November Full Moon - Beginning to slow down

Hello Moonchild

How are you doing? Touching base with you on a Full Moon Day. Another Super Full Moon rises today :)

In an Indian context, It commemorates the descent of celestial beings to celebrate Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Therefore it is known as Tripurari Purnima or Deva Deepavali. Since it falls in the month of Kartik, it is called Kartik Poornima.

Lord Krishna & Radha are also worshipped, as it is believed that they performed rasalila with the Gopis on this day.

What have you been sensing?

The themes in life for me have revolved around protecting my energies, seeking divine support, release at a body level, rest & nourishment, gratitude and grounding. When I zoom out and look at all of these, these seem apt for the time, considering we are closing in on 2025. It is wise to start winding down in a good way, taking our time till December. Looks like Luna's energies are conducive for all of these too :)

From this Full Moon day onwards, tell yourself to stop rushing. Start the slowing down journey in small ways. Take time off from work, take time to rest, nourish yourself through nature, food, movement and rituals that you connect with. Visit places that raise your prana. Start reflecting on the year that was. Journal. Meet, call people who touched your life. Own and express your emotions in safe spaces. Do one or more of these things everyday.

What can you do today?

You will need: A quiet room, about an hour, journal/paper and pen, a yoga mat. If you have a favourite deity or an altar, let these be part of the space you are practising in. Light a lamp. You can even light incense sticks and have fresh flowers as offerings to the Moon.

You can do this anytime, ideally post moonrise. Try not to take it too close to the night/your sleeping time.

(Please check Moonrise/Moonset timings, I use the My Moon Phase app.)

A) CENTERING

Sit in a meditative posture. Centre yourself by observing your connection with Mother Earth. Remember your Gurus and ancestors and seek their blessings. Visualize a 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.

If you love chanting, close eyes and do the ‘Om Som Somaiyah Namah’ chant 7 times.

B) MOVEMENT

Do a movement practice to release and open up the body. This could be asana/gentle stretching/dance/anything that you are familiar with. It could even be unstructured movement.

Once you finish moving, sit down and watch the inhales and exhales, allowing them to slow down. Take at least 14 breaths. Keep the breath quiet, smooth and steady.

C) BREATH PRACTICE TO GROUND AND PREPARE FOR REFLECTION

Sit on the floor in a way you can press your palms into the earth. You could even lie face down with arms extended out and palms pressing down, if a sitting position is not accessible. Close your eyes and visualise breathing into the body from Mother Earth through the palms. As you exhale, visualize breath leaving the body through the palms into the earth. Make your exhales comfortably longer. Do this for 21 breaths.

Now sitting with your spine straight, place your palms on the heart. Inhale and exhale into the heart space 21 times. Let the breaths be comfortably equal. Sense expansion and creating space in the heart region with the inhale. Feel relaxation with your exhale.

Release the palms and take a few natural breaths.

D) JOURNALING

Reach out for your journal and pen and start answering the following questions.

1. What does abundance mean to me? What are the instances I experienced it this year?

After you answer this, read it while witnessing the emotions, feelings and sensations that may surface. Then close your eyes, have a gentle smile on your face and hold the same feeling in your heart. Sit with this.

2. What does slowing down look like for me? How can I bring this into my daily life?

Take your time to write this. Once you finish read it. Then close your eyes and sit with this.

E) CLOSING THE RITUAL

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

After this, go for a walk outside to soak in the lunar energies. Gaze at the Full Moon for a while if weather permits.

What is your way forward?

1. Read your writing again for the next couple of days, when you wake up and before you go to bed.

2. Integrate the action points into your life.

Have a wonderful, slow and meaningful practice! May the end of the year wrap up on a note of mindfulness, authenticity and acceptance.

With lots of love & gratitude

Sheetal