New Moon in Cancer, 22nd July 2009/Summer Solstice

New Moon in Cancer, 22nd June 2009/Summer Solstice (two days late!!)

Hi Everyone,
This marks the five-year anniversary of the start of these meditations – thanks to all of you who continue to share your thoughts, dreams, inspirations and experiences with me. I realize it is a bit of a cheat to combine the new moon and the solstice, but they feel like they go together for me. This night feels filled with new beginnings – I hope you are feeling that too!

Calling the circle
As we contemplate this new moon, we call to the spirits 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 our season, 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 new moon is in Cancer this month, a deep loving moon – warm, nurturing, mothering and caring. It is a time to go within and to hold yourself in perfect love, free from judgment, free from doubt, free from any of the experiences that have come before that can sometimes hold us back. With that love as your guide, and the power of a summer, you are an unstoppable force!

Talking stick
I had a great experience yesterday that took me out of my everyday for a moment. I was tending to my garden, which is very lush this time of year and was pulling out the plants that were choking my raspberry canes. I was standing in the middle of them and suddenly realized that they were as tall as me and I was engulfed by them almost and I suddenly felt so loved, so cared for and most of all so fully provided for. It brought me back to the days when I first started gathering plants, and how, over the years I have found it normal to find that kind of spiritual peace and fulfillment that way. There was a time in my life when I felt that my soul was always reaching upward and out, toward the sky, toward a way back to some vague idea I have about a limitless energetic state, perhaps because that is where so many people that I loved had gone before me. It was herbalism that brought all what I thought I was seeking down to earth for me – and the wise woman tradition in particular. I am very grateful.

I wrote recently that I felt change coming and I think it has arrived, taking the form of what I am calling the year that we face our demons, at least in my house. Gary and I both have some obstacles from the past that have sometimes reached forward to trip us up in the present and we are both going back a few steps to correct them – in order to go forward again. It is funny how when you decide to do something like that, it seems like the most natural thing in the world to do – yet it takes years to come to the conclusion.

This new moon and beautiful first real day of summer, I will be making a phone call to head down a slightly different path. It is going to take a while to get there, but I’m in no real hurry. There are beautiful moments everywhere, and I want to make sure that I don’t let myself get so swept up that I am not receptive to them. So – with an eye to the future I will love and embrace this moment – and feel myself very loved.

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying beneath a dense oak tree on soft mossy earth, with a gentle rain falling above you. The leaf cover is so thick that the rain doesn’t reach you, but the air sweet with new rain. You are aware of your breath, breathing in and out in time with the sound of the wind, carrying the rain. As you breathe, you feel yourself getting smaller and smaller, until you are so small that you are able to walk right into the tree. As you look up, you note the vast branch system, how tall and high it is, looking down, you 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 south

It is midday, warm but comfortable and with a gentle rain. The rain softens the landscape as well, a lush forest. You walk along a pathway that heads into the centre of the forest, following the path of a small stream. The sound of the water calls to you, speaking to you as you walk along. You can speak back, or just listen to the wisdom of the summer waters. The stream winds around and around into the centre of the forest, until you reach the very start of the spring, where it bubbles up out of the ground. You realize that this place is very sacred, noting that others who have passed this way have left offerings at the stream’s birthplace. Then, although you didn’t notice it before, you realize that you are standing in front of a dwelling place, one as familiar as it is ancient; you have reached 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 comfortable and dry after being out in the rain, 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. Stepping through the door you find yourself in a forest clearing, with a small, still pool in the centre of it. Your wise woman leads you to the pool and you look into the water. It is still and perfectly reflective. You are able to see yourself very clearly, noticing anything about yourself that perhaps you need to see. Your wise woman holds out a crystal, and begins to stir the water with it and your reflection changes to swirling images, and you are able to look into the pool and see whatever it is that you need to see at this time in your life. When you are ready for the scene to change, your wise woman stirs the pool again until you have seen everything that you need to see. She then hands you the crystal, and offers you a word or phrase to remind you of this place and what you learned here. When you are ready, she leads you back to the door, but reminds you that this place is always here for you if you need it.

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 goodbye, knowing that you can return whenever you need. When you step out of the house you return to the stream’s source, leaving the object there that was given to you as a reminder of what you most need as an offering to the Goddess, the Universe, God, however you choose to see it. Knowing that your vision will be well looked after here in this sacred space. When you feel ready you make your way back along the path until you get back to the doorway, and then 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 back into to the tree. Stepping out of the tree, 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

Prayers for Sacha and her mom – thinking of you.

Prayers for Tim and Jeremy, always thinking of you.

Prayers for Chad – don’t worry, just let it flow. You are an amazing writer with lots of insight!!

Much love to everyone,
Tara