The last Dark Moon of 2022 - Your ritual

Hello Moonchild :)

So here we are, on the last Dark Moon of the Year. Pause right now, close your eyes and take a deep breath – you made it through the year – and possibly did your best too, irrespective of the outcomes! :)

With our last two moon rituals – November No Moon and December Full Moon, we have been making sense of our 2022s and taking baby steps into the New Year. If you have not done them, I would recommend that you do these before this one.

This Amavasya*, define your own beginning for the New Year, your truth that is relevant for you, based on where you are in life now.

Set aside about an hour and create a sacred space with flowers, incense and anything else that holds meaning for you. Keep your journal and pen ready. Light a lamp (preferably) or a candle.

Go through a gentle movement practice to release tension and open up the body for the ritual. Sit down and close eyes. Visualize a dark 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.

Place your palm on your belly and direct your breath into this area for 21 breaths. Next, place the palm on your heart. Do a gentle humming with your exhales 7 times.

Answer these questions in writing:

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?

Some thoughts from me on question 2:

- Is it a continuation of the action points that you arrived at in the last Full Moon practice? Are there any additions or revisions to that based on the previous answer? (know that even continuation of healing can be a theme)

- Is it something to do with harnessing your skills and talents? Is there something you have already identified and want to pursue? Could be anything from a small activity to following your passion.

- Or maybe you are still uncovering this. Is there some routine or process you would want to put in place towards discovering your purpose for the next year? This could even mean slowing down, just being, giving time for feeling and releasing and allowing the truths to surface in time through meditative practices. Remember – there is no rush. Nobody is telling you to start something exactly on

January 1. Understand and go at your pace, but stay committed to the process you choose. (Another thing- purposes need not be big things to do, could be just a way to be. I remember one year my purpose was to communicate with clarity and compassion).

Finish writing. Read this while absorbing it fully.

Gaze into the lamp/candle flame for a while, close your eyes. Remember what you wrote. Visualise the fire of your purpose/action points flowing into your entire being and enveloping you in its warm glow. Sit with it for a while. Then let this visualization fade out. Whenever you are ready, come out of the practice.

Take action from the next day of the ritual. Read what you wrote every morning. Review and revise as new learnings and insights surface.

If obstacles come your way, witness and make a note of them - there are lessons that they carry. Be patient and kind with yourself. We will review your journey under the first full moon in 2023 :) Have a peaceful and meaningful end to the year!

Hugs, love & gratitude

Sheetal

*Amavasya is the lunar phase of the New Moon in Sanskrit.