Full Cold Moon
Bright blessings of the full moon to you
december 15, 2024
Centering
Get settled in a seated position. If you’re comfortable, close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Focus your attention on the base of your spine, your root chakra. Feel the energy flowing from it and allow it to root you to your seat. Lengthen your spine upward and breathe deeply in and out as you shift your focus to your sacral chakra, just below your belly button. From there, travel upward through your chakras, noticing your energy as it flows up your center line. Solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and finally the crown of your head.
Take two more deep breaths.
Learning
In many cultures, midwinter is cause to celebrate - both because of survival, and as a tradition to call back the sun and its warmth. Yule in particular is one of these cultural traditions and comes from Germanic Europe and there were similar traditions in Nordic northern Europe and of course a lot of cultural mixing and sharing across the region means variations on similar themes.
The following are a few things you may wish to gather around yourself for inspiration and festivity as you brainstorm your intentions for the coming year:
Evergreens: life and renewal, overcoming death
Holly: the prickly leaves symbolize protection from harm. The berries represent potency.
Fire: brings the warmth of the sun into the darkness
Hot (spiked) mulled cider: hosts would toast their guests saying, waes hael, meaning good health. Guests would respond, drinc hael, meaning drink and be well.
Gingerbread: ginger was a rare treat, as were many spices in the middle ages, so spiced cakes are a sign of prosperity and generosity, and are generally associated with festiveness.
For more info and symbology, visit sacredearthjourneys.ca.
Imagining
Set intentions for the new year. Effective intentions for mindful living tend to be:
I statements
Present tense
Oriented toward what we want (rather than away from what we don’t want)
Clear
For example:
I am generous with my time, money, and energy.
I am comfortable asking for help.
I love my body and take excellent care of her.
I advocate for justice.
Reflecting
Here are some questions to spark inspiration:
Is there anything I want to leave behind in 2024? Beliefs, self-talk, practices, habits, relationships?
How can I love my body more, in her present state?
Are there any ancestors or teachers I want to learn more about, connect with, or honor in this year?
Are there relationships I want to nurture?
What transitions or events are coming up and how can I support myself through them?
Are there places I want to go?
Are there beliefs or practices I want to explore?
Are there fears, doubts, or feelings I want to befriend?
Is there anything I want to release, grow, or learn?
Suggested practices
Print out this worksheet, do some journaling, and write 2-5 intentions in the space provided on page two. Post it somewhere you will see it often. Share your intentions with loved ones and let them know how they can support you in nurturing your well-being throughout the coming year.
Closing
As the full moon illuminates these longest nights, may you welcome gratitude for the stillness of the dark as you celebrate what has been and what is still to come.