Full Harvest Moon

Photo by Alan Gillespie

The full moon rose very early this morning. This full moon is called the Harvest Moon, because it rises obliquely, close to the horizon, and remains big and bright for a long time, giving extra light to harvesters.

Agenda for today:
1. Update my altar
2. Journal queries
3. Set my theme for the month

1. Update my altar:
It's time to discern what to put on my altar for this next month. (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 the Spirit do I want to invoke?

Today I cleared my altar and, then added-

• a golden candle for balance in the center
• a sun for clarity and yang energy
• dried corn for the harvest
• feathers for communication with the Great Spirit
• God's eyes to watch over us
• my tiny lemon tree for cleansing and friendship

2. Journal Queries:

God's Eyes, acrylic on canvas, 2017

The bright harvest moon is a good time to see things that are normally hidden. Today I will review the intentions I set 2 weeks ago, at the new moon, and also review the goals I set at the beginning of the year.

Do these aims all still seem vital?
What would I most like to do in life that I’m still not getting to?
How might I find greater peace on my path?
How might I find a better balance of yin and yang?

From my journal: I want to be a serious painter again, but I have still not found my way back to painting with any kind of regularity. I am not inspired, and don't allow myself the room to become inspired. This month I have set aside my morning tai chi class in order to make a daily time for painting- that kind of daily discipline has worked in the past.

3. Set my theme:

My theme this month is balance- the balance of yin and yang, concentration and mindfulness, action and study, social and alone time, yearning and resistance.

September is when I need to finish all my summer tasks and wind things up. Especially now, at the full moon, I'm drawn to be more creative, stay up late, exercise harder, and see friends. The bright harvest moon creates the right conditions to act on the work I need to do as this year spirals towards winter.

At the same time, as autumn approaches I begin to draw inward again. I long to retreat- to be still, write in my notebook, read a good book, and think about the good times we've had this summer. I need to find a happy balance of active and contemplative. Balance is about knowing what I really want out of life, making a commitment, and sticking to it. It’s an ongoing dynamic process, a balancing act! 

My action intentions for the next two weeks:

• Leave a generous amount of morning time for journaling and writing.
• Work daily on painting a new series.
• Work each day in the garden, harvesting, planting fall veggies, and cleaning up.
• Clear more clutter and finish some fall house painting projects.