened to the appreciation of quality? The long tradition of craftsmanship around the world, has always valued quality and was centered on the idea of creating functional objects that withstood the test of time. The magic of handmade objects is their high quality, beauty, and resourcefulness. Look around your home, office, school, or neighborhood, and take a look at how resources are being used? How much waste can you identify in a mere 5 minutes? How many objects in your space do you treasure and how many things are disposable? How have we benefitted from the seemingly endless supply of cheap goods lining the shelves at the Wal-Marts, Forever 21s, and Pier 1s of the world? The vulgar appetite for cheap, throwaway goods has depressed labor wages and created an unsustainable level of consumption and a reckless use of resources. The irony for me is that during a time of “conspicuous consumption” many filled their homes and closets with unsightly and poorly made goods! Ms. Cosmopolite says, “having things and having beautiful things are not the same”. As a proud frugalista, I am committed to filling my life and home with beautiful, well-crafted goods, made with respect for the materials and the makers. I will delight in unearthing treasures from bazaars, resale shops, craft and artist cooperatives, and farmer’s markets while being fashionable, healthy, and fabulous! “Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits” – Edmund Burke Onward, Ms Cosmopolite
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Cosmopolite \koz-MOP-uh-lyt\, noun:
1. One who is at home in every place; a citizen of the world; a cosmopolitan person.
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