The first Full Moon of 2023 - Your ritual

Hello Moonchild :)

How has the New Year started for you? For me, it has been a continuation of the last month – mostly with all the inner work that is happening. I am glad to have skillfully avoided the usual and unnecessary pressure of having to effect some change exactly on January 1.

Inner Work and healing take time!

I ask you also to not rush. We initiated our process in November with the No Moon ritual. Continued the work with the last Full Moon and Dark Moon rituals. If you have not done these, I would strongly recommend that you start with them.

We revel in the first Full Moon of 2023 on January 6. Let us harness these energies to explore our purpose for the year. This has to come from deep within, to be authentic and effective. And that is a journey of uncovering. All the more reason to do the previous rituals :)

The Premise:

What truly holds meaning for me at this point in life?

What is my REAL PURPOSE / ACTION TO TAKE / WAY TO BE now? Am I ‘BEING’ and allowing the answers to surface?

Your Ritual:

Set aside about an hour ideally after Moonrise.

(To know Moonrise timings, I use the My Moon Phase app)

If the weather permits, you can do this outdoors too under the Full Moon. Create a sacred space with flowers/lamps/incense or anything else that holds meaning for you. Keep your journal and pen ready. You might need some light for writing later.

Sit down, if possible gaze at the moon, close eyes. Hold the image of the Full Moon in your eyebrow centre, take a few breaths asking the lunar energies to guide you.

If you love chanting, do the ‘Om Som Somaiyah Namah’ chant 14 times.

Now, read your journal entry from the last practice. You had answered the following questions:

1. What are my talents/skills/gifts? What has given me wins and good times in 2022? What qualities of mine have come to my rescue? 2. What is my theme for the next few days leading into the New Year?

Reflect on what transpired for you after that - the progress and the obstacles if any. Jot these down. Notice sensations in your body, feelings and emotions.

(If you have not done the last ritual, please do that first today. You can do this Full Moon ritual within the next 4 days.)

Next, do the practice in the video to release, awaken your intuition and nurture compassion. (If Ustrasana is not accessible for you, please do a milder version of the standing backbend -Anuvittasana)

Now go back to your journal and write continuously for 5 minutes using the prompt:

What holds most meaning for me right now is…

A quick note!

This might be different from what you arrived at earlier – and that is fine. What is true for you sometimes only surfaces with time as you shed layers. If there have been too many obstacles in your path, it could be an indication that you are not meant to be on that path. In which case you might want to take a call to momentarily step back till a new path intuitively shows up for you. In that vein, yes it is completely fine if your purpose is not clear for you now. Be patient and kind with yourself, and stay committed to the practices and your journey. Also, like I mentioned last time, purposes need not be big things to do, could simply be just a way to be – like consciously choosing to do less for example.

Answer this next:

What is my way forward?

These are solid action points. For those of you who are still uncovering, the answer can be some routine or process you would want to put in place towards discovering your purpose.

Finish writing. Read this while absorbing it fully.

Then close your eyes, sit in silence for a while. Bring your palms together in Namaskara mudra. Offer gratitude to the Moon for her guidance.

Take action from the next day of the ritual. Read what you wrote every morning. Keep reviewing and revising and making a note of obstacles if any along the journey.

Have a soulful practice :)

Hugs, love & gratitude

Sheetal