Morning After

A great start to my Saturday morning!  Got up early, but crawled back in bed -- since Sadie was willing :)  A couple extra hours of sleep never hurts!!  When we got up again, the sun was just starting its day, and I took a few photos, got dressed then headed out for a walk.  In the morning, whenever I put on shoes, Sadie is all over me, bouncing and wagging and trying to gnaw on shoelaces -- she knows its time to go for a walk!

S-t-t-r-r-e-e-t-t-c-c-h-h-!-!-!

As for last night, I'm so happy I decided to head to "my mountain" for some pictures of the blue moon.  (more here) And while the Fire Ceremony was a little difficult here in the Valley of the Sun -- it was still 94 degrees when I built the fire! lol -- I'm very glad I did it :)  Everyone needs something symbolic when its time for new things to come into their life.



 But I look back at the rest of the evening and sort of cringe.
I guess one beer makes me really talkative.
I was still going at 11pm! hahaha
All in all, a very good evening :)

Fire Ceremony

Yes!  I did my fire ceremony on the blue moon!

I built my fire, watched it build in strength.
I called for my Goddess, for the Universe,
for their energy and wisdom.
I watched the smoke as it rose up into the heavens.
And I slid my paper of "old things"
into the flames,
watching it curl and flame up,
smoke rising, ashes drifting
to be no more.

I felt my spirit lighten as the heavy load of the past was lifted.
Then slid my paper of "new things" into the flames,
watching it curl and flame up,
smoke rising, ashes drifting
replacing the past
with new hopes and dreams.

I twirled and danced, my hands raised to the sky
letting my heart and soul
commune with the things around me.

Then I sat and watched the flames,
the fire, die into embers.

And I used this Navajo Prayer:

Today I will walk out, today everything evil will leave me,
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.

Afterward, I slid an angus beef hotdog onto a stick,
and cooked up a delish treat
to celebrate.
I tipped my ice cold beer to the heavens
and smiled.

I hope you did something memorable to celebrate this Blue Moon!
The next one is July 31st - 2015 !!!!

Blue Moon

When I read the blue moon rises at 7:13pm, I decided on the spur of the moment that I needed to head out to "my" mountain - Superstition Mountain.  I grabbed the tripod, the camera and Sadie (and all the junk! that goes with traveling with a puppy! hahahah)  and off we went.

Cruising down the freeway, huge orange sunset glow in my rear view mirror and the Eagles singing "welcome to the Hotel California...."   The only thing that might have made the moment even better would have been an ice cold beer sitting in the console.  *grin*

I really like being out near my mountain. There's a peacefulness there that is hard to describe.  As the sun set, the insects began chirping louder.  There's a soft breeze, and of course, my own anticipation to see the moon rise over the mountains.  I stood in awe as it drifted up over the horizon.... and was jerked back to reality every time Sadie pulled on her leash.  lol   I have to admit, it was an experience taking her with me on a picture jaunt for the first time.

Now, its 8pm and I am sitting in my backyard, camera set up at the moon, and just lit the campfire, and yes, an ice cold beer!  Ahhhh, this is the life.   (More on the Fire Ceremony in my next post!)

Blue Moon Tonight!

The full moon will begin to rise at 7:13 p.m. PDT Friday.
The next blue moon won't be seen until 2015.
A blue moon doesn't mean the moon will actually change color--it's the rare occurrence of two full moons occurring in the same calendar month. (The first full moon in August happened on Aug. 1.)

The last time a blue moon happened was on New Year's Eve 2009. The next blue moon will occur July 31, 2015, according to moongiant.com.

Get out there and catch a glimpse of the blue moon!

Full Moon Fire Ceremony

Traditions and rituals are what keep us connected and give us a sense of belonging.  Life after 50 means things are different than they were 20 years ago.  I used to have several traditions such as dinner was always at the table, no TV, no radio, and we talked.  (I have to admit, when I blended my family with another, there were four kids who were new to this tradition and it took them a while... but now its one of the most often remembered times.. )

But now that I'm over 50, I miss some of the traditions, so its time to find new ones that fit into my lifestyle, and how I feel about life.   Living in Arizona, I am curious about the Native American Indian culture and customs, the way they're spiritually connected to Earth.  Take, for instance, how in writings I've found, they refer to Earth, or Mother Earth, as if its a living entity, whereas the rest of us just say "the earth" as if it was a commodity.  And I find I prefer that spiritual way of thinking of this planet we live on.

I was looking around for something to do on the Blue Moon - the second full moon in the month of August.  (We haven't had a blue moon since Dec 2009!) - and I found a Fire Ceremony for the Full Moon. (I found this one here )

Fire Ceremonies are wonderful during a New Moon, when you want to introduce newness into your Life. This Native American ritual is easy, simple and an awe-inspiring event.

Each brings something to burn that we would like to rid from our past (in Full Moon) that will burn, turn to smoke and release into the ethers. This allows the past energy to move along to its highest spiritual progression path.  We may bring pictures, drawings, or intentions written on a piece of paper for the past or the newness. For the past, after we have burned and released it, then we have something prepared that is written down on a clean sheet of paper. This would be something new that we would like to call forth from God. For the newness, the prayer request is then burned and released into the ethers thereby replacing the past. 

I think the key factor here is the symbolism of replacing the past with something new.  That seems perfectly awesome to me!   So a quick run-down of things to have on hand:  In a place where you can build a small fire, (don't forget a bucket of water for fire safety!) you will also need something to represent the past:  picture, drawing, or a list on paper of the things you'd like to leave in the past.  You'll also need something written on a clean sheet of paper for something new.  

Around your fire, call your Divine Source that gives you peace (God, Allah, Spirit, Archangels, the Universe), start with a prayer - don't forget to end with a prayer - of thanksgiving for the prayers that will be answered.  After you've called your Divine Source, place your items of past energy into the fire, watch them turn to ashes, released into the ethers.  Then place your new list into the fire, watching it turn to ashes as well, to replace those old energies.

When its time to move on, having something to do helps us; when we can see that list, the symbolism of something turning to ashes because its over, can be a big help.  I've always said its the little things that made a big difference.  Even if you can't be here in the Valley of the Sun, perhaps your spirit will feel it -- I'll be outdoors on Friday night, will you?

 

New Moon's Hopes

Did you try the New Moon ritual with me?  If so, do you find yourself thinking about the things you wrote down?  things you wished for?  Come Friday, on the Full Moon (which is a Blue Moon, by the way!) we'll check our list and see what manifested itself!  I know that one of the things I wrote was wanting to smile more often.  And I know this week that I already did!   


A lot of it was job related, I was helping out in the fabrics department on the floor.  I know this dept well, I set up my own fabrics dept when I helped open a new store (back when I was living in Ohio), so that's what I've been helping with - the layout of the department was done mostly wrong, and needs some desperate help to get caught up.  But what made me smile a lot were the comments and questions from customers.  It's so nice to talk fabrics with others who like it as much as I do.  Yeah, I don't sew that much any more; maybe its the creative process that goes along with a fresh piece of fabric. :)

The other hopes will have to wait until Friday..... Can't wait! 

A Blue Moon

Be Ready!  Our next full moon is August 31st.   and this one is special!! Read on:

The full moon occurs once every 29.5 days. This essentially means that there is one full moon every month. However, as we know, every month but February has at least 30 days in it, which presents the potential for two full moons in a month.  August 2012 is one of these unique months, which will have two full moons. There was a full moon on August 2nd, and another full moon on August 31st.  (For those who are superstitious in regards to full moons:  two special days in August of 2012!)

The term Blue Moon usually refers to the second full moon in a given month. When people say "once in a blue moon" they are speaking to the rarity of the occurrence of a second moon happening in the same given month.  Our last on occurred on December 31, 2009.

Ok - quick show of hands:   How many of you are quick to say "must be a full moon"  when something strange happens, or when too many coincidences occur together?? hehehe I knew it, me too!!

Here are a few superstitions I found, just for fun:

The occurrence of a blue moon is the perfect time to plant the seeds of long-term goals that will blossom in the sun of a future day.

If you want to get unexpected money, go outside under the full moon, open your pocket or wallet, and say nine times "Fill It Up".  Within a few days you will be surprised with an unexpected amount of money.

In the United States, the Moon seen over the right shoulder brings good luck; the Moon seen over the left shoulder brings bad luck.