Letter # 42: “Magic In The Manger”

I enjoy Christmas but in my psychiatric work I see many for whom it’s a sad time. Novels also portray the many mixed feelings that Christmas arouses. Magic might be the stuff of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels but the Christmas spirit in the books is the most compelling “magic”. Christmas is a sad time for Harry, an orphan but it’s also happy from the love of his friends.
The mixed feelings around Christmas were there from the very beginning. Fleeing from hostility and danger, Joseph and the pregnant Mary could not even get proper shelter at an inn. They boarded up with the animals in manger of the inn, where Christ was born. A bright star, symbolizing hope, was recognized by the “magis” of the east, who came to pay tribute to the baby Christ. Who were the magis? They were priests of Zoroaster, a prophet of ancient Persia, who preached the right road in man’s struggle against evil. The word Magi comes from the word Mah pronounced Mag, which means “the greatest ones”. The Magis were members of a learned and priestly class. Later, as corruption set in, they lost their high esteem and became charlatans and tricksters, giving rise to negative connotations to the word “magic”. [The History of Psychiatry 1966 p24 Alexander & Selesnick]. I find it interesting that while Mag means the “greatest ones”, it sounds similar to the Aramaic Meshiha or Hebrew Mashiah, which words mean the “anointed one of the Lord”. There’s certainly holy magic in the messiah.
Here’s a refrain that I have just composed. Perhaps my musical friends might like it just enough to give a tune.

There’s magic in the manger
There’s magic in the manger
Come in, there’s no danger
There’s magic in the manger

There’s magic in the manger
Come out’f the cold dear stranger
There’s magic in the manger

There’s magic in the manger
Don’t be forlorn
Come get warm in the manger
Where Christ is born
There’s magic in the manger

So enjoy the magic of Christmas, even in the humblest of circumstances, and if there is no family around find love and comfort in friends and animals.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.