New Dragon Moon

Tonight is the new moon; the Chinese call the fifth new moon the Dragon Moon. Chinese dragons are a symbol of cosmic Chi, good fortune, and new beginnings, but the time around the Dragon Moon is strongly yang, with bright sunlight and moist heat. The Chinese consider this to be a dangerous and unhealthy season.  

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new.

Agenda:

1. Retreat Day

2. Pick a theme

3. Goals and intentions

4. New moon altar and meditation

5. Begin something new

6. Blessings Walk

1. Retreat Day

If at all possible, I schedule a day of retreat on the new moon, or near to it: I do less talking, less business, and more personal thought and action. This week, I'll have to wait until Friday afternoon to retreat, because I'm full to the brim with meetings and gatherings every day. This is a normal result of the rising level of activity that happens at this highly yang time, but after a year of quarantine it feels unusual and dangerous, a little like storm waters behind a dam!

I feel strong and effective when I am able to harness my yang energy to get stuff done, but I like to remember that yang's best aim is to protect yin, and yin's best function is to nurture yang; life is good when I have each in a kind of dynamic balance. 

The Chinese have many customs to help to protect against the excessive yang energy of this season. This week I will make an effort to bring a balance of restorative yin energy to my life: Slow down, rest well, drink more water, and practice ‘discipline of purpose’.

2. Pick a theme:

Today I choose abundance as my theme for the next month, and begin to give attention to it. Abundance is like a gentle wind of blessings blowing with determination into my life. The wind is all the fortunate influences that shape my life - my friends, family, society, and outside forces and situations.

Abundance blows steadily, and over time will influence and shape me. I need to maintain integrity and awareness to avoid being swayed or blown in the wrong direction, but I achieve the greatest success by yielding to prospects brought on the wind.

My abundance goals might be to become more open and accepting of opportunities and alternative ways to proceed, to find ways to draw in more cash and other less tangible kinds of wealth, to become clearer about my finances and what I value in my life, to be more generous and giving of my time and resources, or to better show thankfulness for the flow of blessings and prosperity in my life.

My abundance practices this month are:

• Abundant community service: Helmet fitting, tree planting, 
• Take weekly climate actions: Climate ride, threshing, guiding principles, retreat, next steps?
• Make fun and happy things with my hands: Baby art! Busy board, bluebird of happiness.
• Grow and harvest plenty of food for us, and to share.
• Loving Earth Project: Teaching and creativity for the earth.

3. Goals and intentions:

I have a two-fold task today: Plan some new goals, and set some intentions for the days ahead. Though lots of writers use these terms interchangeably, I am clear about the differences:

Goals are a plan for the future that help us stay on track with who we are becoming. 

Intentions are a pledge for action in the present; they remind us of who we are now, and our deepest, most essential, most passionate reasons for living. I write my intentions in present tense, and I use this model: action + deepest reason.

After I list my top 10 goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. This is a very time-consuming but important process. I'm going to choose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then work on a few more each day this week.

I intend to take weekly climate leadership actions - organizing a bike ride, hosting a threshing session, writing guiding principles, updating social media - because my community needs leaders, and all life on this earth has the right to a safe and healthy environment!

 

I intend to slowly but steadily lose weight by eating less and exercising more, because I want to be strong and energetic enough to be able to play with and care for my grandson without feeling exhausted.

 

I intend to plan and teach great First Day classes with PbB, because teaching children fills my heart, and it will bring young families back to the Meeting.

 

I intend to sew my Loving Earth panel a little each day, and work at an interest group plan, because this combines two of my favorite things, teaching and creativity, for the benefit of the earth.

4. New moon altar and meditation:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next 30 days or so. (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 Spirit do I want to invoke?

Today I clear my altar and add-

• a purple candle - for abundance and gratitude
• a dragon - for good fortune
• a sun - for clarity and yang energy

Today I will light a small white candle on my altar. I will center and give attention to each of my intentions, and picture each one accomplished. Then I'll let go of expectations, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

5. Begin something new:
The new moon has the perfect energy for starting something new, but the thought makes me cringe - I feel like I have no room for anything new. 

After a little thought, I've decided to finally fix my donated baby bike trailer and take my grandson for a bike ride - hopefully the start of a fun new adventure for us.

6. Blessings Walk:

This is my Blessings Walk Practice, as I walk my dog each morning:

1. Blessings: Begin my walk, and concentrate on my blessings: The fresh morning air, my health, my family, my friends…. Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

2. Intentions: Turn a corner, and focus on what blessings I hope for now. Create a clear picture in my mind of what I intend to do today, how I want to live, how I want my home to look, what adventures I want to have... Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

3. Service: Turn another corner, and envision what I can do to be of service today to my family, friends, my community, the world... Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

4. Prayer: Turn the last corner, and speak a prayer out loud as I’m moving; feel the power and energy move through me. Say “Spirit of the Universe, I am open and receptive to blessings from expected and unexpected sources. I am a limitless being, accepting from a limitless source, in an infinite way. I am incredibly blessed.”