New Bitter Moon

Tonight is the new moon. This last new moon of the Chinese year is called the Bitter Moon, because we are into the month of the bitterest cold.

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. Read Writing and Being 

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

4. New moon altar

5. Brainstorm self-cultivation projects

6. Retreat Day

1. Read Writing and Being:

I'm reading again from "Writing and Being: Embracing Your Life Through Creative Journaling," by G. Lynn Nelson (2004).

I'm on chapter two: Entering the River, which is what the author calls it when you write from your heart and feelings. "...feeling is, always, our first experience of the world so we must begin with our feelings. Feelings are where our words become flesh; they are the grounding of our writing and being."

He goes on to say, "Personal writing in our journals is the heart of all our writing. There our words become tools for our psychological, intellectual, and spiritual growth. There, too, our individual insights, feelings, memories, and stories become the source of all meaningful and effective public writing -- gifts from our hearts to share with others".

The journal exploration for chapter two is called Fists into Flowers. This is my paraphrased version:

1. Breathe deeply. Relax. Just give attention to my breath for about 5 minutes.
2. Look within for what feels like a fist, something tight and clenched, a worry, or anger, frustration, or any holding on of pain.
3. Write about it: No analyzing, but just pouring it out on the page, anything that comes to me about this particular fist, for about 5 minutes.
4. Breathe again for about 5 minutes, and notice how the fist feels - is it tighter or looser?
5. Write again, steadily and freely, for another 5 minutes.

Keep repeating this alternating process as many times as I need for this particular fist, in order to eventually loosen the hold this fist.

2. Choose a month theme:

I've chosen the theme of discernment for this month, because I have so much figuring out going on, including how to witness for the earth in ways that inspire the passion for change that I feel; what new habits to adopt for myself for earth care; and what art to make, that grows organically from the seasons and my life, and expresses my love for nature.

My definition of discernment is to look at all the practical wisdom, and also listen within deeply, then seek clarity with an open mind, and make wise choices with intentionality.

I have a discernment process that I use for all things:

• I start with practical wisdom -- do some research, reflect, and weigh the possibilities.
• Next I seek a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart - listen for insight and intuitions - my felt sense - and then patiently labor to understand.
• Finally, I seek clearness by inviting thoughtful questioning (not advise) from some people I trust.

My discernment practices this month:

1. Study resilience, and inspirational speaking.
2. Keep a Witness Journal, to record my intentions, motivations, and plans for action each week, and how I hope to release the clenched fist of defensiveness.
3. Set up an editorial panel for my Earthcare blog.
4. Art meditations and explorations, to envision and explore the work I need to do next.

3. Set intentions:

I've set some preliminary goals for the next 30 days, and today I'm ready to set some intentions for action. I've written just two intentions, the ones I might act on today, and will write more later.

I intend to witness for unity with nature with my writing, art, actions, by example, and by speaking up, in ways that inspire the passion for change that I feel, because all of nature is in danger, and we have a responsibility to do the work to protect our beloved home and our neighbors on this planet. 

 

I intend to work on the skills that will serve me as a witness for the earth: Resilience, inspirational speaking, communication, equanimity, permaculture, art skills, teaching and writing skills - because this is my calling now, and want to be the best I can be.

4. New moon altar:

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?

Today I cleared everything except my straw doll (for luck and protection), pine cones (for potential growth and enlightenment),  a quartz crystal (for the purity of winter), and Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself - and added:

• a gray candle - for discernment
• a picture of a fox - for agility and wisdom

5: Brainstorm self-cultivation projects:

Every year in January I focus on 

the Greek injunction Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself. 

When you understand your unique temperament and personality style, your experience of life becomes richer, larger, and more exciting. Knowing yourself allows you to make better decisions, express what you need and want in life, and understand what motivates you to resist bad habits and develop good ones.

I know that my temperament and personality characteristics are not innately good or bad. The language is a problem sometimes - we might all want to be labeled "conscientious" but some of us are just more spontaneous and easy-going, and I'm so glad we are all different! 

Your strengths and limitations are subjective. Some strengths can become problems if we don't manage the intensity. My conscientiousness can make me inflexible, judgmental, and didactic. I've learned to appreciate and love those people who have a more spontaneous style, and I've learned to manage the intensity of my expectations of myself and others. (I work to cultivate spontaneity in my personality, and enjoy the paradox of scheduling times to be spontaneous!)

If some of your particular characteristics are troublesome, it's because you haven't yet figured out how to administer them well, or mesh them with other personalities. You can't really change your personality, but you can build on your strengths, moderate your weakness, and set some goals for cultivating yourself.

I think of this as a gentle, loving, gardening project: I am trimming a little here, and feeding this and that, so that I will grow a better relationship with the world. Today I began to define some areas where I need self-cultivation. I start by making two lists:

• A list of my top-ten strengths - my super powers (mine include humor and playfulness, fairness, order, vision, creativity...)
• And a list some of my character limitations (judgmental, thin-skinned, impatient...)

Then I see if I can identify something about each apparent weakness that is also a hidden strength. For example, my impatience comes from my drive to "get things done"; it's a strength that needs moderating, and it goes on my list of possible self-cultivation projects.

6. 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. I plan to have a retreat this Saturday to focus on discernment in a bigger way.