First Quarter Moon of May

Tonight is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - growing in light and energy, creating a time for decisive action. I use this May quarter moon's energy to create synergy with all my partners, and spark synergy within myself.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Make a full effort plan
3. Read "The Art of Facilitation"

4. Review my Leadership Manifesto

A Birdseed Garden and a Duck Cafeteria

This spring I'm planting food for the birds, both the wild birds and my ducks, as part of my Unity Arts practice. 

Unity Arts is designed to open the doors of creative healing, to heal our connection to the earth - to Creation. We are all (de facto) connected because we are a part of nature, but we have built walls to keep nature separate, because our culture is human focused; we've been taught that we are more important than other parts of nature, and that's a hard lesson to unlearn.

Unity Art includes these parts: 

1. Set an intention
2. Collect seed and plants
3. Observing
4. Prepare the beds
5. Plant the beds
6. Creating

7. Sharing and giving thanks.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day, and a low-key time for me, now that my daughter is a mother and I am a grandmother!

Agenda Today:

1. Journal query

2. Mother Meditation

3. Call my Mom 

May Retreat for Inner Synergy

I'm celebrating synergy today - the ability to seek unity, embrace teamwork, live holistically, and work tirelessly towards a better end. Synergy is the eternally active primal force of creation: No matter what the conditions are, they will change.

Stephen Covey says, "Fulfilling the four needs [spiritual, mental, physical, social] in an integrated way is like combining elements in chemistry. When we reach a "critical mass" of integration, we experience spontaneous combustion -- an explosion of inner synergy that ignites the fire within and gives vision, passion, and a spirit of adventure to life."

I'm going to create some synergy today, here at home, all by myself.

Agenda

1. Read "Writing and Being"

2. Practice the Stoic Art of Inquiry

3. Create synergy for Art

New Peony Moon

Beautiful peonies growing in my neighborhood.

The new moon rises today; the Chinese call the fourth new moon the Peony Moon. Peonies are the flower of riches, romance, and honor, called sho yu in Chinese, which means "most beautiful." Their lush blooms are an omen of good fortune, and also foretell a happy marriage.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new.

Agenda:

1. Retreat Day

2. Journal queries

3. Pick a theme

4. Goals and intentions

5. New moon altar and meditation

May Synergy and Simplicity

My themes in May are Synergy and Simplicity. I've decided to take time each Monday this month to set myself some goals.

Writing of simplicity, Thomas Kelly reminds us, "Life is meant to be lived from a Center, a divine Center - a life of unhurried peace and power. It is simple. It is serene. It takes no time, but it occupies all our time." 

My feelings about synergy are very similar - the power of the group comes from the Center. 

Agenda:
1. Read "The Art of Facilitation"
2. Synergy plan

3. Simplify the kitchen