Full Hare Moon

Carmella and Toffee

Tonight is the full moon; this one is called amanta kotantal or "Time for pounding camus" by the Kalapuya of my area, and the Hare Moon by others, because it's the month when rabbits leap and play and mate.

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the shift to the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon. 

Agenda today:
1. Take a vision walk

2. Read "The Creativity Book"

3. Simple projects list

4. Celebrate joy

5. April garden

1. Take a vision walk:

The full moon shines a bright light on everything, and I might experience intuitive and creative breakthroughs. I might be shocked by the clarity of my insights. I might see some ugliness - the full moon illuminates all the things I've left in the shadows, some heavy truths and some embarrassing mistakes.

Today I'm going to settle in to silence and access my intuitive mind - my connection to the Creator and the Inner Guide - by putting myself into a relaxed, trance-like state, and seeking a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart.

Today I call on the Spirit of Light to guide me, bring me clarity and open my eyes. What is the Truth that is coming into focus for me now? 

What is a story of joy that I like to relive? How do I avoid clinging to joy and rather live in the moment of it?
How do I invite contentment and/or playfulness into my days? What does play look like for me?

What are the routines or prompts that bring me to an awareness of appreciation for life (and out of discontent)?

When have I used curiosity, humor, and creative problem-solving to advantage?

 

2. Read "The Creativity Book":

A few years ago I started but didn't finish this book by Eric Maisel (one of my favorite writers). The subtitle is "A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance." Who doesn't want that?

I'm finishing Part 6: Use Yourself. This section is all about accepting myself as the expert on my own creative projects, and trusting that my instincts and knowledge will guide me.

The last exercise is to Take Stock: 

Have I launched into a large creative project, one worth exhausting myself on, and if not, why? 

Have I constructed a schedule for my creative work and am I keeping to it? 

Do I set goals at the beginning of each week? 

Do I have a daily routine that that supports my creative efforts? 

From my journal: My schedule totally supports my creative writing but not my visual art. Still, I've eked out a bit of work in the visual area; I just find it hard to finish anything, because I'm not committed to it. One idea is to simplify my plans, and set aside lower value projects, and another is to actually do the prep and set up in advance like I want to.

3. Simple projects list:

• S: Make butterflies at Meeting (prep: Buy sticks, print)
• M: Watercolor abstracts for joy and to use in my book
• T: Eggs                             
• W: Paint butterflies in bathroom                         
• Th: Banner One Earth
• S: Craftivism: Pinecone hanger

4. Celebrate Joy:

My theme ​this month ​is Joy, contentment, serenity, and living with a wide-open, unbiased attitude of appreciation for life. A childlike quality of joy supports my spontaneous, innovative, creative spirit.

Most of us would say that we don't regularly feel joyful; it seems like such a big emotion. Joy comes in little splashes that come and go so fast we hardly recognize them. But when I invite those moments, and relish them -- like playing Hide-and-Seek with Artie, when he hides with his nose against a tree and I sneak up and say BOO, and he squeals and runs away to another tree (ad infinitum), and I am so happy to see him so happy -- and then I relive that feeling by telling the story - that moment of joy stays with me, and carries me a long way.

Today I remind myself of my intentions for the month, and then celebrate my accomplishments and reaffirm this theme for the next two weeks. Each month I choose a different way to celebrate the full moon, and today I am ready to celebrate joy in these ways:

1. Take an outing to a tomato class and the garden center.
2. Plant lettuce, peas, and zinnias!
3. Play with watercolors - tulips?

5. April garden:

I'm using the Second Breakfast Garden monthly guides to update my checklists, because they are in zone 8b. In early April my priorities are to:

1. Harvest beets and kale.
2. "Stale Seedbed" Weed Control: I've prepared beds for planting - loosening with a fork, adding compost - and weeds are sprouting like crazy. This method decreases the bank of weed seeds in the soil by coaxing them to germinate then scuffling them under repeatedly. Just run a hoe over the beds, keep them wet, and hoe again when weeds pop up.
3. Planting outside: My lettuce seedlings are ready to plant outside, along with some lettuce seeds (near beets and onions, which are root crops, and utilize underground space, while lettuce plants have very shallow roots and grow their crop above the soil). Also some more peas and some nasturtiums.
4. Plant indoors: Time to start some zinnias! Also more sunflowers.
5. Clean up: Since our temperatures are rising above 55 degrees, most of our native insects, including our beloved mason bees, should have emerged by this time. It is now safe to do a thorough yard cleanup. Cut back any old stems and other chaff and leave about 1/2 height for this year’s bugs to use. When your plants spring up, it covers the old stems.