Full Moon in Gemini, 12th December, 2008

Hi everyone,

It has been three years now since I moved the moon newsletters to a blog format, four and a half years of writing them altogether, and it continues to be such a great part of my life. Thank you so much for your continued feedback, participation and encouragement – I am very proud of the space that has been created and can’t tell you how much it still gives back to me, even after all this time.

Calling the circle
As we contemplate this full moon, we call to the spirits of the East, spirits of Springtime, 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, those lovely, watery spirits of our season. 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 moon is in Gemini this month – asking us to speak the truth, face our fears, but perhaps, even with the light disappearing by the minute, to a bit lighter. It is a fun-loving moon too, so perhaps it can light the way to the solstice, so close now.

Talking stick
I was reading over previous posts at this time of year to see if there were patterns, similarities, and while I found that there were, what I also found was something unexpected but very welcome: progress.

For some reason, this time of year historically has me questioning my beliefs, or the status quo, or my happiness – something. In short, it is a time that I can be restless, seeking, not content to be content. But I don’t feel that way this year. Perhaps because of Melissa’s death I have had those conversations with myself earlier, or maybe it is that I have really started to embrace peace with where I am instead of always wondering where I should be. I had this thought a week or so ago, wondering if this is the way my life stayed for the rest of my life, with little or no change, how would that be for me, and I realized that it would be fine – I would be happy. Now, of course life is change, and it won’t stay the same in that way, but it feels like a huge relief to feel that contentment and I’ll embrace it for as long as it lasts.

In the midst of this contentment and seasonal joy, I have been so busy. In fact I don’t have the time to write much more than this but will be more thoughtful at the solstice. I am aware of it coming and feel its energy building. I did rebuild my altar in this timeframe and feel stronger and more at peace for doing it, and am glad it is done before the solstice came. I’ve also built a family altar, so that Owen and Gary can contribute when they feel like it, which feels excellent.

Until Solstice then!


Meditation
Imagine yourself lying beneath a soft pine tree, whose branches reach all the way to ground so that you can lie inside its embrace. It is a cool nearly winter night, but you are warmed by the pine’s branches, which blanket you. 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 west.

You step out onto into a winter desert – the landscape illuminated by the soft moonlight, so bright it feels like you can see into the night for miles. Yet it is still night, with all that night is, as you set out on the path. You find that although the path is illuminated you still need to walk carefully on it, as it is narrow and there are cactus and prickly pear on either side. You are aware of the night creatures that are out as well, perhaps stopping to observe them as you make your way along. In the distance there is a cliff, with a dwelling that feels familiar to you, and you make your way toward it. As you get closer you see the familiar markings and know that you have reached the home of your wise woman.

When you get to the house, the door swings open and your wise woman greets you, welcoming you in. She gives you a big hug and leads you to the kitchen where she is cooking. She offers you whatever it is that she has cooked for you, and you sit and eat or drink with her, asking any questions that you may have, or asking for any wisdom that she might wish to share with you.

When you are ready, she leads you away from the kitchen, down a hallway with many doors. When you find the door that is right for you, you step inside. In the centre of the room is a giant cauldron, and she leads you to it. She stands at the cauldron and begins to stir it, and asks you to look inside. Inside the cauldron you see your life – all of its moments, the happy, the sad, the angry, the vulnerable, the peaceful – and as she stirs, it begins to merge and change into an elixir of pure happiness. She asks you to add anything that you need to the cauldron, to add it to the recipe of your happiness. It may be things that you need to let go of, it may be warm thoughts, or love – whatever it is that you need to add. As it is added, the elixir grows stronger, more potent, more complete. When you look into the cauldron now, you see only yourself reflected back at you, knowing that you are the emanation of that pure happiness. You reach your hand into the cauldron, and spread the elixir all over yourself, finally drinking a little of it. All the barriers to happiness slip away and you held in a moment of pure happiness, pure beauty.

When you are ready, your wise woman leads you away from the cauldron, but reminds you that this is a place to which you can always return; that the cauldron is always simmering for you here. You make your way to door then walk through when ready.

As you reach the front of the house you say your goodbyes, and while in her embrace, she whispers one word or phrase that will help you to remember your happiness. You thank her and then head back to the path that leads back across the desert. The light is increasing now, as dawn approaches, and the sky is about to burst to life. You make your way back to the place where you began and return to the staircase.

Stepping back up onto the first step, spiraling upward and outward to the second step and the third, and upward and outward to the third step and the fourth. Then spiraling around to the fifth and the sixth step, and pausing now on the sixth step, retrieving anything that you left behind before, or just leaving it behind in that perfect moment in infinity. 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 pine tree, with the moon shining through. And when you are ready you open your eyes.


Prayers for our circle
I haven’t received any specific prayer requests, so much love to all of you as we come closer to solstice and the holidays!

Tara