Third Quarter Moon of April

Photo by Alan Gillespie

Today is the Third Quarter Moon: This waning 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 and self-care.

Agenda today:

1. Read "The Comfort of Crows"

2. Renewal plan

3. Evaluation House

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. Read "The Comfort of Crows":

I'm loving this pretty book by Margaret Renkl (2023), subtitled "A Backyard Year"; it includes a reading for each week of the year; this week is Spring - Week 2, Who Will Mourn The When They Are Gone?

She talks about all the eastern forests that are gone. "I try to imagine the primeval chestnut forest and the creatures who made it their home, the timber wolves and panthers driven from our lands as the forests fell, creatures kept away now by our controlling fears. I think of the birds who once roosted in those branches and who no longer live here, or anywhere, and I think of the insects with churring wings no longer fill my summers ... All gone now. I have not seen a turtle or  toad in our yard for two decades or more..."

This chapter is so sad, I can barely write about it, but it speaks my own mind. She ends by saying that the apocalypse is not a barren ugliness- the world has a clinging beauty even as it fails. "Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty-besotted will. find a reason to love the world."

2. Renewal plan:

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.

April is a highly active month, and I should be well set after a month of focus on strength and vigor, but I've been sick yet again, so I need to get my energy up:

1. Persistence: Be clear on my priorities, act with integrity, and cut out whatever is extraneous.
2. Food focus: Continue to work at my organic shopping and food prep routine until it becomes habit.
3. Daily walk or stretches: Continue my short walks or f I can't, then take time to stretch my tight body.

3. Evaluation House:

Today I get to reflect back on the first 3/4 of the Budding Moon lunar cycle that I'm passing through. My theme has been vigor and strength. 

I reviewed the intentions I set at the new moon and drew 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.)

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, including at least a few crazy, improbable notions. 

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

-Write about the parts that excite me and the parts that might be hard to find motivation for.

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate: 

This next few days is 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!