Thanksgiving Preparations and Waning Gibbous Moon

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I'm trying to be positive. Our plans shift each day. We are trying to err on the side of caution, because of our unvaccinated one-year-old. 

I realized that what I missed most last year with our isolated quarantine Thanksgiving, was the collaboration - sharing the work of making the meal - so we are each making extra of something to share! I'm making extra pie and extra sweet potatoes, and we will meet up to exchange food tomorrow.

We are also going to meet on zoom sometime tomorrow to drink champagne and make a toast to everything we are thankful for.

And 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. 

With perfect timing, the waning gibbous moon is when 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. Gratitude garland

3. Generosity practices

4. Make pies

1. Journal queries:

During the waning moon, journaling takes on a new importance. I'm engaged in inner work, and journalling is one way I access my Inner Guide. I especially want to focus on my theme for the month, which is Abundance, so I ask myself: 

What fills me with Light today? 

What do I want to draw into being for myself and others? 

What steps can I take today towards abundance?

 

2. Gratitude garland:

For the next three days I will make an extra effort to show my gratitude with my words and actions: I will send my Thanksgiving cards out with a personal note of gratitude, and I will find as many ways to say thank-you as possible. 

I also made a tiny little garland of gratitude, with sticky notes, stickers, and string - I just folded the sticky part over the string. Maybe this will be a new ongoing practice. By noticing how I am blessed, my impatience decreases and I realize how satisfied and fulfilled I really am.

3. Generosity practices: 

Every month after the full moon I take some time to plan ways I can be more generous with my time and attention. I start with ideas for being generous with myself, then my household, my family, my neighborhood, community, and the earth. I might decide to give money or a gift, or simple acts of helping and sharing my time. This week I plan to:

1. Sew new flannel toddler pants
2. Attend a support committee meeting
3. Send Thanksgiving cards
4. Donate to Goodwill
5. Share food
6. Make some Christmas gifts

When I'm motivated by the desire to give, just the intention to offer my help, and my willingness to listen, will begin to lessen suffering in the world.

4. Make the pies:

This recipe card is very old!

Today I will make pies! My pumpkin pie recipe-

Ingredients:

• 4 c. pumpkin
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. each ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg

Makes one large pie-

1- Make the pastry and line the pie plate. Preheat the oven to 450ºF.

2- Put half of the pumpkin and half of the milk in the blender with one egg and blend until pureed.

3- Pour into a mixer bowl, and repeat with the second batch.

This is a double batch- enough for two pies.

4- Add sugar, salt, and spices to the mixer bowl and mix on low, then pour into pie shell.

5- Bake at 450ºF for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 375ºF and bake for 45 minutes.