LunarMusings

New Moon in Cancer 2008

Happy New Moon!  I am going to deviate from what I normally do for these posts.  Its been a wild ride of a day, and feel more compelled to touch on my energetic experience then what house the moon is landing on, and what a Cancer Moon creates energetically.  More then anything, I just believe that we all intrinsically know whats going on with the Moon and how its affecting us, we just don't always know to identify it as such.

Its been a whirlwind of a day.  Lots of communication with people, emails flying back and forth at a break neck speed, business phone dates, delicious 2 hour phone call with this amazing lady, creating in a large and visionary way...  So much.  There are deep shifts wanting to occur.  I feel them inching their way towards me.  Messages, mirrors, secret whispers heard in my dream time, observances, inklings... all ways in which the Universe is setting the tone, answering my call, and opening the way for me to move through.

So tonight, on this New Moon, rather then do the work of looking at charts, reading up on signs, I am going to do my personal work based on the messages that are coming towards me right now.  I found a link to the following on someones blog.  Sadly, I can't for the life of me remember what blog I found this on, and if its you, Hi!  Thank you for this and please drop me a line. 

This is long, but so spot on with what it is I'm learning and living right now.  I think it will fit for you too.  This is a Manifesto for a design company.  Their work is innovative, completely outside the box, and the site is worth a browse.  So here it is:

An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

Written in 1998, the Incomplete Manifesto is an articulation of statements exemplifying Bruce Mau’s beliefs, strategies and motivations. Collectively, they are how we approach every project.

1. Allow events to change you.You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.


2. Forget about good.Good is a known quantity. Good is what we all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you stick to good you'll never have real growth.


3. Process is more important than outcome.When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we've already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.


4. Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the long view and allow yourself the fun of failure every day.


5. Go deep.The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value.


6. Study.A studio is a place of study. Use the necessity of production as an excuse to study. Everyone will benefit.


7. Begin anywhere.John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.


8. Harvest ideas.Edit applications. Ideas need a dynamic, fluid, generous environment to sustain life. Applications, on the other hand, benefit from critical rigor. Produce a high ratio of ideas to applications.


9. Keep moving.The market and its operations have a tendency to reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your practice.


10. Don’t be cool.Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.


11. Ask stupid questions.Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.


12. Collaborate.The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.


13. ____________________.Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.


14. Stay up late.Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you're separated from the rest of the world.


15. Work the metaphor.Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.


16. Repeat yourself.If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.


17. Make your own tools.Hybridize your tools in order to build unique things. Even simple tools that are your own can yield entirely new avenues of exploration. Remember, tools amplify our capacities, so even a small tool can make a big difference.


18. Stand on someone’s shoulders.You can travel farther carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And the view is so much better.


19. Avoid software.The problem with software is that everyone has it.


20. Don’t clean your desk.You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.


21. Don’t enter awards competitions.Just don’t. It’s not good for you.


22. Read only left-hand pages.Marshall McLuhan did this. By decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called our "noodle."


23. Make new words.Expand the lexicon. The new conditions demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of expression. The expression generates new conditions.


24. Think with your mind.Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.


25. Organization = Liberty.Real innovation in design, or any other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth of a split between "creatives" and "suits" is what Leonard Cohen calls a 'charming artifact of the past.'


26. Don’t borrow money.Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline, and how many have failed.


27. Listen carefully.Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.


28. Take field trips.The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.


29. Make mistakes faster.This isn’t my idea -- I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.


30. Imitate.Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You'll never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable. We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique.


31. Scat.When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up something else ... but not words.


32. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.


33. Explore the other edge.Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.


34. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms.Real growth often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces -- what Dr. Seuss calls "the waiting place." Hans Ulrich Obrist once organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of a conference -- the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals — but with no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned many ongoing collaborations.


35. Avoid fields.Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life. They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold, complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and cross the fields.


36. Laugh.People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I've become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves.


37. Remember.Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.


38. Power to the people.Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can't be free agents if we’re not free.

This entire list speaks to me, but there are a few that are very significant, and I am inspired to write about a few of them in the coming weeks.  I am on a plateau looking up and reading to take flight up towards another level.  I am aware that along the way I will be tripping up against my upper self limit line.  My work for this Lunar Cycle is to be conscious of this truth, be present with it, and let it go as I pass it by.  Self sabotage comes with unconsciousness.

Blessings! 

New Moon In Aries 2008

This New Moon occured last Friday, April 5th. 

This is the first New Moon of Spring.  Aries is the first one out the gate, the child, new beginnings, fire, passion, individuality.  This is the beginning. 

And I am feeling so inspired this year by the energy of Spring, that I am going to not go by the usual format I have used in the past with my New Moon reports.  Instead I am going to drop in some questions:

As you emerge from the slumber of Winter and into the newness of Spring, what do you bring forth with you?

What are you offering up as your gift to the world?

What is Spring Fever igniting for you?

What are the ways that you can tap into the deep feelings of emergence that Spring is here to gift you with?

And what do you look like, feel like, sound like, move like while in the state of birthing yourself into a more vibrant, evolve, aware adn beautiful you?

I send you gorgeous flowers for you hair, a deliciously lusty lovers kiss, and countless opportunities to walk barefoot on the grass.

Blessings,

e

New Moon in Aquarius 2008

Energetics: Aquarius is an air sign ruled by the planet Uranus.  Its visionary, revolutionary, innovative, original, calling for radical change, individuation and freethinking. Its a sign that rules the attitude "why not?" and makes visions and dreams possible.

This Aquarian New Moon hits my 11th House:

The Eleventh House is commonly referred to as the House of Friends. Through our friends, we find strength in numbers -- we see the power of the collective, the group. Groups addressed by this House include clubs, organizations, social groups, networking organizations and professional associations. The focus here is on the activities we undertake within these groups, how we make a difference and as a result, how we grow and actualize our true selves. Further, it's the group, by virtue of its collective strength, which helps to define what we as individuals will do.

As we grow, we have more opportunities and possibilities available to us, and the Eleventh House addresses these. Our interactions and efforts are in keeping with our priorities in life; these interactions have the ability to enhance our lives. A labor of love? Yes, in many ways. Through our friends and group activities we add substance and meaning to our lives and to society.

The Eleventh House also speaks to destiny -- in simple terms, our hopes and dreams, what we desire and what we want to achieve. Our creative vision is highlighted, the simple act of working toward our maximal selves. The power of collective creation, as well as the creative sparks generated by the group, are also important to this House. By banding together, we can create so much more.

In joining with our friends, we not only accomplish a great deal, but we can also enjoy the fruits of our labor. The Eleventh House also addresses the kind of friend we are: what do we do for others? How do we view our friends? How do they view us? It is our basic character which, to a great extent, defines the friends and groups we choose.

Oftentimes, we work with our friends toward a greater good and in the hope of improving society. This is our philanthropic side coming to the fore, the ability to selflessly and eagerly help others. It is also our humanity manifesting itself most effectively. At times, we may upset the proverbial apple cart, but the sum total of our efforts should be to look at the end result. If that's good, then the process of getting there, for better or for worse, is worthwhile. Lastly, the Eleventh House also governs stepchildren, foster children and adopted children.  (from www.astrology.com)

LunarMusings:

There is a lot stirring around me with regards to my art.  Interest in my journals and opportunities to sell them in other places have come up through friends and acquaintences.  I have also been approached to participate in a collaborative project creating inspiration cards for pregnant women and mothers.  This also has come to me through a friend.  I'll be honest, I'm a bit detached about it all.  Its as if this movement sits under a veil for me and although I see the opportunities and the doors that are opening and want to open, there is a bit of a haze between me and them. 

And so the Moon...  Reading all this, and sitting in silence with my world swirling all around me, served me well this morning.  More then anything the lesson for me is to say yes.  Yes to the opportunities that are coming my way.  Yes to the beauty of those opportunities coming through friends.  The haze I feel, the detachment, is my fear I think.  Its this general state of anesthetization that keeps me from being to invested, and therefore feeling like I won't lose or be disappointed if it doesn't work out.

Lunar Intentions:

Not only am I going to say Yes! to the doors opening before me, but I am also going to allow my internal joy and excitement to exist fully, both within me and outside of me in the form of my languaging, my affect, and my energy.  I am going to fully embrace the excitement that is coming with getting to be bigger and reach farther with my work.

It is so.
:)

New Moon in Capricorn 2008

Energetics:

Capricorn is an earth sign, symbolized by the Goat.  Its practical, patient, ambitious, stable, serious and initiating.  It feels for me like a very rooted-deep-down-in the-packed-earth type of energy. Not in an immobile way, but in a very dense, physical material type way.  If that makes any sense.

This Capricorn New Moon begins in my 10th house:  (stay tuned for later on next month when there will be a page here to help you figure out what house the moon lands on for you!) 

The Tenth House is commonly referred to as the House of Social Status. It is about the place we have attained in our social (or work/career) grouping and in society as a whole. Think status, the authority it conveys, and consequently, the role we take in our community. It also speaks to any promotions we receive, any fame we may have or will come to have and the types of business and social activities in which we partake. With respect to achievement, this House focuses on how we see ourselves and how the community as a whole sees us (and our efforts). Through this House, we work on manifesting ourselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Vocation is important in the Tenth House. What role will we choose and how will we best fill it? How much do we want to achieve? Career, professional goals, ambition and motivation all come into play here. In a more practical context, employers and their rules are covered here, as are any other organizations (specifically the government) which have the ability to rule over us. Along with our life's work comes the challenge of ruling over others, although there will generally be someone who lords over us.

The prestige and social status we accrue by virtue of our careers and vocations can be seen, intangibly, in the form of ego gratification. How we manage this is addressed by the Tenth House. It may be most difficult to tire of financial rewards in our consumerist society; surprisingly, ego massage may grow old more quickly.

The question of how we will manage these gifts, and the status that comes along with them, is important to this House. Will we use our power to truly help society, or will we be willful and reckless? Not all of us are cut out for grand scale social success or equipped to help society significantly. It's also worth noting that many of our successes are achieved with the aid of society, not in a vacuum.

The relationship of the individual to a group and to society is also highlighted in the Tenth House. To improve things and to make an impact, we must feel a real kinship to the cause; a fervent resolve to change things is necessary. In this way, we will achieve that social status which is truly worthwhile. Lastly, in keeping with its focus on rulers, the Tenth House addresses the father, who is generally the more authoritarian parent.

(from astrology.com)

LunarMusings:

I don't think that its  a coincidence that we have this Moon at the beginning of our year.  Perhaps when our Gregorian calendar was being creating, they either knew it was around this initiating Moon, or they were subconsciously guided by its energies.  Who knows? :)

In any case, this Moon is the goal setting Moon.  As we are all looking at New Years resolutions, we are in line with the energies in the sky.  Capricorn is about manifesting.  Its also about the work that goes into it.  The day to day details, the action, the discipline.  This Moon cycle is all about business.  And I am so feeling it.

My day to day right now has me looking at my vision board, reading my goals to my self everyday, and being very conscious about planting my seeds to nurture these goals in big and small ways every single day.  I am so feeling the motivation.  I am also feeling impatient.  I want it all now.  I am really feeling the need to transform my work in the world from a sapling to a huge gigantic oak tree in 1.5 seconds!  Its as if I'm having premature labor. 

There is a tempering that wants to happen with this Moon, and perhaps thats something that we all need.  Now that the goals for the year have been set, now its about making a list of intentions or singular intention about how we set out to accomplish these goals, or how we set out to nurture this manifestation in our lives. 

What is going to be our underlying method of manifestation?  This is an important question.  One that really asks us to look within ourselves and acknowledge how we go about creating our lives, and exactly how we wield our individual power to create. 

Lunar Intention:

Right now, my intention is to begin each day as if it was new, and the only one that existed.  To read off of my map for the year, and intend my day to serve that direction. 

Happy New Moon everyone!

New Moon in Scorpio 2007

Energetics:  Scorpio moons are ruled by the planets Mars and Pluto.  Its a fixed water sign symbolized by both the Scorpion and the Eagle.  Scorpio is an intensely passionate, secretive, deeply penetrating sign. It rules connections on deep levels particularly with the opposite sex.  My experience with Scorpio always feels like it comes from the deeper shadow within.  Dark, but not in a negative way.  More like those drives that rule us from those parts we don't really pay attention to because they don't exist on the surface of our everyday lives.  There is also a tendency towards all or nothing with this sign.  And that its geared towards sexuality, will give you a bit of an idea of the intensity of Scorpio. 

This New Moon in Scorpio is transiting my 8th house:

The Eighth House is commonly referred to as the House of Sex. This House delves into relationships -- interactions with another and how certain aspects of those interactions can take on a more communal nature. It speaks to what our relationships will bring us and how we can get the most out of them.

Returning to this House's emphasis on sex, it's important to note that the French refer to an orgasm as 'le petit mort' or 'the little death.' When we reach that exalted state of communion, we leave a little of ourselves behind -- die a small death. One can also choose to view this as growth, a new beginning, the rebirth of the soul or a gain for the partnership. The Eighth House is an equal-opportunity House, placing sex, death and rebirth on the same level playing field and acknowledging the viability and importance of all three. We will all experience death and rebirth as part of our lives: failed relationships leading to new ones, career changes, a new hairstyle. We are regenerated and reborn with each new phase and should welcome them.

Shared resources also fall within the Eighth House: inheritance, alimony, taxes, insurance, support from another. Financial support as well as spiritual, emotional and physical support are addressed by this House. While our relationships share many of the aforementioned things, they also have their own dynamics and grow from within (we grow through our sexuality as well as through other more tangible means). That said, much as our relationships are expansive, they also have certain constraints, many which are placed on them by society. Again, taxes, alimony and the joint nature of assets come to mind. Yes, with every opportunity we have, we may face a restriction along with it. Once again, death and rebirth.

In keeping with the transforming nature of this House, rituals are highlighted. Every group has its own way of peering in and looking deep into the soul and the past, if only to get a sense of what we truly are. What quality will our rituals take on? Exalted states or metamorphoses? What secrets do we keep and why? How we manage our interactions, relationships and rituals is important to the Eighth House -- will we be honest, effective and responsible? Will the riches generated by our relationships benefit the group (company, humankind) as a whole? Our legacies are key to this House: how we conduct ourselves now, and how that will play out for all time.

LunarMusings:

Its interesting to me as I read the above, how right on all of this is for me now.  Jon has returned, and we are in the process of our reweaving.  And with that, comes the deeper probes of the heart, relearning who we are, diving into deeper spaces after a year of existing on the more superficial planes of communication over phone and computer.  And with all this comes the newness of sharing a home.  Talks of money and how we manage it, what we do with it, and how we share these responsibilities are up for us.  Its challenging for me and all of my money baggage.  Just talking about it, brings a tightness to my abdomen.  It feels intensely vulnerable to me to reveal myself financially.  Much of my family of origin issues are boxed up in this area of my life and its interesting to be in this process now with Jon.  Love, sex and money...  The intensity doesn't feel explosive as much as it feels pervasive and naked. 

We are also in a place to recreate or perhaps create for the first time rituals of engagement, which also is highlighted by this lunation cycle. 

These themes have come up in my life on their own, naturally, prior to this moon cycle. And it amazes me that we ride these tides all on our own with or without knowing what the Moon is doing. 

Lunar Intentions:

For this Lunar cycle, my intention is to remain conscious of this process I am in with my Beloved.  To be fully in my body, fully responsible for how I approach the table so to speak.  To remain in Truth and continue showing up naked in trusting vulnerability. 

New Moon in Libra 2007

Energetics:  Libra is ruled by the element of air and the planet Venus.  Its symbol is the scales and that of course symbolizes Libra's propensity for balance, justice and diplomacy.  It is also the sign of love, relationships, marriages, partnerships, art, beauty, romance, and femininty. 

This Libra New Moon happens late Wednesday evening and will be transiting my 7th house which is also the house that Libra rules.  For me this means that the effects of this moon are just more intensified. :)  Here is a read up on the 7th house from Astrology.com:

The Seventh House is commonly referred to as the House of Partnership. With this House, we see a shift away from the self toward another -- a partner. By cooperating with and relating to another we unite for the purpose of achieving something. Purpose is important to the Seventh House -- the act of accomplishing something great or small for the self, the partnership and even society as a whole. In uniting with another, we also become a more valuable member of our world: we make a contribution, one small cog in the wheel of life. We have purpose. Cooperation and partnership help to expedite our purpose in life.

Through a partnership, we fill out our essential being. Suddenly, we see ourselves in context. Through a partnership in which we work, play, love and/or create, we are fully formed and completed. The other half helps to make us whole. Ultimately, how we relate to others will help to define the success we have as a human being and as a member of humankind.

The Seventh House shows us that partnerships can take many forms: marriage, business relationships, contracts, legalities, negotiations and agreements. We will cooperate to a greater or lesser extent in these varied partnerships. The quality of that cooperation, in essence how we relate to the other, is key to the Seventh House. Why do we choose this partnership? Is it for love or money? Practical reasons? Social considerations? There are many reasons for uniting with another. We may choose to fill voids we see in ourselves. We may simply want the company and companionship of another. The partnerships we form say a great deal about ourselves and also serve to teach us much. This House wants us to know that the quality of our partnerships will enhance our lives, make them fuller, more special and better for everyone.

Tensions within a partnership also serve to teach us lessons. For this reason, the Seventh House also focuses on the darker side of our unions. Divorce, lawsuits and treaties all fall within this House. At its worst, a partnership may create enemies -- and on a more global scale, these rifts can deteriorate into war. It is our reaction to this adversity which will shape the partnerships yet to come.

Lunarmusings:

I wrote an email recently to our magical blogging sister, Maddie, where I said that Love is not for the faint of heart.  And for me, at this time, with this Moon, this is what is up for review for me.  Who am I in Love?  Who do I choose to be?  And when the dance becomes too tense, too risky, too unstable, what do I need?  Who will I be?  What do I do?  And more importantly, what lesson is Love trying to gift me with? 

For the rest of the world... :)  tomorrow is a perfect night for that list. You know the one I'm talking about.  That list for the Beloved.  And if you find yourself next to the Beloved already, then perhaps your list can be about all the things you are grateful for and perhaps what more wonderful things you want to add to the partnership.  Let this moon be a celebration of what you have, and what is on its way to you. 

Relationships are the places where we meet ourselves, grow and find that there is indeed an Other.  Who do you choose to be in relationship with?  Who are you in your relationships?  How can we all learn to bless each other in the time we spend together on this Earth?

Intention for this Lunation Cycle

Right now, mine is to breathe and be present.  And always in all ways, to trust Love.

Blessings to all of you.

New Moon in Virgo 2007

Vegan Chai Ice Cream


Energetics:  Virgo is ruled by the element of Earth and the planet Mercury.  Virgo is attention to details, perfectionism, analysis, organization, whittling down desires until you know exactly what you want to make possible.  The moon is the body and viro is health conscious so it want to improve the vessel that contains the sould.  Its about making incremental adjustments to balance the sense of self and ths service to others.

This New Moon is Transiting my 6th House of Health.

The Sixth House is commonly referred to as the House of Health. Implicit in maintaining good health is the ability to cope in the face of adversity, and this theme rings truest in the Sixth House. As human beings, we naturally have shortcomings. What will we do with them? How will we react in the face of a personal crisis? Crises, illnesses and reversals of fortune are all part of our Earthly trek. How we confront these situations and deal with the lessons they invariably teach us helps to define the person we become.

Our fears may hold us back, but if we can meet them head-on and come out stronger on the other side, we may learn the valuable lesson of service or what our life's work should be. Work and service are central to the Sixth House. The focus here is on employment (employers and employees), training, those who serve us (along with those we serve) and those who depend on us. Keeping ourselves strong throughout these efforts is also important here, which is why this House further focuses on health (good and bad), diet, fitness and hygiene.

Essential to the work we do in life is the work we do on our self. Duty, responsibility and personal growth all contribute to the creation of a fully-realized being. We work for others as well as for ourselves; we are at service to those who need us, including our own being. There will be times when crises of health or faith will stand in the way of our best self. At those times, we must endeavor to heal ourselves (again, the focus of this House is on health) so that we can return to the work of realizing our sum potential, of serving our world.

The Sixth House also addresses the daily dailiness of life: what will I wear today? Do I need a haircut? Has the dog been fed? These simple matters keep our engines humming and enable us to do the more important work of our choosing. It's a patchwork quilt: the ability to serve others in health and through work which is both valuable and fulfilling.

Quoted from Astrology.com

Lunarmusings:

This lunation cycle feels good to me. Timely.  Before it even arrived my mind was gearing up for the mental shift to attend to my body.  Health is always looming in the back of all of our minds, but lately it has been heavy on my back, and even though I am aware of very huge changes that need to be made in my regimen, I have had a hard time focusing on it long enough to make a consistent shift.  So much has been happening on my end.  Changes in my work, my art, my focus for the future, challenges with Jon and our ideas for our future...  My health has been needing so much attention, and I have found that the calls for attention that it gives me have been met with absentminded wave offs.  The idea of being consistent with my meal preparations, with getting to yoga and running on specific days, my morning, bathing, and supplementation rituals have all been too much to keep track of.

But as I sink deeper into these new rhythms with regards to the other parts of my life, I am feeling the pull to attend to my health, and this Virgo New Moon is the perfect energy to give my new focus the support it needs. 

One thing that came up for me this morning as I was meditating is how grateful I have been for the Sacred Life Project and how its been an amazing practice in being conscious of the daily Sacred in my life.  There have been days when I have been lost in my To Do List and forgotten to take a moment and look up and see how Spirit is making its presence known to me.  The Sacred Life Project keeps me looking.  Keeps me awake so that I may catch glimpses throughout my day. 

In preparing for this post last night and today, I had the inspiration to do something similar as the Sacred Life Project for the observance and commitment to wellness.  Body, mind and soul wellness.  Something that would not only keep me in the consciousness of wellness, but also something that we can all use to share with one another the things we do and use in service to Wellness.  I would love to get your feedback on this, and will also post again with specific information on what will be called Wellness Wednesday!

Intention for this Lunation Cycle:

My intention is to now place my health and body, at the top of my priority list.  To attend to the places that have been sorely neglected, and to maintain optimal wellness.  I also intend on creating Wellness Wednesday as a community support system to inform, encourage and bless our collective intentions for healthier living.

Blessed Be.

New Moon and Lotus Blossoms...

Tomorrow is the New Moon in Leo.  For some reason I have been very off in my rhythm and thought that this new moon would occur next weekend.  I was fixated on this date and even though I kept looking at the ephemeris to see what the Lunation times would be, I kept seeing the 18th instead of the 12th.  My Frister, Yvonne is convinced that my fixation is about some premonition, although I can't seem to pull through what that would be.

In any case, this entry doesn't want to be like the other Lunation entries I have been posting of late.  This New Moon energy is coming to me in a very different light.  Leo is a fire sign.  Very much so, and also all about being OUT, SEEN, Big in the world.  This New Moon is perfect for launching any and all creative endeavors out into the world in a big, even flashing way.  The Lunar current will take our creative intentions and open them into the world and give a huge push to our momentum.

So in my belief that the New Moon would be next weekend, I had set my Etsy store opening for that weekend, not realizing that tomorrow is the New Moon. (the picture above is the very beginnings of another one of my journal covers)  I am still going to shoot for next weekend, and instead ride the energies that are very real and happening right now, to do my personal altar work.

I have begun taking a Tibetan Yoga class.  Its an 8 part, deeply meditative practice that uses asana, mudra and mantra work to open the heart.  It is quite frankly the most beautiful yoga work I have ever experienced.  For more information go here, Carry Kim is a potent and beautiful teacher and transmitter of wisdom. 

So in todays class, we learned another part of this series of asanas that comprise this practice.  And one of them was this amazing and simple meditation/breath work.  We stood with our feet a bit pigeon toed, soft knees, eyes closed, with our arms held straight in front of us, parallel to the ground.  With the inhale, bringing the air through the crown and all the way through each chakra, the arms begin to open, moving out to each side in a sweeping motion, while envisioning the lotus flower growing exponentially within our arms, symbolizing that which we bring into our selves - peace, healing, beauty, abundance, love...  And with the exhalation, bringing the arms back to center held out in front of the torso, releasing all the negativity, blockages, and suffering that is building up within. 

I have done similar breath work before when releasing negative energies, and bringing in other intentions, but never with the visualization of the lotus.  And it became such a visceral experience for me.  I felt in my arms this growing blossom, continuing to widen and grow heavier, but softer, and more tangible as my breath deepened.  I felt in my chest, shoulders and in my abdomin this sensation of blessing.  Of fullness and ease.  I was so overwhelmed and touched that I began to cry.  It was beauty of sensation, not of form or sight, and it touched me in my core. 

What is interesting to me, is that Leo Moons are very firey, very yang.  But what I'm experiencing is very much an energy of soothing water, creative birthing that is gentle, but powerful and pervasive. I'm very much in this feminine state, and I wonder how much of that is very linked to the creative force that Leo brings with him? I suppose too, that because I have been quite tender around my edges of late, ushering in such a potent creative time through the vision and soothing balm of the Lotus flower would serve my soul much more then the bombastic ride that is Leo...

I don't know... But I can say that I am so grateful to have these next two days to myself to have yummy tea, fresh juice, practice yoga, meditate, paint, create and just Be.  I am very much enjoying these very first baby stages of my creative growth in the world.

I send you all soothing scents from gorgeous flowers, long luxurious moments of quiet, and peace... deep abiding peace.
e

New Moon in Cancer 2007

(This sweet face has no name yet, but was doing a great job at pulling on my heart strings and taking me to that very real very juicy emotional core.  How can anyone look at a sweet puppy face like this and not fall crazy in love? He's 6 weeks old and was born on the Blue Moon May 30th.)

Energetics:  Cancer is a sign ruled by the element of water and the Moon.  This feels like the big one when it comes to our deep emotional climate, intuition, home, nurturing, and the retreat back into the shell.

For me this sign feels like the internal deep warm pool of emotions that I can get caught up in.

This New Moon is transiting my 5th House of Pleasure.
The Fifth House is commonly referred to as the House of Pleasure. Oftentimes, pleasure is the result of a creative act. The simple act of creating is, essentially, giving of oneself and making something -- making another? Yes, the Fifth House does speak to procreation and children, but it also addresses the creation of art and culture. The creative life is one from which we can derive much personal pleasure and self-satisfaction. Do I like this? Does it make me feel good? Does it bring me pleasure? The answers therein are the domain of the Fifth House.

Children as a source of pleasure are also important in the Fifth House. This brings us back to creativity, since through our children, we create an extension of ourselves and then watch it grow. Giving our children all the good we had (and have), and then some, is certainly a pleasurable pursuit. How will this manifest itself? What form of pleasure and emotional release is best for our children? Music, dance, theater, art, science, literature -- these fancies are for them and for us. Play for the purpose of emotional enrichment and pure pleasure is what the Fifth House is all about. (this excerpt was taken from iVillage.)

Lunarmusings:

I have been stirring deeper and deeper in these last couple of weeks.  My very concrete goals of creating a logo for my Etsy store gave way to losing myself in paints and in art.  I haven't been feeling very concrete lately.  I have just been feeling.  And so this Moon has been ushering Herself in for me for a while now.  I find myself Feeling where I am at today, and where I am in my personal development.  I am feeling my paints, my colors, my images.  I am feeling the need to create a larger life in my home.  I have been feeling in my bones, this biological need to create babies.  It is coming from my cells.  Its the strangest most enlivening thing I have ever felt.  Its such a profound journey to walk this Earth as a woman.  My body is the source of so much information, pleasure, wisdom and magic.  Its overwhelming. 

I have been aware of this baby longing for a bit now.  And have begun to channel it in other directions, particularly my art and writing.  I am planting seeds now to launch new endeavors in the world and it feels exciting.  But the need to nurture a living being is very real.  I'm not in a place to have children now.  Even though my body is ready, my life is not, and I truly believe that one should only choose to have children when they are in a position to give that child the emotional/familial foundation it deserves.  And I am clear that that does not exist now.  My life space is not able to sustain a child now.

But that hasn't stopped me from wondering if a puppy would help nurture this need to nurture.  My client/friend Fey, has ten of the cutest puppies you have ever seen.  Do you see where this is going?  I've gone to visit twice and will probably stop by again this week.  People get dogs all the time.  But its such a huge commitment, and although I know that I could completely do it, there is something to be said about having an easy uncomplicated life where I don't have to worry about socializing, training and loving a dog in an urban setting, which means daily trips to the dog park, finding dog sitters when I travel, feeding him a good diet that will very likely consist of raw meat, (eww.) and (and this is a big one) managing the relationship between and 11 year old beauteous kitty, and an active teething, soon to be large dog, in a small one bedroom apartment. Not to mention the financial obligations that come with all of this.

I have lost my mind.

But that feeling you all got when you looked at the above picture?  You know the one, where the center of your chest just warmed up?  I have this need for more of that in my life.  Is that a valid enough reason to get a dog?  Could I address this need in another way?  Could I channel all of this into my art, and just use this time as a practice in presence with my emotional journey?   I don't know.  And I can't make a decision just yet. 

So my Lunar Intention this cycle is to just be with what I'm feeling.  Let the Cancer Moon take me on its watery current while I dive into my journal making, and open to the possibility of the path revealing itself for me.

This is a Moon Cycle to be kind to ourselves, nurture ourselves, and Be with the currents of our lives.  I send blessings to all of you, and may we all savor the beauty of being human and having the capacity to Feel all the complexities and beauty that lie within us.

Blessed Be.

New Moon in Gemini 2007

  Energetics:  Gemini is an air sign rulled by the planet Mercury.  It governs information exchange, learning, communication, opening of the mind, flexibility, changeability, and mental spaces.

For me, Gemini always seems fast moving, quick witted and at times even a bit overwhelming in a very stimulating way.  Two of my close friends are Geminis and the communication that takes place between us could leave anyone in the dust!  Being an air sign as well, that chatty, exciteable part of me gets triggered HUGE and there is always some serious fast talking and hurling of information that goes on. 

This New Moon is transiting my 4th house of Family and Home.

Much of the emphasis of the Fourth House, however, is on the concept of home. By laying down roots, we make a home for ourselves, or more specifically, the self. It's worth noting that in addition to the external home (all the bricks and mortar around us), we have really brought the essential self home. 'I'm home.' The words themselves have a peaceful ring to them. The self is now centered, grounded, one and at peace with the Earth. We seek to come home both physically and psychically, for ourselves and for those we love. By creating home, we create a meeting place, a sanctuary, a sacred place for ourselves and for others.

In our home, we integrate the self with all that has come before us and helped to shape what we are today. We create a domestic space which comforts and nurtures us and serves to keep safe those we love. Also important here are family history, cultural and societal norms, and ways of being. All of these are ruled by the Fourth House, as are our ancestry, roots and heritage. These qualities are brought 'home' through us and integrated into the place we call home.

Helping to create the home we make are our parents, for it is they who greatly nurture and shape our being. Therefore, the Fourth House can also be thought of as the House of the Mother, the Parent or the Nurturer. (From www.astrology.com)

Lunarmusings:

There is much happening these days for me.  The energy I am resonating with is very much circling around ways in which I communicate my work in the world.  I have been so immersed in my art, and in preparing for the fair last week.  And now there is another show to prepare for, and it is all happening now.  So in an obvious way, I am focusing on creating an Etsy store, and a more organized blog site to continue being accessible online, as well as creating a store front.  This is exciting to me, and also makes me further detail who I am in how I name myself and my work.  All things Gemini and communication. 

On a deeper level, that I am not ready to really deal with, is my 4th house stuff.  When I saw that the Moon is crossing through my 4th house, and I read the discription, I scrunched my face.  My relationship with my mother and on a deeper level with my maternal lineage as a whole has been a bit challenged in the last year.  Or few.  I am in a place with my mother, where communication is extremely difficult for me, as normal ways of expressing myself don't work with her.  The truth is that I am not ready to dive into this yet, and find myself resistent to what the Moon may be pointing out to me in this area. 

I am also very aware that as I continue to enjoy the feeling of being home both physically, and energetically, it is at a clear and obvious seperation from her.  The home I have and create for myself, the way I choose to live my life, and the people I choose to have around me, are marked by a very clear individuated difference from the identity of my mother, and the one she would have for me. 

Honestly, I wouldn't have even written this much about it, if it weren't for the fact that there it is up there, under my 4th house.  Normally, I am vibing the Moons trajectory in my day to day, and am so there with embracing the lessons and the ebbs and flows.  Not quite so this time.  At least not with everything.

What I am ready to do is acknowledge that there is a wealth of unfinished business in my life that is coming up for review.  And I am also ready to begin the work of communicating who I am artistically to the world.  And that is what my focus will be this upcoming month.

Lunar Intention:

This month is very concrete for me.  I intend on creating a logo for my new store!  (more on this soon!) and setting up my Etsy site.  I also intend to add another page to this blog that give the basic pertinent information on following the Moon through Her cycles, and how and why it applies to each one of us.  I also intend on tying all these sites together in a simple way and putting it all out there for the world to see!

And I am opening to recieving teachings, softenings, and awarenesses that might make the path to healing available to me.