Full Squirrel Moon

Tonight is the full moon called the Squirrel Moon, because now the squirrels are busily gathering nuts for the winter. This moon is also 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, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.

Agenda:

1. Read "First Things First"

2. Take a vision walk

3. Celebrate synergy

Indigenous People's Day

Happy Indigenous People's Day! Some people celebrate the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, but many of us prefer to honor instead the people who were here in the Americas for centuries before Columbus "discovered" it. 

Many cities are finally making the name change official, adopting Indigenous People's Day to celebrate the people and their culture, and also to reflect on their ongoing struggles in this land. The celebration today includes powwows, drumming, dancing, Native American foods and crafts.

Agenda:

1. Skywoman falling

2. A note about appropriation

3. Land and people acknowledgement

4. Drumming

Simple Synergy

Synergy is all about teamwork, but I only have control over myself. This fall I'm approaching synergy like a dance, and I'm making up the steps as I go along. What do we need from our teams and how do I ask for the best kind of help? And what are the top priority projects I'm called to work on?

I continue to build my inner wisdom, and take persistent right action on the work I'm called to. For this, I need discernment (insight and clarity), equanimity, and centering in chaos.

 Agenda:

1. Read "The Power of Less"

2. Simple goals for earthcare

3. The Simple Project List

4. Fall cleaning and gardening

5. Inner synergy for birds and fish

Ayathrem and Retreat for Puttering

Ayathrem is the fourth Gahambar celebrated by the Zoroastrian community, who honor the six seasons of the year with six Gahambars - the word gahambar means "proper season". Each of these six festivals is celebrated for five days, and each honors one of the six material creations: The heaven, water, earth, flora, fauna and man.

Ayathrem celebrates the creation of plants, the time to sow winter crops, and the season when the herds come home from pasture. It takes place each year from October 12th through the 16th.

Also, I'm having a rare unscheduled day, mostly alone - a mini-retreat, and I hope to take some time to just putter.

Agenda:

1. Read "Comfortable with Uncertainty"

2. Recite prayers
3. Putter in the garden (and plant garlic)

4. Make vegetable soup

First Quarter Moon and Navratri, Part 3

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.

Photo by Alan Gillespie

And this 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. 

I use this October quarter moon's energy to build my inner wisdom, and take persistent right action on the work I'm called to. For this, I need discernment (insight and clarity), equanimity, and centering in chaos.

Agenda Today:

1. Morning meditation and mantra

2. Journal queries

3. Make a full effort plan

4. Practice visualization

5. Add to my altar

First Things First

First Things First is my mantra this fall and winter. No matter what happens going forward, we are going to be under enormous stress, and I need to get a grip. 

That first week after the revelation of my partner's illness, I was able to extract myself from a few responsibilities, but, as the initial shock wore off, some have crept back - because I feel guilty for not helping where help is needed, and also I feel out-of-the-loop and cut off from my familiar inner circle. I need to re-focus each week on my top priorities - Serving my Family, and Leading on Earthcare, and find ways to gracefully release most everything else.

Agenda:

1. Simple goals for earthcare

2. The Simple Project List

3. Read "The Power of Less"
4. Fall cleaning and gardening