Full Moon and Sacred Traditions

The December Moon Cycle is always in rhythm with the holidays and holy days. Moon cycle awareness doesn't hang it's lantern on the mantle of any particular spiritual practice, religious tradition or culture.  It includes and incorporates the sacred present in each tradition, and the agnostic and atheist traditions are included as well.  How we label ourselves, and how or why we have come to hold as Truths what we know from the traditions we embrace is irrelevant to the universe in which the moon ebbs and flows. The sacred is contained within each of us, as a spark able to give light, love and hope out into the world.  If we celebrated the sacred days and nights of all the traditions on our planet, it would be a rare day that was not considered holy, sacred or celebratory. If we looked for the wisdom regardless of the source, how much softer and receiving would our world be.

The teachings of all the wisdom givers, all the traditions, which some might call religious traditions, and some might call philosophies and some would have other names, they all teach us the same elemental Truths.  The language may be different, as well as the nuance. But the Truth is fundamentally the same.

Self Reflection: Take time on this holy day of the Full Moon to have gratitude for the Truth shared. Ponder a commitment to learn and have gratitude for the Truths shared on all the holy days in all traditions.

November Full Moon Moves Us Into Sharing OUR Fullness

Invitation:

As the moon is full with light on this night, may I too know the fullness of my light.

As the moon reflects the light of the life-giving sun, may I too reflect the light of my gifts, sharing the fullness and Truth of my being in the world.  

As the moon is not alone in a universe of endless stars, may I too remember I am not alone, there are others with me who may light the way for me, or with me.  

Self-Reflection: May I remember to ask for help, support and wisdom as I continue my journey to share my truth.

Full Moon for Walk and Work Truth; Grandmother Spider, Clan Mother Weaves the Web

A partial posting from Sara's public blog cowgirlzen.com :

We are inspired  this moon by "Weaves the Web", the prototypical mother of creative and destructive forces.  Spider medicine is strong in this season and moon cycle.

Weaves the Web and grandmother spider speak to me of manifesting the divine in my daily life.  Increasingly, my heart's desire is to simply be a daily, living expression of the Universal Love that I can sometimes touch in my meditations.  Today's lesson to me is about the importance of creating and then letting go of those creations.

Why, if I weave with the conscious intent of channeling the divine, should I not hold tightly, as sacred, to what I create?

Because I am human.

Because I am human, I am an imperfect lens through which the light of Creation shines.  My weavings are inevitably distortions of the indescribable beauty I feel inside.  To become enamored of them is to attach to the distortion.  To love without attachment is to honor the creative force embodied within them.  To let go is to acknowledge the abundance from which they sprang and from which sufficiently more will arise to take their place.

Self reflection:  How can I manifest 'divine intention' in my daily life?  Where could I practice letting go of 'my way' during the waning weeks of this moon cycle?

September Full Moon, Contemplating Twilight

All spiritual traditions, from all over the world, and throughout history, hold a time for sacred connection at close of day. In our modern, secular world, the end of day ceremony is likely to be ‘rush hour’ or ‘happy hour’.  

The most mystical and sacred times of day are in those moments when the sun sets and the sun rises.  These are two short periods of time in the twenty-four hours of each day where there seems to be a thinning of the veil between the material and the ethereal—our physical being and our spiritual being. 

What would happen if we consciously entered this the time between Evening and Morning? 

What is required?  

Merely begin a practice of contemplation.  

Merely!  This is such an act of conscious commitment.   

It is how we begin to express the Truth of our Self; how we Live Truth.

Self Reflection: My readiness and willingness to self-reflect leads me deeper into contemplation. I can rest in the natural growing of this practice, this gift. I can be grateful--and patient.

Seeking Our Own Morning Star

Carolyn writes: The evening star is called Wata-jis in Jamie Sams’ story of Setting Sun Woman in her book 13 Original Clan Mothers.  This same star is present in the morning sky for six months of the year, and is brightly visible to us in these predawn hours of autumn. If my memory from previous years serves me correctly, those of us in on this continent should be able to see her at least through the end of the October moon cycle.  If you recall from the story of Setting Sun Woman, the evening star became present to Setting Sun Woman as an infant in a cradle-board, also with the fur of the white bear as her robe.  Setting Sun woman put this child on her back.

Metaphorically, the child is symbolic of our purpose and calling in this life.  This little one is also the connection we have to this purpose; a way to express Creator’s design/template for our unique  being.  Setting Sun Woman puts the child in the cradle board on her back, another metaphor for us: our willingness to carry and align the expression and development of our purpose and calling with Divine Will. We are willing to carry our calling and to pay attention to it, and let it direct the way we express it in our life.  In the story, Setting Sun Woman sends the child back to the stars.  As I think about this in terms of my own growing Spirit within, I think of metaphorically offering my life and my spirit back to Creator at the close of my day.

Self Reflection: Am I willing to cradle my life purpose and carry it always with me; nourishing her and seeking to know her better?

August Full Moon: An Invitation to Sit in Contemplation with (at least) One Other Person as a Precursor to Serve Truth

Archbishop Rowan Williams, former leader of the Anglican Church, told the Synod of Catholic Bishops in Rome "…contemplation is the only ultimate answer to the unreal and insane world that our financial systems and our advertising culture and our chaotic and unexamined emotions encourage us to inhabit. To learn contemplative practice is to learn what we need so as to live truthfully and honestly and lovingly." 

Carolyn's thoughts:  In many ways, when one commits to relationship with Truth, which is what this practice of living and working within these cycles is, is to be a contemplative OUT in the world, rather than inside of the walls of our room, church, institution, or other place where we can avoid the impact of other humans’ creative or destructive chaos!  What a commitment!  And to do this without burning out our lives, our inner flame, we MUST be in relationship with some others who have this same longing, this same intention, desire, vision. 

THIS IS THE REASON to gather in small groups, holding each other in the same sacred way, supporting each other’s contemplation, willingness to share their insights, and supporting their actions in the world and their self-care.  In this way we are held in good stead to Serve Truth.

Self Reflection: Today I notice how I am already able to be contemplative AND be in the world, remembering this is a practice of awareness and of service to self, other, Truth.

Questions to Ask While Waxing Toward Fullness

The Full Moon for August is tomorrow.

Stop now and take a moment--  

Ask:

“What was happening in my life at the beginning of this moon cycle?

What has come in to make my life to make it fuller-whether good, bad, lovely or ugly?

What are my victories, no matter how tiny they might seem, that illuminate of my life?

What experiences and learning do I wish to keep?

What am I willing to share out in the world?

What would I rather not have added into my life and,if given the chance would take a 'do-over' (these are called regrets)?”

Self Reflection: These words rest with me and germinate as I live in these hours moving toward the full Moon of August. To have conscious awareness of the answers is a profound step toward Serving Truth.

The Gift and Grace of Speaking Truth

In anticipation of Speaking Truth in the world which is your life:
Just be still.
Still your body.
Still your mind.
Still all swirling emotions-feelings.
Still your spirit.

Being still with the body, hear her speak truth of her needs and her knowing.
Being still with the mind, discern ego speak from wise guidance.
Being still with emotions and feelings, their soft underbelly speaks a deeper truth of your heart.
Being still with spirit and Truth wells up from within, waiting to be spoken,

Self Reflection:  In preparation for June's full moon, I make time for my Self to be still.

Shadows and Brilliance from the Same Source

The full moon casts the deepest shadows and shines the brightest brilliance.
We turn and face the shadows of ourselves.
These shadows are distorted images and misshapen reflections of our true Self.
When we turn and face them, we see they are not the 'real thing'.
When we sit with Grace, our shadows reveal for us how we are mistaken about who we are.
Our shadow seen for what it is, we turn toward the light, and see for ourselves the shining brilliance of our being.

Self Reflection: Start by reflecting on the miraculous light of your own hands:
Cupping your hands with your fingers slightly spread in front of you. Let your eyes rest softly on your hands. Breathing gently yet deeply for twenty breathes, hold your gaze on your hands with soft eyes. These are miraculous hands; they can do so many things, caress, comfort, create...
As you breathe and gaze and appreciate, you may see a thin brilliant white aura reveal itself around the fingers.  This is the same brilliance that emanates around our whole being.  It is always there, even if we don't see it.

Lisa Sharing on Her Mandala and Wisdom for March's Moon

Spiraling in, expanding out,

ordering thoughts.

Digging, burying,

un/covering earthy understandings.

Overlapping intentions:

Accepting the truth.

 March Full Moon Mandala 

detail, March Full Moon Mandala

copyright, 2016 Lisa Kay

8 " x 9 " Mixed media (pastels, paint) and found objects 

( beads, buttons, charms, Grandma Annie's bracelet, wisteria seed pods) on matt board.

 

The Light of the Full Moon Shines Light on the Many Facets of Truth

Being willing to Know Truth, regardless of how it may change our belief or point of view, brings us remarkable freedom.  We no longer have to be afraid of what we don’t know,

The Elders teach that by accepting Truth the seeker finds doors open to more wisdom and to more possibility to live the lives she or he are designed to live. 

This Truth the Elders speak of, is not the truth of intellectual knowledge, but a knowing which surpasses the understanding of the mind.  We comprehend this kind of knowing through our heart.  

Self Reflection: Trust that you already possess this kind of knowing, because all human beings do.  

Trust this Truth and fear less.

First Full Moon of Spring. Are You Ready to Birth A Renewed Self?

More births happen on the full moon than any other time of the month. What is ready to be birthed in your life?

With the warm winter we have had, all the plants and trees have buds which look pregnant and posed to pop fully open at any moment.  They are ahead of their natural cycle.  It seems they have been influenced more by the weather than their genetics.

What do pregnant buds have to do with us?   Like pregnancy, we have parts of our lives which seem to have their own timeline.  Influenced by things outside our control, wishes and plans...when the time is at hand for birthing (or budding) change happens-with or without our 'permission'.  We may have done everything required to be ABLE and READY for what is pending birth; but are we WILLING to fully embrace what is being born within us?

Self Reflection: On the timeline of my life, what am I preparing to birth?

Nearing the End of February's Waning Moon

The February Moon Review for the Full Moon turned out to be exactly what my waning moon experience has been for this month! My suggestion was to RE-member (put together again)and to use ‘re-member-ing’ to piece together parts of our life, examining our attempts to preserve our version of our history. These past two weeks have literally offered me an experience of seeing a broader and deeper truth surrounding my childhood memories and perceptions. I am seeing and feeling myself in ways that I had blinded myself to.

Brief summary of what's going on: At the beginning of this moon cycle I began working with a Jungian Analyst Diplomat, exploring my personal history via my dreams and the memories which rise-up from the exploration of these dreams. The result has been a somewhat alarming awareness of how distorted and protective my perceptions of my childhood have been.  This experience reminds me that it IS REALLY important to have a supportive witness as we endeavor to see our lives more truthfully and with wisdom.  We must be gentle and non-blaming with ourselves as we come to know the fullness of our personal truths- necessary if we are to become our wisest selves. 

When the thoughts for the full moon and closing moon inspiration came to me while writing the MoonCircleJournal prompts for February', I had no idea the writing would, several years later, as I write in the published journal, quite literally be speaking to me!  My two weeks have been quite full, as well unsettling--yet, all is fundamentally good. I am also blessed to have a good support system. I am held in a beloved sisterhood, broad, wide, deep. And so are you, dear reader, if you choose to Honor your Truth and receive the wisdom kept here for you.

Self Reflection: I do not hesitate to reach out for support, for what I need, for what I want to share, and to receive and share a bit of sisterhood support.

Lisa Shares Her Full Moon Mandala (and wisdom)

February Full Moon Mandala

                                               copyright Lisa Kay 2016

(8.5" x 8.5", pastels on recycled cardboard with mixed collage media - 

shells, abalone beads, straw, snow flake crystals, magazine image, tissue paper)

She is/I am
gathering, nesting, holding, hording?

She is/I am 
off center, circling, spiraling ~ in and out.

She is/I am
sparkling, sticking, stacking, weaving~ over and under.

She is/I am Dragonfly,
shifting, breaking illusions, bringing  winds of change.

She is/I am honoring, trusting.

She is/I am resolute.


Self Reflection: What is it I honor in myself as I sit in resonance with Lisa's mandala for the Full Moon?