New Kindly Moon and Diwali

Tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow, but we've had a kindly bit of rain.

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.

In late November everything begins to slow down, and I try to remember to be more aware of time flowing; to find the right tempo for each activity; and to transition calmly. Advent will bring a wealth of activity, so take time this week to savor the changing season. Remember, as Waverly Fitzgerald says in Slow Time, that time is "much more fluid and mysterious than I had imagined."

This is also the start of the five day Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Puja for prosperity

4. Read "Focus on the Good Stuff"

5. Start an Abundance Journal

6. Make almond katli

7. Write a gratitude

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. Today my retreat will start at Meeting for worship, followed with a recitation of the Thanksgiving prayer.

2. Choose a month theme:

My theme for the next 30 days is abundance and gratitude: Abundance is like a gentle wind of blessings blowing with determination into my life. The wind is all the fortunate influences that shape my life - my friends, family, society, and outside forces and situations. Abundance blows steadily, and over time will influence and shape me. I need to maintain integrity and awareness to avoid being swayed or blown in the wrong direction, but I achieve the greatest success by yielding to prospects brought on the wind. 

My abundance goals might be to become more open and accepting of opportunities and alternative ways to proceed; to find ways to draw in more cash and other less tangible kinds of wealth; to become clearer about my finances, what I value in my life, and how I define success; to be more generous and giving of my time and resources; or to better show thankfulness for the flow of blessings and prosperity in my life.

My abundance practices this month are:

1. Read "Focus on the Good Stuff" and "The Gratitude Formula"

2. Morning Abundance Practice: Answer daily queries about expansion, goals, and abundance + visualization;

4. Creativity Challenge: Creativity supports abundance. Each day pick one thing to make with my hands with care - a pot of soup, a painting, a kid craft, a felted bee.

3. Puja for prosperity:

A puja is a ritual of reverence or celebration. Diwali is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, so today I say a prayer to welcome Lakshmi. 

Om - the primordial sound

Shreem - from which beauty and feminine energy emanates

Ma-ha - great

Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth

Na-ma-ha - I pray.

4. Read "Focus on the Good Stuff":

I've just re-started this book by Mike Robbins (2007), with the sub-title "The Power of Appreciation". In the introduction he says, "Underneath every dream or goal we have is a desire for appreciation. We want to feel good about ourselves and our lives." He's not talking about being appreciated, but about appreciating ourselves, our own lives, and everyone and everything that surrounds us. Along with appreciation he uses words like empowerment, effectiveness, confidence, clarity, and success.

Chapter One is What's Wrong Out There?, about all the pervasive negativity in our lives. The impact is that we can't have meaningful relationships with people we judge, criticize, and gossip about, and we can't influence or inspire the people for whom we show contempt. "We all engage in this to some degree or another. When we can bring our negativity towards others into the light, tell the truth about it, and look at the impact it has on us and those around us, we can start to do something to alter it."

5. Start an Abundance Journal:

To attract abundance into my life (and into the world), I need an abundance consciousness: That is, I need to be aware of the abundance already in my life, connect with it, feel grateful for it, and be ready to accept more of it. 

Abundance consciousness opens my mind and helps me to operate at a higher-level; I see my prospects clearly and welcome obstacles as opportunities. When I believe there’s enough for everybody, I will take it as a challenge to figure out how to make it so; I will work harder to create a bright future for myself, my family, and my world.

Today I start with a few minutes of quiet meditation to expand my awareness of what I want for myself and for others in my life. “Expansion is the great friend of abundance. It brings in the light, opening up new possibilities. In a relaxed, open state, your awareness sees farther, and life isn’t so confined.” (Deepak Chopra) 

Then I write short, simple answers to these queries:

1. What do I want today, for myself and for others?

2. What step can I take today towards abundance?

3. What one thing could I create today, to expand abundance in the world?

Today I will offer the Thanksgiving prayer to my community, and help it go smoothly; I wish for my community to share in a deeper understanding of all the Earth gifts us, and a joining into oneness of spirit. Later I will have fun creating a playful tree design in watercolor.

Finish with visualization of the abundance I hope for.

6. Make Almond Katli:

On Diwali, Indians also give gifts to each other, especially big trays of candy! Almond Katli is a traditional Diwali sweet, and it’s pretty easy to make. It's like almond fudge or marzipan- sweet and yummy. The recipe is here.

7. Write a gratitude:

I've had a hard time with the word gratitude for many years, but the Ongo way of framing gratitude as a celebration really fills my heart. "...thoughts are simply the mind's way to celebrate or mourn - they are like the mind's tears of gratitude and regret."

Today I will write a gratitude this way:

1. Connect to the energy of celebration as a Need, as an aliveness.
2. Allow an image of a person (or place or being) to arise. Recall their/its presence in my life, and a specific moment of interaction.
3. Take a breath and notice what feelings arise, and what needs are nourished with this memory. 
4. Write the memory of what the person, being, or place did, how my life was enriched, what feelings come alive with the memory, and the needs which are nourished.

Journal: My Meeting community- Thank you for allowing me to organize a clerks gathering that fulfilled my need for connection and belonging. The program seemed to have succeeded in expanding our understanding of the way committee work helps us to grow spiritually, and that satisfies my need for effectiveness.