Full Thunder Moon and Asalha Puja

The full moon of July is called ameku, the mid-summer moon, by the Kalapuya of our area, and the thunder moon by others. July days have the humming energy of a summer storm. The sun is at the peak of its power, lighting all corners with its radiance, and burning away all non-essentials. It's a month of passion and activity: I'm challenged to find integrity in my actions and expand into my Truth.

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.

Today is also Asalha Puja, a Theravada Buddhist festival that takes place on the full moon of July. Asalha Puja celebrates the Buddha's first sermon, in which he set out the teaching of the four noble truths. The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons.

Agenda: 

1. Take a vision walk

2. Celebrate abundance

3. Read Happier at Home

4. Study the Four Noble Truths

1. Take a vision walk:
The full moon shines a bright light on everything, and I might experience intuitive and creative breakthroughs. I might be shocked by the clarity of my insights. I might see some ugliness - the full moon illuminates all the things I've left in the shadows, some heavy truths and some embarrassing mistakes.

Today I'm going to settle in to silence and access my intuitive mind - my connection to the Creator and the Inner Guide -  and seek a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart.

Today I call on the Spirit of Light to guide me, bring me clarity and open my eyes. What is the Truth that is coming into focus for me now? 

What is my biggest dream of abundance for myself and for the world?

How am I a creative force for change in the world? What are the habits or practices I could have (or do have) to expand abundance in the world? 
What big and little creations do I nurture, and/or dream of nurturing? What are the first steps?

2. Celebrate abundance:

My theme this month is Manifestation and Abundance: Creating the world of plenty that we need so much.

Manifestation has become a fad word, but what it just means is to create something or turn something from an idea into a reality. 

And Abundance is like a gentle wind of blessings blowing with determination into your life. The wind is all the fortunate influences that shape your life - friends, family, society, and also outside forces and situations. When we use the wind of abundance as a catalyst, we can manifest the world we need.

I've been finding ways to invite abundance into my life, and into the world, by cultivating an abundance consciousness; that is, I acknowledge the blessings I have already, find a ways to express my gratitude, get clear about what blessings I want to see for the world, and challenge myself to help to create them, because if I can truly believe that there’s enough for everybody, I will find ways to make it so.

Today I remind myself of my intentions for the month, and then celebrate how far I've come, give thanks for the lessons learned and the blessings received, and reaffirm this theme for the next two weeks. Each month I choose a different way to celebrate the full moon, and I am ready to celebrate abundance today in these ways:

1. Begin a new quilt block, with a moose.
2. Harvest raspberries, peas, squash, and lettuce!
3. Enjoy a joy-filled playtime with my grandsons.

3. Read "Happier at Home":

I'm reading Happier at Home, by Gretchen Rubin (2012),

 a chapter called Neighborhood. 

I've been experimenting with how to "Be a Tourist without Leaving Home", and now I'll look at how to "Practice Nonrandom Acts of Kindness."

Gretchen points out that we can help to make our neighbors happier. She gives a long discussion of the pros and cons of random kindness, and concludes that it can be unnerving; it's more comfortable to receive an act of kindness that is directed with some thought and intention.

She gives some ideas: Simple politeness, say hello, clean up litter, and offer invitations into my circles. Some of my own ideas are to put extra produce out on my sidewalk, offer my stuff to the Buy Nothing website group, and learn names.

4. Study the Four Nobel Truths:

The Four Nobel Truths are: 

• There is suffering; 
• suffering is caused by craving; 
• there is a state beyond suffering and craving; 
• and the way to nirvana is via the eightfold path