Earth Mother Moon Journal, Issue 7, New Moon in Scorpio Monday November 20
The Dark Moon
This moon is called by some the 'Death Moon' - fitting for a time when darkness seems to be taking over, the days are shorter, and soon we'll begin celebrating the return of the light. But for now, it is a time of going deeply inward. It's interesting to me that it also tends to be the time most of us are busiest- with holiday parties, events, thanksgiving, cookie baking, presents and shopping... it takes us away from ourselves quite quickly, and we lose touch with what is going on around us. It is an even more difficult challenge for us in modern life to allow our bodies to go with the natural rhythms around us. I invite you to try the following short exercise this month, as often as you like:
Next time you get in your car (or other travel system) to go to any sort of event- especially if you are nervous or running late- stop and take a look around, take a deep breath, and notice what mother nature is doing right now. And notice your bodies reaction to it. Are you feeling cloudy, a need to nap and hibernate and have some time to yourself? Or maybe you are feeling that deep stir of creativity that comes from such stillness and darkness? What time do you need to create for yourself during this lunar cycle? As you notice the air, the rain, the snow, or the clouds drifting by- note if there is any particular message coming to you, or lesson from inside that you need to pay attention to. Then take one more moment (if you can take the cold!) and imagine your feet connecting deeply to the Earth, like roots going down like a tree. Feel that the Earth below not only grounds you, but brings you fully back to that presence and connection to what is going on around you, the moon and earth/sun cycles at this time. Now take a breath and return to your activities and see what a difference it is when you do this... or maybe you'll end up skipping that trip to the mall to take a nap, or read a book, or paint instead:)
Challenges This Month:
Change. Change is something we all (I know I do!) struggle with. However, "change is the one unchanging factor in our lives. Any attempt to hold our lives still is doomed to failure and pain. When we resist unavoidable change, we only exacerbate the unpleasant results. When we learn to submit to what will be, we can find, in that submission, the release of renewal and transformation. Each stage of every cycle has its own joys and its own sorrows, its own lessons and its own challenges." This brings us back to that exercise above- learning to live in the present, in the now and an easy way to do that is to get in touch with the natural rhythms around us. "The only strategy that works for dealing with change and transformation is the advice of the Alcoholic's Prayer: Change what we can, accept what we cannot, and strive for the wisdom to know the difference." In my experience the best way to do this is to let go IN TO the hands of Spirit (whatever you chose to call it), and not to try to micromanage it all. Some days I remember to do just that:) (Note- all quotes are from the book "earth time , Moon time, by Hinshaw)
Gratitude:
With thanksgiving around the corner, in the United States it's celebrated on Thursday November 23, I thought I'd have a section on gratitude! The following are two prayers and if you would like to explore further, I recommend clicking going to the websites to read more!
From http://www.beliefnet.com:
Native American Prayer for Peace:
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you, to your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this Earth.
And from, http://www.nierica.com/prayers/ExplorePrayer.html, Tom Soloway explores gratitude in our prayers, with the following prayer:
Thank you, Great Mystery, Great Goddess, Holy Mother and Holy Father, Great Spirit, You who are beyond names. Thank you for the opportunity in this life to be alive and to discover for ourselves how to pray in a healing way.
Mercury Retrograde:
Mercury has been in retrograde since last month, and according to astrology.com, although it will turn direct before the new moon, it won't be all settled well until december 5! I'm far from an astrologer, but what i do know is for most of us this is a period where communication, meetings, mail, etc. tends to be quite troublesome. For more information, visit: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html and http://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrology-articles/mercury-retrograde.php
Herb of the Month:
Birch Tree- I chose this tree as our herb for the month because I just adore white birch trees. And now, with the leaves fallen, I love to see their gleaming white trunks against the darker barks of other trees around them. For me, white birch trees signify happiness, and beauty... but let me tell you what Scott Cunningham has to say about it!
From Cunninghham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs:
Birch
Folk Names: Beithe, Bereza, Berke, Beth, Bouleau, Lady of the Woods
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deity: Thor
Powers: Protection, exorcism, purification
Magical uses: Birch twigs have been used to exorcise spirits by gently striking possessed people or animals, since the birch is purificatory or cleansing herb. The tree is also used for protection, and Russians used to hang a red ribbon around the stem of a birch to rid themselves of the evil eye. The birch also protects against lightening. The traditional broom of the Witches was made of birch twigs, and cradles were once manufactured from birch wood to protect their helpless charges.
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 >>
This moon is called by some the 'Death Moon' - fitting for a time when darkness seems to be taking over, the days are shorter, and soon we'll begin celebrating the return of the light. But for now, it is a time of going deeply inward. It's interesting to me that it also tends to be the time most of us are busiest- with holiday parties, events, thanksgiving, cookie baking, presents and shopping... it takes us away from ourselves quite quickly, and we lose touch with what is going on around us. It is an even more difficult challenge for us in modern life to allow our bodies to go with the natural rhythms around us. I invite you to try the following short exercise this month, as often as you like:
Next time you get in your car (or other travel system) to go to any sort of event- especially if you are nervous or running late- stop and take a look around, take a deep breath, and notice what mother nature is doing right now. And notice your bodies reaction to it. Are you feeling cloudy, a need to nap and hibernate and have some time to yourself? Or maybe you are feeling that deep stir of creativity that comes from such stillness and darkness? What time do you need to create for yourself during this lunar cycle? As you notice the air, the rain, the snow, or the clouds drifting by- note if there is any particular message coming to you, or lesson from inside that you need to pay attention to. Then take one more moment (if you can take the cold!) and imagine your feet connecting deeply to the Earth, like roots going down like a tree. Feel that the Earth below not only grounds you, but brings you fully back to that presence and connection to what is going on around you, the moon and earth/sun cycles at this time. Now take a breath and return to your activities and see what a difference it is when you do this... or maybe you'll end up skipping that trip to the mall to take a nap, or read a book, or paint instead:)
Challenges This Month:
Change. Change is something we all (I know I do!) struggle with. However, "change is the one unchanging factor in our lives. Any attempt to hold our lives still is doomed to failure and pain. When we resist unavoidable change, we only exacerbate the unpleasant results. When we learn to submit to what will be, we can find, in that submission, the release of renewal and transformation. Each stage of every cycle has its own joys and its own sorrows, its own lessons and its own challenges." This brings us back to that exercise above- learning to live in the present, in the now and an easy way to do that is to get in touch with the natural rhythms around us. "The only strategy that works for dealing with change and transformation is the advice of the Alcoholic's Prayer: Change what we can, accept what we cannot, and strive for the wisdom to know the difference." In my experience the best way to do this is to let go IN TO the hands of Spirit (whatever you chose to call it), and not to try to micromanage it all. Some days I remember to do just that:) (Note- all quotes are from the book "earth time , Moon time, by Hinshaw)
Gratitude:
With thanksgiving around the corner, in the United States it's celebrated on Thursday November 23, I thought I'd have a section on gratitude! The following are two prayers and if you would like to explore further, I recommend clicking going to the websites to read more!
From http://www.beliefnet.com:
Native American Prayer for Peace:
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you, to your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this Earth.
And from, http://www.nierica.com/prayers/ExplorePrayer.html, Tom Soloway explores gratitude in our prayers, with the following prayer:
Thank you, Great Mystery, Great Goddess, Holy Mother and Holy Father, Great Spirit, You who are beyond names. Thank you for the opportunity in this life to be alive and to discover for ourselves how to pray in a healing way.
Mercury Retrograde:
Mercury has been in retrograde since last month, and according to astrology.com, although it will turn direct before the new moon, it won't be all settled well until december 5! I'm far from an astrologer, but what i do know is for most of us this is a period where communication, meetings, mail, etc. tends to be quite troublesome. For more information, visit: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html and http://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrology-articles/mercury-retrograde.php
Herb of the Month:
Birch Tree- I chose this tree as our herb for the month because I just adore white birch trees. And now, with the leaves fallen, I love to see their gleaming white trunks against the darker barks of other trees around them. For me, white birch trees signify happiness, and beauty... but let me tell you what Scott Cunningham has to say about it!
From Cunninghham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs:
Birch
Folk Names: Beithe, Bereza, Berke, Beth, Bouleau, Lady of the Woods
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deity: Thor
Powers: Protection, exorcism, purification
Magical uses: Birch twigs have been used to exorcise spirits by gently striking possessed people or animals, since the birch is purificatory or cleansing herb. The tree is also used for protection, and Russians used to hang a red ribbon around the stem of a birch to rid themselves of the evil eye. The birch also protects against lightening. The traditional broom of the Witches was made of birch twigs, and cradles were once manufactured from birch wood to protect their helpless charges.
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 >>