Most of us are familiar wiith the popular song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." I always giggle when I conjure up a mental image of what a roomful of the gifts listed in the song might actually look like! The gifts are mainly live people or animals laying eggs, leaping and dancing! In fact, 184 of them are birds. Another interesting piece is that when the number is actually added up, it totals 364, which is one digit short of the number of days in a year.

There are a variety of views about the origin and meaning of the song. Some sources say that the gifts mentioned in the song are Christian symbols while others say that the song was written to help English Catholic children learn the catechism in secret when Catholics were persecuted in the 16th century.

The timing of the twelve days varies based on religious or spiritual beliefs. In pagan or nature based religions, it begins at Yule or Winter Solstice around December 21st and continues for twelve days. In Christian faiths, it begins at Christmas on December 25th and continues until the eve of the Epiphany on January 5th.

Ancient folklore has it that dreams occurring through the twelve nights can provide the dreamer with insight into the coming year. An interesting exercise would be to pay special attention to these dreams in your dream journal. Make a note to yourself to look back on them at three, six and nine month intervals to see if they have relevance to what has transpired in your life. If you find that your dreams were related to issues or events that have come up, you can make this an annual ritual to prepare for the coming year.

If you don't have experience in dream journaling, here are some sample sheets to get you started:

Sample Dream Journal Form

You might also want to try some intentionally focused or lucid dreaming during this time to create positive thoughts that can help you manifest your goals. You may even want to set up a dream altar in your bedroom with items to inspire your dreams. Before going to sleep each night, meditate for a little while on the issue you want to dream about and write your question or concern in your journal. Be sure to keep your dream journal and a pen near the bed to record your dreams immediately upon waking, before you forget them.

May all your dreams come true!

Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com

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