“Wolf” Moon

I love the imagery of a Wolf Moon. A chance to get under the moon light and maybe let out a deep spiritual howl. Perhaps let out a cry, release what you have been holding in. It’s the coldest time of year too (at least in Minnesota). I’d encourage you to reflect on your relationship with cold. Try imagining what it feels like to step outside on a 6 degree day, on a Monday morning to start your car and scrape the snow off. Usually, you are dreading this moment, but maybe today, you will greet that cold with some kindness. Appreciate that it doesn’t dictate our entire year, so why let it rule our day? It’s only here for so long, and who knows? Maybe the brisk cold air that kisses your warm innocent skin was the true love you’ve been needing this month. Be in union with it.

The snow, naturally puts us Minnesotans in to a mindful practice of concentrating more of our energy in to weather preparedness, in turn, we have to be really good with our ability to rest too. I find this time of year to either be empowering or draining when it comes to maintaining a decent sleep schedule. We either let things pile up, keeping us in an anxious state as we go to bed, or we can tap in to our inner patience. If you’ve let things pile up, it’s time to let it go. The power of the full moon is in full swing for a few more days so let’s drop those fearful, negative narratives we’ve been allowing to rule our life.

“The Real You”

With the full moon being in the sign of Cancer, who not to mention, rules the moon, emotions may feel a bit more intense than normal.

When I have a good cry, I always feel lighter after. I feel like I’m getting closer to “the real me.” Who is the real me anyways? The prompt of “who am i?” could be dragged out to so many realms, but do we ask ourselves every, what am I? why am i? how am i? and am i? Now, I’m starting to bleed in to some ideas of emptiness (my favorite subject to meditate on), because when we boil it all down, we really aren’t much beyond flesh and bones, with a heart and brain, and some sort of personality or idea of the “self” rules the way we live our lives.

I think this full moon, we are being called to release old ideas of the self. Something inside you yearns to reconnect. Pay attention to your feelings and begin to reclaim the beautiful qualities you possess; the unique qualities you have for so long repressed and ignored. Shed whatever you don’t want to bring in to the new year, as the lunar new year is coming up in a few weeks. We are being called to lighten up, have fun. This will be the year of the snake, so shedding skin is going to be something we get used to.

As your true nature re-emerges you’ll feel inspired and discover a new way of looking at life. In turn, you will achieve greater successful and feel a greater sense of fulfillment. Nurture yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally. There is so much to be grateful for and so much in life to explore.

“God”

Now in this section I’ll be talking about God. God is the creator of life, some people use the term “The Universe” but I have grown to like using “God” lately. In my study of Buddhism and Hinduism, God, maybe hold similarities to “Brahma” who is a masculine deity that created the universe.

Growing up I did not understand who God was, what his intentions were, how to find him. In college, I spent many hours meditating, trying to access “Him.” I had questioned his existence ever since I was in my teens. Where was his help when I needed him the most? In those times, I felt so alone. Who was I supposed to lean on when I literally feel like there is absolutely no one at all.

Well, I later in life discovered that it’s times like that where I feel so alone, is when I can call upon God. I will write to him. I can surrender my fears and concerns, I can accept that there is a light that is always being offered to me. I get this sort of feeling after meditation too. I realize there is someone there to talk to. maybe in the past I would have said, “Oh I’m just talking to myself” which is true, but as a Budding Buddhist, I would say also that this self may not actually exist. The voice that’s talking to me might be the divine presence that does exist within all of us. Building a relationship with that energy within you is everything. So that’s why I’ve been in communication with God. He is trying to tell me something and I finally have the tools to decipher it.

So what does God want me to really be doing in this life?

I like to help people learn meditation, as it has been a really important skill that has helped me access my inner most thoughts. I have been hiding or running away from the “real me” for some time now. Some may say I have the confidence and I am always accomplishing things, maybe a go-getter but sometimes I just do things so that I can be still relevant to people, instead of actually being true to where I am at and how I am feeling. I believe in this path I am choosing for myself, I am meant to be a teacher, a guide, a leader. I’m sharing my thoughts, because they are relevant, not to stay relevant.

The relationship to God recently has been me asking questions like, what do I want to experience in life and what is holding me back from experiencing it fully? I am talking the sense-perceptions we meditate on in Buddhism. Bringing my self back to the present moment? Why can’t I do it and why is it so hard? That is when it is time to release the fear and worry and give it to God. Guides and teachers will manifest to lead me to where I am supposed to be.

The Beloved

Now that we’ve thought about our selves for a bit, and thought about God as well, maybe our heart begins to warm up to the idea that there is love out there for you. In her oracle guide book, Toni Carmine Salerno notes that "Love is the gateway to an endless universe, where the light of a billion stars forever glows though one eternal spirit."

If we think about everything being connected, we can realize that our happiness does not belong to individuals, but it belongs to the universe. We were meant to exist with this warm feeling of love. It keeps is alive. It reminds us how actually great it is to be reincarnated as a human this time.

Rumi’s poetry also comes to mind when thinking of the Beloved. Rumi professes that the Beloved is like the divine union of God in your life. The beloved isn’t necessarily a person actually but a reminder that we could always be closer to God. Choosing the Beloved, is a spiritual path, in which you hope to get as close to God as you can.

I love the Beloved, it prompts me to hold gratitude for the relationships I hold near and dear to me. The Beloved is a a source of life, in which God exists in the human realm to remind us that he is Love. Perhaps a practice of gratitude journaling could suit you during this Full Moon. Writing down all you claim to be beloved or sacred to you in your life. No matter how difficult things can be, when you journal all that goodness and gratitude, it will bring you closer to this idea of the Beloved. You might gain a lot of valuable insight and begin to bring out the best in others in your practice.

"Love is the gateway to an endless universe, where the light of a billion stars forever glows though one eternal spirit." -Toni Carmine Salerno

Now I got really wrapped up all this talk about God, which isn’t super typical of me. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and hoping to show you all how I confidently step on to my path. I ask myself a lot of questions and keep them with me, because I consider those questions that I’m contemplating truly serve as guides. I don’t think I would have gained the confidence to get my masters, get started on my LLC, and fall in love without the practice of meditation and the recent conversations I’ve had with the Divine Creator. Once I can get tuned in with God, I can tap in to the messengers and guides he is sending me. I feel as if the #1 way to get tuned in to that frequency too, is through meditation. What do you have to lose?

I thank you all who have subscribed to my blog as I reflect on this Full Moon.



Love has nothing to do with

the five senses and the six directions:

its goal is only to experience

the attraction exerted by the Beloved.

Afterwards, perhaps, permission

will come from God:

the secrets that ought to be told with be told

with an eloquence nearer to the understanding

that these subtle confusing allusions.

The secret is partner with none

but the knower of the secret:

in the skeptic’s ear

the secret is no secret at all.

by Rumi from Mathnawi III, 1417-1424