Third Week of Advent: Animals – Courage

In this third week of Advent, we build on last’s week’s post with the theme is courage. This is associated with the animal kingdom. While the stones and plants represent the physical and life/etheric bodies of the human being, respectively, the animal represents the astral, or sentient, body. This is the part of us that allows to have conscious experience, feelings, preferences, and to move towards what we want and avoid what we don’t.

Some Indications for the Third Week of Advent

Speaking of which, have many of us only pursue what we want and avoid what we don’t at all costs, even when the latter may be good for us? For example, there’s so much candy and chocolate around during the holidays; does that mean we should overindulge? In this third week of advent, we are called to master this feeling body by confronting our sheepishness and/or foolhardiness and mustering the will to act courageously. Where have we been holding back? Have we been afraid to say certain things to someone? Have we been recoiling at pursuing our dreams, despite the risk? Where, on the other hand, have we been too bold and perhaps overconfident?

For your children and youth, now is a good to bring stories of courage. For younger children, a good example is a story of a dog whose master fell down into a ravine while hiking in the snow. The dog undertakes the harrowing journey to save him successfully. For adolescents, consider the story of Robert Smalls, a slave who escaped and stole a Confederate iron clad ship, sailing it to the Union and freeing his family and a slew of other slave families in the process.

What Courage Accomplishes in the Human Being

Aristotle, like many of the Greek philosophers, believed balance expresses the highest health in a human life. This applies to several spheres of human experience, including the realm of feeling. One extreme is foolhardiness, the other fear, and the middle is courage. Each person must interpret this uniquely within their own life. In a general sense, however, courage balances a healthy fear with a healthy foolhardiness. For example, one may need to speak in front of a crowd. The fearful utterly refuses for fear of embarrassment. The foolhardy does so with no preparation and makes a fool of himself. The courageous prepares well and then does it anyway.

A Review is Helpful

In confronting our sheepishness to move forward in courage, it helps to start by becoming aware of where we have been sheepish to begin with. Look over your whole life – where have you refused to take action for fear? Alternatively, where have we acted rashly and foolishly without careful consideration of the consequences? Sometimes, the most courageous thing is not to act but to wait.

The Possibility of the Third Week of Advent

‘What would your life be like with more courage? What hurdles would you overcome? What obstacles would you master? I want to mention one final note about what I consider as the ultimate courage, and that is the courage to look within and be honest with ourselves. How hard can this be, indeed! This third week of Advent is the right time to do that. Another way to say it is that whatever prevents us from faithfully following our innermost guidance must be overcome, as this article suggests. It’s not always easy, but it is worth it, for in facing ourselves we find life. This is particularly true of things we fear, and the inside of ourselves is always the scariest place. May the good forces of the universe be the wind in your sails this Advent.

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