Full Wolf Moon

Tonight is the full moon. The full moon of January is called the Wolf Moon because of the hungry packs of wolves that used to roam for prey at this time of deep winter.

Agenda for today:
1. Journal queries
2. January altar
3. Practice Stillness
4. Mountain Pose

1. Journal queries:
The Full Moon is when I try to complete what I've started, and remove whatever is blocking me, so today I review the intentions I set 2 weeks ago, at the new moon.

Do these aims all still seem vital? 

What beliefs, obstacles, doubts, or attachements are holding me back? Can I release them now? 

What are my next steps?

2. January altar:

It's time to put away the Kwanzaa candles, clear my altar, and discern what to put on it for January. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in.

Today I arrange-

• a blue candle- for stillness, thought, and study
• a picture of a mountain- for stillness and meditation
• a picture of a door- for Janus, the God of gates and doorways
• quartz crystals- for the purity of winter
• pine cones- for potential growth and enlightenment
• an empty bowl- to symbolize waiting with an open heart and mind

3. Practice stillness:

My theme for the next 30 days is stillness. 

When I leave time in my daily routine for study, writing, meditation, and prayer, I honor the yin time of "being", which balances my yang times of action and doing. In the stillness, my ego disappears for a bit. I can then turn back to the outside world, seeing myself as a part of the whole rather than as an isolated individual.

I've collected some good books to study:

• "The Sweet Spot" by Christine Carter
• "The Sacred Art of Listening" by Kay Lindahl
• "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

4. Mountain Pose Meditation:

Mountain Pose is the foundational pose for all standing yoga postures. It helps improve balance and inner calmness. It seems simple, but it’s important to learn how to do it correctly, so find out how here. Thanks also to a reader for this link: Mountain Pose.

The image of the mountain represents meditation, and the resting of body, mind and spirit. When practicing the Mountain Pose I use this visualization:

Picture my favorite mountain- it’s shape, it’s peaks, the rocks, the trees, the undergrowth.

View from the top of the South Sister.

Imagine that I am this mountain, rising from the surface of the earth; say, “I Am the Mountain.” Feel my splendid stability. I have reached the peak of upward movement, and in stillness I hold my place. 

See time passing- day turns into night, the moon rises over me, gradually dawn comes again. The seasons change- snow covers me, rain strikes me, then sun bakes me. My surface changes, but the essence of the mountain remains the same.