Lunar Loving~Kindness

On the Aries New Moon last month I shared an intention setting practice that I have been engaging with over the course of the last 4 years. The cycles of the moon reflect our own creative cycles. We can think of the breath cycle as mirroring the phases of the moon with the beginning of the inhale signifying the new moon, the building of the in-breath the waxing of the moon, top of the inhale as the "maxing" or full moon, and the exhale the waning moon which returns us to a new breath cycle.

While the new moon time is fertile ground for setting intentions and initiating our creative ideas, the full moon is a time of illumination and healing.  During a full moon the sun and moon are in opposition to each other which potentially highlights where we might also be experiencing our own opposing, limiting, self-sabatoging tendencies. The sun as our "conscious" mind and the moon as our "unconscious" emotions are facing off, thus making it a lot easier for us to see what we might normally prefer to keep hidden from view. Statistics show greater incidences of crime and emergency room traffic during full moons. The word "lunacy" originates from this idea that people are a bit more unstable at the time of a full moon.

​Become aware of how you are feeling in the days leading up to and on the full moon. Do you feel like you have more energy or less? Are there any emotional triggers that have become apparent? What are the underlying issues that they are amplifying?  What is the quality of your mental state? Are your thoughts complementary to your higher self or magnifying ego or fear? I suggest making some notes about what you are experiencing to better help you work with the energy. 

This month we have a Super Full Moon in Libra on Tuesday April 7th. It will be the strongest, closest moon of the year! That means you may be feeling extra sensitive. As quarantine life wears on us all it may feel cruel to have this much happening at once. "Corona virus has ruined my life!" as my 11 year old daughter said when we had to cancel her birthday plans recently. Perhaps you're feeling a bit the same way. . . . When I asked her what else the virus has ruined she named several things from going to stores (or anywhere!), playing with friends and even going to school. Each day she continues to identify and name what she misses and she's afraid it will be a really long time before we're able to enjoy those things again. I get it. We're all experiencing this frustration and fear to some extent. Crisis has its way of pulling out the best and worst of us. As practitioners on the path of awakening let's be careful not to turn our pain into pathology by making ourselves "bad" or "wrong" for feeling all that we do. But let's not shy away from our vulnerability or fear either. We can use it for our continued healing and transformation. 

I feel that the medicine for this moon is COMPASSION. Libra is ruled by Venus and points us to balance in partnerships--negotiating the dance between caring for ourselves and nurturing our relationships. How can we use what we discover in our self-reflection to serve the heart of another or others? When we are tempted to judge or be critical of another for how they (or we) are managing in crisis, let's instead practice being compassionate and remember that what we actually know about someone is minuscule in comparison to the reality of what they have lived and are currently living. Everyone is suffering on some level and when we can attend to our own suffering with loving-kindness we can, as Pema Chodron says, "recognize our shared humanity."  

This is the time to turn toward whatever is surfacing and allow the illumination to lead you to letting go. A simple ritual of release is enough now. Nothing fancy or complicated. What is ready to be released, forgiven or healed? You don't have to dig deep--it's often in plain view at full moon time. Write it or speak it out loud and ask for the divine support to be provided to assist you in your process. Realize what a blessing it is to have access to the tools that you have been given. Continue to use them to nourish yourself, your loved ones and as a service to those who are suffering. Whatever you choose to heal at this time helps us all. This, too, is what it means to be a powerful creator. What we create or heal within us is our greatest service to humanity because healed people HEAL others.

I was moved by this prayer that Brene Brown shared and invite you to incorporate it into your ritual:

For those who are sick. For those who are bereaved and supporting the bereaved.

For those of us who are anxious and afraid.

For those of us feeling alone and isolated.

For the medical professionals and health care workers around the world.

For those who have jobs that put them at risk and can't afford to miss a day's work.

For those of us who are especially vulnerable to infection.

For those who are confined to home but not safe at home. 

For the children who need the safety and care of school and those that serve them.

​For the teachers who continue to foster connection and learning in new and challenging times.

For the scientists and researchers dedicating their lives to helping us--many of whom are under pressure and underfunded.

For our leaders. May they find the strength and courage to lead with their hearts.
Amen.

For YOU and me--doing our very best.
Sending you many blessings as you journey with consciousness, courage and compassion.