By practicing with the moon, we can give continuity to our practice. We can also become more aware of our interrelatedness with nature. Through bringing rhythm and intention to our practice, we become more consistent and rooted in our practice.
For centuries, the full moon has been a metaphor for the awakened mind – the inherent nobility that dwells within each of us. With the full moon, we can practice feeling this inner-nobility.
For me, the waning moon is like the out-breath. It is a time for letting go. It is a time for noticing difficult emotions and negative mental formations and shining our light of awareness on them so that they diminish with the vanishing moon. It’s also a time for slowing down, for noticing when we’re caught in the habit-energy of rushing, and preparing to rest with the dark moon.
I see the dark or new moon is the pause between the in-breath and the out-breath. It is the quiet space where we can rest before continuing on to the next phase of our own journey… the vastness from which all things emerge.
While the moon is growing, we can explore new ideas, nurture our creativity, and plant intentions to grow like seeds under the energy of the increasing moon. In this way, the waxing moon is like an in-breath.
Verse for the waning crescent moon: “Sister Moon, your horns point west, breathe in, breathe out then take your rest.”
Here there is a quiet place
What does the moon mean to you? Do you feel drawn to a particular moon phase? I’d love to hear from you.