New Moon in Taurus, 24th April, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Sorry this post is so late – I looked and last year’s post at this time was late too! Unfortunately procrastination is the downside of a Taurus new moon! Hope you are all enjoying spring, which is definitely sprung in force now, at least here in the UK!

Calling the circle
As we contemplate this new moon, we call to the spirits of our season, the spirits of the East. of the East Spirits of new beginnings, new starts. Element of air, first breath, 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, the power of light, bright and powerful. 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 call to 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. 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 Taurus and this moon is focused on what matters to us, and how we relate to the world around us. It also provides us with the opportunity to let go of those things that hold us back, which, of course, all new moons do, but this one is really well positioned for that.

Taurus new moons are also good times to think about finances, responsibilities, where we are and where we want to be. Watch out for that procrastination though!

Talking stick
I have talked about this before, but lately I am finding it even harder to write my posts as clearly and honestly as I used to, because I find that more and more I want to talk about the things that are going on with Owen, but for many reasons cannot, not the least of which being that I feel that I would be violating his privacy by sharing his struggles, or my struggles that relate to him. I think that one day he’ll want to read all of this and would be surprised and perhaps hurt if I shared so much of his life this way. Yet he factors heavily into my life experience, since mothering is such a big part of me.
This month it feels impossible to write about much else at this new moon. He is what is on my mind, he is what I’m thinking about today, and many of my intentions at this moon relate to him. I will need to leave it at that though.

I will add though, that I feel a kind of spring thaw in myself; it has been a very emotional month. I have been really experiencing the loss of my niece, been emotional about things at work, and in general letting out some of what feels like it has been held in too long. Part of it is that I’ve been really allowing myself space this cycle to just sit, meditate, release – let go.

One last thought – I had started a daily blog – but I have to stop it, unfortunately. I found that it was killing my daily practice! I was beginning to put all of my practice into the blog and not achieving what I mentioned just above about just allowing myself space to be quiet and see what comes. It felt it had too much purpose. My practice is back to being fulfilling now – so, a good exercise, but not one I can keep up!

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying in a field, on a bed of dandelion flowers, on clear spring evening. The smell of the night air surrounds you, rich with the new spring life all around you – it fills your senses as you breathe in and out in time with the breeze, in time with the stars. As you breathe, you feel yourself getting smaller and smaller, until you are so small that you are able to walk right into the one of the dandelions. As you look up, you note how tall its flowers seem to reach, looking down, you note the depth of its roots reaching 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 east.

The time of day is morning, a warm spring dawn, as you step out into a lush meadow. The ground is soft and dewy, and you follow the path that leads across. It winds a bit, and when you look back you realize that you cannot see where you started, but you continue to head forward, knowing that the doorway is there even when you can’t see it. You become aware of a hut in the distance, built into the grass and covered with wild flowers, so that it is almost imperceptible. You head toward the dwelling, feeling it call to you. When you get closer you realize that you have reached a place both ancient and familiar; you have arrived at the home of your wise woman.

As you are about to knock, the door opens and your wise woman greets you, welcoming you in. Her home is warm and cozy, and she 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 down a hallway, with many doors. You walk to the doorway at the end of the hall, noticing anything in particular about the door as you walk through. You step into an enormous greenhouse, where there are all sorts of plants growing. Some are small, some well established, but all different. Each of them represents a part of your life and you are drawn to those plants that need your attention for whatever reason that they do, and whatever they need you are able to give to them. Or perhaps you are able to just listen to whatever it is that they have to say to you. Your wise woman joins you, answering any questions that you might have along the way, and adding her wisdom to that of the plants.

When you are just about ready to leave, your wise woman gives you a gift to help you with your intentions. You can take it with you, or it can stay in this room, knowing that you can come back to visit it anytime. When you are ready, your wise woman leads you to the door.

You head back toward the kitchen, sharing any last minute thoughts, asking any last minute questions. As you reach the door of the house you say your goodbyes, and while in her embrace, she whispers one word or phrase and presses an object into your hand that will help you to remember how beautiful you are. You thank her, then head back along the path through the meadow, knowing that the doorway is in front of you, although you cannot see it. When you do come to the doorway, when you are ready, you walk 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 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 dandelion, you find your place beneath it, again enjoying the cold night air. Then, feeling your consciousness return to the space you are in, and, when ready opening your eyes.

Prayers for our circle
I haven’t had any specific calls for prayers, but want to send out energy and light to those in our circle, and in my life, who are in recovery from addiction. I’m so proud of all of you for the ways in which you have looked yourselves in the eye and healed your lives. We should all be so brave.

Much love to everyone,
Tara