New Lotus Moon (for Integrity)

It's a Chinese leap month, so a repeat of the sixth new moon, know as the Lotus Moon. 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. Retreat Day

2. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

1. Retreat Day

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. 

If at all possible, I schedule a day of retreat on the new moon, or near to it, and so on Saturday I will take time be quiet in my garden and work art in my studio.

2. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"::

I'm reading this beautiful little 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.

Chapter 6 is Dare to Try Something New. "It's a matter of self-protection to be on guard and to treat new things with caution." Our safe and familiar habits provide clarity, and routines make daily life possible, but if we stick to the familiar we will get bored. Learning new things is good for the brain.

The Japanese have a technique called kaizen - improvement - that involves taking tiny steps toward something new. They suggest I make a circle drawing to brainstorm things I might try in order to expand my comfort zone.

Queries:

What is keeping me from being more creative?

What (small) things would I like to start doing? 

What bigger things? 

How and when could that happen?

 

3. Choose a month theme:

Today I choose integrity as my theme for the next month, and begin to give attention to it. Integrity is the quality of being whole and undivided, and acting promptly on my beliefs. My integrity builds my reputation with others and also cultivates my self-respect.

One way I frame integrity is with the Chinese concept of Li, which means clinging fire. The image is of the fire embracing the wood, and the sun embracing the heaven; that which gives light is dependent on something dark to give it shape and contrast. Fire represents expansion, ideas, and clarity; like the farmer, I acknowledge that the Light brings my harvest.

Goals for integrity might be to discern my Truth and then act on it, to speak truth to power, to increase my reliability, to improve my reputation with others, or somehow boost my self-confidence and self-respect. 

My integrity practices this month are:

1. Discipline Cycle reading and journal: Explore the why's and how's of my integrity.
2. "Take Care" Mantra: Go slow, be present, listen well, gather all the threads and tie them off before moving on.
3. Simple Projects List and the discipline to Finish Things I Start.

4. Shibashi

    to build strength and energy.

4. 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 write a book called "Nature-Culture for Everybody", 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 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 continue to grow my awareness to the nature in my yard and neighborhood with a daily photo and name of a neighbor (plant, bird, cloud, insect…) - giving known names when possible and my own made-up names when not, because this is one way I become a better neighbor and grow my connection. 

I intend to schedule and take the time to complete the details of my clerking and hearthkeeping work (all the emails, calls, minutes, reports …) because integrity requires me to finish the things I’ve agreed to do in a complete and thoughtful way, and also, I will feel less anxiety when it’s all done.