Pray to the Moon when She is round,
Luck with you will then abound,
What you seek for shall be found
On the sea or solid ground.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Poetry for the Esbat: Practice Kindness Moon, 2014


XVII The Moon/La Luna, from the DaVinci Tarot, developed by McElroy, Ghiuselev & Atanassov & published by Lo Scarabeo.
XVII The Moon/La Luna, from the DaVinci Tarot,
developed by McElroy, Ghiuselev & Atanassov
& published by Lo Scarabeo.

Last night the snow fell in unexpected volumes & covered the filthy, thawing, litter-strewn land with a fresh blanket of glitter. A second chance to shine. If the clouds cooperate, I suspect this Esbat, the Land will be aglow with Moonlight, from head to toe.

Practice. I frequently hear people say, "In my practice..." What makes a religious or spiritual "practice"? I have been considering this quite carefully lately. How do we describe it? Where do we find it? Is a practice defined by our chosen label, symbols or the objects & gestures one manipulates about in space? Is it in the language, the words we utter when we make our adorations & offerings? Or, is it a core philosophical position, an approach to existence, a personal lifeway -- something much less precise, yet all-consuming?

If I were asked about my "practice" today, I would answer: My "practice" is Kindness.

If I were asked today, how do I "practice," I would answer: With every fibre of my being.

If I were asked today, when do I "practice," I would answer: Every moment, I try.

If I were asked today, what tools do I use in my "practice," I would answer: My Relationships.

If I were asked today, what does my "practice" look like, I would answer: My practice looks very much like me.

Of course this is, in in all instances, it's inverse as well because my "practice" is also Relationships & the tool I choose to employ in them is Kindness. Ah, how the Mysteries fold & unfold on themselves...

Live. Love. Practice, every day. There is always another chance to shine.


The poetry for this month's Full Moon is from a little book entitled, The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, edited by Stephen Mitchell. When I read this ancient poem, I wonder if I will ever feel the desire to read another poem again. 


Untitled, by Izumi Shikibu (974-1034 C.E.) 
Translated by Jane Hirshfield with Mariko Aratani


Watching the moon
at dawn,
solitary, mid-sky,
I knew myself completely:
no part left out.




Blessings to you this Esbat, my friends.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lately moon watchers keep taking the words right out of my mouth. Amen to all the above. Peace, Dhiosdh.

Moma Fauna said...

I wake brielfy, just for your words. Peace to you too. Let us keep watching the lovely muse together.

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