Halloween

Halloween is the modern name of the ancient Irish and Scottish holiday of Samhain (pronounced SOW-win), a Celtic-Gaelic word meaning “summers-end”. It begins at dusk on October 31, and marks the doorway to the dark half of the Celtic year, the opening of a new cycle.

In the 7th-century CE the Pope established All Saints’ Day, originally on May 13, and in the following century it was moved to November 1. The evening before All Saints’ Day became a holy, or hallowed, eve and thus Samhain became Halloween.

The Reformation put an end to the religious holiday among Protestants, although in Britain Halloween continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday. The celebration of Halloween was mostly forbidden among the early American colonists, until the 1800s.

Saturday is my day for proaction: Proaction is taking initiative to anticipate and shape future events rather than simply reacting to circumstances as they happen. Some people think Covey should've just used the word ACT, but proaction requires a thought: "I could do this or I could do that; I choose to do this."

We are in the yin time of the waning gibbous moon - a time to receive the fruits of our labors, a time of quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness.

Agenda Today:

1. Gratitude meditation:

2. Weekly "First Things First"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

4. Celebrate the darkness

Friday

Friday is my day for creative thinking and doing; as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. Also, I need to prepare for the next week of after-school time: A calm flow with some repeatable fun learning and ongoing fall projects.

We are in the yin time of the waning gibbous moon - a time to receive the fruits of our labors, a time of quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness.

Agenda:

1. Priority projects plan

2. Grandson plans

3. Project steps and preparedness

4. Family teamwork

5. Love Meditation

Rainy Thursday

Thursday is garden day, for re-envisioning and planning next steps to create a sanctuary here for nature and my family. This is also a day when I have both my grandsons, and I want to be sure to get them into the garden and into nature.

We are in the yin time of the waning gibbous moon - a time to receive the fruits of our labors, a time of quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness.

 

Today:

1. Discern my receptivity

2. October garden tasks

3. This week's garden plan

4. Nature-culture flow and kid projects

5. Make flappy paper bats

Prepare for Halloween

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

We are at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, the time to harvest what was planted and nurtured. The squirrel moon is a good time to gather my forces inward, for a final burst of energy before winter.

We've been preparing for Halloween, with spooky books, skeletons, ghosts, and jack-o-lanterns. Our grandsons love Halloween! The build up this month allows us to shift to a darker phase of the year; darkness isn't bad, but it can be frightening, and having fun with fear is part of the process.

Agenda today:

1. Re-group plan

2. Read "The Exquisite Risk"

3. New narrative for 

4. Problem-solving

5. Writing themes

6. Carve jack-o-lanterns

Spooky Tuesday

Tuesday is my receptivity day of the week, when I look at my social and emotional self and make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life.

We are at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, the time to harvest what was planted and nurtured. The squirrel moon is a good time to gather my forces inward, for a final burst of energy before winter.

Agenda: 

1. Acknowledge the harvest

2. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

3. My anger journal

4. Problem solving

5. Teamwork plans and visuals

Monday

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

We are at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, the time to harvest what was planted and nurtured. The squirrel moon is a good time to gather my forces inward, for a final burst of energy before winter.

Agenda:

1. Read "Simplify Your Space"

2. Health habits

3. Giving each thing a home

Full Squirrel Moon

The squirrels are creating great entertainment these days

Today is my sabbath - when I step out of the fray and regroup. We are nearing the end of October, winding deeper in to Autumn, and I want to take time to prepare myself - body, mind, and spirit. I want to open to awareness, wisdom, and courage.

And tonight is the full moon called the Squirrel Moon, because now the squirrels are busily gathering nuts for the winter. And this moon is called Atchalankuaik, the "start getting sagittair roots" moon, by the Kalapuya of our area (sagittair is a potato like tuber). 

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, the time to harvest what was planted and nurtured. The squirrel moon is a good time to gather my forces inward, for a final burst of energy before winter.

Agenda for today:

1. Full moon shift

2. Full moon queries
3. Celebrate synergy

4. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This"

5. 

Spiritual growth plan

Saturday Retreat

Saturday is my day for proaction: Proaction is taking initiative to anticipate and shape future events rather than simply reacting to circumstances as they happen. Some people think Covey should've just used the word ACT, but proaction requires a thought: "I could do this or I could do that; I choose to do this."

We are in the Waxing Gibbous moon phase, when I can settle again into the yin of Beingness. I will contemplate the big picture of my life as I practice mindfulness and self-care. Now is a time to reconsider my intentions and make adjustments. It's a time to review and refine, a time to practice Being, and trust in the ebb and flow of the universe.

Agenda Today:

1. Refine my intentions 

2. Weekly "First Things First"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Friday

Friday is my day for creative thinking and doing; as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. Also, I need to prepare for the next week of after-school time: A calm flow with some repeatable fun learning and ongoing fall projects.

We are in the Waxing Gibbous moon phase, when I can settle again into the yin of Beingness. I will contemplate the big picture of my life as I practice mindfulness and self-care. Now is a time to reconsider my intentions and make adjustments. It's a time to review and refine, a time to practice Being, and trust in the ebb and flow of the universe. 

Agenda:

1. Refine my intentions

2. Family teamwork

3. Projects for the week

4. Preparedness

Honorable Harvest

Thursday is garden day, for re-envisioning and planning next steps to create a sanctuary here for nature and my family. This is also a day when I have both my grandsons, and I want to be sure to get them into the garden and into nature.

We are in the Waxing Gibbous moon phase, when I can settle again into the yin of Beingness. Now is a time to reconsider my intentions and make adjustments. I will contemplate the big picture of my life as I practice mindfulness and self-care. It's a time to review and refine, a time to practice Being and trust in the ebb and flow of the universe.

 

Today:

1. October garden tasks

2. Honorable harvest

3. Green tomatoes

4. This week's garden plan

5. Nature-culture flow and kid projects

6. Creative visualization

Wednesday Problem-Solving Continued

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

We are in the Waxing Gibbous moon phase, when I can settle again into the yin of Beingness. Now is a time to reconsider my intentions and make adjustments. I will contemplate the big picture of my life as I practice mindfulness, self-care and trust. It's a time to review and refine, a time to practice Being and trust in the ebb and flow of the universe.

Agenda today:

1. Re-group plan

2. Read "The Achievement Habit"

3. New narrative for problem-solving 

4. Problem-solving

5. Writing themes

Tuesday Problem-Solving

Tuesday is my receptivity day of the week, when I look at my social and emotional self and make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life.

We are in the First Quarter Moon phase, one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. The First Quarter is yang, a time to take decisive and smart action on my intentions; a time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities. I use this October quarter moon's energy to simplify and hone down my life.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Achievement Habit"

2. My anger journal

3. Teamwork plan

4. Full effort for clearing

Monday Priorities

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

We are in the First Quarter Moon phase, one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. The First Quarter is yang, a time to take decisive and smart action on my intentions; a time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities. I use this October quarter moon's energy to simplify and hone down my life.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Achievement Habit"

2. Review my priorities

3. Health habits

4. Giving each thing a home

Winter Nights

The Winternights, or Vetrnætr, is a twelve-day festival that begins on a night in mid-October, and marks the end of summer and the start of the winter. The name Vetrnætr (pronounced Vetter-natter) is Old Norse, vetr - meaning winter, and nætr - meaning nights. Vetrnætr is series of feasts and ceremonies (blóts, pronounced bloots) that celebrate the bounty of the harvest, and also honor the Disir, or female ancestor spirits.

Vetrnætr is celebrated by the Ásatrú; Ásatrú is an Icelandic name, taken by the modern-day Norse and Germanic people who worship the old northern gods (such as Thor, Odin, and Frey) and goddesses (such as Freya and Frigg). Though its practice was interrupted, Ásatrú has been reconstructed as closely as possible to the original religion of the Northern European people, based on the surviving historical records. Ásatrú intrigues me, because it would have been the religion of my ancestors. This month, Winternights festivals are still held across Scandinavia, Germany, and New England and are marked by bonfires, tournaments, feasts, and arts and crafts vendors.

Today is my sabbath - when I step out of the fray and regroup.I had a busy week and today I will go to Meeting and settle in to my community, in my roll as clerk, to listen and hold the Light. This morning I want to take time to prepare myself - body, mind, and spirit. I want to open to awareness, wisdom, and courage.

2022 ofrenda

And tonight is also the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. The First Quarter is yang, a time to take decisive and smart action on my intentions; a time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities. I use this October quarter moon's energy to simplify and hone down my life.

Agenda for today:

1. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This"

2. Letting-go habit

3. Spiritual growth plan

3. Set up my ancestor altar (ofrenda)

4. Disir meditation
5. Make more runes

6. Feast and blót

Navratri Part Three

Navratri continues for the final three nights. The nine nights of Navratri are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon. For these final three nights we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Saraswati, who is "the essence of self". Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

This is the yin time of the waxing crescent moon, a phase of growth, when I am planting my intentions and caring for them. I'll take time to discern and create clarity.

And Saturday is my day for proaction: Proaction is taking initiative to anticipate and shape future events rather than simply reacting to circumstances as they happen. Some people think Covey should've just used the word ACT, but proaction requires a thought: "I could do this or I could do that; I choose to do this."

Agenda Today:

1. Morning meditation and mantra

2. Weekly "First Things First"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

5. Add to my altar

Friday Clarity

Friday is my new day for creative thinking and doing; as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. Also, I need to prepare for the next week of after-school time: A calm flow with some repeatable fun learning and ongoing fall projects.

And this is the yin time of the waxing crescent moon, a phase of growth, when I am planting my intentions and caring for them. I'll take time to discern and create clarity.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Achievement Habit":

2. Nurture my intentions

3. Create clarity

4. Projects for the week

5. My Synergy Project - boy teamwork

Garden

I have rededicated Thursdays to my garden, when I will re-envision, and plan next steps for creating a sanctuary here for nature and my family. This is also a day when I have both my grandsons, and I want to be sure to get them into the garden and into nature.

And this is the yin time of the waxing crescent moon, a phase of growth, when I am planting my intentions and caring for them. I'll take time to discern and create clarity.

 

Today:

1. October garden tasks

2. This week's garden plan

3. Nature-culture flow and kid projects

Navratri Part Two

Navratri continues tonight.

The word navratri means nine nights; These nights are broken up into sets of three, and during each set we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti (the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us) - first the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati.

Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. Tonight we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Lakshmi, the Goddess of success.

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

And this is the yin time of the waxing crescent moon, a phase of growth, when I am planting my intentions and caring for them. I'll take time to discern and create clarity. 

Agenda today:

2021 rangoli

1. Morning meditation and mantra 

2. Re-group plan

3. Read "The Achievement Habit"

4. Define more intentions

5. Create inner synergy for Big Projects

6. Make a new rangoli design
7. Add to my altar

8. Writing themes