Diwali and New Kindly Moon

Tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow yet, but we've had a kindly bit of rain.

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.

This is also the start of the five day Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

4. New moon altar and puja for prosperity

5. Read "Wake Up Grateful"

6. Make almond katli

1. 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'll take my retreat days this coming weekend.

2. Choose a month theme:

My theme for the next 30 days is abundance: Abundance is like a gentle wind of blessings blowing with determination into my life. The wind is all the fortunate influences that shape my life - my friends, family, society, and outside forces and situations. Abundance blows steadily, and over time will influence and shape me. I need to maintain integrity and awareness to avoid being swayed or blown in the wrong direction, but I achieve the greatest success by yielding to prospects brought on the wind. 

My abundance goals might be to become more open and accepting of opportunities and alternative ways to proceed; to find ways to draw in more cash and other less tangible kinds of wealth; to become clearer about my finances, what I value in my life, and how I define success; to be more generous and giving of my time and resources; or to better show thankfulness for the flow of blessings and prosperity in my life.

My abundance practices this month are:

1. Read Wake Up Grateful

2. Morning Abundance Journal: Answer daily queries.

3. Blessing Walk: Acknowledge my blessings, visualize the blessings I want today, set intentions for service, and open to the movement of abundance.

4. Creativity Challenge: Creativity supports abundance. Each day pick one thing to make with my hands with care - a pot of soup, a painting, a kid craft, a felted bee.

3. Set intentions:

Earlier this week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for November, 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've written just two intentions, the ones I might act on today, and will write more later.

I intend to invite abundance into my life, and into the world, by cultivating an abundance consciousness; that is, I will acknowledge the blessings I have already, find a multitude of ways to express my gratitude, get clear about what blessings I want to see for the world, and challenge myself to help to create them, because if I can truly believe that there’s enough for everybody, I will find ways to make it so.

I intend to offer a variety of classes this month, at least one each week, with unique fun projects (such as felted bees, sign-painting, rolled candles), get my studio and supplies prepared and teach some skills and values, in order to honor my inner teacher and bring in some income for the family coffers.

4. New moon altar and puja for prosperity:

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'll keep from last month:

• a God's eye - to watch over us
• dried corn - for the harvest
  
• my straw doll- for luck and protection
• an angel - to remind me to look for helpful people

I added:

• a purple candle - for abundance and gratitude
• A bowl of coins - to welcome prosperity

A puja is a ritual of reverence or celebration. Diwali is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, so today I say a prayer to welcome Lakshmi. 

Om - the primordial sound

Shreem - from which beauty and feminine energy emanates

Ma-ha - great

Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth

Na-ma-ha - I pray.

5. Read "Wake Up Grateful":

I've just started this book by Kristi Nelson (2020), with the sub-title "The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted". I can tell that it will be a good basis for my study and practice this month. 

The introduction talks about her cancer, and how living with uncertainty changed her perspective on life. And how easy it was to forget and move on; how "over time, all those amazing reasons to feel grateful joined the ranks of the taken-for-granted. ... I came to realize that maintaining a grateful perspective is a true practice."

She goes on to talk about grateful living as a way of life, and something she nurtures and tends daily. Also, she explains that she met Brother David Steindl-Rast, and eventually began to work with him on The Network for Grateful Living website, and that this book is a guidebook based on Brother David's teachings. 

6. Make Almond Katli:

On Diwali, Indians also give gifts to each other, especially big trays of candy! Almond Katli is a traditional Diwali sweet, and it’s pretty easy to make. It's like almond fudge or marzipan- sweet and yummy. The recipe is here.