Dark Buck Moon
Deep peace of the dark moon to you
July 5, 2024
Centering
The dark moon is the absence of the moon. June’s Strawberry moon has set and July’s Buck moon has yet to rise. This is a time of rest, reset, and gathering our energy back to us before we enter into a new season of growth. Embrace the darkness of the night sky as an invitation to pause. There will be plenty of time for movement and reaching. Let the pause be enough for now.
Place one hand on your belly and one over your heart. Breathe in, feeling your belly expand. Breathe out, out, out, feeling your belly contract. Pause here for a count of three.
Now, following your own rhythm and pace, take several more deep breaths, pausing with intention after each exhale.
Learning
Growing antlers takes an incredible amount of energy. From spring into summer they grow from nothing to full size, in some species at a rate of three centimeters a day. One video I watched said this is like if we grew a whole arm every summer. Because they are so expensive energetically, they fall off in winter, at the end of mating season. The antlers have served their purpose and to continue to feed them would be a huge misuse of energy, so they just fall off.
Today marks the dark moon. This is the pause before the new moon begins to grow in the night sky. The Buck moon reminds us that nature is in this intense season of growth. We see that in the explosion of green all around us that’s fed by Maryland humidity. The Buck moon invites us to drop what is using up unnecessary energy. When they’re done, their bodies cut off the supply of energy and once that process is done, they can just shake their heads and the whole thing comes off in one go.
Imagining
Click to listen to a guided meditation on the theme of letting go of what you no longer need.
Reflecting
Is there anything you need to shed and let go of in order to make room for this season’s new growth?
Is there anything you’d like to do or say to bless and grieve what you’re letting go?
Who in your life can offer you support in letting go and making room for new growth?
Suggested practices
Write down what you’re releasing and (safely!) burn, bury, or release it in flowing water.
Clear a shelf in your home or office to create visual breathing room.
Exfoliate your skin.
Closing
As the Buck moon waxes and grows each night over the next two weeks, blessings to you as you make room for the new growth that is uniquely you and yours.