Waxing
Gibbous

The Waxing Gibbous moon is preparing for its full illumination. This is a liminal space as we pass through the threshold from the shadows of the first quarter moon and into anticipation of the full moon. In this follicular phase of the moon and this energetic springtime season, we're beginning to see our gardens blossom.  Mindfulness becomes critical as it creates space for growth and illuminates the weeds growing among the new life.

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Practice patience for any anxiousness and speeded-up thoughts, and rely on your breath to bring you back to your focal point. With 1 week to go until the full moon, use the energy of the growing light to manifest what you want to attract. Intentions are crucial at this time to remind you of your dreams and desires. Refine and make any adjustments to your plan, be flexible, and don’t resist letting go of whatever isn’t working.

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The National Ocean Service explains that "Together, the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun affect the Earth’s tides on a monthly basis. When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides and very low, low tides — both commonly called spring tides."  This gravitational pull has the power to shift the tides; imagine what it does within the body, which is 70 percent water.

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Spring Tides can cause a rising and lowering shift in our emotions in the days leading up to the new and full moon. This pull can bring emotions to the surface, giving words like "lunatic" their meaning. This moon is in her dilation stage of birth, like the uterus reaching full capacity before birth. The cervix begins to dilate, and intuition creates a hyper-awareness of changes shifting within the body.

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Through Dhyana, the seventh limb of yoga, you can find your flow and meditative state with the help of the crown chakra. Extending your active focus on Dharana, you will reach Dhyana, the space within you that transcends all thoughts or emotions. This is the space during contractions that require a woman's full attention. With the third eye seeing and the crown chakra knowing, you are able to step into the wholeness of your entire being.

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Welcome violet colors into your life through physical reminders, such as clothing, art, crystals, food, drink, flowers, and herbs. Place clear quartz at the crown of your head to bring its energetic properties to your meditation practice. Use lavender to connect you to the crown chakra, and add violet colors to your diet with foods like grapes, blackberries, eggplant, purple carrots, and sweet potatoes. Celebrate a mini Beltane, the Celtic festival that marks the halfway point between spring and summer, by lighting a fire and decorating your home and altar with beautiful violet flowers. Connect with the divine through yoga poses like the extended-leg forward bend, lotus, downward-facing dog, and Shavasana (corpse pose).

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Day 1:

The book The Body Keeps The Score warns that "Imagination is absolutely critical to the quality of our lives." When we suffer and don't heal from trauma, our brains are literally rewired to adapt. We become stuck in a world that's divided, becoming more rigid, frozen in fear, and unable to have new experiences. Relationships and identification formed from this place of trauma reinforce the story of our brokenness, leading to various forms of self-numbing, medicating, denial, and disconnection. The Body Keeps The Score warns how crucial it is to "engage the entire organism, body, mind, and brain" to treat trauma and reclaim our imaginations.

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Therapy is helpful in healing trauma. but it's not dependent upon it. If you don't have access to affordable health care or to a trusted therapist, then it's critical that you take charge of your own healing. Robin Carr-Morse writes in her book Scared Sick that "most will pursue healing through trial and error inside of relationships along the road of life." Morse believes that many heal through "friendships, through prayer and spiritual practices, through helping others, through insight and wisdom learned in their journey." Invite the insight and wisdom of the third eye and crown chakra to guide your inner compass in the direction of your healing. As an active participant in your healing, you will know intuitively what you need. 

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Journal Prompt:

In what ways, through therapy, friendship, spiritual practice, intuition, and creativity, can I heal my trauma and reclaim my imagination?

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Affirmation: My trauma does not define me.

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Here are some trauma resources:

*The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

*Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith

*In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction by Gabor Mate

*Scared Sick: The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease by Robin Karr-Morse *Emotional Freedom Technique

*My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem

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Day 2 and 3:

Julia Cameron wrote in her book, The Artist's Way, that ”Creativity flourishes when we have a sense of safety and self-acceptance. Your artist, like a small child, is happiest when feeling a sense of security.” Now is the time to check in with your inner child and ask them how they are and what they need. Listen and respond with patience and love. Reinforce their intuition by doing something creative over the next couple of days. Choose an artistic expression such as journaling, collaging, playing an instrument, coloring, photography, etc. Rock back in forth in your happy baby pose and find your childlike wonder in this playful pose.

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Journal Prompt: Free Associate Exercise from The Artist's Way, Chapter 3, Page 73-74:
1. My favorite childhood toy was_____
2. My favorite childhood game was_____
3. The best movie I ever saw as a kid was_____
4. I don't do it as much, but I enjoy_____
5. If I could lighten up a little, I'd let myself_____
6. If it weren't too late, I'd_____
7. My favorite musical instrument is_____
8. The amount of money I spend on treating myself to entertainment each month is_____
9. If I weren't so stingy with my artist, I'd buy him/her_____
10. Taking time out for myself is_____
11. I'm afraid that if I start dreaming_____
12. I secretly enjoy reading_____
13. If I had had a perfect childhood, I'd have grown up to be_____
14. If it didn't sound so crazy, I'd write or make a_____
15. My parents think artists are_____
16. My God thinks artists are_____
17. What makes me feel weird about this recovery is_____
18. Learning to trust myself is probably_____
19. My most cheer-me-up music is_____
20. My favorite way to dress is_____

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Affirmation: I see you, and I hear you. You are safe to dream.

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Resources for healing and recovering your creativity:

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

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Day 4:

Create more balance by dealing with stressors (click on the link for tips) in a healthy and positive way. When things don't go according to your plan, lean into meditation and your stress and mood management skills. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, "Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard." Rediscover, refine, and reevaluate your relationship to this moment. Remember that you are an active participant in your relationships. Healthy boundaries aren't meant to keep people out (except when necessary) but to protect your energy and your "soft and yielding" heart. Strengthen your sense of security by reinforcing your boundaries and maintaining healthy stress levels.

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*Set up for tomorrow the night before.

*Have soft boundaries and flexible goals.

*Allow for spontaneity.

*Don't plan for the "what ifs," plan for your response.

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Journal Prompt: How are your stress management skills? Answer the following questions from the book, The Stress Management Workbook by Ruth White. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most stressed, measure how stressed you currently are:

1. How stressed do you feel right now?

2. How stressed did you feel this morning?

3. How stressed did you feel yesterday?

4. How stressed do you expect to feel tomorrow?

5. How stressful is your work?

6. How stressful are your friendships and family life?

7. How stressful are your finances?

8. How stressful is your health?

9. How stressful is your commute?

10. How stressful is the community in which you live?

11. How stressed do you usually feel at the start of your day?

12. How stressed do you usually feel at the end of your day?

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The book says, "If your score is between 95 and 120, you are seriously stressed and really need to take steps to ameliorate the impact of stress on your life. If your score is 75 to 95, your stress level is still high, and you'll want to take steps to ensure it gets no higher. If your score is between 60 and 75, your life is relatively calm right now."

 

Although some areas may be more stressful than others, incorporating stress management techniques into your daily life will help you cope. If your score is below 60, you are doing great at managing the stress in your life. This book can give you more strategies to keep you on track.

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Affirmation: I have soft and flexible boundaries.  

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Day 5:

Check-in with the SAMHSA's 8 Dimensions of Wellness to assess your emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, environmental, and spiritual wellness. Create balance within these dimensions by setting Smart Goals. Increase your productivity and time management with techniques like the Pomodoro technique (or whatever works for you).

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Journal Prompt: Follow the worksheet in the SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness and fill in each dimension with "What I will do" and "What I need."

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Affirmation: I have total awareness of mind and body.

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Day 6:

The ancient Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono, meaning "to make right," is one of reconciliation and forgiveness. There's a story of a Hawaiian therapist named Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, who cured an entire ward of criminally insane patients with Ho'oponopono. Without ever meeting the patients, Len read their charts and, with each one, said the mantra, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you." Extend Ho'oponopono to your family, community, and universe by saying, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you." Repeat each mantra and allow the healing practice "to make right" what needs to be cleansed.

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Journal Prompt: Write about your experience with Ho'oponopono. What came to the surface? Do you feel secure in your body, community, family, or tribe?

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Affirmation: I'm sorry, I forgive myself, thank you for keeping me alive, I love myself.

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Day 6: I am enough and have enough to be present in this moment.

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Day 7: Something magical is about to be born. I'm ready to push.

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