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As soon as Valentine's Day is over, most pharmacies, grocery stores and
departments stores change their merchandise to focus upon the next holiday sales event – Easter. It's hard to miss
the pastel-colored displays full of stuffed Easter Bunnies, candy and pretty spring outfits. However, Easter has
little or nothing to do with these items. In fact, the problem with the celebration of Easter, just like of
Christmas, lies in the fact that for many people it has become a commercial holiday rather than a meaningful or
spiritual one.
It is possible to make the celebration of Easter a meaningful and spiritual again, however. In fact, it's easy to
transform empty Easter celebrations focused on Easter Bunnies, jelly eggs, pretty dresses and hats, and Eater egg
hunts into meaning-full and spirit-full ones that focus instead on the original reasons the holiday is celebrated
at all.
First, remember why Easter originally was observed. Easter is a holiday that commemorates Jesus'resurrection, which
his followers believe occurred on the third day after his crucifixion some time in the period AD 27 to 33. It
actually has nothing to do with Easter bunnies, chicks and eggs. Focus on this fact.
Second, spend your time studying Jesus' life on your own or with your family rather than shopping for Easter gifts,
which in no way really help remember the awe-inspiring history of this day. Jew and Christian alike will benefit
from studying the teachings of this enlightened master.
Third, rather than engaging in Easter egg hunts and sitting around painting Easter eggs, do something spiritual and
meaningful to remember this holiday. Go to church, join a study group, have a family meal where you discuss Jesus'
teachings and the meaning of his resurrection, create a sacred space or altar in your home and put items on it that
make you think about Jesus or the principles he taught or the characteristics he possessed. Rather than engaging in
Easter egg hunts and shopping, do anything that offers you or your family a chance to create a meaningful and
spiritual holiday observance.
Sometimes it takes only a change of focus and intent to make a holiday that has become too commercial spiritual and
meaningful again. In other words, pay attention to the spiritual and religious aspects of the holiday and discover
those symbols, rituals, prayers, or observances that have personal meaning for you. Also, use the power of
intention to help you stay conscious of these things. Simply intend to transform this Easter from an empty
observance into a meaning-full and spirit-full one, and your intentionality will fuel the creation of what you
want.
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