But right now, at the waning crescent, it's time to evaluate and brainstorm, find purpose, and surrender. 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. These next few days are a chance to look back and look forward, and think about the big picture of my life.
1. Evaluation Wheel:
Today I get to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I review 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.
I drew an evaluation wheel with my 6 priority areas. Inside the wheel I listed the things I completed in each area, and underneath the wheel I listed the things I moved forward to the next month, and the things I dropped or changed my goal for.
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, this is my slate of priorities:- Career is my teaching, sales, and work tasks: I need to figure out what to do next with sales and with work.
- Creativity is my writing, arts, and crafts: This is the month to blossom creatively!
- Health is exercise, eating right, etc: I need to increase my strength.
- Heart is friends, family, and volunteer service: I want to refocus on children and climate change.
- Learning is all the topics I'm studying: I'm shifting my focus to optimistic topics - Devotion and Joy.
- Home is the tasks I do to create sanctuary in my home: My big focus will be indoor painting (and finishing the window cleaning).
4. Monthly journal brainstorm:
At the new moon this week I will transition from a focus on balance to a focus on joy, creativity, and self-expression.
At the new moon this week I will transition from a focus on balance to a focus on joy, creativity, and self-expression.
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 past. 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. I turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.
Then I give myself permission to rest!
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