This waning crescent moon is the final phase of the Bitter Moon cycle. The next new moon, in four days, will be the Holiday Moon cycle. These next few days are a chance to look back and look forward, and think about the big picture of my life.
At the new moon I will set my intentions for the month ahead. Before then, I'll open to curiosity and attention, contemplate what I might want in the 30 days ahead, and rest up for the move back into yang-action mode.
- Waning Crescent - Take stock, find purpose, surrender
1. Evaluation cloud
2. Find my purpose
3. Review my priorities
4. Monthly journal brainstorm
2. Define my purpose:
5. Surrender, rest, recuperate
Today I get to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I start by drawing an evaluation cloud with three sections:
- Success (what I've completed)
- Move it forward (what I still want to act on)
- Surrender (what I release)
I re-read the intentions I set at the start of the cycle and list what I've accomplished, what I want to still act on, what has become irrelevant or didn't go as planned.
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| Open Vista - acrylic, unfinished |
Today I will review and re-write my purpose statement. What I want is an exciting, compelling, powerful paragraph, that will guide me for the next chunk of my life. It should make use of my skills and gifts, and invoke my passions; it should explain the choices I make and the goals I set; and it should make me long to get to work every day!
My purpose right now is to love and serve my family and my community (learning greater equanimity and compassion); lead a simple life of integrity (caring for the earth and working to become anti-racist); and be a creative force (expressing myself to the world with my writing, art, and actions).
3. Review my priorities:
5. Surrender, rest, recuperate:
I have lots of things in lots of categories that I do every day, but which of those are priorities now in my life? I only have so much time each day, so I hope to give priority to the activities and people that matter most to me right now.
My priorities are fluid; they change with the seasons and with my responsibilities. I like to review them monthly, before the new moon. Today I ask myself:
-Which of my priorities have gotten the least attention this last month and why?
-What seasonal focus and upcoming events are priorities now?-What are my important responsibilities this month?-What upcoming activities give me the biggest rewards?-What would I do this month if I knew I only had 6 months to live?-What activities best support my beliefs and values?-Where do my strengths lie?
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After some thought, I'm ready to keep my current slate of priorities:- Career is my teaching and work tasks: I need to increase my hours a little.
- Creativity is my writing, arts, and crafts: Keep it up!
- Health is exercise, eating right, etc: I need to give more attention to my health this month.
- Heart is friends, family, and volunteer service: I want to slip gradually back into the world of community service.
- Learning is all the topics I'm studying: I need to simplify here a little.
- Home is all the tasks I do to create sanctuary in my home: My big focus will be clearing clutter.
4. Monthly journal brainstorm:
At the new moon this week I will transition from a focus on stillness and study to one of receptivity and love - my days will be a little less quiet and a little more social.
At the new moon this week I will transition from a focus on stillness and study to one of receptivity and love - my days will be a little less quiet and a little more social.
Today I will write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days; just write lists of ideas without judgement - put down everything I think I should do, everything I really want to do, and everything I only dream of doing. Include these broad categories:
-Self-care and life-style
-Love, social skills, friends and family
-Career/work and life path
-Creativity and self-expression
-Activism and service
-Stillness, knowledge, skills and growth
-Home and garden
-Seasons and celebration
This next few days is a time to be empty; the time for striving is passed. As the moon’s light fades into darkness I get to relax and surrender to the universe.
Some things will always be out of my control. As the moon's appearance dwindles, I let go of useless beliefs, unreasonable expectations, grudges, defensiveness, projects that don't fit into my life, and anything else that isn't working for me. This morning, in Meeting for Worship, I'll turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.
Then I rest! Recuperation takes on a special flavor today, as I will get my second vaccine for the corona virus! I plan to sleep all afternoon.
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