A Task for the Waning Moon: Surrendering What No Longer Serves Me

Surrendering what no longer serves me frees me of shame:

Accepting the time for surrender
Accepting the time for support
Opening to let go
Opening to clarity
Trusting guidance
Trusting intentions
Proceeding with Truth as my sentinel
Proceeding with Source as my compass.

Self Reflection: I can surrender what no longer serves me, trading that in for my real life, that which does serve me, and others, and the world.

PS:Check out Michael Singer's book  surrender-experiment.

Letting Go of 'Our Way'

To Share Truth means opening our minds, hearts and actions to a direction other than our usual way of doing things.  Last month our reflection about letting go related to the things we hold fast to: stuff, relationships, beliefs, habits/addictions.  Now, our letting go is at a deeper level.  We consciously let go of attachment to our way of thinking and doing, adopting instead the intention to interact with our world from what we might call Divine Direction or Sacred Inspiration. 

When we have carried a belief, habit or fear around for a long enough time, it begins to feel as if it is part of who we are. It becomes a part of our identity.  Just the idea of letting go of something that has become our blanket of security, or our 'go to' comfort, increases our anxiety.  Anxiety further shrinks our ability to see the potential for our life.  For many people this becomes an ever deepening rut of  repeat limiting, self-destructive behaviors.

Here are two practices which can help us become willing, able and ready to let go of what keeps us from creating our dreams:

The first practice I call the 'god-box' practice. Write what it is you wish to release on a small piece of paper, fold it up so that the writing is folded inward.  An example:  "I ask for guidance and direction to let go of ___________________. "

If you have a personal altar you can place this request on your altar. I have a 'god-box' on my altar and use that to hold my requests and intentions. If you don't have an altar, to choose a small, special container to hold your requests and place it where you will see it regularly. There is nothing more you need do, except to keep your ears, your eyes and your heart alert for the guidance and direction you will begin to see as you move through your days.

This is not to say your letting go will be instantaneous or easy, though sometimes it is.  Often, our guidance comes in unexpected ways-someone shows up in our life who is able to guide us through an arduous letting go process.  Sometimes letting go comes in stages, by bits and pieces.  Sometimes, we find letting go just happens. Awareness and asking are the key ingredients to letting go over time. Letting go is an intentional request.  The willingness is ours to choose, the timing of when it actually happens, however, is not in our control.

The second practice for when you are not sure if you are yet willing or able to let go:
Write a prayer for the willingness to pray for the willingness to let go. An example:  "Creator, I pray for the willingness to become willing to ask for guidance and direction and inspiration to let go ________________.

Self Reflection: I read this prayer everyday, upon waking and before sleep.  Soon I find myself writing my request for guidance and direction.  Now, I am ready for the gifts of the 'god box'.

Letting Go of the Need to 'Let Go'

From yesterday's blog post, a practice is suggested of putting whatever we need to let go of in a specially designated container (such as a 'god box') and then leaving it there:
"There is nothing more you need do, except to keep your ears, your eyes and your heart alert for the guidance and direction you will begin to see as you move through your days."   

 Don't focus on what you think you must do, Just pay attention with all your senses, and a way for letting go will be revealed. Paying attention is an act of preparation for the manifestation of our dreams.  Paying attention also creates openings in our psyche, our behavior and our willingness for Great Mystery to enter.  In this way, we begin to experience the gifts of being co-creator of our life.


Self Reflection: Am I able to, ready to, willing to experience the gifts I receive when I am co-creator and not controller of my life?

Practices for Learning to Let Go

When we have carried a belief, habit or fear around for a long enough time, it begins to feel as if it is part of who we are. It becomes a part of our identity.  Just the idea of letting go of something that has become our blanket of security, or our 'go to' comfort, increases our anxiety.  Anxiety further shrinks our ability to see the potential for our life.  For many people this becomes an ever deepening rut of  repeat limiting, self-destructive behaviors.

Here are two practices which can help us become willing, able and ready to let go of what keeps us from creating our dreams:

The first practice I call the 'god-box' practice. Write what it is you wish to release on a small piece of paper, fold it up so that the writing is folded inward.  An example:  "I ask for guidance and direction to let go of ___________________. "

If you have a personal altar you can place this request on your altar. I have a 'god-box' on my altar and use that to hold my requests and intentions. If you don't have an altar, to choose a small, special container to hold your requests and place it where you will see it regularly. There is nothing more you need do, except to keep your ears, your eyes and your heart alert for the guidance and direction you will begin to see as you move through your days.

This is not to say your letting go will be instantaneous or easy, though sometimes it is.  Often, our guidance comes in unexpected ways-someone shows up in our life who is able to guide us through an arduous letting go process.  Sometimes letting go comes in stages, by bits and pieces.  Sometimes, we find letting go just happens. Awareness and asking are the key ingredients to letting go over time. Letting go is an intentional request.  The willingness is ours to choose, the timing of when it actually happens, however, is not in our control.

The second practice for when you are not sure if you are yet willing or able to let go:
Write a prayer for the willingness to pray for the willingness to let go. An example:  "Creator, I pray for the willingness to become willing to ask for guidance and direction and inspiration to let go ________________.

Self Reflection: I read this prayer everyday, upon waking and before sleep.  Soon I find myself writing my request for guidance and direction.  Now, I am ready for the gifts of the 'god box'.

Love Truth is Letting Go of the Need for Perfection

What have I encountered on this journey to Love Truth?
I have encountered the Truth that to Love Truth is to let go of my idea of the need for perfection.
I could name this a journey 'love imperfection', 'love patience', 'love what is hard to love'.
In my imperfections I recognize I have caused harm to others.
To love the truth of my human fallibility, means I can send a prayer for the one I have harmed.  
I can open myself to receive the grace of self-forgiveness, and in doing so
Grace comes through me to amend for the suffering my own suffering has caused another.
In the truth of Love Truth, grace can come through me.
And I can offer comfort through me.

Self Reflection: What am I encountering on my journey to Love Truth.  I wonder what is yet to be revealed?

on not hanging on to our present idea of good

When what we know and accept about ourselves feels like it is good enough, or that we are a finished product, or that we have finally arrived, we are likely entering the realm of illusion--once more time. When we keep striving to improve our lives and ourselves, to get to where we think we want to go, it is easy to forget there is no end point. We forget life is an ever-transforming journey. 
This journey is not to be feared, but embraced as we are ever evolving, ever more becoming, ever more being the person we were created to become. When we finally surrender to this process, we then experience the transforming joy of truth.  

He who binds to himself a joy 

Does the winged life destroy; 

But he who kisses the joy as it flies

 Lives in eternity's sun rise. 

William Blake

Self Reflection: I set my self free for transformation and joy!

The Gifts of the Waning Moon

During these last two weeks of every moon cycle, the moon slowly recedes from sight.
Yet, this time is not inviting us to withdraw and retreat.
Rather, this is a time for visibility, sharing and letting go.
Put into practice what you have been working on in the previous weeks of the cycle.
The waning phase of the cycle offers support for manifesting your intentions, visions and goals.
If your focus for this month is creating and becoming,
          the waning phase is time for putting your efforts out into the world.
If your focus relates to working with an addiction, releasing a bad habit, attitude or behavior,
          the energy of this part of the moon cycle offers gifts to lessen unhealthy cravings and urges.

Self Reflection; an exercise for clarity and direction: Go out each night being aware of the moon’s disappearing act; visualize your own self-sabotaging behaviors and attitudes disappearing from your life. Visualize them being replaced by manifestation and action.