Many have misconceptions around spiritual practices revolving around nature and lunar cycles.
A human disconnect from the ancestral memories and ancient ways brought by modern influences and certain teachings.

Much of the Ancient One’s survival was dependent upon being aligned with the cycles of the seasons and the moon.
Even today,
Virtually all spiritual practices (arguably perhaps, not Christianity and similar), honor nature and the moon with connecting practices and/or celebrations of the seasons.

Virtually, all spiritual practices (arguably perhaps, not Christianity and those similar), honor nature and the moon with connecting pracrices and or celebrations of the seasons.
 
Taoism considers the human body to be a microcosm of nature, complete with an inner landscape.
Conversely, the universe is a macrocosm, playing an enormous role in both the our inner and outer worlds.

The moon and its cycles
have an immense impact on us,
being our closest celestial neighbor.
We understand, for instance, that it is responsible for the ebb and flow of ocean tides.
Therefore
since the human body is made up of 70 percent water, it should be obvious that it would exert some effect on our physical being, as well.

This idea of the moon’s influence on the human body is fully supported by Taoist thinking.
{Taoist astrology also teaches that the Big Dipper constellation controls our destinies.}
We can see a clear example of the lunar cycles connection to the human body in women’s health.
The menstrual cycle takes 28 days to complete. Many women are synced to the lunar phases of the full and new moon.
For this reason, it’s also sometimes referred to as a moon cycle.

MOON RITUALS
Taoist medicine echoes what so many other traditions tell us about the moon.
In Taoism
– as in all other traditions,
The NEW MOON
is about fresh starts
And guides us to utilize this time to perform new moon rituals
for honoring new beginnings
and rebirth within the cycle of death & rebirth.

NEW MOON RITUAL
* Set your new moon intentions for those things that you want to come into your life.
* Cleanse and purify
The Taoist tradition urges us to either do a fast around both the new and full moons
Or
to have a lighter, vegetarian, “clean” diet.
Taking in mostly fruits, vegetables, and water during that time.
{Water = moon force, life force, ancestral memory}.

This ritual period around the new and full moons is further enhanced through deepening meditation and contemplative practice.

The 3 days around these lunar phases
– the peak day, the day before, the day after,
are a period to reset and anchor in your meditation routine, and
to spend extra time throughout each day in some form of contemplative way.
Consider…
* MEDITATION & contemplative practices utilizing the quieting of the mind and body, prayer, chanting, song, or drumming or rhythmic tapping
* WALKING MEDITATION (quiet, contemplative, intentionally connective with the earth and the elements)
* WRITING either journaling specifically about your experiences, emotions, physical state, and insights during the lunar phase period
And/or
free flowing, stream of consciousness writing using the specific lunar phase as the prompt.

* BATH RITUALS further enhance the water connection,
as well as the purifying and contemplative aspects of both lunar peaks.
Bath (or shower or sauna) rituals amplify cleansing and clearing,
While releasing, reconnecting, and anchoring (think “baptism”)

You can add essential oils to your bath or contemplative practice.
For the New Moon the Taoist tradition suggests that bitter orange (Qing Pi), peppermint, and coriander can help sow the seeds for new endeavors.

Beyond the new moon’s peak,
the waxing moon “gives light” to what is growing,
And builds upon intentions set and energies put in motion.

The moon energy then peaks with the full moon,
– when things are fully illuminated,
Initiating the COMPLETION of the waning moon period.
A time of going within, and the return to neutral that the “death” portion of the death & rebirth cycle brings. Which peaks at the dark moon.

(I’ll post the full moon ritual closer to its approach on 10/31.)

~ Jill ?
Private sessions available.