O Holy Night

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It's Christmas Eve

A hush falls across the land as we gather for Christmas Eve.

We finish our Christmas shopping and gather with family and friends. We light candles and offer prayers. Midnight mass is chanted in churches large and small.

We spiral into Christmas Eve on stars of light.

A Star In The East

“And for a moment, the sky stood still while a new star was born.”

Suspended in the firmament, a powerful star sparkled and beckoned. Wise men followed the light. It's possible that an alignment of the stars is what drew the astrologers as far back as... 

April 17, 6 BC when the Sun, Jupiter, the Moon and Saturn aligned in the constellation Aries while Venus and Mars were in neighboring constellations.

The star could have appeared up to two years before the wise men arrived in Jerusalem.

Grant Mathews, a Notre Dame astrophysicist, believes the wise men were "Zoroastrian astrologers who would have recognized the planetary alignment in Aires as a sign a powerful leader was born."

“In fact, it would have even meant that this leader was destined to die at an appointed time, which of course would have been significant for the Christ child, and may have been why they brought myrrh, which was an embalming fluid.

Saturn there (in that part of the sky) would have made whoever was born as a leader, a most powerful leader, because Saturn had the strength to do it, in their view.”
— Grant Mathews
 

Christmas Is In Our Hearts

Perhaps you spend Christmas with a large, noisy family or maybe your Christmas night is at home with a beloved pet. If you have studied The Radiance Technique® (TRT®), allow yourself some extra time for TRT® hands-on. 

Amidst all the gatherings and activities, the light burns bright and we can tap into that expanding light in our meditations. Hold yourself close to the light.

Remember that Christmas exists in our hearts.

Today we are all wise men when we follow the light in our own hearts.

 

A Baby Girl, Say Hello To A New Princess

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A Baby Girl, A New Princess Is Born

The world is a-twitter about the birth of a baby girl in England, the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Born 02 may 2015 at 0834, she weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. 

Two footman place the traditional birth notice signed by Kate's medical team on a golden easel outside Buckingham Palace.

Here you see the uptick in Twitter activity after the birth announcement of the little Princess. 

 
“Tweets using the hashtag #RoyalBaby peaked at 4,500 per minute at 11.25am, approximately 10 minutes after the princess’s birth was announced.”
— Credit: Twitter
 


A Labor Of Love – Time To Have A Baby

As a Registered Nurse who worked in Labor and Delivery/Postpartum for 10 years, I was naturally fascinated with the event. Her second delivery was faster, as is to be expected for subsequent deliveries. However, it was so fast, it makes me think she must have also labored at home.

Perhaps Catherine had a midwife or L&D nurse at Kensington Palace to check her progress? Once she reached 4 to 5 centimeters, indicating she was in active labor, they could pop off to the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital. It's not much of a drive to get there from the Palace. And, of course, with a police escort, traffic won't get in the way.

For such a short stay on the Labor Ward, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received a discount on the costs of their hospital stay. I was delighted that Catherine specifically requested the same midwife who delivered Prince George, Jacqui Dunkley-Bent, a Professor of Midwifery.

According to The Telegraph, Professor Dunkley-Bent and fellow midwife Arona Ahmed spent the most time with the Duchess during her labor process. Of course, physicians were standing by should anything go awry that required a quick move into the operating room for a cesarean delivery.

An Easy Delivery

One of the hazards of being medical, my mind immediately started to wonder if she had an epidural or not and to consider all the sundry details we encounter on a Labor and Delivery deck, (episiotomy, pitocin, pain meds, well, I'll spare you).

Fortunately, no emergency maneuvers were required as evidenced by Catherine's glorious appearance on the steps less than 12 hours after delivery. Just my observation after many years of caring for postpartum women – it's uncommon for patients to appear quite so put together, so quickly after delivery.

 

Her breathtaking appearance sets the barre rather high. It doesn't hurt to have a personal assistant and hair stylist to help get you ready along with a beautiful bespoke dress by Jenny Packham. The yellow buttercup flowers on her silk dress sparkled like spring and its ombre effect hinted of falling petals.

Here's a nice look at her dress and its elegant cut in full:

As a second-time mom, Catherine knows what to expect. But even so, with such a quick discharge, I would imagine that nursing will provide some home visits to check up on her and the baby.

 

For Students Of The Radiance Technique®

Students of The Second Degree of The Radiance Technique® can direct supportive energy to the new Princess and any or all of the family members. Directing radiant, universal energy that is already within; it adjusts to the needs of the receiver. It's wonderful to share our loving support across time and space, without outer demands or expectations. 

Students of The First Degree of The Radiance Technique® can participate with their TRT® hands-on – expanding their own joy and mutual celebration of the birth of this baby as well as all babies on the planet.

Hashtag #Welcometothefamily

Catherine and William extended their circle of celebration to embrace the many babies born recently. With the launch of the royal hashtag #Welcometothefamily, they invited others to participate.

This Princess Will Remain In Line Of Succession

Of special intrigue to me is that this royal baby girl will remain in line of succession only due to new laws that came into effect in March 2015. This change of laws governing succession means that as a girl, for the first time, she will remain ahead of any younger brother in the line of succession.

Previously, under the ancient rules of male primogeniture, royal sons took precedence over their female siblings, even jumping ahead of first-born royal daughters. These laws had been in place since 1701.

For an American like me, unfamiliar with lines of royal succession, I turned to this article in The Telegraph that spells out in detail the present line of succession: New Royal baby will change family tree. 

 

Celebrating A Birth – A Chance to Come Together

It's great fun following the British Royals; it's part of being here on Planet Earth. If this sort of event is not your cup of tea, that's okay too. We all have our varied interests that come and go; it's what makes the world go 'round.

The next buzz of excitement will be the naming of this beautiful little girl... and here's our update as of 04 May 2015:

Her name is: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Her middle names harken to her great grandmother, the current Queen Elizabeth, and her paternal grandmother, Princess Diana. Charlotte is a feminine form of Charles, perhaps acknowledging her grandfather, Prince Charles.

Her title:

Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge 

Wishing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all the best in their newly-expanded family.

Congratulations on the birth of the new Princess.