Full Moon in Aquarius, 16th, August 2008

Hi everyone,

I couldn’t believe how beautiful the moon looked last night, gigantic and hanging low in the sky. It felt so full and powerful! I hope it is beautiful where you are too.

Calling the circle
We call to and honor the spirits of the East, spirits of new beginnings, new starts. Element of air, first breath, cool dawn. The power of life, springing forth. We call the spirits of the East and ask them to join our circle.

We call now to the spirits of the South, spirits of strength, power, warmth, clarity, motivation, energy, movement. Element of fire, bright fires lit at midday. The power of light, illuminating us. The fire that is our passion, burning deeply within us always. We call the spirits of the South and ask them to join our circle.

And we call to the Spirits of the West. Spirits of our deepest feelings, our strongest emotions, our truest love. A sunset over a calm ocean, a still lake reflecting back the sky, the still waters that run deep, deep within. Element of water, emanating the power of love. We call to the spirits of the West and ask them to join our circle.

Now we summon the spirits of the North. Spirits of midnight, dark moonless skies in winter, places where truths are told, where laws are made. Element of earth, grounding us. Power of law, karma, ancestral wisdom, we call to the spirits of the North and we ask them to join our circle.

And we call to those spirits above us, angels, stars, heavens, light beings everywhere, those souls not yet incarnate. Children of our children, and to the brightest of moons. We call the spirits above and ask them to join us.

And we call to the spirits below us, to the earth that grounds us and keeps us steady, the green kingdom with its deep roots and to the lava beneath the crust that impassions us. We call the spirits below and ask them to join us.

Finally, we call to the spirits of the center, where all the directions meet and merge and where they meet and merge in each one of us. The central flame. The sacred spirit. This circle is closed, a safe and sacred circle where everyone is welcome and free to express themselves.

Where is the Moon?
The full moon is in Aquarius, fanning the Leo flames and making all things seem possible. Those activities and goals that serve the world and a higher good are particularly highlighted. For me it feels like a powerful energy but perhaps a bit volatile – like a bonfire on a windy beach. You want to be on the right side of the flames! But a big beautiful fire under control is an intense power, and that is the fire of this moon!

Talking stick
Once again, I am struck by the similarity of my experience during the same time of year in years past. I was looking at my post from two years ago, the first week in my new house and I said then that while I was feeling immensely grateful and calm, I didn’t feel like I had much to say beyond that. That I just wanted to rest, be, enjoy the garden, pick herbs, be quiet. That is just how I was feeling tonight, sitting down to write this; there is always plenty to say, but I don’t actually feel like talking - I feel like just being. So, while the moon is so immensely full I will enjoy feeling full myself. I’m just so terribly grateful for my life. And full of love. I think I just want to be still with that. I'll try and have more to say at the new moon!

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying beneath a craggly hawthorn tree, just beginning to berry, on a warm summer evening. As you look up, you can see the light of the full moon reaching between the branches, shining down until it is touching you, reaching right into your heart. With each breath, the moonlight feels as though it is reaching through you, deep into the earth, then upward into the sky again. As it moves through you and into the earth, you feel it spiraling deep below you, into something of a staircase. You stand up, and begin to wind your way down the staircase of moonlight, beginning on the thirteenth step, the step of transformation, then spiraling around to the twelfth and the eleventh, then around to the tenth, then spiraling down and around and inward to the ninth, then the eighth, and around and inward to the seventh, then the sixth. You pause for a moment on the sixth step, leaving anything behind that you don’t choose to take along with you. Then continuing to spiral down and around to the fifth step, then the fourth, then the third. And around and inward to the second, and then finally the first step. You step off the staircase onto firm ground and head out toward the north.

You step out into a lush field as the moon is rising in the sky, to a place that feels somehow out of time. You walk along the path, which is heading upward, onto a plateau of sorts. From the top of the plateau you can see far into the distance, as well as behind you. You can see the many places you’ve been and the many places you may go. Right in the centre of the plateau is a dwelling, one that is ancient but always familiar; you have reached the home of your wise woman.

As you are about to knock, the door opens, and she greets you warmly. She brings you into the kitchen, where she is cooking for you, and you talk freely about whatever comes to mind, maybe asking questions, maybe just listening to her thoughts for you. When you are ready, she leads you down a hallway with many doors. You walk through the door and in the centre of the room is a large comfortable chair, which you sit in. You are alone as your wise woman moves into the distance. Above you, the moon shines full and as you look at it, you feel its fullness inside of you, almost as if you too have a moon within your body. You reach down and remove the moon from within yourself and realize that it is a kind of orb, a crystal ball; a keeper of the knowledge that you need. You are able to look into it and receive any information that you need about this time in your life – about what is new, the path you are on, about relationships, about your destiny – anything that you need to know is contained within that orb. As the moon shines on it, it grows brighter and brighter, until your whole body is filled with that light. Finally, when you are ready, you take that light orb and bring it back into yourself – but knowing that its wisdom is always within you. Your wise woman joins you in the room now – and you can ask her any questions that came up for you. When you are ready, you walk back out of the room, knowing that this is a place that you can return to whenever you need to.

She leads you back to the front of the house, back to the path that lead you here. She gives you a big hug goodbye, and while in her embrace, she whispers one word or phrase that will help you to remember what you saw and what you need at this time in your life. You thank her and then head back out into the park, back into the busy city. When you reach the doorway, you step back through.

Stepping back up onto the first step, spiraling upward and outward to the second step and the third, and upward and outward to the fourth step and the fifth. Then spiraling around to the sixth step, and pausing now on the sixth step, retrieving anything that you left behind before, or just leaving it behind in that moment of infinite perfection. Climbing now to the seventh and upward to the eighth, upward and outward to the ninth, then the tenth, and around to the eleventh and the twelfth and then finally to the thirteenth step, the step of transformation, then lying back down onto the earth where you began, under the beautiful hawthorn. And when you are ready you open your eyes.

Prayers for our circle
Love and prayers to all of you – I am thinking of you all tonight.
Lots of love and blessings to Jenny too – happy birthday! I hope your new year is amazing. You too Karee!!

Much love to all of you!

Tara