Third Quarter Moon of July

Photo by Alan Gillespie

Today is the Third Quarter Moon: This waning 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. Read "Happier at Home"

2. Renewal plan

3. Evaluation House

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. 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 how to "Practice Nonrandom Acts of Kindness."

The third part of this section is "Find My Own Calcutta", which is a directive from Mother Teresa to look for your own causes that move you to action. It got me thinking about my neighborhood in a broader sense, and the many ways I've acted to defend it. 

She talks about a "moment of obligation," when you realize the someone who should do something is you.

I've got a big project I'm growing into in small bites that is my real Calcutta: A program of Medicine Art for my community and the Earth. I'm offering the first mini-workshop this month (on butterflies), but I haven't felt brave enough to open it to anyone I don't know ... is that about to change?

2. Renewal plan:

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.

My plan: In the mid-summer months my renewal routine becomes streamlined, as I am both more socially active, and more generally lethargic. I want to walk more often, earlier in the day. And I want to think about how to find the courage to be a creative force in the world.

3. Evaluation House:

Today I get to reflect back on the first 3/4 of the Dragon Moon lunar cycle that I'm passing through. My theme has been Abundance. 

I reviewed the intentions I set at the new moon and drew 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. Monthly journal brainstorm:

At the new moon (next week) I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. 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 1 - collect information. Brainstorm goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next month without judgement - include at least a few crazy, improbable notions.

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.

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.

4. 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!