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Welcome to the April New Moon edition of Moon Matters, my Moonbeams…
I’ve been thinking a lot about the concepts of “old” and “new” this cycle. How things change and how they stay the same. How do I react to “the new,” and what are the patterns that repeat – sometimes for my highest good – sometimes to my detriment.
When sincerely asked, “What’s new with you?” isn’t a casual question, yet the next question is rarely “and what hasn’t changed?” We can be challenged to find the light in both. So as the lunar light returns, meditate on what’s new and what hasn’t changed. Let me know what you discover as you reflect the light back to me to light my way…
The Moon Knows
Here’s what’s new – I’m within a few hundred words of finishing Book Two: Activation and my editor has already started poking at it. Looking for a couple more beta readers willing to read both books, if anyone’s interested, to provide feedback (not editing) to ensure the story has stayed on track.
Here’s what’s the same – Still no confirmed decision on the cover art. Starting to think that my original “temporary” cover design is the one that wants to be chosen. Who I am to disagree with the path of least resistance?
Next step – ebook formatting of the final edited draft of Book One: Intention. It may not be a Beltane Book Launch Party, but it HAS TO happen before the first anniversary of my Summer Solstice Dream that started this whole adventure in storytelling.
I was recently asked if I would be doing a live (online) reading of a chapter or two. Is that something anyone might be interested in? Let me know, and I’ll give it more thought.
MoonShine
I have always loved poetry, but not all poetry. Sacred poetry, mostly, and on the shorter side – not so much the big epic poetic stories (unless it’s the Eddas or Upanishads, but please, spare me from “the Highwayman came riding… “ballad-type poetry). Nothing longer than a Shakespearean sonnet. Rumi is at the top of the list, followed by Hafez, and the few rare gems I have seen by the illusive Lekshe Tamang have been priceless treasures. I have found a new voice whose carefully crafted turns of phrase (without rhyme or meter) open my heart – challenge my head – stir my soul.
Have you read Yung Pueblo? A brilliant and contemporary voice whose personal meditative practice is the wellspring of his inspired and concise poetic offerings. Two books of poems and a non-fiction book coming in Oct. (on my birthday, no less). He is the polar opposite of another current favorite of mine, Rupi Kaur. But I digress. I’ll use one of his poems in the MoonLight section below.
MoonShadow
I once received some sage advice from a true Sage to “look at the patterns that repeat in your life, and learn from them.” I’ve been paying attention to how I react when presented with a new <fill in the blank> in all areas of my life. My initial reaction to change is – and this is true for all of us – often rooted in a dangerous cocktail of comfort, familiarity, and trauma. We hold on to what we know to stay safe, to protect ourselves from unknown dangers, to be “right” – because this is the way it’s always been.
I’ve been consciously trying to mitigate how I approach that initial response, pause for a breath and examine what emotion I am feeling, and then challenge myself to open to “the new” in a different way. I’m just at the beginning of this practice, so I have no progress to report or profound insights to share. Except one. Since I’ve started this organic shift, I’ve encountered a half dozen blog posts and articles in my subscribed reading, all speaking to the same topic. I’ve caught a case of the zeitgeist, it seems.
MoonDance
I haven’t had this much fun making a mixtape since high school. Okay. Call it a Playlist. Curating book chapter themes to Song Lyrics – and using the song title as the Chapter Title. A lot of thought goes into the songs that we (cuz i haz helperz) select – the lyrics have to contribute something to the overall theme or dominant emotion of the text it is assigned to. So much good music – so many great songs – so much fun. Like picking music for Retreat. “And Now We Dance” (that’s for you, Charlene).
This edition, check out “Who is She” by Qveen Herby. It’s a rousing little electro-pop ditty that captures the energy of seeing someone new in a familiar place in an unexpected way. It’s an earworm. You’ve been warned.
MoonLight
The Temperance Card – Wings Up – wanting to move your forward. Looking back – to the familiar past. Balance may be desired and is the job for TODAY, but it requires the commitment of ongoing hard work and focus. Are you able to manage the flow of your emotions from extreme to extreme? How much do you spill? The cups are never full, never empty as your feelings slosh around. You messy human. Can you get the job done?
From “clarity & connection” by yung pueblo
ask yourself
is this how I actually feel, or
is this my emotional history
trying to recreate the past?
MoonCraft
Some questions to help you reflect on all things old and new.
- What is the oldest thing that you own that you really should throw away? (stolen from the Colbert Questionaire).
- What’s the newest thing you bought or acquired that no longer “sparks joy” (and don’t get me started on Marie Kondo, but I do like the phrase.)
- With whom is your oldest friendship, which is still active and a part of your regular social life (that thing we did before Covid?)
- Of all the people you met/encountered/learned about in the past year, who is your favorite new person? (you don’t have to tell anyone)
- What old habitual behavior no longer serves you? Why are you still doing it?
- What new habit do you hope to acquire? What’s stopping you?
That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.
That’s all for this time. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next Full Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.
Sending my love out to you …
MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!
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Beneath the Visiting Moon 