Agustin Rafael Reyes via Compfight
During the most recent Dark Moon (three full 24 hour periods before each New Moon) I started to write a post about resting in the Dark of the Moon and the post went missing! The post was there and then it was not there. I accepted this happening as a cosmic intervention, a loud and clear reminder that it was time to rest, not write.
When I was living in Ashland, Oregan at the turn of the century, I heard Barry Brailsford speak to a group of people. He is an indigenous wisdom man, carrying the traditions of many ancient cultures. That particular evening, Barry talked about not starting a writing project, or any project (Facebook take note!), near the end of the Lunar Cycle. Barry said that it just made sense, and we only need to look at the sky, or feel within, to know this. As he said this, a friend in the audience looked at me and we both nodded, as she recognized that this was information I consistently shared in my work with Natural Time.
I know the tradition of syncing human activities with the Moon’s phases is something indigenous peoples do and have done forever and while I carry this tradition myself, deep within me, it was good to hear Barry say this in contemporary time. I have often felt like Cassandra sharing this information.
For me, the information came first through a study of astrology and then through direct experience of my body’s rhythms, the momentum to move forward, or to be still, in relation to the ebbs and flows of our Moon.
What I don’t get is how rare this seems to be to people, to coordinate how they feel and want to move or not want to move in relation to the Moon’s phase in the sky above. To me, it is like a giant cosmic permission slip to follow one’s own rhythms in accordance with nature. It takes a lot to do that, I know, and you can read through earlier posts, and future posts, to learn about my struggles with this allowing.
In this most recent Dark Moon, I started to write about resting and the cosmos invited me to walk my talk. I accepted that invite and did rest as much as I could. For instance, not writing a voluntary blog post. There was something, though, that I had to do during this Dark Moon time and that was to show up for a part-time employment gig. Prior to the last few months, I had the divine, supreme luxury of calling my own schedule. Now, I have a part-time gig where there is not as much leeway in my schedule as there was before. For the first time in about ten years, I had to show up for a job during the Dark Moon phase on Monday and Tuesday of this past week.
Monday went well, I didn’t have to do much, and I rested Monday evening. I did not sleep well during the night, as is often the circumstance right before a New Moon. Energy is stirring to begin anew. The New Moon occurred on Tuesday morning at 11:02 AM EDT and I found it very difficult to work that day. I was tired, out of sorts, and about 2 in the afternoon wondered to myself if I would make it through the rest of the day.
I did make it through the day and came right home, no stopping. I crashed into rest that evening and being a self-indulgent sort, I rested the entire next day. I knew from the feeling within my body that I had to come back to center, to reset to zero for the start of the new lunar cycle. It was also the start of a new solar cycle, so the rest was deep and replenishing. I had the day to myself, a luxury, I know, and I read a mystery, stayed reclining most of the day, moved slowly, peacefully.
I woke this morning with a resurgence, a renewed energy field, fresh for the start of this new lunar cycle and this new season, Summer!, and with vitalized energy for my own work. New ideas, new enthusiasm, fresh perspective.
Not everyone can stop what they are doing and rest as the Moon floats from the end of one cycle to the beginning of the next. I know this and I will now, occasionally, fall into this category, too. However, if you struggle with depression, or irritability or frustration with your circumstances, I encourage you to consider realigning choices regarding energy exertion and the Moon’s movement. There are two cycles to consider, the Collective Lunar Cycle and your Personal Lunar Cycle. For simplicity’s sake, consider starting the alignment with the Collective Lunar Cycle. After you feel a resonance with that cycle, consider moving on to alignment with the Personal Lunar Cycle.
Things to consider for alignment with the Collective Cycle are to prepare for the naturally occurring low energy time during the Dark Moons, again, those are three days before each New Moon. You can find the date and time of the New Moons are on most calendars. During the Dark Moon times, consider having groceries on hand so you don’t have to stop at the supermarket on the way home from work. Pull out something from the freezer in the morning, so it is ready to go for dinner, instead of having to exert energy cooking. You might be too tired to enjoy what you cook during that Dark Moon time! Have arrangements with family members for quiet time those evenings and limit external commitments as you can. Most of all though, notice the longing in your body for rest, and allow time and space for it. Planning ahead helps, whether it is with meals or housecleaning or activities for children or yourself. Queue up that book on your tablet, have something ready to go that relaxes.
Indigenous peoples have followed the lunar rhythms since the beginning of time. These cultures are not prominent any longer, however their wisdom still works. The cultures that have been prominent recently have attempted to use dominion over Nature to stay in power. Their grip is loosening. The Shift (paradigm/age/new dimension/new field) that we are in presents an opening to again connect live with Nature and reach for synchronicity, alignment and comfort from one ever-changing constant in life, our Moon.
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