June Third Quarter Moon

Photo by Alan Gillespie

The June Third Quarter Moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work and self-care.

 

Agenda today:
1. Renewal plan for next month

2. Evaluation House

3. Read "Repacking Your Bags'

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. Renewal plan for next month:

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today's waning half moon is my opportunity to review how I'm doing, and make note of new ideas for the month ahead.

From my journal: I'm doing lots of physical work but not much in the way of physical renewal; I hope to get back into regular dog walks and stretching, and drinking more water, because my back and neck are going to rebel from all the digging if I don't take care of myself!

2. Evaluation House:

Today I get to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I review the intentions I set at the new moon and draw a house with 2 rooms: 

• A room for celebration of all I have accomplished already this month.
• A room for discerning what to do with the unfinished parts (Some of these I will finish in the next couple days, some I will save for next month, and some I will release because they have become irrelevant or didn't go as planned.)

3. Read "Repacking Your Bags":

I'm studying the book "Repacking your Bags; Lighten your Load for the Good Life" by Richard Leider and David Shapiro, third edition.

Chapter 4 is Repacking your Relationship Bag. Of course I agree that living with people I love is key to my happiness (and the authors agree this means my whole community, not just in my home). The authors say that intimacy is a journey, and they describe really only one way to unpack: Self-disclosure. "We need to open our hearts and minds, and put into words our innermost thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, desires." And we need to do it on a regular, even daily, basis. "When we keep our emotional bags packed we lose touch with others and ourselves."

It seems that unpacking is a constant process in relationships, but I'm unclear about the repacking part. I don't disagree about communication, but if I'm tossing out all these thoughts and emotions every day with self-disclosure, what does the metaphorical bag I carry hold in it?

The authors don't say, but I think all I'm carrying is a bag full of love.

4. Monthly journal brainstorm:

At the new moon this week I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. Sometime this week I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days. This exercise has three parts:

Part One - collect information. Brainstorm goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next month without judgement - include at least a few crazy, improbable notions.

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Next, write a list for each of my top priorities - anything that that comes to mind that I want to do or need to do, as long as it fits with my priorities;

-Also, read back through my journal, circle ideas that make me feel the excited and energized right now, and add these to the list.

Part 2 - reflect. Have a little chat with myself on paper about the next month of my life, and what my best month would look like, moving me in the direction of my most important reasons for living:

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

-Write about the parts that excite me and the parts that might be hard to find motivation for.

Part 3 - weigh the possibilities. Take a break for a few minutes. Get a fresh cup of coffee or go outside to look at the sky, then come back and read what I wrote. Write a very brief synopsis of the next month of my life.

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate: 
This next few days is a time to be empty; the time for striving is past. As the moon’s light fades into darkness I get to relax and surrender to the universe.

Some things will always be out of my control. As the moon's appearance dwindles, I let go of useless beliefs, unreasonable expectations, grudges, defensiveness, projects that don't fit into my life, and anything else that isn't working for me. I turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.

Then I give myself permission to rest!