Posts Tagged ‘13 Moons’

Spiral Moon

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

The New Moon happened this week. I was so busy enjoying it that I forgot to write about it! This moon I call Spiral Moon.

Spiral Moon reminds us of the interconnection of all life, of all events. We are coming around again to Autumn, to Harvests, to salmon have spawned, and now return to the river banks. New life begins even as the old life comes to an end.

Today, there is a heat advisory in Portland. But by the time the full moon comes around, the mornings will be chilly and the wind will carry just a hint of the coming cold. Some Native American tribes called this the Moon when Salmon Return to the Earth.

Pacific salmon are born in fresh water streams, but live their lives in the ocean. Eventually, they return to the stream they were born in, spawn their eggs, and acknowledge that their life journey is done. They settle in at the edge of the stream to die.

It is here that wild bear and other animals come to feast, to build their reserves of protein and fat for the lean winter months. They bring many salmon carcases onto the banks of the stream. Here, the salmon serve one more vital purpose. Their decomposition provides nitrogen fertilizer for the conifers and other trees along the bank.

Nothing in nature is wasted, and everything has a purpose. Even death contributes something vital to the living. It is the spiral dance. Energy flowing through and around all living things. Days and nights passing as they do every year. Ceremonies taking place. Spiral Moon.

Be Well.

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Herb Moon, Midwife Moon

Monday, July 26th, 2010

I sat down a few months ago, and looked all the notes I’ve taken over the past five years about traditional pagan calendars and holidays and seasons and celebrations from around the world and across time. I also looked at a collection of Native Peoples’ traditional names for the 13 moons of the year, as related by Jessica Prentice in the book, Full Moon Feast. And using those names and seasonal world focuses as the basis of my own calendar, I came up with a similar list of Moons.

This is the Herb Moon, or the Midwife Moon. It is a time of change, a time of celebration, and a time of harvests. At this time of year, for thousands of years, healers and midwives have collected their healing herbs, dried them for later use, and practiced the age-old medicine of supporting natural birth. It is a birthing time. A time of hope, of abundance, and of vitality. A time to honor the body’s natural ability to heal. We honor the amazing abilities of our bodies to regenerate. To bring new life, and honor past lives.

Here we are, walking on the bones of our ancestors, giving thanks for our harvest of grains, berries, greens, and other fruits of the Earth. Here we are, soaking up the life-giving rays of the Sun, relishing the cool breezes of night, dancing by the light of the full moon. Herb Moon. Midwife Moon.

Be Well.

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Root Chakra .4

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

We’ve been focusing on the Root Chakra, the first chakra, this month. How was the writing exercise? Did you gain some useful insights?

We talked briefly about the Rights of the Root Chakra: the Right To Be Here, the Right To Have, and the verb “I have…” How would you complete those sentences for yourself now? Get centered. Find a comfortable seat, take a few deep breaths, and feel that growing connection of energy between the Earth and the base of your spine. Visualize it like a tripod built of legs and energy– a very sturdy basis on which to build. Now, what do you have? What skills or experiences or self-knowledge will you use as the strong, positive, healthy basis for the next six months of energy work and personal healing?

Get solid with yourself. There are decisions, experiences, successes in your past that you can celebrate. Celebrate yourself– get past the shallow cultural norm that says we shouldn’t acknowledge our strengths, abilities, and personal beauty. I’m here to tell you that you are beautiful– from the inside out.

The Root Chakra is all about Earth, and Smell, and  Grounding, and Survival. It’s about building a strong base and a strong framework for your ongoing growth. Consider burning some cedar incense during your evening meditation, or holding a chunk of garnet or bloodstone in your free hand as you take an evening stroll (it’s much too hot to go out at mid day!).

Animals associated with the Root Chakra include Elephants, Ox, and the Bull. Good solid animals, known as the embodiment of wisdom, and removers of obstacles. Once they make a decision about what path they will take, it is impossible to stop their progress along that path. The chief operating force of the Root Chakra is gravity.

Think about that. Feel yourself held firmly against Mother Earth by the supporting force of Gravity. Understand that you are securely attached to Earth– and that we are constantly surrounded by energy. Gravity is one form of Energy. Earth is another, and you yourself are another form of Energy. Complete with skin boundaries and an emotional connection to the strong push-pull of the earth’s tides, and the moon. Just like Earth’s Oceans, we are affected by our relationship to gravity, and to the energy field of the Moon. Tonight is the first night of the full moon. Herb Moon. Midwife Moon.

A perfect time for me to make my final commitment to the life of a healer. A perfect time for you to acknowledge your commitment to self-healing.

Be Well.

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