Following the Moon: No Evil

Yama, BD, & Nonnie: Speak Hear No, Speak No, See No

Welcome to Following the Moon and the Full Phase of the Purity cycle. This moon cycle began on February 21 and provides us with 29.6 days to release the residue of all that we would choose to leave behind prior to stepping over the threshold into the new Natural Year at Equinox on March 20.


What a wonderful time of the year this is to take a fast from the intensity that surrounds…take a walk, a nap or a moment to forgive whatever it is that is weighing heavy on your heart/mind.

My maternal grandmother was a gardener and a closet Buddhist…she never spoke of her interest in the loving kindness wisdom of the Buddha but she had several visual prompts, what we students of Buddhism refer to as ‘sight meditations’… such as a small bronze of the Monkey Mind sculpture: ‘Hear no, See no, Speak no Evil’. I loved that compact, fit in your hand, reminder of an exotic and mysterious way of  moving through the world. When Grandmother died I was given a box of treasures including a ‘Hear no, Speak no…” and a dimunitive booklet on the Essentials of Buddhism circulated in 1921…the year my mother was born, and costing one dime.

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Lotus Blossom, Drozda: respect copyright

Following the Moon: A Final Test

I Seem to be a Verb, Drozda

Since last October we've been exploring the quieting and calm that can be practiced for six Moon/Month cycles of each year. Now we come to the culmination and closure of that primarily inward time.


Here, at the close of the Natural Year we will do well to review, reflect and release anything that may still linger as a negativity built up since last spring. In the Purity cycle we can forgive the world.

During the Purity segment of the Natural Year we can make a conscious choice. Each of us is born with an inner support system. Joseph Campbell refers to these archetypal energies as Helping Hands. These unseen forces are also called Mighty Companions, Angelic Forces, Muses and the spontaneous occurrence of Synchronicity. Leaning into this level of support provides assistance when the Art/Life feels like it is on the floor, knocked out for the count. This is when, here...at this point on the wheel... we can get in touch with the Alchemical Shamanic Artist Within. We can engage in shape shifting the direction of the Art/Life so that it feels more and more like a true fit.

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See you next Monday for the Gibbous Phase of the Purity Moon

Following the Moon: Wake Up

Esperance, Drozda, 72x54" mixed, 2010

Welcome to 'Following the Moon'. The 'Purity' Moon cycle begins Tuesday, February 21.
Today, February 20, is the last day of the Balsamic Renewal Phase. Dream of being awake!

My wandering friend Sara sent along this beautiful reminder to wake up on this day:

Maha shivratri is the day when shiv tattva touches the ground.

The consciousness (ethereal world) is 10 inches above the surface. On this day, it touches the Earth element. It is very useful for people to keep awake and meditate. This helps in fulfillment of desires....

 

It helps you grow stronger in your being.

It is like a new year for a sadhak (seeker).

The night on this day, when the constellations are in a particular position, it is auspicious. It is considered an auspicious moment for a spiritual aspirant.

 

It is the wedding of the spiritual and material world.

 

Ratri: That which comes you comfort is Ratri.

That which takes you from the issue to the solution is ratri. Ratri means night. It removes 3 types of discomfort.

 

Shivratri gives you comfort and confidence that the Divine is with you and He/she is your valentine.

 

Ask yourself what really, really, really works and reassure yourself in the areas that feel like a fit. As you come closer to the Equinox of March 20 sense that there is a shift taking place. Energy is beginning to move at a quickening pace.

The Crescent Phase of this 'Purity' Moon cycle begins Saturday, February 25...read more

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I send along special heartfelt thanks to Ursuline College and Tri-C College for including me as Guest Artist, Keynote Speaker: 'Planting Seeds/Harvesting Health' and Workshop Presenter: 'Making Life the Master Peace' at 'The Art of Mental Health and Wellness' the 12th annual Art & Healing Exhibition at Tri-C Gallery East, Cleveland, Ohio.




Thank you Mary Sender, Amy Jacobs and all of your staff. Thank you gallery curator Roy Bigler. You all created a smooth and effortless ease that surround every aspect of a delightful experience. Thanks to all who attended the lively opening talk and the amazingly jazzed workshop...what a fabulous day!

If you, Dear Readers, are in the Cleveland area I invite you to stop in at Gallery East through March to savor the creative works of many who understand the power of creative healing. The exhibit is sponsored collaboratively by the Tri-C Creative Arts/Pre-Art Therapy Department, the Ursuline College Art Therapy & Counseling Department and Tri-C Gallery East, with support from The Buckeye Art Therapy Association.


See you next Monday for the First Quarter Phase of the Purity Moon



Following the Moon: Who Now?

Full Renewal Moon, Drozda 2012

Welcome to 'Following the Moon'. We began the 'Renewal' Moon cycle on January 23. I hope that you're finding the pace and the purpose of your Art/Life gathering momentum in a way that feels stable and grounded for you. The whole idea of taking this time within the Mystery is to discover the tempo that feels most natural for your Art/Life so that you are well aware of the rhythm that feels healthiest for you.


Monday, February 6 is the last day of the Gibbous Phase. The three days of the Gibbous Phase provide a level of energy that's best for: create, create, create! Create in conjunction with what it is you're attempting to renew.

The Full Phase of this 'Renewal' Moon cycle begins Tuesday, in the late afternoon, and extends through Friday, February 10. At the Full Moon each month cyber friend Dr. Lilan Laishley shares her beautifully designed monthly Full Moon Newsletter. Here's an excerpt from the current issue:

During this Full Moon we continue to work with the creative and innovative energy available during this Year of the Dragon. Dragon combines the visible actions of a bold innovator with the invisible essence of a spiritual mystic. Bold innovation and spiritual mysticism seem like two very different qualities, and our job this month is to figure out how to bring them together in ourselves. Fortunately we have a Full Moon in Leo (bold!) and Neptune in Pisces (mystic!) to help us out. As I contemplate this Moon I have come to believe that only actions infused with spirituality will create the changes we need in this world. Fortunately for us, these qualities are as close as our own heads and hearts.

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Following the Moon: Renew You

Happy Year of the Black Water Dragon...Monday, January 23 through Thursday, January 26 brings us the New 'Renewal' Moon.


At the New Phase of each Moon/month the opportunity presents us with a lovely three days for creating a vision and with the Lunar New Year bringing its gifts of the Dragon just imagine what's possible.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl, Drozda, Watercolor/Arches

How does Renewal look in your Art/Life?
You can look deep inside. You see what needs Renewal.

At the New Moon you're standing at the Eastern most point on your Moon/month circle. It's the dawn, it's the beginning. Take a moment to gaze out and imagine the 4 weeks ahead...so much will be coming to meet you.

The New Moon is that classic space in which you hold the vision of the 'art of the start'. Feel inspired by the 'not yet experienced', there is adventure ahead. It's the time to embrace the active emotion that can propel you toward your passion. It's time to be visualize the emergence of new levels of clarity in your Art/Life.

Being filled with inspiration as the Equinox approaches...'something wonderful is emerging, something wonderful is on its way'.


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Following the Moon: Refining Tradition

Rescue, Drozda, Acrylic/wood, 2001

Monday, January 16 through Thursday, January 19 brings us to the 3rd Quarter 'Cleansing' Moon. At the 3rd Quarter Phase of each Moon/month the opportunity presents us with a lovely three days for giving grateful thanks.

You can take a deep soothing breath. You can refine this into a tradition.

At 3rd Quarter you're standing at the top most point on your Moon/month circle. Take a moment to gaze out absorbing the lay of the last three weeks terrain and count the blessings.

The 3rd Quarter is that classic space in which you can realign. Feel washed over by the wisdom gathered and guidance received. It's the time to embrace the Instinctive You. It's time to be grateful to yourself for all the ways in which you have wisely chosen to invest in your Art/Life.

Be filled with gratitude for the wealth given to you to share within your world.
...More


See you next Monday for the New Renewal Moon and the start of 'Ages & Stages...registration is open.


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Following the Moon: Nature/Nurture: YOU

Standing at the West Gate, Drozda, Ink on Bristol board

Monday, January 9 through early evening (EST) Thursday, January 12 brings you the opportunity to reflect (that's what Full Moon's make room for) upon all that you are willing to face and release as part of the Cleansing of your Art/Life at this time. I'd like to share with you the creative brilliance of my friend Lilan Laishley. You can Google her and sign up for her newsletter at the top of her home page. I put her link in repeatedly and for some reason it wouldn't open. Lilan is a word artist who writes a beautifully illustrated Full Moon journal/newsletter that you may enjoying subscribing to. I know that each month I brighten when it arrives and I am ever delighted by Lilan's gift for word-weaving the 'above with the below'.


This, the Full Moon segment of the cycle, is an important time for nurturing yourself. The Full Moon is that classic space in which we can see our shadow and it can sometimes feel a bit spooky and disconcerting. Thta's for good reason. It's a marvelous time of the Moon/Month to allow yourself the time/space to claim more of who you are now. It's a time to relate to yourself more clearly. Who you are now, in January during the Cleansing cycle is not known because you're in the depths of the Mystery. Yet even in the 'not knowing' you can recognize that you are filled with treasure of enormous value to yourself and our world.

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IT’S TIME TO BECOME AN AHA ADVOCATE:

January 12…this Thursday... registration opens

On January 24 as the New ‘Renewal’ moon begins, AHA’s for the Art/Life e-studio will open with ‘AGES & STAGES'...THE NATURAL ART OF PERSONAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT 'Ages & Stages' explores YOUR gold mine applying eight focused ways to deepen your Art/Life adventure. In this eStudio we will be getting personally attuned to the gifts and talents that are yours to share... in 2012...specifically. You'll be able to place your Art/Life goal on the Natural Wheel at Spring Equinox and watch the unfolding Moon by Moon.

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Following the Moon: Relaxing into the Middle Way

Hindu Flyer



Welcome to the Cleansing Moon cycle and our first step into the New Roman Calendar Year...may it bring all that your heart desires.

2012 will be bringing forward all that you have worked toward over the past 4 years.

My yearly article, Lifecycle Forecast for 2012, is posted and I hope that you'll take a few minutes to check it out. It's hefty so you may choose to bookmark it. The information is there for reminding you throughout the year that you've hit the balance point...this is the year of learning to walk, what in Buddhism is referred to, as the Middle Way.

Sunday, January 1 through Thursday, January 5 is a terrific period for taking all action possible to clear away the old and unusable. This is the Cleansing cycle so all manner of release and refresh is in order. We continue to move through the quietest time of the year. With Winter Solstice, on December 22, we stepped into the last quadrant of the Natural Year's walk around the wheel.

The next three Moon/Months are all about sinking into the MYSTERY... Ahhhh...couldn't you use some of that level of immersion in your Art/Life?


The definition of IMMERSION:

the act of immersing or the state of being immersed: as a : baptism by complete submersion of the person in water b : absorbing involvement c : instruction based on extensive exposure to surroundings or conditions that are native or pertinent to the object of study.

In the last few posts I've been sharing images of water and with the mild weather that we've had here at the beach it's been easy to hang out and take advantage of all of the beautiful views that surround. It goes without saying that during the Cleansing cycle hot baths, saunas, steams of any kind and floating, whenever possible, are in order.


Since I have been 'Following the Moon'... being a Luna-tic for 22 years now... I've also been experimenting that long with the keywords that represent each Moon/Month. Here's a review of the moon by moon keywords given to our culture as a gift from Sun Bear: January=Cleansing, February=Renewal, March=Purity, April=Clarity, May=Wisdom, June=Illumination, July=Growth, August=Trust, September=Love, October=Experience, November=Introspection(death&rebirth), December=Strength.

I've experienced many forms of consciously chosen techniques for Cleansings during this period of the year. I have several favorites...one of them is the Floatation Tank.

'In You Go', Drozda, Acrylic/wood

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