New Budding Moon and Maha Shivratri

Tonight is the new moon; the Chinese call the second new moon the Budding Moon. As we cycle nearer to spring, I can feel my energy growing and swelling like the buds on the trees! 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, prepare, and set intentions.

Shiva, Crafts Museum, New Delhi

Tonight is also Maha Shivratri, a Hindu festival which falls each year on the night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun (in February or March). The Sanskrit word ratri means night, and maha means great, so Maha Shivratri is the night to honor the great Shiva, for his dance of primordial creation, preservation, and destruction.

Many Hindus keep a fast all day, make offerings of flowers and incense, and chant to Shiva. They vigil all night, sing songs, and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

Agenda Today:

1. Retreat Day

2. Mantra

3. Choose a month theme 

4. Choose goals

5.  New moon altar and meditation

6. Make Thandai

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 will use the next three days to wrap up February and prepare for the transition to March. 

2. Mantra:

Today I chant the Panchakshara mantra, which means "five letters" in Sanskrit, and refers to the five letters Na, Ma, Si, Va, and Ya:
Om (the primordial sound)
Namah (I honor)
Shivaya (the source of creation)

Hear the chant here.

This is a prayer to Shiva, who is the universal consciousness. Shiva is life potential and the ground out of which everything grows; Shiva is the space from where everything has come, where everything is sustained, and where everything eventually dissolves. When I meditate on Shiva in this way (rather than as a blue-faced God-being) I get closer to the truth of the Hindu pantheon.

3. Review Essential Intentions:

This week I'm reviewing and recommitting to my core values, and writing new intentions. I ask-

How do I define each of my values?

Why do I value them? Why is it so important to me?

What right action or good deeds do I intend each day?

How do I intend to live, to support and demonstrate my values?

When I turn my values into intentions, they become a pledge for action in the moment - they remind me of my deepest, most essential, most passionate reasons for leading a valuable life. It's vital for me to define my values and principles in a way that touches me at my core, and hone each one down to a phrase that will be useful, day in and day out.

I'm working at this a little each day:

I intend to discern deeply, listen within and seek clarity before acting, in order to make wise choices with an open mind, because, especially in times of stress, taking time to listen to my inner Guide and remember my values will help me to keep my ducks in a row and be the loving, proactive person the world needs.

3. Choose a month theme:

At the new moon I choose a new theme to give attention to. My theme this next 30 days is strength and resilience. 

Picture an unexpected storm; thunder shakes the earth and heavy spring rain falls- everything and everyone are surprised into creative action, and great changes are set in motion. (This seems to describe what is going on in my world!)

Shocks and sudden unforeseen problems cycle through my life like stormy weather. This is a difficult quality for me, very yang. The sudden distress makes me uncomfortable, but if I pause and lean in to the discomfort I'll see that it's an invigorating place to be. I'll see that it's not about ME.

Just as I need my home to be in good repair to weather a storm, I need to be strong myself. When I am physically and mentally strong, I thrive on moving forward without the baggage of fears and grudges. Strength goals might have to do with improving my vitality, my strength of mind and resilience, courage to act on a new idea, making lifestyle changes, or repairing and strengthening my physical infrastructure.

My strength and resilience practices this month:

• Making time to be outside every day! Work in my garden.
• Study and practice active hope and resilience habits.
• Continue daily health and order habits.

4. Choose goals:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for the next 30-days, and now 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'm going to work on this tomorrow.

5. New moon altar and meditation:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next 30 days or so. (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?

From last month I'm keeping:

• my straw doll - for luck and protection

and today I added:

• a spring green candle - for strength, vitality, and inner growth
• a dragon - for strength and good luck
• a dragonfly - for change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization

Shivratri is the darkest night of the month; it's an opportunity to give myself the experience of the vast emptiness that is the source of all creation. Tonight I will light a small white candle on my altar. I will center, give attention to each of my intentions, picture each one accomplished, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. And I will ask Shiva to strip away my striving for comfort and safety, so that I can be open to the infinite possibilities.

6. Make Thandai:

Some Hindus observe a strict fast today, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk. 

This famous flavored milk is traditionally prepared today to drink, and as an offering to Shiva. The recipe is here.