New Lotus Moon

The sixth new moon is know as the Lotus Moon by the Chinese. The lotus is the "flower of open-heartedness", an emblem of purity, fruitfulness (because of its many seeds) and creative power. And since lotus leaves protect the goldfish under them (a symbol of prosperity), the lotus also symbolizes abundance year after year.

Detail from "Connect", acrylic

A lotus flower grows out of the mud, and blossoms above the muddy water surface. Buddhists teach that, like a lotus, we can rise above the suffering and conflicts of life. The Lotus Moon, then, is the natural time to dig into the mud of my life, and seek out the best ways to grow above the fray.

Agenda:

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

1.Read "Creativity Takes Courage"::

I'm just starting this beautiful book by Irene Smit and Astrid van Der Hulse (2018) with the subtitle of Dare to Think Differently. Every page is a work of art.

The introduction is Unleash Your Creativity. "Creativity is something we all need. ... Creativity begins when you are able to silence your critical inner voice, and you need courage to do that."

 

2. Choose a month theme:

Today I choose Passion and Courage as my theme for the next month, and begin to give attention to it. These are the qualities I need in order to create the life I want. 

Passion is a kind of energy that arrives when you allow yourself to care about something deeply. Passion inspires you to get up and act. When I recognize what it is I care about, and have the courage to act on it, then the passion will carry me through the fear (or inertia, or anxiety) to create my dreams.

Goals for courage and passion might be to listen to my deepest dreams and desires; discern my Truth (and keep the end in sight); practice taking risks - especially socially; act with discipline and commitment; and help the energy build and bubble.  

My passion practices this month are:

1. Shibashi

    to build strength and energy.
2. Inner synergy and full-effort: Engage all of myself (physical, mental, spiritual) in my priorities so that I create an explosion of power!
3. Get clear on what matters most: I ask myself, "What is my endgame? What does success look like to me? Why am I ready to change?"
4. Simple Projects List and the discipline to Finish Things I Start.

3. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for the next 30 days, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could possibly focus on this next month - not a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather 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 chose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then I'll work on a few more each day this week.

I intend to engage slow passion, a kind of simmering energy that keeps me focused and engaged with my priorities, and at the same time, I will maintain clarity of purpose, keeping the end in mind, so that I have the courage to risk being the creative person the world needs.

I intend to work steadily at writing a how-to book for living our lives as part of nature that includes awareness practices for every season; practical activities for healing nature; journal queries to help shift priorities; and ideas for how to “pay forward” the gifts we receive from nature.My goal is to create a new a real-life-living concept to help us to shift the paradigm our culture is so mired in, because this is one way to use my creativity and courage to save the planet. 

I intend to finish some of the things I've started (and fall in love with the process of finishing), because my brilliant ideas won’t have any impact on the world unless I put them into form.

I feel ready now for a month that promises to be full of summer activity; I'll make an effort to bring a balance of restorative yin energy to my life: Slow down, rest well, drink more water, and practice ‘discipline of purpose’.