Diwali and New Kindly Moon

Today is the start of the Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November, and lasts for five days. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

And tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow yet, but we've had some heavy rains. 

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.

1. Pick a theme

2. Start an Abundance Journal

3. Goals and intentions

4. New moon altar and meditation

5. Blessings Walk

6. Creativity practice

7. Make diya lamps

8. Puja for prosperity

9. Make almond katli

1. 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, what I value in my life, and how I define success; 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 goals this month are:

• Generous service with my Quaker Meeting.
• Take weekly climate actions: Earthcare newsletter, climate tree ride, No Plastics campaign, tree planting plan.
• Daily creativity challenge: Toddler art, gifts, bread and soup.
• Increase connections with family.

• Abundance habits: an Abundance Journal every morning, blessings walks, generosity challenge, and a daily creativity practice (creating one new thing each day).

2. Start an Abundance Journal:

To attract abundance into my life (and into the world), I need an abundance consciousness: That is, I need to be aware of the abundance already in my life, connect with it, feel grateful for it, and accept more of it. Abundance consciousness opens my mind; I see my prospects clearly and accept obstacles as opportunity. It helps me to operate at a higher-level: When I believe there’s enough for everybody, I will take it as a challenge to figure out how to make it so. I will work harder to create a bright future for myself, my family, and my world.

It's been a couple years since I kept an Abundance Journal. I'll start with a few minutes of quiet meditation to expand my awareness of what I want for myself and for others in my life.

“Expansion is the great friend of abundance. It brings in the light, opening up new possibilities. In a relaxed, open state, your awareness sees farther, and life isn’t so confined.” Deepak Chopra

Then I'll write some goals for welcoming abundance into my life:

What do I want for myself and for others?
What steps can I take today towards abundance?

What one thing could I give today to make the world better? 

And at the end of each day I'll make a note of a few things that filled me with Light, that I am grateful for.

3. Goals and intentions:

I have a two-fold task today: Plan some goals for the next month, and set some intentions. 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.

1. I intend to create one new thing each day to help keep the flow of blessings going in the world and in my life.

2. I intend to support and encourage Friends Meeting synergy and teamwork because my leadership and discernment is a contribution to the unity of the Meeting.

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 cleared my altar except for:

• dried corn - for the harvest
• a God's eye - to watch over us
• my straw doll - for luck and protection

I added:

• a purple candle - for abundance and gratitude
• A bowl of coins - to welcome prosperity

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. Blessings Walk:

I'm also going to practice a Blessings Walk as I walk my dog each morning:

1. Gratitude: Begin my walk, and concentrate on everything I’m grateful for. Say, “I’m grateful for the fresh morning air; that I’m healthy, and my family is healthy; for my friends….” Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

2. Expand my Vision: Turn another corner, and look within. Expand my awareness and ask "What do I want for myself and for others in my life? What steps can I take today towards abundance?" Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

3. Wishes: Turn a corner, and focus on what blessings I hope for now. Create a clear picture in my mind of what I wish 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.

4. Prayer: Turn the last corner, and speak an abundance 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.”

6. Creativity Practice:

Creativity goes along with abundance. Each day I will pick one thing to make with my hands with care - a pot of soup, a candle, a painting, a letter, a stitched heart, a baby hat...

7. Make diya lamps:

The word Diwali is short for Deepavali, which translates into "row of lamps"; people set out hundreds of small diya lamps filled with oil for this festival, to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

A diya lamp is easy to make- you will need a little bit of self-hardening clay. Form a small egg-shaped container, with a shallow bowl, and a lip to hold the burning wick.

When the clay is dry, twist a wick from half of a cotton ball, and fill the bowl with a bit of vegetable oil. It will burn for quite awhile.

8. Puja for prosperity:
A puja is a ritual of reverence or celebration. Diwali is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, so today I add some coins to my altar and a diya lamp to welcome Lakshmi. 

I center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

Remember: Prosperity is a sense of peace and well being within, enough money to pay my bills on time, and the support I need to make my dreams come alive.

I focus on this vision of prosperity, and chant-

• Om - the primordial sound
• Shreem - from which beauty and feminine energy emanates
• Ma-ha - great
• Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

9. Make Almond Katli:

On Diwali, Indians also give gifts to each other, especially big trays of candy! Almond Katli is a traditional Diwali sweet, and it’s pretty easy to make. It's like almond fudge or marzipan- sweet and yummy.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 c. sliced almonds
• 1-1/4 c. sugar
• 1/4-tsp. cardamom powder
• 1-Tbsp. ghee or oil

Yield: 20 pieces-

1- Measure almonds and grind in a food mill. Set aside.


2- Oil a cookie sheet and set aside.

3- Put 6 Tbs. water into a saucepan, and add sugar and cardamom powder. Heat until the sugar is dissolved, then bring to rapid boil.

4- As soon as sugar begins to boil, remove from heat and add the almond powder. Mix well to break up the lumps, then add ghee or oil.


5- Return the pan to the stove and cook again on medium until the batter becomes thick but is still liquid. 

(The first time I made this it got stiff and when cooled it shattered into bits. The second time I poured it out too soon and it didn't hold it's shape, so I put it back in the pot and cooked it a minute longer-- success! It was just right.)

6- Transfer batter to the pan and use a spatula to turn it and knead it to get a smooth dough.




7- When it's done, shape it into a rectangle.

8- Cut into diamonds with a pizza cutter and decorate each piece with an almond slice.