We’ve entered yet another Advent, a time to prepare for the contrast of coming light against the shadows of the world. This year is perhaps the shadowiest year of my four decades of living, and it begs for the coming of the Christmas light, which is to say, it begs for Advent.

Advent—the 26 days preceding Christmas—is a time of preparation, reflection, and setting our hearts on the Magi's journey. It's a time to wake from the things that lull you to sleep, to open your eyes to the sun rising in the east. But what if you’ve never observed these contrasting days, the days of anticipation? Where do you start?

Last night, a friend who is new to the liturgical calendar (the calendar governing the church year) asked, "How do I Advent?" A proper verb use of the noun because Advent is a thing we engage. I am no Advent expert, but I am a practitioner. So, if you’d like to learn how to Advent (or deepen your Advent devotion), consider these resources.

An Advent Podcast: Tsh Oxenreider and I recorded a podcast entitled "A drink with a friend," in which we discuss Advent and the liturgical calendar.
An Advent Devotional: Tsh Has also written a fantastic Advent devotional entitled Shadow and Light. It combines prose, art, and musical references to draw us deeper into the season of Advent. My family is using this one, and it’s great.
A Liturgical Year Book: Sister Joan Chittister has written a great book explaining the whole of the liturgical calendar. Grab a copy of The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life.
Advent Adjacent Supplment: If you’d like to use the Advent season to examine your addictions, habits, or coping mechanisms, consider The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the Divine Love that Reorders a Life. It's not an Advent book per se, but it is a book on waking up to the Divine Light.

Are there other resources you're using this Advent? Shoot me an email and let me know. I'd love to compile a master list.