Shed! Release the Snake and Invite the Fire Horse! Ramadan, Lent and New Moon Eclipse.
Due to my Irish DNA perhaps, I have always been drawn to times of threshold. These mystical places and spaces where we step out of linear time into realms beyond the tangible senses. Where we leave behind familiarity and comfort to step into the unknown relying on intuition and getting underneath the noise to find the current of aliveness that moves through all things.
Observing and practicing the eight threshold seasonal festivals of the Celtic Wheel draw me into a relationship with the energies and rhythms of the season as well as the current season of my life.
This is not exclusive to Celtic culture and is in alignment with Ayurveda , the larger science of yoga, other indigenous earth practices as well as Chinese medicine.
The We’Moon calendar, a calendar that follows the moon cycles and incorporates the Celtic wheel and indigenous practices of the northern hemisphere also incorporates the Chinese lunar year.
Last year, we honored and celebrated the year of the wood snake. This year, we move into the lunar year of the fire horse.
During this threshold time we focus on shedding and releasing restrictive patterns and old patterns of behaviors and beliefs. This is a slow internal strategic transformation towards the energies of the fire horse, which are external and concentrated on high energy and bold action. There is an invitation in the energy of the fire horse to explore what brings you joy. A generosity of spirit is found here rather than a hoarding of pleasure and a sense of illuminating others and sharing your light. We are reminded in these chaotic times not to perpetuate domination and hoarding, but to be expansive and generous.
Lunar New Year-Ramadan & Lent
This auspicious time of the lunar new year coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, observed on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar by fasting, communal prayer, reflection and community. Attention is paid to charity and humbleness. This also coincides with the beginning of Lent, a Christian religious observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter, echoing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. The time of repentance, turning away from that which separates us from the love of God and turning towards that which is life fulfilling and relational.
As if that isn’t enough, we also have a solar eclipse happening! Exploring the ebb and flow of light and darkness, the relationship between moon, and sun.
In these times that challenge the best of us, it brings me comfort to think of billions of people around the planet, honoring these shifting energies from the Lunar New Year to Ramadan to Lent.
Billions of people practicing:
Devotion.
Contemplation.
Release.
Expansion .
Generosity.
so may we bring intention into this threshold with a blessing.
Blessing for the Lunar New Year
May we find a softening of our heart.
Maybe we expand with generosity of spirit.
May we be in tune with joy and Harmony.
May we bless and illuminate those around us.
May we always incline toward justice and Peace.
May we grow our capacity for love and compassion.
May we show up for one another in solidarity.
May our thoughts, words and actions contribute to the wellness, safety, freedom, and peace of all beings.
(Painting of horse by Donna Murphy Carosi)
