October Third Quarter Moon

Today's waning third quarter moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness.  At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

Agenda today:
1. Renewal plan for next month

2. Evaluation House

3. Read "The Earth Path"

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. Renewal plan for next month:

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today's waning half moon is my opportunity to review how I'm doing, and make note of new ideas for the month ahead.

From my journal: When I pause to consider, I realize that I've not been doing my share of family communication, and we've had some misunderstandings. I need to step up and be the Mother Bear, and keep my family close. Also, it's about that time to begin gratitude and thanksgiving practices again.

2. Evaluation House:

Today I get to reflect back on the first 3/4 of the Squirrel lunar cycle that I'm passing through. I review the intentions I set at the new moon and draw a house with 2 rooms: 

• A room for celebration of all I have accomplished already this month.
• A room for discerning what to do with the unfinished parts (Some of these I will finish in the next couple days, some I will save for next month, and some I will release because they have become irrelevant or didn't go as planned.)

I've accomplished a lot of great stuff this month, but I have a few things I'll probably not finish in the next week and might need to continue next month.

3. Read "The Earth Path":

I'm reading Starhawk's book, The Earth Path (2004), which is all about how to connect to nature. I'm finishing Chapter 4: Creation - What Every Pagan Should Know About Evolution, which starts with a comparison of the Biblical creation story, Darwin's theory, and Gaian evolution (see my post on October 10th).

She goes on to list the lessons of evolution:

1. The universe is responsive, creative, and ever-changing.
2. Survival goes to those who most effectively cooperate, communicate, and share resources.
3. Variation is important: "Life does not evolve one best type, but a multiplicity of fit types... (which) allows for more diversity and more resilience..."
4. Change is not only a gradual process but may also involve periods of relative stasis punctuated by crisis. "The river of change generally flows gradually downhill ... but it may also plunge suddenly over a waterfall".

If we applied these lessons to human society we might "acknowledge individual needs ... but see them best served in systems of cooperation and mutual aid." 

This is exactly the lesson I learned during the pandemic, and what I thinks divides us the most as a society - those who will cooperate for the higher good, and those who want to hold on to their individual rights at all costs to society. (But of course it's more complicated than that - I will also fight for individual rights when it seems like that is for the higher good. It's another paradox.) 

4. Monthly journal brainstorm:

At the new moon (next week) I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This week I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days. This exercise has three parts:

Part One - collect information. Brainstorm goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next month without judgement - include at least a few crazy, improbable notions.

Part 2 - reflect. Have a little chat with myself on paper about the next month of my life, and what my best month would look like, moving me in the direction of my most important reasons for living.

Part 3 - weigh the possibilities. Take a break for a few minutes. Get a fresh cup of coffee or go outside to look at the sky, then come back and read what I wrote. Write a very brief synopsis of the next month of my life.

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate: 
The next few days of the week are 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!