Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is one of the most beloved of all the Hindu gods. He is the god of wisdom, beginnings, and success. His birthday festival, or chaturthi, begins on the fourth day of this waxing moon and lasts for 10 days.

Hindus believe in one God who has many symbolic forms. Ganesha is worshipped as the Lord of Beginnings and the Lord of Obstacles, both of a material and spiritual order. He can remove obstacles, or also place obstacles in the path of those who need to be slowed. 

I plan to use Ganesha as a focus for my meditation for the next 10 days, give attention to my obstacles, and find a way forward through them.

Agenda for this week:
1.  Make a clay Ganesha
2. Make a Success Altar
3. Ceremony for beginning and success

Hungry Ghost New Moon

The Chinese call the seventh new moon the Hungry Ghost Moon. This whole month is called Ghost Month, and special ceremonies take place today, and on the full moon, and again on the last day of the month. 

Today the Hungry Ghosts are let out of hell to roam the earth, looking for entertainment, and seeking out their enemies. They are depicted with huge, round bellies, large mouths, and very thin necks. 

The Hungry Ghosts have two incarnations- they are the spirits of unhappy, homeless souls; also they are our unhealthy cravings and insatiable greeds. They are always hungry, but never satisfied.


Agenda for Today:

1. Journal queries
2. New Moon meditation
3. Ghost ceremony
4. Plan small steps

Full Red Moon and Raksha Bandhan

Tonight is the full moon called the Red Moon, because it often appears reddish as it rises, through the sultry haze of late summer - and in our valley, a sultry haze is the norm! One lovely (possibly Native American) explanation that I read is that the moon is blushing after being kissed by the sun.

In India, this is also the Festival of Raksha Bandhan, which means “knot of protection.” Traditionally, girls tie a braided thread called a rakhi around the wrist of each brother-- a symbol of a sister's love and prayers for her brother's health and happiness, and to remind him of his life-long vow to protect his sister. Now it is also common for girls to trade rakhis with sisters, and with friends.

Agenda for today:
1. Update my altar
2. Journal queries
3. Set my theme for the month
4. Make rakhis
5. Send love and prayers to my sister and brothers
6. Make Kayla Halwa (Banana fudge) 

Lughnasa

Lughnasa (loo-na-sa) is a Celtic festival celebrated in early August, usually August 1st. It's called a cross-quarter day because it falls approximately midway between summer solstice and autumn equinox, marking the end of summer in the Celtic tradition, and the beginning of the harvesting season.

The name Lughnasa comes from Lugh, the Celtic God of harvests, crafts, and the lightening flash. Lughnasa was an assembly (nasad means assembly) to honor and appease Lugh, so he would hopefully not throw a summer storm temper-tantrum, and ruin the harvest.

Lugh is a master of all crafts, and is known for sharing his knowledge with humans. I feel a connection to Lugh-- he is the image of God as an Arts and Crafts Teacher! 

But he is also the trickster face of God-- chaotic, disorderly, operating outside the framework of right and wrong-- sending lightning at inconvenient moments. This isn't a comfortable image, but I have to face the fact that my spiritual life isn't always comfortable; sometimes what I harvest is tough to chew.

Agenda Today:
1. Journal Queries
2. Harvest and eat new potatoes
3. Make bread
4. Start a craft project