June New Moon - Deciphering Love

Namaste Moonchild :)

We have the New Moon or Amavasya on June 6. This is a Moon helping us with perspectives on our relationships - towards finding more harmony in them or whatever else might be the right direction.

Identify one relationship that is in focus for you now. It could be a relationship with a partner/spouse/parent/sibling/friend/cousin - someone close to you, someone you care for and who cares for you too. A relationship that is calling for attention, has been on your mind more often these days and you need some clarity on the 'giving and receiving' aspect.

The Moon's invitation is to pause, know/remember your heart and mind, soften, break down rigid beliefs and perspectives, be more curious, sensitive and open to other ways of thinking, being and doing. Compassion is key - towards the self and the other in focus.

It is also a time to rekindle love and romance in relationships, celebrate friendships, honour whoever is 'home' to you by creating unique moments with them!

What can you do as a ritual?

Set aside about an hour.

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

STEP 1

Centering

Sit in a meditative posture. Observe your connection with Mother Earth. Remember your ancestors and Gurus and seek their blessings. Visualize a Dark Moon in your eyebrow centre. As you inhale and exhale a few times, ask the lunar energies to flow through you and guide you.

If you love chanting, you can also do the ‘Om Som Somaiyah Namah’ chant 7 times.

You could do a gentle movement practice. Add poses that expand the heart.

(Avoid deep backbends but include milder backbends like the Cow pose/Bitliasana, baby or saral Bhujangasana on the elbows, Gomukhasana, Anjaneyasana or low lunge to name a few. You could also include simple movements that involve the arms eg: arm raises, arm opening and closing at shoulder level. The hands are extensions of the heart and are the motor organs of the Heart chakra)

STEP 2

Visualization + Breathwork (Aligning heart and head)

Sit in a meditative posture.

Take your awareness to the eyebrow centre. Keep a gentle focus here for a few seconds.

As you inhale, visualize breath moving from your eyebrow centre to your heart.

As you exhale, visualize breath moving from your heart to your eyebrow centre.

Do this for 28 breaths.

Once done, allow your breath to flow naturally and embrace whatever experience follows. Be a witness.

STEP 3

Reflection and Journaling (Knowing your beliefs and perspectives)

Bring to mind the relationship in focus for you. This is your context. Then answer the following questions in writing:

What is love for me?

How do I express love? How is it received?

How does the other person express love? How do I receive it?

Once you write this, read it once. Be aware of your feelings and emotions as you read.

STEP 4

Exploring and Expanding your perspective

There are two ways to approach this. Either or both can work depending on what is possible for you. You can try one or both.

Approach 1

Imagine you are going to have a conversation with this person. Let it be related to the area you need clarity on. The interesting thing is you will need to play both the parts - of you and the other person :) Ask a question or speak as yourself to start with. Then close eyes, take a couple of breaths into your heart, soften and let go of all biases and prejudices for a while. Take on the role of the other person and respond to yourself. Pause and repeat, allowing the conversation to flow for a few minutes. Then place your palms on your heart, come back to yourself completely and observe how you feel. Reground yourself by pressing your palms into the Earth.

Approach 2

(You could do this anytime after you close the ritual, the next day is fine too.)

Talking to an unbiased third person

This third person should be someone you can trust, and someone who holds no negative feelings towards you or the other person.

Describe your situation to this third person. Ensure that you only state things as they are and are not trying to enforce your views or feelings to elicit a response that you would like. Request the person to listen completely without interrupting, except in places where they need more explanation. Once you are done, make an intention to listen to their perspective with an open heart without interrupting them. Take it all in, receive, irrespective of how mild or harsh anything seems to you. Remember the idea is to soften and receive with compassion. Have the attitude of a very curious listener. After this, write down anything that you need to. Then spend some time alone to process everything.

STEP 5

Closing the ritual for the day

Bring back the image of the dark Moon in your eyebrow centre for a few breaths.

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

STEP 6

Reviewing after a day or two

This is important to drive towards the required direction after you let everything simmer for sometime.

Go back to your journal and read what you wrote doing the ritual. Reflect on what you did in Step 4. See how you feel now. Answer the following question in writing:

What would be possible next steps for me?

Read these action points, close your eyes and make a promise to yourself to bring them to life. Remind yourself to read them every morning soon after waking up and every night just before you sleep for the next two weeks.

Wish you a meaningful practice! :)

Gratitude

Sheetal