New Dragon Moon

The new moon rises today; the Chinese call the fifth new moon the Dragon Moon. Chinese dragons are a symbol of cosmic Chi, good fortune, and new beginnings, but the time around the Dragon Moon is strongly yang, with bright sunlight and moist heat. The Chinese consider this to be a dangerous and unhealthy season and they have customs to protect against the excessive yang energy.

I feel strong and effective when I am able to harness my yang energy to get stuff done, but I like to remember that yang's best aim is to protect yin, and yin's best function is to nurture yang; life is good when I have each in a kind of dynamic balance. This week I will 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’.

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.

Agenda:

1. Retreat Day plan

2. Read "Intrinsic Hope"

3. Choose a month theme

4. Set intentions

1. Retreat Day plan:

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 have only half a day for retreat today, then will go to the woods for a community swimming!

Here's my plan for the morning -

• Worship in my garden / with Friends
• Read from Intrinsic Hope
• Write about the integrity I want in my life
• Work quietly in the garden
• Take a little nap
• Go to the creek!

2. Read "Intrinsic Hope":

I'm finally getting back to this book by Kate Davies (2018), with the subtitle, Living courageously in troubled times. She talks about what she calls the global eco-social crisis, and how everything is interconnected: biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, climate disruption, invasive species, pollution, overpopulation, over harvesting, agricultural and lumber practices, housing and infrastructure, water scarcity, poverty, unemployment, fascism and racism - all the environmental problems and their social, cultural, and economic contexts.

"Hopelessness leads to paralysis and inaction, guaranteeing that things will continue to get worse. To stop this downward spiral, we urgently need to uncover a realistic sense of hope and find ways to nurture it." 

Chapter 3 is Intrinsic and Extrinsic Hope. "Hope is not prognostication. It is an orientation of the spirit, and orientation of the heart; it transcends the world that is immediately experienced, and is anchored somewhere beyond its horizons."

 

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. Listening and Equanimity habit-building

5. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for June and July, 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 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 maintain my integrity, living within my personal code of behavior, and taking time to choose actions and words that align me with who I truly am at my core (pro-action rather than re-action), because holding myself to high standards is how I honor the Light of Truth and Love, and witness to self transcendence.

  

I intend to live a simple life (act on my priorities; finish things I start; take it slow, be present, listen well, gather all the threads and tie them off before moving on), because this will support the integrity and wholeness I aim for.

 

I intend to practice equanimity with my family, friends and community, and act in peace, staying calm and patient with people and problems, not obsessed with any thought, not acting in anger or aggression. I'll support this intention building an equanimity habit, and new listening skills, because everyone deserves that basic respect and compassion, and peace generates love. 

 

I intend to practice an afternoon Beingness Routine with water, a protein snack, and a pause to think about intentional time and flow: just BE, in this moment- aware and awake, listening to my intuition, because making self-care and being present in the moment a routine part of my afternoon will help me to gather afternoon energy and balance, at a time when I often feel exhausted and a little depressed.