First Quarter Moon at the End of October

Tonight is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - growing in light and energy, creating a time for decisive action and full effort. I use this late October quarter moon's energy to help me get organized for decisive action. 

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries
2. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans:

4. Make a full effort plan

1. Journal queries:

Today, at the first quarter moon, I prepare to give full effort to my priorities. I remember that for each opportunity in life there is a challenge. My theme this month is abundance, and the challenge to abundance is limitation; if I feel restricted, I will find it hard to accept the blessings that present themselves. 

The limitations I most often feel are lack of time and energy, making it easy to say, "I don't have the time or energy to take on anything new." The practice for meeting this challenge is to open doors and step through.

How do I celebrate all the richness and abundance of nature and life and invite it to expand? What are the ways I express the gratitude and appreciation I feel?

 
What potential challenges and obstacles do I face this week and month (things I don’t enjoy, don’t know how to do, or feel blocked on) and how can I best meet them? 

 

What do I need (tools, information, allies) in order to best act on my life goals? What practice will help me to open doors?

 

Journal: As we work together persistently (for months now) to accomplish a new order and beauty in our home, I find that if I take it one task at a time I almost always have the energy (though time is still a challenge). My best skill and tool is to list out all the details and take care of them well in advance.  

 

2. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook":

I've just begun this book by Loren Swift (2019), subtitled "Assuming Leadership in a New World." The premise is that lack of care for each other (people) results in lack of care for the earth. "This book details the practical steps to shift the paradigm internally from conflict to cooperation and to make the same shift in relationships and in group endeavors." Well, that is the work I need to do this fall and winter.

The first section is The Way In, and Chapter 2 is The Story of Belonging. She talks about the need to belong: "...we all have the inherent desire to belong and, more than that, to be an important part of something greater than ourselves. Our innate wisdom and creativity are utilized... to develop stories and patterns of relating that give us the sense of belonging."

She goes on (with a part straight from Ongo) about when we have "a critical, overbearing, or emotionally unavailable parent" we might develop a story that we are not enough, and if anyone sees that about us, we might be banned or abandoned. Oh boy.

So, I developed this story that I need to be wiser, more responsible, and better in every way so I will not be abandoned again. And how it manifests for me is with a hair-trigger reaction to lie and/or deny any wrong-doing on my part, because it is too risky to acknowledge. And at the same time, a mistrust of the groups I want to belong in, because I'm pretty sure they will abandon me if they get to know me.

The curious paradox is that I must accept this about myself before I can transform it. The first step to dismantle this pattern in my life is to name the narrative, and the second is to write a new story: I am wise enough and good enough to accept that I do make mistakes, and can respond with an open heart, and the faith that I will still be loved and accepted. 

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans:

On Wednesdays I often journal a bit about the future, and my dreams and goals: What GREAT things do I want to accomplish? How will I serve people? How will I use my talents? How will I stretch myself? How can I become an “island of excellence”? What is essential?

Then I try to define achievable, meaningful goals and prioritize the goals and tasks with the greatest long-term impact.

This next week I hope to:

1. Write about regenerative gardening and leaving a wild winter garden.
2. Draft a new Earth Care pamphlet.
3. Write about advocating for a Homegrown park, little free plants, and butterfly tags.
4. Think about QEW Map project - what can we add?
5. Prepare to lead the Earthcare Action Meeting, and make butterfly tags together on Nov. 2.
6. Write about awareness of animals (and self as animal). 
7. Write next week's action newsletter, and find ways to for us to connect to QEW.
8. Share my essay about the intersection of Gardens and Earthcare in our Seasonal Reflections blog?
9. Do some research to determine what plants will best serve our native pollinators, that we could plant at Meeting and at home.

4. Make a full effort plan: 

Full effort requires attention; you remember your intentions - what it is you want to do and your deepest reasons why - and also notice your emotions, energy, challenges, etc. I'm thinking today about full effort as a teacher. I still identify as a teacher, so I want to act more like one.

Right now my only outlet as a teacher is with my grandsons, and I want to give it more attention. I want to continue to make things with them, while exploring basic skills (cutting, drawing, glueing, modeling, cooking, cleaning...), seasonal materials, folk crafts, and nature knowledge. My schedule is:

• Thursday: Choose next themes - something exciting for little boys (dinosaurs, mud, Native Americans, fire); define the nature and skills goals; and brainstorm possible projects.  
• Weekend: Gather books and supplies (and take time to stash away the last projects and supplies).
• Monday: Make samples and do prep.