New Moon in Capricorn, 27th December, 2008

Hi everyone,

This is a day late, but still a pretty powerful time to set intentions – perhaps the best this year. I am wishing you all the happiest new year you can imagine!


Calling the circle
As we contemplate this new moon, we summon 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 is 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 call the spirits of the North. Spirits of midnight, dark moonless skies in winter, places where truths are told. 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. 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 herself.

Where is the moon?
The moon is in Capricorn now – and calls us to examine our relationship with the earth, and look at how we live our lives, how we use our resources. Are our souls and hearts aligned with our head? A new moon falling near new year’s eve gives us a perfect time to reflect on those things as well as remembering and being grateful for where we are. Take a moment to admire the distance you’ve traveled – this year, this cycle – and know that you are on the right path.

Talking stick
The new moon has not fallen so close to the new year since 2005, a time that was still fraught with change for me. This year I am grateful for the peace and calm, no matter what the future may bring. After writing about contentment in my last post, some things have developed that may thrust a bit of change our way in the next year – but for right now, I want to revel in the peace and comfort of where we are. I also want to make sure that change isn’t creeping in because I am edgy with contentment. I don’t think so, but I have to be sure.

I will write more about this soon, but for tonight, what I really want to do is relax, unwind and do nothing – knowing that in all things I am led and will follow the path as it unfolds. And no matter what, I am comfortable with that.

My intention for the coming year is to continue the work I started last year regarding living in a state of gratitude at all times. I want to be more loving, more true to my self, less fearful, more whole – less judgmental, more giving. I want to be good to myself, be a present and caring parent to my amazing son and a loving partner for my extremely loving and wonderful husband. I want to be a good friend to all of those who I am lucky enough to have around me. Most of all, I want to be myself. If I can pull a fraction of it off I will have an immensely gratifying year!

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying on the ground beneath a beautiful old oak tree, the branches now completely bare. The sky above you is soft and yielding – and a bit bright from the cloud cover, as though it might snow any time, yet the air is perfectly comfortable. The ground feels frozen, but strong, and you feel yourself relax against it. As you breathe in and out feel that you are breathing in time with the gentle breeze around you, moving the branches of the oak tree in time with your breath. Then allow yourself to imagine that you are getting smaller – smaller and smaller until you are so small that you can stand up and walk into the tree that you were lying underneath. Walking into the tree, looking up, note the vast branch system, how tall and high it is, looking down, note the vast root system, reaching down into the earth farther than you can see. Then, notice that one of the roots is larger than the others, and resembles a spiral staircase that you can walk down. Imagine then stepping onto the 13th step, the step of transformation, then spiraling down and around and inward to the 12th step, then down and around to the 11th and the 10th, spiraling down and around and inward to the 9th, then the 8th, then around and inward to the 7th and the 6th step. Then, pausing on the sixth step, note that as you look up you can no longer see the top, and looking down, that you can no longer see the bottom. You are standing in the middle of the spiral, in a moment of infinite perfection. If there is anything that you are carrying that you don’t want to take with you on your journey, you can leave it on this step. Continuing then to the 5th step and the 4th, spiraling around to the 3rd and the 2nd and then finally the 1st step, then stepping into a clearing with four doorways, each pointing in one of the four directions. Imagine yourself walking down the pathway that heads north.

You step out into the night, and now it is snowing in earnest. You find a furry cloak and a pair of boots by the side of the path and grateful for the warmth begin walking across a field. The snow allows you to walk almost soundlessly, and you note that you cannot hear anything except for the soft snow falling – as quiet as nature ever gets, and you give over to the stillness. After some time, you look behind you, noting the distance that you have walked, thinking of the path of your life and what it looks like as well. Looking forward again, you notice a dwelling in the distance and head toward it. As you get closer, you feel the welcome sense of familiarity as you approach – you have reached the home of your wise woman.

As you are about to knock, the door swings open and you are greeted by your wise woman. She gives you a loving embrace and leads you to the kitchen where she is cooking for you. 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. You enter the doorway that feels right to you, and walk in to a room of power. You can feel the power as you enter, giving you strength, allowing all of your fears, doubts, and obstacles to evaporate and you are just your most purely powerful self. Your wise woman takes your hands and asks you to remember the moments in the last year that empowered you the most. The power of those moments increases the power in the room. Then, when you are ready, your wise woman asks you to visualize your goals for the coming year. When you can see them clearly, she takes your hands and together you focus all of the power in the room as well as the power generated by your past into those goals. You feel them becoming real for you, removing any obstacles along the way. You ask your wise woman any questions that you might have about those goals, or about anything else that you might like to ask her. Finally, when you are finished visualizing, she asks you to reach out and pull all of the energy inside yourself – and as you do, you can feel it radiating out, filling the room. When you are ready, you walk back through the door, knowing that this is a place that you can return to anytime.

As you reach the door 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 power. You repeat it as you walk along the path, feeling it radiate out into the world, directing that power anywhere that you would like to send it. You make your way back along the path, following your footsteps back to the doorway where your journey began.

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 back into to the tree. Stepping out of the tree, you find your place beneath it, again enjoying the sweet breath of the breeze. Then feeling your consciousness return to the space you are in, and, when ready opening your eyes.

Prayers for our circle

Much love to all of you – may the new year be filled with joy, peace, fulfillment, love and power!

Tara