Mindfulness

First New Moon of the New Year!

Posted by | Goal Setting, Happiness, Meditation, Mindfulness | No Comments

Harness the Expanding Energy of the Moon to Fortify Your Success

Saturday January 21st is the first new moon of the new year. The new moon initiates a period of expansion. The moon will grow brighter over the next few weeks until it reaches a full moon. The moon will then slowly fade back into darkness and the cycle begins again. The new moon ushers in a time of building and creating.

As the illumination of moon grows brighter, we are encouraged to work toward bringing our intentions to reality. We carry forth our dreams from the subconscious to the conscious, from the dark into the light of day. In this way, our actions are fortified, encouraged to grow and propagate in unison with the anabolic energy of the moon. This is a subtle, but powerful way of living in harmony with our planet. 

This is not a new concept. It has been practiced for hundreds of years. The Farmer’s Almanac was first published in 1818. Since then, farmers have used the almanac to plant their seeds in accordance with the cycle of the moon to achieve a bountiful harvest. Like plants, we too are biological beings responsive to the pull of the moon and tides. In the same way that a seed is planted in the dark, it is recommended that we plant our intentions in the obscured light of the new moon. 

More recently, scientists have been intrigued by the many effects the moon, sun and seasons have upon our human physiology. The research has been so extensive that it has merited the creation of a new term, chronobiology. In years past, you may have read about circadian rhythms. The study of circadian rhythms is a primary subject of chronobiology. 

Chronobiology is also a central tenet of Ayurveda, but since Ayurveda dates back 5000 years, the practices were developed long before the terms, “chronobiology” or “circadian rhythm” existed. There is much to be said about this fascinating subject both from the burgeoning scientific perspective and the Ayurvedic perspective. It is interesting to see how contemporary science bolsters some of these long-standing traditions. Ayurveda has a more nuanced and in-depth understanding on the subject. I am curious to see if future scientific research will continue to support the recommendations created by the sages of India who lived centuries ago. Time will tell. 

For now, let’s now focus on the how to utilize the expanding and constructive power of the moon. 

Here is the process I recommend: 

  1. As with every crucial endeavor, it is important to begin with stillness. In quiet stillness, it is easier to hear the gentle calling of the heart. It is easier to separate your true aspirations from those which have been placed upon you. For many of us, this is a difficult differentiation to make. We have grown so accustomed to caring for others and placing another’s needs ahead of our own that we cannot discern what is ours to solve and achieve and what is not. Establish clarity about what you truly want.
  2. With clarity, set forth a goal or intention. Start small. Be reasonable and gentle with yourself. Take time to ensure that the intention comes from a place of self-love rather than self-criticism. As a fitness instructor, I have heard so many people criticize their bodies. An example of a goal set from vaguely disguised, self-loathing would be, “I’m going to work out three days a week to get rid of this muffin top!” For this exercise, we want the goal to be aligned with our highest good.  To illustrate, choose to work out three times a week to honor your body, to feel exhilaration, to work up a sweat, to feel more energetic or to feel gratitude for being able-bodied and alive. You get the jest. I’m certain you’ll think of something. Whatever it is, be kind and loving with yourself as you set your intentions and goals. 
  3. If your goal is large and will require more than two weeks to achieve, isolate some actions that can be achieved in the next 14 days. Recall, we are working with the cycles of the moon, so break down large goals into smaller tasks. In truth, this ability to break down large goals into small achievable tasks is a basic skill required to achieve any goal. In this first attempt, I recommend working with a 14-day cycle, new moon to full moon so I am writing the article accordingly. You may also work with a longer cycle of new moon to new moon if you choose.  
  4. Next, write down your goal in a journal. If you can, set key milestones between now and the full moon, which will be on February 5, 2023.
  5. Every morning, review your goal and commit to yourself that you will utilize the day ahead to do what you can to move a bit closer to achieving your goal. 
  6. Every night after you have fulfilled the commitment you made to yourself, look at how the moon has grown brighter from the night before and smile knowing that your goal has also grown closer to becoming a reality. On the days, you were not able to achieve the tasks necessary to bring your dream a little closer to reality, be kind to yourself.  Step 5 and 6 allows us to continually reflect on our goal, so it remains present on our mind. It is not necessary to remind yourself throughout the day. The simple act of giving it your conscious attention briefly in the morning and evening will be enough to secure it in your conscious and subconscious mind.  Even when you are not thinking about your goal or actively working on it, the subconscious will be scanning your environment for opportunities to move you closer to your goal.  When opportunities arise, your subconscious mind will recognize them and prompt you to act. 
  7. At the very end of the day, take a moment to focus on why you’ve set the goal in the first place. Remember the goal was set with your highest well-being in mind. Go to bed; sleep peacefully trusting that everything is working in your favor. The next day begin the process by recommitting. Step 7 adds positive reinforcement and detachment. It is easy for us to get discouraged when things do not work out as we planned. However, I cannot tell you how many times my plans were completely ruined and what transpired in the end was so much better than what I had planned. 

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

Joseph Campbell

I am writing this on a Thursday afternoon as I sit on the beach watching the sun set eating crispy baked chickpeas, I made earlier today in the quaint little kitchen of my Gulf Coast home. 

There was a time when I spent a large portion of my waking hours in a high-rise office building overlooking a loud and bustling city scape. I was an up-and-coming corporate executive. My stress induced acne and digestive issues were tell-tale signs that I was defining “success” all wrong, at least for me. I did not want to spend hours behind a computer pushing a corporate agenda that I did not feel passionate about.  The strain and stress I observed in the people around me was palpable. I wanted to make a living in a manner that uplifted me and the people around me. At that time, I did not know what was possible, but I set an intention to transform my life many moons ago. Here I am years later incredibly delighted and grateful for how things have evolved.

I write this article in the hopes that it will expedite your trip from where you are to where you want to be.  Best Wishes and Namaste.