Third Quarter Moon

Rest in Peace, Madeline Duck

Today's waning third quarter moon energy is yin: quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. The focus for the next few days is on renewal, cleansing, and self-care.

Agenda:

1. Renewal plan

2. Self-care routine

3. Cleansing

1. Renewal plan:

“Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you… You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy...” --Stephen Covey

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on some combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today's third quarter waning half moon is an opportunity to review how I'm doing, and make note of what could be improved:

Body & Discipline: Am I walking fast daily, plus some stretching, strength, and aerobics; eating well and drinking plenty of water; budgeting, saving, and spending within my means; sleeping and playing?

Mind & Vision: Am writing in my journal regularly; expressing myself with art and writing, reading a book on principled living; researching or studying something; teaching others?

Spirit & Ethics: Am I maintaining a daily awareness practice; maintaining my integrity; reviewing and working to understand my mission; immersing myself in creation (writing, art, and nature)? 

Heart & Passion: Am working daily to improve and repair relationships with my family and friends; making new friendships; volunteering my time in service; working to understand and care for myself; studying and practicing better skills for patience, listening, and communication?

From my Journal: After walking with my Mom I know I need to up my game! My goal this month is to walk further and start incorporating some hills. I also want to research and prepare for more creative "teachable moments" with family and community. And I have one week left of my balance focus - contemplating these queries:

1. What could I do to bring my life into greater balance?

2. What help could the Universe send that would be the biggest gift?

3. What thing could I do to be more generous with my time or help?

2. Self-care routine:

Caring for myself with persistence will give me the energy and health I need to succeed. More energy means more focus, so I can approach my goals with more discipline.

Self-care involves eating well, exercising, sleeping enough, and taking time for renewal of my soul, including time with God.

I have found that having self-care rituals helps me to stay on track: When I have a routine I am more likely to maintain the discipline to do it every day. My routine right now is pretty rushed... I'd like to schedule a slower warm-up to my morning walk, with stretches and squats, followed by a longer walk with nicer destinations.

3. Cleansing:

Cleansing means to purify my body/soul/mind and my sacred spaces, clearing out the negative energies that harbor there. I can choose from a wide variety of methods:

• Sea salt and sage smoke
• Ritual Baths: bathing in water that’s infused with salts, flowers, or herbs.
• Leaping over a bonfire
• Cleansing with Sound: Tibetan singing bowls, chanting, ringing bells, clapping, banging on pots/pans, and ancient music
• Sweeping with a besom, one’s space and one's aura from head to foot