HeartWorks Articles: Living By the Moon

Living By the Moon by Ananaia O'Leary
	In every phase, in every moment, our lives are influenced by lunar energies. The Moon moves the ebb & flow of tidal waters, regulates women's menstrual cycles, influences our moods & emotions, infuses us with wonder & mystery, links us to the inexorable cycles of change with each face-shifting phase. We are flowing with the currents of the Moon whether we are conscious of them or not. We can ignore the Moon's influence and swim cantankerously against the stream of energies, or we can make a conscious choice to merge the rhythms of our lives with the celestial rhythm of the Moon. When we choose to nurture our relationship with lunar energies, we open our beings to silvery blessings. As our awareness grows, we can find the opportunities in the ebb & flow of lunar tides. We become cunning navigators of deep waters, riding the waves & currents with powerful results. We can use these energetic currents to fuel our personal energies at every stage of our experience:

	Catch the building wave of the Waxing Moon to provide momentum for new projects, initiatives & life passages.
	Draw upon the power of the Full Moon to bring Creative Force to actualization.
	Allow the Waning Moon to support the process of surrender & release at the end of each cycle.
	Embrace the stillness of the Dark Moon to reflect & recharge.

	Moon Tuning
	Moon wisdom grows through a commitment to experience & understand the energies of Madam La Luna. As with all relationships, connection to the Moon is a deeply personal & endlessly evolving interaction. There are many pathways into deeper affinity with the Moon. From scientific understanding to deep spiritual devotion, we each must find the path that sings most harmoniously to our spirit. Here's a few suggestions to get you started:
Greeting the Moon	Take time everyday to greet the Moon. Look up into the sky and find her face in the firmament. (Remember: some days you will need to seek her pale face in the light of day.) Open your arms, your heart to the Moon and greet her as you would greet a friend. Allow yourself to stir with connection to her light & beauty. Speak words of greeting and gratitude (either silently or aloud). Take time to notice the phase of the moon & where she is in the sky at the time you have chosen to greet her. Over time you will begin to tune to the changing rhythms of the Moon. Her's is a complex dance ~ her phases, moonrise & moonset times following an ornate cycle. As you observe and honor these cycles you will begin to align more closely to the lunar energies. For information on phases, moonrise/set times, visit: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/
Moon Gazing	When the moon is full and round, find a place to sit where you can see the moon clearly & comfortably. Take a few deep breaths ~ breathing in stillness, breathing out tension. Relax. You are here on this Full Moon night to seek communion with & inspiration from the Moon. Focus for a moment on your intention, then release it. Gaze up at the luminous face of the moon. Allow your eyes to be soft, don't strain. Just rest your eyes on the silvery surface of the Moon. Remember to breathe, to remain receptive. You are not staring down the Moon, you are simply gazing at her, receiving her light & wisdom. Spend as much time as you like gazing up at her. When you are ready to bid farewell to the Moon, bring your awareness back to your body. Bring your breath fully into your body, and release your breath into the Earth. Be aware of any sensations or experiences in your body, in your heart, in your mind. Thank the Moon for shining her light upon you.
Drawing Down Moon Blessings	This meditation is most powerful under the light of the Full Moon, but can be done anytime or place by visualizing the Full Moon above you. Take a few deep breaths ~ breathing in stillness, breathing out tension. Relax. You are here to open to the magickal blessings of the Moon. Focus on your intention for a moment, then release it. Connect to the silver-liquid light pouring down from the Moon. It is a river of radiance flowing down upon you, streaming into your crown chakra at the top of your head, flowing over your skin, infusing your aura with silver energy. Allow the energy in your crown to flow down into your head & into your Third Eye chakra, to your throat chakra spilling down your arms with radiant light, into your heart, your solar plexus, deep into your sacral chakra flowing down your leg & to your root at the base of your spine ... allow the energy to flow through you & down into the Earth again in a continuous stream. You are a vessel of moonlight ... *You are one with the moonlight ...* *You are the moonlight ...* You are the Moon Mother ... Be present with the energies of the Moon for as long as you like. When you are ready, bring your awareness back to your body. Bring your breath fully into your body, and release your breath into the Earth. Be aware of any sensations or experiences in your body, in your heart, in your mind. Ground by placing your hands or body on the ground & allowing Mother Earth to absorb any excess energies. Thank the Moon for sharing her blessings with you.