Winter Sacrifice New Moon

This last new moon of the Chinese year is called the Winter Sacrifice moon. In ancient China, the clans would gather at the end of winter and hold a ceremony called Winter Sacrifice: They made sacrifices, thanked the gods and their ancestors for the blessings of nature, then they shared a huge feast, and danced and sang. This tradition eventually shifted to closer to the start of spring and evolved into the Chinese New Year.

The new moon is my monthly time for “seeding” intentions. I write down what I hope to focus on in the next 30 days or so, and then give my ideas a period of gestation, like seeds in the soil, before I take action. Having this regular time each month to focus my goals has helped to give me clarity of purpose.

Agenda:
1. New moon meditation and prayer:
Today I will light a small white candle on my altar. I will center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

May I remember the abundant blessings of my life. 
May I remember the air, the sun, the rain. 
May I remember my loving family, friends, and beloved dog.
May I remember that I have a warm house and food, books to read, and a bed to sleep in.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2. Journal:

Winter is a time for reflection, introspection, self-examination, and dreaming. I've been giving attention to courage and openness this month, so this week I will adopt an attitude of gentle exploration, set aside limits and fears, and open my door to adventure. I will let my dreams surface and, as I visualize the possibilities, my world will expand.

What is knocking at my door?
What might give my life more wholeness?
What are my next steps in life?

List my intentions for the next weeks in these areas-
Self, Friends and Family, Teaching, Artwork, Writing, Home and Garden, Work/Business, and Volunteer work.

3. Plan:
As the moon waxes, I expand-- plant seeds, make connections, and begin new projects. Today I will plan my first small steps.

4. Make a winter sacrifice:
For the early Chinese, sacrifice was a primary method of communication with the spirit world, and they still do make various food offerings, or burn paper money and talismanic writings, as part of their ceremonies. (I believe these are generally offered in gratitude for favors received or petition for future favors, and not as a means to repentance.)

Sacrifice is a universal cultural practice, and many people make sacrifices as part of sacred ceremony; but I'm resistant to ceremonial sacrifice for all kinds of subtle, cultural reasons. Is it superstition? Is it symbolism? Is it barbaric, or merely wasteful? 

One way to think of sacrifice is as a sacred gift-exchange: I recognize my indebtedness to cosmic forces, and celebrate my gratitude by returning the gift. In The Sacred and the Profane in the Ecological Politics of Sacrifice, Karen Litfin says:

"When we recognize ourselves as recipients of innumerable gifts that make possible our earthly habitation, our natural response is one of wonder, gratitude, and self-giving." 

In this sense, sacrifice could become meaningful to me; I give out of love and deep gratitude rather than guilt or rote ritual. And so in this spirit, I will offer a winter sacrifice today that is not mearly symbolic; I have some extra quilt batting and some flannel, so I'll make a simple crib quilt to donate to the "Bags of Love" group.