Preparing Our “winter stores”
The NOVEMBER Full Moon is called the BEAVER MOON.
This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter.
Historically, and across the northern hemisphere, a time of being thankful, Thanksgiving. Another word for being thankful is gratitude which awakens the heart. Or appreciation, which holds a vibration equal to that of love.
Have you ever noticed that when you concentrate on things you want but can’t afford, find time for, or are unable to clearly discern what you are yearning for—do you, like a beaver, feel trapped in a vicious circle?
Feeling submerged below sea level, underwater with feelings of despair, futility; basically having no choice and becoming more and more depressed, spiraling downward into the darkness?
As we paddle and paddle and gather and gather and our inner light fading we are not still enough to listen, nor not quiet enough to hear our souls whisperings.
Becoming more hungry with inner longing, yearning to be filled up, stocked up, FULL…of what? This is when we become a seeker of light, filling up our ‘’stores’’ taking a pilgrimage to our dark corners and rekindling our smoldering embers of light that have become diminished and faded.
First however, we must look at our life with open eyes. See what we do have, for there is much to be grateful for. So often, we are taking for granted our riches. How can we ask for more when we are not appreciating what we already have? Becoming aware, noticing, and acknowledging what we are grateful for everyday----not only feeds our soul, but even more important, is that in awakening our heart, we are living in-the-moment.
Being in the moment:
Allows us to be free of our regrets and fears of yesterday, last week, last month, the last decade or two or three.
Steers us out of tomorrow; our fear of what ‘’’could or might’’ happen, fears and worries and anxiety of what if?
We can be aware and appreciative on a daily basis — to forge our future.
Consciously create our tomorrow, our next week and next year through our thoughts, feelings and actions we are taking NOW.
We have thoughts. And we have feelings about each and every thought, every moment of every minute, every hour of every day. With this often comes confusion, chaos, blurred states of clarity, intermingled with immense joy and happiness, ease and flow. Guaranteed daily is that optimism and pessimism will shift regularly throughout our day.
The single aspect of our life we can assert control over is what we choose to think about: our thoughts. Our beliefs are a result of what we keep thinking about and focus on. SO if you are not feeling good about what you are thinking about: snap out of it! It is vital to change your mind…change something: get up, nap, tinker, walk, bathe or shower, hobby, read, change your clothes. SEEK RELIEF!!!
Each evening before bedtime I invite you to jot down what you appreciated or were grateful for throughout your day. A little something that made your life easier. A parking space, last stamp in the drawer, $5 in a jacket pocket, handwritten note in the mail, load of laundry overnight in the dryer instead of the washer. If you need a little help getting started, Sarah Ban Breathnach has a journal with a list of 150 Overlooked Blessings and 5-spaces for daily entries. This ‘practice’ will gently nudge you into more pleasant dreams and awakening with less dread. Relief on any level, welcome with an open heart~
It doesn’t matter how awareness arrives - it matters that it comes. Each day offers present moments of pleasure & contentment.
flowers on the windowsill
fragrance of a childs’ hair
lover’s scent
lavender garden
The difference is that BEFORE you weren’t noticing and appreciating…. There is tremendous power in appreciation and gratitude. Looking and noticing, the smallest details to bask in and savor throughout your day. These will become the miracles you have been seeking, the shifts in your perspective that will unfold to your wonder and delight.
GETTING BACK TO THE BEAVER MOON, AKA Frosty Moon, preparing our traps, our inner sanctum of “home” for winter. My hope is that there will be at least one thing you will take with you today, to snuggle in with during this winter season. Another way in which to be content, satisfied… within snowy afternoons, and the gloomier, lengthy darkness of evenings.
