Your First Full Moon ritual of 2025!

Hello Moonchild :)

How have the first few days of 2025 been for you? :)

View of the Full Moon from my home in Kerala. Always deep and different when I go back to roots and moon gaze :)

Were you able to wind the last year down well to take conscious steps into the new year? If you were not able to do the inner work then, don't worry. You can go back to the year-end reflection that I shared and do that practice instead for 2-3 days before reading this blog :)

This day is significant in an Indian context as Pausha Purnima. On this Full Moon, devotees take a dip in the holy waters at the Prayag Sangam (the confluence of Rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) or at the Dashashwamedh Ghat at Varanasi. It is believed that this dip or 'Snana' will relieve them of their sins from this and previous births, putting them on the path to Moksha.

It all points towards deep inner work that Moon days are known to be conducive for. This one specially, is an auspicious one to journey to your soul and touch your authenticity.

The Full Moon's invitation is to come home to yourself, connect with your ever abundant, all knowing core, your source, the consciousness. From there springs forth the true wisdom of who you really are and what you are meant to do. This facilitates a natural alignment and flow, leading to a more abundant, energized and content way of being and doing. And what better time to initiate this than the beginning of the year!

What is your ritual?

You will need: A quiet room, about an hour, journal and pen or a recording device. If you have a favourite deity or an altar, let these be part of the space you are practising in.

A) CENTERING

Sit in a meditative posture. Observe your connection with Mother Earth. Remember your Gurus and seek their blessings. Visualize a luminous Full Moon in your eyebrow centre. As you inhale and exhale a few times, ask the lunar energies to flow through you and guide you. Scan the body from bottom to top to check in on any discomfort/tension/tightness/aches/pains. Make movements that can help ease these areas. Breathe at a natural, comfortable pace.

Post this, you may choose to do a gentle movement/asana practice that aids release.

B) REFLECTION THROUGH JOURNALING / RECORDING

Reach out for your journal and pen or your recording device.

Say to yourself or write this question down: WHO AM I?

If you are using an audio recorder, speak into it. Else answer in writing, taking your time. Do not worry about right or wrong. Whatever you say or write is fine. Simply ensure you are expressing from the heart, without holding back at all.

Once done, read/listen what you have expressed, observing whatever surfaces within you as you do so. Close eyes and allow the experience to settle into you.

Simply accept all that has surfaced without judgements.

C) MEDITATION

Sit in a meditative posture with your spine erect (use props if needed).

Scan the body and allow it to settle into a relaxed yet alert position,

Rest your palms on the knees, palms facing up, fingers relaxed.

Focus on your breath and witness it flowing in and out effortlessly for a few breaths.

Keep your awareness a little above the navel region.

Touch this area with your dominant hand. (optional)

Visualize breathing in and out of this region for 14 breaths, without altering the natural pace of the breath.

Revisit the question 'Who am I' from the perspective of those around you.

WHO AM I? WHO AM I TO THE PEOPLE AROUND ME? HOW DO THEY SEE ME?

Gather your thoughts and keep them aside. Take a few breaths to recentre.

Shift your awareness to your lower belly region, below the navel.

Touch this area with your dominant hand. (optional)

Visualize breathing in and out of this region for 14 breaths.

Revisit the question: 'Who am I' from your own knowing of the self until now.

WHO AM I? WHO AM I WHEN NOBODY IS AROUND OR JUDGING ME OR EXPECTING THINGS OF ME?

Gather your thoughts and keep them aside. Take a few breaths to recentre.

Shift your awareness to your heart.

Visualize breathing in and out of this region for 21 breaths.

As you do this, locate that space deep inside the heart where your inhale ends and exhale begins.

Reside in that space for a while, in that silence once your count is over. Nothing matters except that you simply be there.

Gently introduce the question 'Who am I' without any expectations. Not seeking answers, just being in the silence, allowing whatever surfaces to come forth.

WHO AM I?

Be a patient, kind and passive observer. If anything emerges, simply hold space for it without judgements and with compassion, without thinking. Then return to the quietness, the witness mode. If nothing comes up, that is fine too for now. Know that there will be revelations in the coming days, you only have to stay aware.

When you have been in complete stillness and silence for sometime and nothing more surfaces, gradually make some gentle movements and open your eyes.

Reach out for your journal or audio recorder and either write continuously for 3-5 minutes or speak steadily and continuously into the recorder till you have expressed fully. This final expression comes from your source, so it is important to not activate the thinking mind. Allow flow. Then read or listen calmly, continuing to be a compassionate, non-judgemental witness.

D) CLOSING

Close your eyes and be in your heart space, feeling truly abundant for the experience. Trust the abundance of your source, and the many blessings that will come your way!

Close the ritual by offering gratitude to your ancestors, Gurus, the Moon and Mother Earth.

Stay open to insights and further guidance-they may come to you in meditation or when you wake up or through people you interact with or even as dreams. And remember to be grateful to the source every time that happens! :)

Have a deep first Full Moon ritual of 2025 and a conscious, meaningful year ahead! :)

From my heart to yours

Lots of Love & Gratitude

Sheetal