Tonight is also the new moon. The Chinese call the eleventh new moon the White Moon, perhaps because it brings the snow, or perhaps because it's a yin time of year: Night, female, water, and cold is dominant.
Chinese philosophy says the winter season is a time of conservation and storage; we slow down, go inward, and spend more time on quiet activities.
Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. New moon meditation
3. Advent wreath ceremony
4. Plan ways to give attention to the Spirit
5. Christmas Novena, day 2
This is the last new moon before the new year, so I have a lot to consider. Today I will look forward into the future (with a feeling of hope) and write about what I want to do with myself in 2018.
What is my inner Guide leading me towards?
List the possibilities in these areas-
This month I use the Christmas colors as a focus in my meditation. I light the red and green candles, and a small white moon candle, and settle into quiet:
Focus on the red and find my courage and will-power within.
Focus on the green and find harmony, balance, and growth.
Focus on the white candle. Feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.
Continue to sit this morning, and feel the presence of Spirit within me and without me. Just notice my feelings and sensations, and listen for guidance.
3. Advent wreath ceremony:
Tonight (and every night this week through Christmas day) we will light four advent candles, and recite four prayers:
4. Plan ways to give attention to the Spirit:
This week of advent my focus is on the Spirit of God, my guide and my light. I try to live all of my life with attention on God but I get distracted. I want to have a more effectual connection to Spirit, and so this week I'll practice and improve my prayer habits.
Prayer can be simple and spontaneous; I can pray anywhere, at any time. I can pray all day long. My goal is to create a relationship rather than practice a ritual.
Things to do this week to give attention to the Spirit of God:
1. Journal queries
2. New moon meditation
3. Advent wreath ceremony
4. Plan ways to give attention to the Spirit
5. Christmas Novena, day 2
1. Journal queries:
The new moon is my monthly time for “seeding” intentions. I write down what I hope to focus on in the next 30 days or so, and then give my ideas a period of gestation, like seeds in the soil, before I take action. Having this regular time each month to focus my goals has helped to give me clarity of purpose.
The new moon is my monthly time for “seeding” intentions. I write down what I hope to focus on in the next 30 days or so, and then give my ideas a period of gestation, like seeds in the soil, before I take action. Having this regular time each month to focus my goals has helped to give me clarity of purpose.
This is the last new moon before the new year, so I have a lot to consider. Today I will look forward into the future (with a feeling of hope) and write about what I want to do with myself in 2018.
What is my inner Guide leading me towards?
What might give my life more wholeness?
What new steps might I take in the new year?
List the possibilities in these areas-
2. New moon meditation:
Focus on the red and find my courage and will-power within.
Focus on the green and find harmony, balance, and growth.
Focus on the white candle. Feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.
Continue to sit this morning, and feel the presence of Spirit within me and without me. Just notice my feelings and sensations, and listen for guidance.
"We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it."
"We light the second candle for all the people of the world. May we find unity and peace."
"We light the third candle for our family and the joy and love we bring each other."
"We light the fourth candle for the Spirit of God in each of us, which is our guiding light."
4. Plan ways to give attention to the Spirit:
This week of advent my focus is on the Spirit of God, my guide and my light. I try to live all of my life with attention on God but I get distracted. I want to have a more effectual connection to Spirit, and so this week I'll practice and improve my prayer habits.
Prayer can be simple and spontaneous; I can pray anywhere, at any time. I can pray all day long. My goal is to create a relationship rather than practice a ritual.
Things to do this week to give attention to the Spirit of God:
- Each morning as I wake, pause to take a slow breath, and center on the Light. Stay in this gentle meditation as I get dressed, walk with Sadie, and move through my morning.
- Sit every day for a few minutes of silence. Simply practice feeling a presence.
- Send prayers to others-- pray that God’s love and protection will reach out and surround my loved ones, and all the people of the world.
- Listen for guidance.
- Remember to give thanks.
- Pray all day: Pray as I walk, as I go about the work of the day, before I eat-- just concentrate on the attendance of the Spirit of Love, and say a simple phrase to keep us in communication.
From the Worldssps site:
In communion with the environment-
Triune God, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made. Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is. Show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live. The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.
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