it’s not easy to make a change in life; our mind and our gut often go in different directions; old patterns of behavior emerge as automatic reactions, taking considerable attention and willpower to shift.
people come up with tricks. they create and purchase tools and relationships that help break it down into manageable steps and keep them accountable. after all, it’s easier to not do it alone.
nonetheless, forcing change can easily become a drag, as our conscious intentions often give way to more compelling moods. so why not work with these seething impulses instead of against them?
here’s one approach: (bi-)weekly check-ins timed to the movements of our moon, Luna.
Luna rituals are a way to create new habits and achieve goals, timed to the most obvious cycle in the sky — of Sol and Luna. as a month-long cycle, ‘lunations,’ the periods of one New Moon to the next, offer significant but manageable length of time to develop ourselves.
each of the four major phases of Luna, the new, waxing quarter, full, and waning quarter are weekly times for reflect, to take stock of one’s progress and make adjustments.
committing to this practice in a group brings further accountability and the benefit of others’ experience deepening our own. participating in the enchanted dramatics increases its psychosomatic affect, and makes it more fun.
the ritual addresses the key aspects of ourselves represented by Sol and Luna:
Sol symbolizes our creative spirit and agency, how we find purpose and lead a way through the adventure of our life. sometimes we find ourselves challenged too much or too little and need a shift in our direction, towards new horizons and purpose.
Luna symbolizes our receptive soul and reveries, how we find peace and comfort to nourish our connections to life. sometimes we find our familiar ways are causing us more harm than good, too rigid or chaotic, bringing boredom and anxiety.
their cycle starts with the New Moon, when Sol and Luna meet up in the sky. their union symbolizes a chance to bring our spirit and soul into better alignment, in the form of an intention or wish.
two broad types are recommended:
Sol-focused: addressing emotions and reactions that have us stuck in unhelpful patterns of thoughts and behaviors
Luna-focused: creating more stability and sense of belonging, tools that help us recuperate when life is stressful
when making your wish, try to be concrete about what you want to manifest over the next month. find something between a high hope and tiny adjustment, something you can imagine experiencing over the next twenty-eight day period. visualization and verbalization helps embody it, so imagine it as if it’s already happened; draw it in a picture; or describe it in written or spoken words. by opening yourself to the possibility your vision will come true, you can notice more opportunities in the day-to-day to make it manifest.
there are additional frames you can consider to help inspire you and get you to think broadly about various aspects of your life.
two can apply to anyone based on the sky at the time:
consider the zodiac sign that Sol and Luna are in. It suggests certain qualities that your intention or wish might want to embody.
consider other planets around Sol and Luna, or are in relation to it in a special way. their symbolism may be relevant to your desire.
two can be unique to you and how the sky appeared when you were born:
consider the house associated with the sign that Sol and Luna are in. it suggests an area of life where your intention or wish can apply.
consider other planets from when you were born that aspect Sol and Luna. their symbolism may be relevant to your desire.
intentions don’t have to be fully nailed down; you may find events in the days after clarify what you need to do as you begin taking steps to manifest your vision.
at the quarter moon, it’s time to fully commit to one’s wish. reframing and rephrasing it can help solidify it in your mind. challenges to make it manifest can be opportunities to sharpen your vision.
at the full moon, emotions run high as Luna is filled with Sol’s light at opposite sides of the sky, bringing maximum energy and tension. this is the time to reflect on the past two weeks and assess progress. where have we held back too much or took a step too far? in preparation for the next week’s final push towards your goal, it’s time to celebrate successes and let go of behaviors or thoughts that remain in the way.
at the waning quarter moon, introspecting on the past cycle begins. what did you learn? gain? lose? it’s time to harvest the best of the past month and take stock of what’s been achieved. celebrate your victories; everything else can become the soil for the next lunation with the coming New Moon.
the Luna Ritual can be done alone or with friends, taking on whatever form best serves those involved.
in my practice, i facilitate the ritual in public among friends or strangers.
i carry a banner and ask curious lookers-on if they would like to make a wish on the new and full moons. i offer strips of fabric where they can write their wish, and have them tie it into the banner themselves — the effort of binding their wish is the trade for their wish to enter the cosmos.
this blog will document the process and evolution of this ritual.