This waning crescent moon is the final phase of the Lotus Moon cycle. The next new moon, in four days, will be the Hungry Ghost Moon cycle. At the new moon I'll set my intentions for the month ahead.
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.
Today I get to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I reviewed the intentions I set at the start of the cycle and drew a house with 4 rooms:
- A room for things I have accomplished and completed
- A room for things I will finish in the next couple days
- A room for things I will save for the next month (and new ideas)
- A room for the things I have released because they became irrelevant or didn't go as planned.
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 in the world (expressing myself 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?
After some thought, this is my slate of priorities:
- Career is my teaching and work tasks: I need to get clear on how much work I need and want as I move into retirement.
- Creativity is my writing, arts, and crafts: Step it up!
- Health is exercise, eating right, etc: I'm losing weight.
- Heart is friends and family: How many social gatherings can I tolerate?
- Service is my committees and activism: Feels good!
- Learning is all the topics I'm studying: I'm going to finish my Leadership book soon, and start a new one on the topic of Purpose.
- Home is all the tasks I do to create sanctuary in my home: My focus now is gardening, clearing extra junk, and outdoor painting.
4. Monthly journal brainstorm:
At the new moon this week I will transition from a focus on integrity to a focus on depth, career, and life path.
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!
I really admire your clear intentions with goals and exercises. Ducks in a row for sure!
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