New Kindly Moon and Diwali

Tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow yet, but we've had quite a it of rain!

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new.

This is also the start of the five day Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Read "The Simpler Life"

4. Set intentions

5. New moon altar and puja for prosperity

6. Make almond katli

1. Retreat Day:

If at all possible, I schedule a day of retreat on the new moon, or near to it: I do less talking, less business, and more personal thought and action. I had a quiet day yesterday, and took time for writing, a little gardening, some baby snuggles, and a nice nap.

2. Choose a month theme:

We are nearing Advent, when I focus my heart on Grace, so that is the theme I'm choosing for the next 30 days.

In researching grace last year, I found lots of different definitions. In the Christian tradition, grace is a gift from God, freely given to us at birth. Grace is the nudges God gives us that compel us to take action in our lives to put God first, and it's a process, influence, or power, that works in us to transform us into the likeness of the Christ.

One key component of grace according to Christian writers is that we can't earn it - it is "unmerited" and given freely. All we can DO to participate in the process of receiving grace is to make room for the Light of Truth to work in our hearts and lives. (Some theologians even went so far as to say that Good Deeds were hurtful to the Christian life since they could foster a doctrine of justification by works and not by faith alone.)

Wikipedia says, "The question of the means of grace has been called 'the watershed that divides ... modern [theological] liberalism from [theological] conservatism.' " Modern liberal theology "gives an exaggerated place to the abilities of people to decide their own fate and to effect their own salvation entirely apart from God's grace." Ah-HA! Damn humanists.

After all the nit-picky distinctions are set aside, I'm left with my old understanding: Grace is a state of being - at peace, free, filled with love & light. Grace goals, then, might be to simplify our lives, seek inner peace, make time for prayer and expectant worship, weed out distractions and addictions, forgive ourselves for being imperfect, notice the grace we receive and give thanks for it, and extend grace and forgiveness to others.

My grace practices this month:

• Grace-Notes journal, to record inspiration, hints, and nudges from God.
• Spiritual scavenger hunt for a daily mantra and image.
• Study and practice inner peace and simplicity
• Extend grace to others: Be generous with forgiveness and understanding.

3. Read "The Simpler Life":

This month I want to remind myself of how to slow down and get back to basics, so I'm reviewing this pretty little book by Deborah DeFord (1998). The subtitle is "An Inspirational Guide to Living Better with Less". I haven't looked at this book for ages, but it was formative for me (I think).

Chapter 1 is Simply Yourself. "Simpler living is a quality of life that is coaxed out of chaos and complexity one person at a time. We each have to seek and shape it, consciously and conscientiously. ... Specifically, it takes two fundamental qualities ... to bring us back to simplicity: integrity and intentionality." 

She goes on to define these qualities. Integrity, she says, is knowing the real me, what I value and what makes me happy. I have give myself the gift of space and time for reflection, to let clarity come and solutions form. (She spends a lot of words on how to do that, which is now second nature to me.) One tip I'm going to try is to conduct a Spiritual Scavenger Hunt - just looking around for sensory and visual clues, and take a photo or collect objects, to what I want to draw in to my life.

Intentionality (also a firm habit of mine) is making choices with clarity and thought. She suggests proactive language, creative problem-solving, and following your passion as three ways to encourage intentionality.

4. Set intentions:

I've set some preliminary goals for the next 30 days (through mid-December), and today I'm ready to set some intentions for action. I've written just two intentions, the ones I might act on today, and will write more later.

I intend to plan and prepare for Fall creativity with both of my grandsons: Painting, clay, sewing, cooking, collections, and creative adventures (bus rides, library time, gymnastics, museums, and fun play dates), engaging all the senses, and sharing the wonder, because they are both at the perfect age for Discovery, and growing a creative and adventurous soul is my calling.

 

I intend to remember to be aware of the experience of receiving the Grace of God (which could happen at any moment, and could arrive as a feeling of freedom, light, and love, or as a thought of epiphany, or as an essential understanding of who I am); specifically, I will simplify my days so that I have time for a daily "spiritual scavenger hunt", and I will record my thoughts and experiences of Grace. Awareness of Grace is the way I will transcend earthly needs and wants and become my True Self. 

5. New moon altar and puja for prosperity:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next four weeks. (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. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke? I will keep from last month:

• a God's eye - to watch over us
• dried corn - for the harvest
• my straw doll - for luck and protection
• pine cones - for potential growth and enlightenment

and I've added:

• a white candle - for grace, Truth, and transformation
• a soapstone dove - for peace and grace

A puja is a ritual of reverence or celebration. Diwali is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, so today I say a prayer to welcome Lakshmi. 

Om - the primordial sound

Shreem - from which beauty and feminine energy emanates

Ma-ha - great

Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth 

Na-ma-ha - I pray.

6. Make Almond Katli:

On Diwali, Indians also give gifts to each other, especially big trays of candy! Almond Katli is a traditional Diwali sweet, and it’s pretty easy to make. It's like almond fudge or marzipan- sweet and yummy. The recipe is here.