Blue Moon

Tonight is the full moon, my monthly time for action and release: I look again at the “seeds of intention” I planted 2 weeks ago at the new moon and decide on my next steps to take, I take those steps, then I release my expectations in order to clear space for new ideas and new intentions.

This is the second full moon in July, often called a Blue Moon. Actually the original definition of a blue moon is a fourth full moon in one season, and we won't have a blue moon this year by that definition. I'm going with the other definition- the second full moon in a month- because I don't have any better name for this moon. Both are correct, because it's folklore, and folklore is fluid.

So how often is 'once in a blue moon'? By the newer definition a blue moon happens every 2 or 3 years. By the older seasonal definition, it's the same odds. By a much older definition though, before the folklore of seasonal blue moons developed, saying 'once in a blue moon', was like saying 'when cows fly', meaning never!

Agenda for today:

1. Altar:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for August. (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?

Today I add-

• ears of dried corn for the plentiful harvest.
• a purple candle, for abundance.

Each month at the full moon I put a motto or quote on my altar, to ponder. This month:

"What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action." 

-Meister Eckhart

2. Journal:

What opportunities do I feel on the wind this month? 
How can I be open to them?

Review the intentions I set 2 weeks ago, at the new moon.Do these aims all still seem vital?What are my next steps?How can I find the passion to be persistent?


3. Practice at my theme:
My theme this month is abundance- the profusion of blessings and fortunate influences that grace and shape my life- friends, family, society, and outside forces and situations. I achieve the greatest success by yielding to prospects brought on the wind of abundance.

Goals for this area might be to become more open and accepting of opportunities and alternative ways to proceed, to find ways to draw in more cash and other less tangible kinds of wealth, to become clearer about my finances and what I value in my life, to be more generous and giving of my time and resources, or to better show thankfulness for the flow of blessings and prosperity in my life.

My intentions:

• Listen (better) to the wisdom of others.
• Seek new ways to find students.
• Finish my committee work in a timely manner.
• Harvest the fruits of my garden.
• Enjoy the leisure of summer when I get the chance.

4. Take Action:
The full moon is a time to celebrate life, stay up late, see friends, exercise harder, and be more creative and outgoing. The crazy full moon energy builds and builds; it’s best to acknowledge it so it doesn’t throw me off balance. This surge of energy allows me to take action on intentions I set two weeks ago.

Tanabata

Tanabata is a Japanese summer festival, observed on the evening of July 7th. Tanabata means litterally "Evening of the seventh", but it is also known as the Star Festival, because it celebrates the story of two heavenly lovers.

The story goes that Shokujo the Weaver (Vega), and Kengyu the Cowherd (Altair) were two young star people who worked for the gods, making cloth and milking the heavenly cows. They fell so much in love that they forgot to do their chores. The gods became angry when they found they had run out of cloth and milk, and put the two lovers on separate sides of the Milky Way. The lovers were so sad to be separated that the gods eventually took pity on them and agreed that they could meet once a year on the night of Tanabata, if the sky was clear. It is said that the birds fly up to make a bridge so that the lovers may cross.

Toami, paper net

Tanabata is a Shinto festival. Shinto is the native religion of Japan; the word means "Way of the Gods". Shinto teaches that kami (spirits) are everywhere; some kami are human ancestors, others are animals, and others are natural forces in the world (mountains, rivers, lightning, wind, waves, trees, rocks). Shinto tradition says that there are eight million million kami in Japan. 

Tanabata is sometimes celebrated with dancing, parades, and fireworks. Often, though, it is celebrated quietly at home. The family gathers at dusk to hang fluttering paper streamers in trees and on bamboo poles. Seven kinds of ornaments are made for Tanabata. (You can find directions for most of these online.)

• Tanzaku- colorful paper strips with wishes (often for success at school) and love poems (see below).
• Fukinagashi- long narrow streamers, symbolizing the Weaver’s threads. 
• Toami- a paper net, wish for good fishing and harvests.
• Kuzukago- the trash net, wishes for cleanliness and thriftiness with money.
• Orizuru- a chain of origami cranes, wish for good health and a long life.
• Kinchaku- origami shaped like a purse, a wish for success with money.
• Kamigoromo- origami shaped like a tiny Kimono, wish for sewing skills.

Other origami ornaments in the shapes of flowers, stars, or birds, are tied up with the streamers, and also small bells that tinkle in the breeze.

Agenda Today:

1. Make a tanzaku wish:

Today I made a tanzaku with a wish for wisdom. Tanzaku are a petition to the Shinto kami- the spirits of nature and one's ancestors. When I write a tanzaku, then, I am petitioning God, so I am thoughtful about what I ask for.

Supplies: Paper, brush and ink (or black pen), scissors, hole punch, string

1. Japanese writing uses characters called kanji, which were invented thousands of years ago, from Chinese pictographs. Each kanji is a whole word. You write them from the top towards the bottom. 

I used Google Translate - I don't know how accurate it is, but it's okay for my needs. I typed "wish for wisdom" and came up with this: 

知恵を望みます

2. I wrote the kanji top to bottom with a small brush, but it's fine to use a plain pen or marker. (Yes, I've practiced this before, but even so, I'm sure it looks inept!)

3. To finish, cut out the strip of paper, fold the top, punch a hole and tie on a string.

2. Kigan-sai (Wishes Ceremony): 

Kigan usually refers to wishes, but it also includes all kinds of personal prayers, or expressions of gratitude. In Japan you might visit a Shinto shrine for a Tanabata Kigan-sai ceremony, when priests would say a prayer for the accomplishment of your wishes, or you might honor the kami by yourself at home.

A very simplified version of a Shinto ceremony is:

• Wash hands and rinse out your mouth.
• Ring a bell to get the kami’s attention.
• Bow from the waist, then clap twice and bow again. 
• Make an offering of incense to the kami.
• Hang your tanzaku.

Shintoism teaches the importance of fitting into the world and enjoying it, and on having good relationships with the spirits surrounding us. Shinto has "Four Affirmations" or general ideas: 

1. Tradition and family: Families work to keep the traditions alive. 
2. Nature is sacred: When you touch nature, you are close to the Gods. 
3. Ritual purity: Keep clean always. 

4. Matsuri: Show honor to the Kami and ancestral spirits. 

3. Make Hiyashi Somen (Cold Noodles):

Cold somen noodles are the most commonly eaten food on Tanabata, because they are refreshing, and because the long thin noodles resemble weaving threads. You can serve somen with any toppings you like.











Ingredients

• 2 bundles dried somen noodles (3 oz. each)

Sauce

• 1-1/4 tsp. dried bonito fish soup stock (Dashi)
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. soy sauce

Toppings

• 2 eggs
• 3 fresh mushrooms (I used oyster mushrooms)
• 3 scallions
• 1 cucumber
• cooked salad shrimp

Yield: 4 servings-



1- Sauce:
Combine sauce ingredients with 1 c. boiling water and stir to dissolve. Add ice to make 2 cups of sauce.










2- Prepare the toppings:

Scramble and cook the eggs in a thin pancake, then cool, roll it up into a tight tube, and cut into very thin strips. Put it in the refrigerator to chill.

Slice and sauté the mushrooms for a few minute, and put those in the refrigerator to chill.

Chop the scallions, and slice the cucumber into thin pieces.

Arrange toppings in small piles on a plate, or in individual bowls, including the cooked shrimp.

3- Boil water in a large pot. Add the somen noodles to the boiling water, and cook for one minute, stirring constantly so they don’t stick together.

4- Drain somen in a colander and wash the noodles with your hands under cold water. Traditionally, cold somen are served on a bowl of ice.

5- To eat, use tongs to pick up a serving of somen noodles, and put them in your bowl. Pour some of the sauce on top. Add toppings, and enjoy!

Full Thunder Moon

Tonight is the full moon, my monthly time for action and release: I look again at the “seeds of intention” I planted 2 weeks ago at the new moon and decide on my next steps to take, I take those steps, then I release my expectations in order to clear space for new ideas and new intentions.

This full moon is called the Thunder Moon. July has the humming energy and power of a summer storm. The sun is at the peak of it's power, illuminating all corners with its radiance, and burning away all non-essentials. It's a month of passion and activity. I am challenged to stretch myself and try new things. My life expands and thoughts become clear. I am primed for success.

Agenda for today:

1. Altar:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for July. (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? 
Today I add- 

• a conch shell, for the ocean, and to awaken my heart to Truth.
• a red candle, for fire, passion, and integrity.

Each month at the full moon I put a motto or quote on my altar, to ponder. This month:

"Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right, decide on what you think is right 

and stick to it."

— George Eliot

2. Journal:

Do I keep my word, follow through with my responsibilities, speak truth, and show loyalty? What can I improve?

Review the intentions I set 2 weeks ago, at the new moon.

Do these aims all still seem vital? 
What are my next steps? 
How can I find the passion to be persistent?

3. Practice at my theme:

My theme this month is integrity- Integrity is the quality of being whole and undivided, and acting promptly on my beliefs. When I am honest and loyal, my integrity lights the dark places of life, and like the farmer, I know that the Light brings my harvest. My intentions:

• Monitor my procrastination.
• Do not over-extend myself!
• Spend money within my means and pay bills on time.
• Choose to be unruffled, grounded, and fearless.

4. Take Action:

The full moon is a time to celebrate life, stay up late, see friends, exercise harder, and be more creative and outgoing. The crazy full moon energy builds and builds; it’s best to acknowledge it so it doesn’t throw me off balance. This surge of energy allows me to take action on intentions I set two weeks ago.