Celebrations are important in life – for individuals, families, circles of friends and communities. Celebrations are part of the goo that holds us together. It is worthwhile to re-member, to mark moments of import, to note change and growth, gain and loss, to pause and reflect and to ferret out the lessons life may be offering in the course of events and our actions within those events.  I know this. And, yet, for me, personal celebrations are not easy. When I think of marking personal accomplishments or mile stones, I remember the proverb that says: the nail that stand up invites the hammer. 

But on this occasion I believe that I will invite the attitude of MC Hammer and “you can’t touch this” and full out celebrate 100 JustAlchemy blog entries!! May justice, respect for the dignity of all sentient beings and JustAlchemy thrive for 100 years!!!

And, in that spirit, here are three wishes for you: May you live 100 years, five simple rules to be happy, and good wishes for you. 

 May you live 100 years (Sto Lat!) is a Polish song of celebration. We sang it at every family celebration I can remember.

 Sto Lat! – May you live a hundred years.
Sto lat, sto lat, niech zyje zyje nam.
Sto lat, sto lat, niech zyje zyje nam.
Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech zyje, zyje nam.
Niech zyje nam!

Sto Lat (English version)

Good luck, good cheer, may you live a hundred years.
Good luck, good cheer, may you live a hundred years.
Good luck, good cheer, may you live a hundred years.
One hundred years!

I once attributed Five simple rules to be happy to Abraham Lincoln. Now I am not sure whose rules they are, but they make sense to me.

 Five simple rules to be happy:

• Free your heart from hatred.
• Free your mind from worries.
• Live simply.
• Give more.
• Expect less.

I first heard ‘good wishes’ as a song at a Paul Winter Celebration of the Winter Solstice. ‘Good Wishes may be a Druid Invocation, a Welsh festive song, or a Scottish Blessing.

 I understand that Good Wish” is one of the many lovely blessings collected in the Scottish Highlands by Alexander Carmicheal, and compiled into his book Carmina Gadelica.  (Page 282). This wonderful blessing starts out by conferring “power of raven.” Ravens so often get a bad rap but in mythology and folk lore they are the avian equivalent of coyotes, anarchists, feminists, culture jammers – often acting the trickster with their sense of humor, a bit wiser than you might expect, unafraid of weirdness or death, a bit flamboyant and interesting.  This invocation highlights the great powers and riches (“goodness”) of nature.  An interesting  part of this Wish is for  “death on pillow.” This is not something we ordinarily think of as a positive prayer since we’re so alienated from the realities of death in this culture, but by considering the many other ways one may greet death, death on a pillow is not so bad at all!

 Power of raven be thine

Power of eagle be thine

Power of storm be thine

Power of moon be thine

Power of sea be thine

Power of land be thine

Goodness of sea be thine

Goodness of earth be thine

 

Each day be joyous to thee

No day be grievous to thee

Love of each face be thine

Death on pillow be thine

Power of sea be thine

Power of land be thine

Goodness of sea be thine

Goodness of earth be thine

In every case, my good wishes to each of you. May you live 100 years in health, happiness, peace and love!