Moon cycle

In 2021 I was very systematic about using the moon cycle  phases for both my inner work and outer activities. This year (2022) I'm going to simplify and narrow down to just 4 phases with a more flexible flow. (This is a work in progress).

Whether or not you believe in the moon's power over our energy, it's helpful to follow a cycle such as this in life, to balance yin and yang, and move through life harmoniously.

I've simplified by using only four of the eight phases:

New moon - Clarity and new beginnings: Use it to envision (with brainstorming), choose goals, and set intentions.

First quarter - High-energy, decisiveness: Use it to make a month map, a priority grid, and a full effort plan - and take action.

 Full moon - Creativity and discernment: Use it to review your values and missions, and examine your Truth.

Third quarter - Evaluation and renewal: Use it to evaluate and adjust your schedule, priorities, and expectations, and make a plan for self-nurturing and renewal.

New moon:

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 and set intentions for the next phase of my year.

New Moon: Clarity and new beginnings
1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a new theme for the month
3. Choose goals and set intentions

4. New moon altar and meditation

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.

2. Choose a month theme 

Today I choose my theme for this moon cycle, and think about how to grow into it.

3. Choose goals and set intentions:

I have a two-fold task today: Plan some new goals, and set some intentions for the days ahead. Though lots of writers use these terms interchangeably, I am clear about the differences:

Goals are a plan for the future that help us stay on track with who we are becoming. 

Intentions are a pledge for action in the present; they remind us of who we are now, and our deepest, most essential, most passionate reasons for living. I write my intentions in present tense, and I use this model: action + deepest reason.

After I list my top 10 goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. This is a very time-consuming but important process. I'm going to choose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then work on a few more each day this week.

4. New moon altar and meditation

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next 30 days or so. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke?

Today I will light a small white candle on my altar. I will center and give attention to each of my intentions, and picture each one accomplished. Then I'll let go of expectations, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

First Quarter

The First Quarter Moon is growing in light and energy, creating a time for decisive action. Kiki Ely, in her book  Living Lunerly, says "A good way to remember this is by looking at the perfect line of shadow down the moon's center: this is the moment to draw a firm line, boundary, or decision in your life and stick to it." 

First Quarter: High energy and decisiveness
1. Journal queries.    
2. Make a Full Effort Plan.
3. Write a creative mission statement with haiku.
4. Practice visualization.

1. Journal queries:

Today, at the first quarter moon, I prepare to give full effort to my priorities. 

Which of my priorities am I having the most trouble acting on this month?

What potential challenges and obstacles do I face this week and month (things I don’t enjoy, don’t know how to do, or feel blocked on)? How can I best meet these challenges?

How will I find the inspiration that will spark full effort for my priorities, every day, over and over?

2. Make a full effort plan: 

Full effort (sometimes called exertion) is one of the steps of mental discipline on Buddha’s eightfold path. Buddha was urging full effort for awakening the mind; a first step is to practice full effort for whatever is most important in your life right now - for your priorities.

Full effort requires:

-Attention: You remember your intentions - what it is you want to do and your deepest reasons why - and also notice your emotions, energy, challenges, etc. 

I build energy for my priorities by reviewing them every morning and often throughout the day. 

-A spark of energy and determination: You connect to your excitement for life, and sustain it long enough to accomplish your priorities. 

When the time comes to act on one of my priorities - to write my book, or care for my grandson - I hope to be able to focus my full attention on this one undertaking, and lean in to it with excitement and curiosity. 

-Balance: You hold your intentions lightly in the complexity of life. If you are driven to complete everything on your list at all costs, you may miss an opportunity to grow, to open your heart, to find peace within.

Personal motivation is complex; it's shaped by our internal will but also influenced by our history, and by the expectations and prejudices of those around us. In order to successfully break free of a pattern of weak or incomplete effort, I use the notion of "leaning in" as a body-mind-heart training: 

From my journal: 

3: Write a Mission Haiku

Stephen Covey says, “The first principle of ethical power is Purpose. By purpose, I don't mean your objective or intention- something toward which you are always striving. Purpose is something bigger. It is the picture you have of yourself-the kind of person you want to be or the kind of life you want to lead.”

Purpose and mission statements are popular with organizations, but they are also useful for individuals. I'm using Purpose to mean your overarching idea of who you are and what you want to contribute, and Missions as your various big projects or directions in life.

Today I will choose one or two missions or projects to examine closer, and write them as a haiku. A poem has a unique ability of getting to the core of a Truth. I'm always surprised by what surfaces in this process!

• First I write a brief, evocative sentence or two describing a top mission in life, and the significant issues that surround it.
• List the most exciting or pleasing verbs that describe what I want to do with this mission (Create? Share? Teach?)
• Next, list some of my core values that go with this top mission.
• Turn these sentences, verbs, and values into a haiku, an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (or try a Cinquain, which is five lines, with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllables), that gets to the core of my mission, and gives me a framework for my actions.

4. Practice visualization:

I call on the practice of visualization to help bring my goals to fruition. Today I choose my top three action goals to shine a light on. Creative visualization is a technique that uses my imagination to create change. It has three steps:

• First, center and relax each part of my body; count from 10 to 1, then open a connection to Spirit. Feel a soft warmth begin to grow and spread through me, until I am radiating quiet energy.
• Second, create a clear, detailed picture in my mind, as though the objective has been reached. Paint a vivid mental image of exactly how my sewing shelves will look on my wall, and how it will feel to see them, and put as much positive energy into the image as possible. 
• Lastly, affirm that this is what I want with a short positive phrase in the present tense; for example, "My new shelves bring order and ease to this corner of my life."

The thought-image is like a signal-flare that guides the physical thing or deed to manifest in my life (or it's just a good way to keep my intentions in my mind). I will carry the vision of the completed goal with me, and focus on it often during the day, in a gentle manner.

Full moon

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

Full Moon: Creativity and discernment
1. Take a Vision Walk
2. Celebrate with a full moon ceremony 
3. Generosity and gratitude practices 

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 am I longing for; what am I ravenously hungry for? Where will I find it? What is my next step? What beliefs, obstacles, doubts, or attachments are holding me back? Can I release them now?"

2. Celebrate with a full moon ceremony:

My theme for each month's full moon continues to be what it was at the new moon. Today I will remind myself of my intentions, 

celebrate my accomplishments, and reaffirm this theme for the next two weeks.

Each month I choose a different way to celebrate the full moon - it could be a quiet solo ceremony, or a family or community celebration. 

3. Brainstorm generosity practices:

When we are generous we share what we have freely - money, food, help, or time- without expectation of reward or return. We put full effort into looking after people. We are open-minded, give people the benefit of the doubt, and grant them our attention and life force. We are of service to the world. 

Generosity begins in your heart. It requires extravagant love and alertness to other’s needs. It also requires courage, in order to step outside of your comfort zone and be generous to all kinds of people.  Consider your growing edge with respect to generosity: How can you increase the flow of blessings in the world? You might need to push past feelings of reluctance and fear to a place where generosity is spontaneous and fun. Or you might need to get creative with generous acts that fit into your schedule.

Every month after the full moon I take some time to plan ways I can be open-hearted and open-handed in the next weeks. Queries: 

-How can I be more generous of spirit in my everyday conversations and interactions?

-What do I have that I could share - money, help, or time? How can I use my natural talents to express love and care for people?

-What is my role in the world around me? How can I be of service? How can I grow?

List some small generous acts I might do this month, that will challenge my growing edge. I start with ideas for being generous with myself, then my household, my family, my neighborhood, community, and the earth. I might decide to give money or a gift, or simple acts of helping and sharing my time. 

 

 Also, I imagine a time in the future when I have limitless time and resources to serve, and brainstorm a a few bigger actions I could take someday to help my community and my world.

When I'm motivated by the desire to give, just the intention to offer my help, and my willingness to listen, will begin to lessen suffering in the world.

4. Gratitude practice:

I have not been able to keep a gratitude journal with any continuity - I get bored and it becomes a chore. But last yer I started a small gratitude banner, with sticky notes, above my desk - and today I will add a few new notes. 

When I remember to feel grateful for my blessings, my days take on a different tone: I have more vigor, optimism, compassion, and peace. By noticing how I am blessed, my impatience decreases and I realize how satisfied and fulfilled I really am.

Third Quarter

Now the Moon is waning and light is decreasing again. The Third Quarter Moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work and self-care.

Third Quarter: Evaluation and renewal
1. Make a renewal plan.

2. Evaluation house
3. Monthly journal brainstorm

4. Surrender, rest, recuperate

1. Renewal plan for the next month:

“Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you… You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy...” --Stephen Covey

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on some combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today's third quarter waning half moon is my opportunity to review how I'm doing, and make note of new ideas for the month ahead:

Body & Discipline: Am I walking fast daily, plus some stretching, strength, and aerobics; eating well and drinking plenty of water; budgeting, saving, and spending within my means; sleeping and playing?

Mind & Vision: Am I writing in my journal regularly; expressing myself with art and writing, reading a book on principled living; researching or studying something; teaching others?

Spirit & Ethics: Am I maintaining a daily awareness practice; maintaining my integrity; reviewing and working to understand my mission; immersing myself in creation (writing, art, and nature)? 

Heart & Passion: Am I working daily to improve and repair relationships with my family and friends; making new friendships; volunteering my time in service; working to understand and care for myself; studying and practicing better skills for patience, listening, and communication?

From my Journal:

Renewal plan for this next month:

3. Evaluation House:

Today I get to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I review the intentions I set at the start of the cycle and draw a house with 2 rooms: 

• A celebration room for things I have accomplished and completed
• A ?? room for things I haven't finished 

Some of these I will decide to finish in the next couple days, some I will save for next month, and some I will release because they became irrelevant or didn't go as planned.

4. Monthly journal brainstorm:
At the new moon this week I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. Today I will write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days. This exercise has three parts:

Part One - collect information. Brainstorm goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next month without judgement - include at least a few crazy, improbable notions. 

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Next, write a list for each of my top priorities - anything that that comes to mind that I want to do or need to do, as long as it fits with my priorities;

-Also, read back through my journal, circle ideas that make me feel the excited and energized right now, and add these to the list.

Part 2 - reflect. Have a little chat with myself on paper about the next month of my life, and what my best month would look like, moving me in the direction of my most important reasons for living:

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

-Write about the parts that excite me and the parts that might be hard to find motivation for.

Part 3 - weigh the possibilities. Take a break for a few minutes. Get a fresh cup of coffee or go outside to look at the sky, then come back and read what I wrote. Write a very brief synopsis of the next month of my life.

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate: 

This next few days is a time to be empty; the time for striving is past. As the moon’s light fades into darkness I get to relax and surrender to the universe. 

Some things will always be out of my control. As the moon's appearance dwindles, I let go of useless beliefs, unreasonable expectations, grudges, defensiveness, projects that don't fit into my life, and anything else that isn't working for me. I turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.

Then I give myself permission to rest!