Earth Mother Moon Journal, Issue 12 March 18 New Moon in Pisces
The work on the website has continued this month! Check out the site for these changes: the EMY (earth mother yoga) logo in the corner, the local workshops page, and a candle healing ritual has been added to the ministry. Also, for those of you close by, I am teaching a local workshop in June- Yoga For Inner Peas (yoga for gardeners, as a part of the saline community garden! http://salinegarden.org)
Another important note- my book is written!!! What an incredible thing! It is being edited and photos are being worked on (you can see one in this journal). I hope for it to be sent to the publisher next month. I will be taking pre-orders for the book, and then it will be available on amazon, and other locations in late spring or early summer. I'll be sure to keep you posted! Please contact me for more information, or read more here.
This month's journal will be more concise (I'm REALLY working at shortening my communication, as I tend to ramble, LOL). Since most of my writing and creativity has been flowing with the book lately, I'm going to share with you a few portions from that as well, including a meditation practice and a mudra (yoga for the hands!). Something on the march moon and pisces, and finally I'll add a little information on flowers for spring.
Much love and blessings,
Calesta Ana
ps. After you celebrate St. Patty's Day, don't forget on March 18th is another Irish holiday- Sheelah's Day. This honors Sheelah- Na-Gig, the goddess of fertility!
Another important note- my book is written!!! What an incredible thing! It is being edited and photos are being worked on (you can see one in this journal). I hope for it to be sent to the publisher next month. I will be taking pre-orders for the book, and then it will be available on amazon, and other locations in late spring or early summer. I'll be sure to keep you posted! Please contact me for more information, or read more here.
This month's journal will be more concise (I'm REALLY working at shortening my communication, as I tend to ramble, LOL). Since most of my writing and creativity has been flowing with the book lately, I'm going to share with you a few portions from that as well, including a meditation practice and a mudra (yoga for the hands!). Something on the march moon and pisces, and finally I'll add a little information on flowers for spring.
Much love and blessings,
Calesta Ana
ps. After you celebrate St. Patty's Day, don't forget on March 18th is another Irish holiday- Sheelah's Day. This honors Sheelah- Na-Gig, the goddess of fertility!
The Storm or Seed Moon:
Quoted from the book "Earth Time, Moon Time, by Annette Hinshaw
This is a chancy time of year. Tiny seedlings rush to stake out growing room before more careful plants dare even a cautious leaf above ground. These plants risk dying in the erratic frosts of early spring. Plants that await clearly warmer weather risk losing their places in the sun or the competition for necessary soil nutrients to the now stronger hardier plants that hazarded an early start.... So too the farmer who sows in spring must chose his time carefully... Despite the anxiety of choosing when to act, human hearts are lightened by the bursting joy of life returning and the beginning of the light half of the year at the equinox...
Choosing to begin something is an act of courage. The potential for failure looms over every beginning. Once we commit to action, retreat may not be possible. If what we begin does not work out, we may look like foods, lose all we have, or just fall on our faces and have to get up again. Sometimes we are afraid that we won't recover if we fail. The Seed Moon promises us that, if our courage does not fail, we can find the resources to begin again and again, until we succeed.
The challenges of the seed Moon arise primarily in choosing to begin necessary tasks or in completing the tasks we have begun. We can meet these challenges by developing better strategies for keeping track of what we're doing, and by learning to consciously control our decision processes. That is, most of what we do is done without conscious thought. The reasons why we act, and when we choose to act, are often obscure to us, and we may feel controlled by 'outside' forces. When we become more self aware, we can more effectively change our behavior in the directions we prefer.
What to Wish for when the New Moon is in Pisces:
Quoted from the book 'New Moon Astrology' by Jan Spiller:
Pisces rules joyful states, including: Internal happiness, bliss, ecstasy, and universal love.
Sample wishes to encourage a joyful state: "I want to consciously and consistently exerience the joy of my inner being"; "I want to feel spiritually fulfilled and happy"; "I want all of my resistance to experiencing bliss easily lifted from me"; "I want to easily find myself embracing the ecstasy of pleasure."
A Maiden's Meditation: Original Goodness
Quoted from the book "Earth Mother Yoga" by Calesta Ana Harrison
The following meditation and mudra is taken from my soon to be published book, Earth Mother Yoga: A Guide to Reclaiming our Feminine Divinity through Body, Mind, and Spirit. It is from a section on the Maiden. The book is broken down in to four main parts- first discussing body,mind, spirit and the Goddess/Divine Feminine, then into three feminine aspects, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Included are many yoga postures, daily practices, breathing exercises, meditations, mudras and more. I have included a meditation, and a mudra from the book for this journal.
I think one of the best practices for this time of life is letting go of judgement and practicing compassion. The first place we learn to feel compassion is to ourselves. From here it naturally will radiate to others. For women, we are taught the idea of being unclean from a young age. For this practice, I encourage you to look further at yourself as Divine. The following is quoted from the book ‘The Spirit of Yoga' by Cat de Rham and Michele Gill. You can read this anytime you have doubt of your original goodness!
"The Self is Divine: The self is at the core of every being, as a lake is hidden in the mountains. Therefore, such attributes as kindness, compassion, and selflessness need not be learnt. They come from within. From the Self. They are already there. All that needs to be done is to clear the dirt that hides them."
This beginning meditation practice will focus simply on being open, ‘clearing the dirt' so to speak. Begin meditation in a seated or supine position with the spine long (not hunched). Become aware of the body. Starting at the head, allow the eyelids to close and soften. Let the jaw release any tension. Ears relax, along with the head, all the way through to the ends of the hair. Allow the shoulders to relax, shoulder blades dropping down the back, heart opening softly. Relaxation floods down your arms and belly. This continues down the legs, to the knees, feet and toes. Your breath has become very slow and steady. Watch each inhalation and exhalation without judgement. Don't control the breath, just watch it. If your mind begins to wander, without any judgment at all, bring it back to the breath. Allow an open stillness to settle in to you. This openness frees your inner self to shine. Note the 'goodness' that is your inner divine self. Again, simply come back to the breath when the mind begins to wander. When you feel ready, bring your awareness back to the body with a few stretches, and slowly open your eyes.
The Mother's Gratitude Mudra
From the book "Earth Mother Yoga" by Calesta Ana Harrison
This is one of my favorite mudras to use in meditation. Place hands together pinky fingers lined up. The hands cup, as if holding water (emotions) or another substance (earth, flowers, etc.). When you hold this mudra, think of all of the many blessings in your life, each one floating down into your hands and spreading into your heart.
Spring Flowers, Magic and Creativity
Quote from the book Garden Witchery by Ellen Dugan
"To March belongs the daffodil. You know spring has arrived when the daffodils start to bloom. Magickally used for fertility and love, this favorite spring bulb needs to be planted in the fall. Daffodils are a traditional flower for the festival of Ostara, the spring equinox. Spring Wreath: A moss wreath would be an interesting choice for the base, or a grapevine. Add silk lilacs and dried rosebuds. If the wreath is going to be for Ostara, try tulips and daffodils, and use dried baby's breath and yarrow for fillers. Tuck a tiny faery in your wreath so she's peeking out from the flowers. A decorative bluebird with a tiny nest would be very spring oriented. You could add some mini garden tools or tie on a tiny watering can."
I wish you the best during this Moon Time:)
Feel free to email me using the contact form.
<< Previous Moon Journal Entry
Next Moon Journal Entry >>
Quoted from the book "Earth Time, Moon Time, by Annette Hinshaw
This is a chancy time of year. Tiny seedlings rush to stake out growing room before more careful plants dare even a cautious leaf above ground. These plants risk dying in the erratic frosts of early spring. Plants that await clearly warmer weather risk losing their places in the sun or the competition for necessary soil nutrients to the now stronger hardier plants that hazarded an early start.... So too the farmer who sows in spring must chose his time carefully... Despite the anxiety of choosing when to act, human hearts are lightened by the bursting joy of life returning and the beginning of the light half of the year at the equinox...
Choosing to begin something is an act of courage. The potential for failure looms over every beginning. Once we commit to action, retreat may not be possible. If what we begin does not work out, we may look like foods, lose all we have, or just fall on our faces and have to get up again. Sometimes we are afraid that we won't recover if we fail. The Seed Moon promises us that, if our courage does not fail, we can find the resources to begin again and again, until we succeed.
The challenges of the seed Moon arise primarily in choosing to begin necessary tasks or in completing the tasks we have begun. We can meet these challenges by developing better strategies for keeping track of what we're doing, and by learning to consciously control our decision processes. That is, most of what we do is done without conscious thought. The reasons why we act, and when we choose to act, are often obscure to us, and we may feel controlled by 'outside' forces. When we become more self aware, we can more effectively change our behavior in the directions we prefer.
What to Wish for when the New Moon is in Pisces:
Quoted from the book 'New Moon Astrology' by Jan Spiller:
Pisces rules joyful states, including: Internal happiness, bliss, ecstasy, and universal love.
Sample wishes to encourage a joyful state: "I want to consciously and consistently exerience the joy of my inner being"; "I want to feel spiritually fulfilled and happy"; "I want all of my resistance to experiencing bliss easily lifted from me"; "I want to easily find myself embracing the ecstasy of pleasure."
A Maiden's Meditation: Original Goodness
Quoted from the book "Earth Mother Yoga" by Calesta Ana Harrison
The following meditation and mudra is taken from my soon to be published book, Earth Mother Yoga: A Guide to Reclaiming our Feminine Divinity through Body, Mind, and Spirit. It is from a section on the Maiden. The book is broken down in to four main parts- first discussing body,mind, spirit and the Goddess/Divine Feminine, then into three feminine aspects, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Included are many yoga postures, daily practices, breathing exercises, meditations, mudras and more. I have included a meditation, and a mudra from the book for this journal.
I think one of the best practices for this time of life is letting go of judgement and practicing compassion. The first place we learn to feel compassion is to ourselves. From here it naturally will radiate to others. For women, we are taught the idea of being unclean from a young age. For this practice, I encourage you to look further at yourself as Divine. The following is quoted from the book ‘The Spirit of Yoga' by Cat de Rham and Michele Gill. You can read this anytime you have doubt of your original goodness!
"The Self is Divine: The self is at the core of every being, as a lake is hidden in the mountains. Therefore, such attributes as kindness, compassion, and selflessness need not be learnt. They come from within. From the Self. They are already there. All that needs to be done is to clear the dirt that hides them."
This beginning meditation practice will focus simply on being open, ‘clearing the dirt' so to speak. Begin meditation in a seated or supine position with the spine long (not hunched). Become aware of the body. Starting at the head, allow the eyelids to close and soften. Let the jaw release any tension. Ears relax, along with the head, all the way through to the ends of the hair. Allow the shoulders to relax, shoulder blades dropping down the back, heart opening softly. Relaxation floods down your arms and belly. This continues down the legs, to the knees, feet and toes. Your breath has become very slow and steady. Watch each inhalation and exhalation without judgement. Don't control the breath, just watch it. If your mind begins to wander, without any judgment at all, bring it back to the breath. Allow an open stillness to settle in to you. This openness frees your inner self to shine. Note the 'goodness' that is your inner divine self. Again, simply come back to the breath when the mind begins to wander. When you feel ready, bring your awareness back to the body with a few stretches, and slowly open your eyes.
The Mother's Gratitude Mudra
From the book "Earth Mother Yoga" by Calesta Ana Harrison
This is one of my favorite mudras to use in meditation. Place hands together pinky fingers lined up. The hands cup, as if holding water (emotions) or another substance (earth, flowers, etc.). When you hold this mudra, think of all of the many blessings in your life, each one floating down into your hands and spreading into your heart.
Spring Flowers, Magic and Creativity
Quote from the book Garden Witchery by Ellen Dugan
"To March belongs the daffodil. You know spring has arrived when the daffodils start to bloom. Magickally used for fertility and love, this favorite spring bulb needs to be planted in the fall. Daffodils are a traditional flower for the festival of Ostara, the spring equinox. Spring Wreath: A moss wreath would be an interesting choice for the base, or a grapevine. Add silk lilacs and dried rosebuds. If the wreath is going to be for Ostara, try tulips and daffodils, and use dried baby's breath and yarrow for fillers. Tuck a tiny faery in your wreath so she's peeking out from the flowers. A decorative bluebird with a tiny nest would be very spring oriented. You could add some mini garden tools or tie on a tiny watering can."
I wish you the best during this Moon Time:)
Feel free to email me using the contact form.
<< Previous Moon Journal Entry
Next Moon Journal Entry >>