Tonight is also the new moon. The Chinese call the eleventh new moon the White Moon, perhaps because it brings the snow, or perhaps because it's a yin time of year. 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.
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And today is the start of Soyal, a Hopi ceremonial period that begins at the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice and lasts for 16 days. Soyal is short for Soyalangwul, which means Establishing Life Anew for All the World. It's a sacred time of peace and preparation for the new growing season.
Agenda Today:
1
. Settle into the Soyal Way of Being
2. Choose a month theme
3. Set intentions
5. Review the Divine Laws:
5. Prayer Candle ceremony
6. Lusse-vigil
1. Settle into the Soyal Way of Being:
During Soyal, the Hopi follow a special way of acting and being, to help turn the sun back toward its summer path, establish the right mood for the coming year, and reach a unity of everything in the universe.
This year Soyal falls early, but I'm going to do my best to honor the Soyal Way of Being for the full 16 days, through December 27th. To do that, I will:
- Be quiet and be respectful. Use nice words.
- Move slowly and as silently as possible, for all life is germinating in the mother's womb.
- Strengthen my bonds with my family. Be helpful and caring.
- Review the Divine laws, as I see them.
- Reflect on the past year, my own conduct and the conduct of people as a whole.
- Make plans for the coming year based on what I think the Spirits want.
- Pray- Ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.
2. Choose a month theme:
At the new moon I choose a new theme to give attention to. My theme this next 30-days is stillness. I picture this like a climb up a sacred mountain to an isolated cave; the mountain has reached the peak of upward movement, and in stillness holds its place as the highest. This great immovable mountain represents meditation, and the resting of body, mind and spirit.
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View from the top of the South Sister. |
Stillness is a peaceful inner space where I can absorb and integrate my daily experiences; it's my time to read, write, meditate, and pray. When I build quiet into my daily routine, I honor the full rhythm of life - the yin time of stillness balances my yang action. To become wise, I need to be dedicated to my practice and nurture my inner self with intention. Being a mountain allows my ego to disappear for a bit, and all my studies, artwork, and adventures are transformed into wisdom; I can then turn back to the outside world seeing myself as a part of the whole rather than an isolated individual.
Goals for stillness might have to do with cultivating my curiosity and my wisdom, improving my mental health and peace of mind, sharing my knowledge in a useful way (teaching, modeling, or advising), balancing activity with alone time for reflection, getting a handle on re-occurring mistakes, and any kind of inner study, self-growth, preparation, or education.
My stillness practices (incorporating the Soyal Way of Being):
- Practice equanimity: Be respectful of Mother Earth, and move slowly and quietly about my tasks, because all of life is now germinating in the Mother's womb.
- Prayer-candle ceremony: Ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.
- First half of the moon: Choose one of my core values to meditate on and write about each day, and make plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits.
- Second half of the moon: Write about my priorities and take symbolic action.
3. Set intentions:
Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for the next 30 days, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could possibly focus on this next month. This isn't a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather it's my top actions, studies, and growth goals that fit with the "taste" of this month of my life.
After I list my top goals for the next 30 days, 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 create inner synergy (when body, mind, spirit, and heart are all cooperating to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate results) for gift-making, because I want to give things I make with love, and synergy will help me to be persistent and complete all the projects on my list!
I intend to practice unity with all people (specifically, lead my community to adopt a minute on conflict in Gaza), because witnessing to the Truth is one of my callings.
4. New moon altar and meditation:
Today I cleared everything except my straw doll, for luck and protection, and pine cones, for potential growth and enlightenment - and added:
- a turquoise candle - for thought and study
- an angel - to remind me to be giving and loving
- a picture of a mountain - for stillness and meditation
- a quartz crystal - for the purity of winter
5. Review the Divine Laws:
Last year I started a new tradition, using candles instead of feathers, which are more rooted in my own ancestral past. I will have a daily prayer candle ceremony through the next 16 days, using small candles and candle ends, and will choose a new candle to add each day.
Today I light a small white moon candle, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.
At Soyal, I review the Divine Laws, as I see them. A Divine Law is anything that comes directly from God: a natural law, universal truth, principle, or a rule of conduct that is inherent and essential in human society.
My top ten Divine Laws, with abbreviated definitions, are:
- Love: Practice habits of listening, generosity, patience, care, and kindness with my community, my family, and the earth.
- Integrity: Be whole and undivided, and hold to my values and principles.
- Community / Unity: Commit to moving forward together, with Light and Love, not letting our differences prevent cooperation.
- Earthcare: Live a lifestyle that cherishes and nurtures Creation; advocate and educate about the climate crisis.
- Simplicity: Use only my share of the earth’s resources, and preserve time for my priorities.
- Peace and Equanimity: Stay calm and patient with people and problems, not obsessed with any thought, and not acting with aggression or anger.
- Equality: Treat every person and creature with respect and love, knowing that there is that of God in all; work to correct shortfalls in my community.
- Discernment: Think before acting; listen within deeply, and seek clarity; make wise choices, with an open mind.
- Witness: Speak truth through my words, writing, artwork, and actions, and lead by example.
- Purpose: Lead the best life I can, and grow into being the best person I can be.
This week I will reflect on these Divine Laws, my conduct in the past year, and the conduct of people as a whole. I will also listen for any guidance on a way forward.
6. Prayer Candle ceremony:
At Soyal, Hopis make prayer feathers for their family and friends, for personnel well-being, for the increase of animals and crops, and for any other purpose they can think of. At the Soyal ceremony, they breath their wishes and prayers on the feathers, then hang them up so that the wind will carry their prayers skyward.
Last year I started a new tradition, using candles instead of feathers, which are more rooted in my own ancestral past. I will have a daily prayer candle ceremony through the next 16 days, using small candles and candle ends, and will choose a new candle to add each day.Today I light a small white moon candle, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.
Hopi Prayer: Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy ---Myself--- Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
7. Lusse-vigil:
It's hard to sort out all the Lucys: We have St. Lucia, a Sicilian woman in the reign of Diocletian who became a Christian martyr; because her name means light, she was appointed to be the patron saint for the eyes. We also have the older Roman goddess Lucina, also the goddess of light, and of childbirth- bringing children to light. Luciadagen began as solstice festival in pagan Scandinavia: In the old Julian calendar, December 13th was the day of the winter solstice, and the eve of the solstice was called Lussi Night, because that was the start of the Wild Hunt or Lussiferda. The Lussiferda was a host of chaotic spirits that rode through the air and harmed or cursed anyone in their way. It was dangerous to be out during Lussi Night!
In the old days, folks stayed up all night on Lussi Night, to protect the farm from the spirits, and finish important tasks. According to tradition, tasks like threshing, spinning, and weaving, as well as the preparations for Yule, had to be finished by Lussi Night, or else the spirits would come to punish the household, vandalize the farm, and possibly abduct family members (especially naughty children).
In the old days, folks stayed up all night on Lussi Night, to protect the farm from the spirits, and finish important tasks. According to tradition, tasks like threshing, spinning, and weaving, as well as the preparations for Yule, had to be finished by Lussi Night, or else the spirits would come to punish the household, vandalize the farm, and possibly abduct family members (especially naughty children).
When Christianity came to Sweden, Lussi Night became the eve of the feast of St. Lucia, the Queen of Light. Now the evening and night before Luciadagen is a time for all-night parties, called the Lusse-vigil.
I appreciate the idea of a date by which one needs to be finished with holiday tasks; if I was done now, I could better enjoy the season without so much work hanging over my head. On the other hand, I don’t think preparations should feel like work. So, my hope is to finish some gifts today so I can send out my out-of-town gifts by the end of the week.
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