Godheval

DAY OF SILENCE – In thinking that human language is derived from and sustains the “static”, the purpose of this day is to practice removing that barrier to higher consciousness. Language, although very useful in many obvious ways, also creates a divide between people who do not speak the same language. More universal are things such as “vibes” and body language. By observing a day of complete silence, people will be encouraged to communicate non-verbally, to be creative and truly emotive in their expression. Those things which cannot be communicated without language are unimportant in the greater scheme of things. Love, compassion, laughter – those things that enrich life – do not require language. The objective of the Day of Silence is to be silent as much as possible, but if circumstances demand lingual communication, then so be it. As with all special days observed within Godhevalism, the day of silence is not a strict ritual, and so whether or not to participate is purely optional.

DAY OF DARKNESS – Humans rely so much on vision to help them understand the world and operate within it, but in placing it above the other senses, we have a tendency to make premature and superficial judgments. Racism, classism, and many other prejudices stem from preconceptions based on physical visual characteristics. By observing a day of darkness, i.e. by obstructing all sight for the day, we take the time to experience the world through our other senses, strengthening them, and learning to rely more on them. It is also intended to be a humbling experience, teaching us to appreciate the richness of the visual world, and not to take so many things for granted.

DAY OF NOVELTY – Out of necessity or as a result of conditioning, humans invariably fall into some sort of routine. The purpose of the Day of Novelty is to encourage people to try new and even counter-intuitive things, to refresh their lives. Once we have settled into an unchanging routine, we stop progressing, so experiencing novelty is critical to personal growth. It can be as simple as traveling to a new place or reading a new book. While the Day of Novelty is an official observational day, it is recommended for all adherents to experience new things as often as possible, regardless of the day.

DAY OF CHARITY – in keeping with the tenets of altruism and compassion central to Godhevalism, the Day of Charity is for people to give of themselves in any number of ways. Working at a soup kitchen or spending time with the elderly at a nursing home are obvious possibilities, but for the creative mind, there are countless ways to be charitable. Actions such as donating money are mere contrivances to placate guilt. So instead of casting off your pocket change into a homeless person’s cup, try to truly help that person. Talk to them, learn their story, determine a way to help them elevate their station. Perhaps you are in a position to offer them a job or know of other resources they could use. The Day of Charity is intended to remind us of our humanity and that of others, and to engage in it beyond the superficial level.