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

2. Choose a month theme

4. Set intentions

5. New moon altar and Harvest meditation 

1. Journal queries:

What new paths are calling to me?

Where do I need inspiration or a helping hand?

What skills and insights do I have to offer as a team member?

Where am I called to leadership, and what skills do I need to build?

From my journal: I am called ever more towards writing as my elder role - many kinds of thoughtful writing - as a tool for inner work, teaching, activism, and speaking Truth. As fall approaches, I want to explore the intersection of Art, Writing, and Mysticism, as an experiential process for transformation. I'm gong to need the help of some others, and possibly the release from some current responsibilities, to move forward with this study.

2. 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. 

My retreat began last night and continues this morning, with a lovely slow pace, reading and writing, and (hopefully) a garden meditation and painting time.

3. Choose a month theme:

I pick a new theme each month at the new moon - this month it's synergy, the ability to seek unity, embrace teamwork, live holistically, and work tirelessly towards a better end. 

Synergy is the eternally active primal force of creation: No matter what the conditions are, they will change. You create synergy in your life when you make the effort to see clearly, stay open-minded, and take persistent right action. Synergy will allow you to experience the people in your life as angels, and the places you live, work, and play as paradise.

I think we are in great need of angels right now, and I see it happening: My friends, who (like myself) are shy people, have a fire lit under them. We are finding new roles as leaders and teammates with the earth and our community.

Engagement photo- 1978

I was struggling a few years ago to think of a meaningful symbol for synergy for my altar, and it came to me that the place I consistently experience synergy is in my marriage. And now, as we are caretakers for our grandson several days a week, we are experiencing that in a whole new way.
I chose a photo from our youth to remind me that the hard work of being part of a team is ultimately worth the effort.

Another aspect of synergy is wholistic living: Seeing all the roles and aspects of my life as an interconnected system, and creating connections that yield exponentially greater results.

Synergy goals might be to better understand different perspectives, become a better teammate or leader, ask for and accept practical help or spiritual guidance, have more persistence, or be more open to new paths and changes.

My intentions this month:

• Grand-parenting teamwork, and adventures!
• Ask for guidance from my "inner artist guide" to discern how to proceed with art and with teaching art, and how to be a creative force for the earth.
• Continue to work at discerning my roles and skills with committee and activist groups, and how the synergy and teamwork is functioning.
• Seek people interested in helping with my book project (again).
• Engage all of myself (physical, mental, spiritual) in my priorities so that I create an explosion of power!

4. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for September, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could possibly focus on this next month. This isn't a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather it's my top actions, studies, and growth goals that fit with the "taste" of this month of my life.

After I list my top goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. I chose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then I'll work on a few more each day this week.

I intend to work diligently on writing a comprehensive agreement to reduce plastic production, consumption, and waste for my Meeting community - and make it into a visual collage of grief and hope - because integrity calls me to address the overwhelming problem of plastic pollution on our planet, for the sake of the children and wildlife who are impacted most.

 

As the pandemic becomes less of a threat, I intend to have many adventures with my grandson - bus rides, library time, gymnastics , museums, and fun play dates, as well as broader exploration of art materials - because he is at the perfect age for Discovery, and growing a creative and adventurous soul is my calling.

I intend to ask for inner guidance with weekly art-prayer times, to continue to discern how to create art that is transformational and healing for myself and my community, because I am an artist and that is my gift to give the world.

 

5. New moon altar and Harvest meditation:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next four weeks. (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? I will keep from last month:

• a sun, for clarity and yang energy
• a soapstone dog, for vigilance, and to remind me to stay loyal to my pack

 Today I add-

• a silver candle - for synergy
• a God's eye - to watch over us
• dried corn - for the harvest
• an angel - to remind me to look for helpful people
• an early photo of me and W - as a symbol of synergy

Next I light a small white candle on my altar, and picture each of my intentions accomplished. Then I let go of expectations, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

• Light a small white candle. 
• Center and reflect on all I have harvested this year- friendships, knowledge, and experiences. 
• Feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. 
• Repeat this every morning until the candle is burned down.