Third Quarter Moon

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

4. Fall cleaning

Waning Gibbous Moon of late September

Now the moon is waning - getting smaller - until it is new again. During the waning moon, the moon's energy changes, and we move gradually into the yin phase - slow down, go within, and focus on inner work. I back off a bit on actively pursuing my goals, and allow the ease of being a loving, thoughtful person to carry me towards my dreams.

The waning gibbous moon is a time to practice opening to receive blessings, feeling and expressing gratitude, and generosity with giving (towards others AND with myself).

Agenda today:

1. Journal queries

2. Generosity practices

3. Gratitude journal

4. Inner synergy plan

Fall Equinox

The autumn equinox occurs today at 12:20 p.m. in the Pacific Northwest. Summer is over and darkness will again catch up to the light.

Now the rains have begun (hallelujah!), Canadian geese are on the move south, the leaves are turning and beginning to drop, and night temperatures are cooler. Everything in nature is paring down, and moving energy to the roots and into the earth.

This is the second balancing point in the year; in the fall we might gently shift our attention from the physical side of life to the spiritual and mental, to indoor projects and thoughtful pursuits. As the nights lengthen, we have more dark time available, to be alone and to think; to become clear about our intentions; to nurture inner seeds that may not sprout until spring.

Mark the Start of Autumn:

1. Journal queries

2. Fall possibilities list

3. Fall cleaning and decorating

4. Make a straw doll

International Day of peace

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. In 2001 the date was fixed on September 21. 

This year's Day of Peace celebrates the theme: Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world. The UN web site says:

"In 2021, as we heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier."

Peace Day Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Raise awareness
3. Make Peace Stones
4. Peace vigil

Full Harvest Moon and Mid-Autumn Festival

Today is the start of Chung Ch’iu, the 3-day Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. It's a happy and beautiful Asian family celebration that comes each year at the time of the full moon in September or October.

The full Harvest Moon rises this evening-- obliquely, close to the horizon-- and remains big and bright for a long time, giving extra light to harvesters.

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon. But today it's time to CELEBRATE! The full moon is a time of fruitfulness, creativity, and completion, and also strong (sometimes overwhelming) emotion. This month I feel hopeful, energetic, and and a little obsessive, and I want to acknowledge and embrace the whole spectrum of my emotions.

Today I will celebrate how far I've come and give thanks for the lessons learned and the blessings received.

Agenda for today:
1. Journal queries

2. Make moon cakes
3. Make floating lanterns
4. Have a moon-viewing party
5.  Full Moon ceremony

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Photo by Alan Gillespie

The waxing gibbous moon is the not-quite-full moon: Waxing means getting larger, and gibbous means humped or protuberant. This phase of the moon has the high-energy that provides a push towards completion. 

In four days, at the full Harvest moon of late September, we will turn again towards the yin time of inner activity, so I make an effort in these next few days to finish my tasks that require greater physical effort. 

The waxing gibbous moon is a time for reevaluation, refinements, and creativity.

Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Creative visualization

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur (pronounced Yome KEY-poor), also called the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It's observed with a 25-hour period of fasting, and prayer in the synagogue.

The focus during Yom Kippur is on sins between us and God, not sins against other people. To atone for sins against other people, you must seek reconciliation with those people, and right the wrongs you committed, if possible. And that needs to be done before Yom Kippur.

At the end of Yom Kippur, God's judgment is sealed. This day is your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.

Agenda Today:
1. Reflection
2. Honor the fasting
3. Confession
4. Atonement

Navratri, Part 3, and September First Quarter Moon

 Navratri continues for three more nights, with the arrival of Saraswati. 

The word navratri means nine nights; on each set of three nights we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti, the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. For these final three nights we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Saraswati, who is "the essence of self".

And this is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. Now is the time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities.

Agenda Today:
1. Morning meditation on wisdom

2. Journal queries

3. Make a full effort plan

4. Add to my altar
5. Evening visualization and prayer
6. Lakshmi mantra

Paitishem

The Zoroastrian community honors the six seasons of the year by celebrating six Gahambars; the word gahambar means "proper season". Each of these six festivals is celebrated for five days, and each honors one of the six material creations: The heaven, water, earth, flora, fauna and man.

Paitishem is the third Gahambar, celebrating the creation of the earth, the end of summer, and the harvesting of crops. It takes place each year from September 12th through the 16th.

Agenda this week:
1. Recite prayers
2. Make Shirazi cucumber salad
3. Work in the late summer garden

Navratri Continues and Waxing Crescent Moon

 Navratri continues tonight with the visit of Lakshmi. 

The word navratri means nine nights; on each set of three nights we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti, the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. Tonight we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Lakshmi, the Goddess of success.

Now the moon is waxing until it's full again; it's building light and building energy. Astrologists say that it’s important to expend your energy now to honor this cycle of expansion, and also let the brighter moon shine a light on challenging areas in your life to aid personal expansion. 

In these first days of the waxing crescent moon, I'll tap into this metaphor and give attention to my own growing energy, take first steps towards my intentions, and find my motivation to follow through with persistent action.

Agenda Today:
1. Morning meditation on creative growth 

2. Plan first steps

3. Make a new rangoli design
4. Add to my altar

5. Mindfulness

6. Evening visualization and prayer
7. Lakshmi mantra

Fall Navratri

Navratri is a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. 

The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights, symbolic of the nine months in the womb.

Navratri is celebrated at least twice each year in India- in the spring and fall- because these are times when nature and people undergo great changes. Autumn (Sharad) Navratri begins on the day after the rise of the new moon in late September or early October.

 
Agenda for today:

1. Morning meditation on strength 

2. Make a rangoli design

3. Plant grain seeds
4. Set up an altar for Mother Nature
5. Evening visualization and prayer
6. Durga mantra

New Harvest Moon

Tonight is the new moon. The Chinese call this eighth new moon the Harvest Moon, for obvious reasons!

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 for today:
1. Journal queries

2. Retreat Day

3. Pick a theme

4. Goals and intentions

5. New moon altar and Harvest meditation

Rosh Hashanah

Tonight is the first evening of Rosh Hashanah (Roash hah-shah-nuh), which falls at or near the new moon of late September or early October. The observance begins at sundown tonight and lasts for two days, but it's actually the start of a ten-day period called the Days of Awe that ends with Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year”; it’s the Jewish New Year for the Spirit. The focus of this festival is repentance for wrongs you have done, and reaffirmation that you will take the honorable path in the future.

Agenda for today:
1. Journal queries

2.  Make challah

3. Share a Seder

Waning Crescent Moon of September

This waning crescent moon is the final phase of the Hungry Ghost Moon cycle. The next new moon, in four days, will be the Harvest 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.

Agenda:

1. Evaluation and Inspiration House

2. Review my purpose

3. Review my priorities

4. Surrender, rest, recuperate