Lunar Tradition

At the beginning of every year I pick a general topic that I want to be a working theme for the year. 2021 is my lunar year. I have decided to deep dive into the moon and all its divine offerings and wisdom, and let it guide me for this period of time.

Now since I am a teacher this inherently effects all of you, my students. Because it means that as I study the moon and all her glory, it becomes woven into the work I am offering. It makes its way into my yoga offerings, my mindfulness offerings, my spiritual practice, my connection to land, my writings, and how I work with the physical body (both my own and others).

One of the most dominant ways this has come up this year has been in the study of the First Nation names for each moon of the year. The full moon of each month had a name that was an indicator the seasonal changes happening on the land. These names were by region, as January in a dessert looks very different than January in New England. By exploring the Native names for the moon it is a way to reconnect to the land and to the ancient wisdom that imbues this earth. It is a way of honoring and seeking out that which has been pushed to the side. It’s a kind of knowledge that resonates deep in our bones, because it is fundamentally linked to who we are as a species and who we are on this earth.

The full moon last night was known in my part of the country by a few different names. I have read that is was known as the pink moon, in honor of a pink wildflower similar to a phlox that blooms at this time of year, or as the flowing water moon in relationship to the melting of the waters for spring.

This information changes how I look at the natural world around me. It makes me search out these pink flowers, which in turn makes me notice all the other flowers in bloom right now. It changes how I look at the ground and where I step. Or it makes me notice the water more, to listen for it in the background, to search it out and follow its sound like a sirens call. It lets me be deeply submerge in my experience of the world in a new way, in a way that is close to kinship. Like I am fostering a new relationship with it.

So I encourage you to make your own connection to the moon this year. Perhaps it is just through taking a Mindful Tradition yoga class where these themes will be taken up the week of the new moon each month, or perhaps you commit to a bonfire the night of each full moon so that you can witness its glory. Whatever you choose to do, let it be authentic to who you are. As always, if this is something you want support for, I am here for you. Reach out and we can start your Lunar Tradition today.