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Full Moon Wisdom
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"I understood that within the soul from its primordial beginnings there has been a desire for light and an irrepressible urge to rise
out of the primal darkness.
The longing for light is the longing for consciousness." ~ Carl G. Jung
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| Dear Michael, |  Today's full moon and yesterday's lunar eclipse are all the more significant because it is also the winter solstice, the day that marks the longest night of the year, as the earth is at its furthest point from the sun. The alignment of these three events all on the same date is very rare, so there is a particular sense of fullness and richness today. This day is also a turning point, a reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days, as the earth slowly moves back toward the sun. When you see the cool glow of the full moon tonight, remember that what you see is actually the reflection of the sun's light on the moon. And last night, despite it's fullness the moon passed behind the earth and could not be seen for a few moments.  In much the same way, we always live in a state of fullness, however, at times things move around us and prevent us from seeing what is there. As the earth blocks our vision of a full moon, we often block ourselves from seeing the full possibilities of life. I urge you, therefore, to take this opportunity to ask yourself if you need to get out of your own way and look at something in a new light. Indeed, I would suggest you look beyond.
And, as it was written, let there be light,
Michael
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Consider This...Skillful Reflection | |
 In the opening stanza of the Divine Comedy, Dante describes what it feels like to awaken in a dark wood midway through his life. All of us go through journeys, occasionally entering dark places. Along the way, it is not uncommon for us to get stuck. However, like Dante and others who embarked on the hero's journey, we are recast after emerging from the depths and reconnecting with our source of light.
Interestingly, "to enlighten" means "to remove the dimness or blindness from one's eyes or heart." Do you have the capacity to become "enlightened" in this sense? Do you have the desire to rise above your condition? Sure, you may ultimately discover that you cannot change certain things such as your job or a difficult person in your life, but be careful with how you use that excuse. As the great American author James Baldwin once said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced."
With New Year's resolutions approaching, now is the time to look in the mirror and focus on what you can do and consider things carefully. You might resolve to eat better, get in touch with nature, drink more water, or reconnect with a long lost friend or relative. Or you might work on being kinder, more empathetic and compassionate in your dealings with others, especially that difficult person. There is always something you can do to cultivate a greater state of balance and health. However, for many, resolutions can get in your way too, especially if you are not ready for them. This is something each of us must ascertain on our own. The usual suggestions, while they make sense, often are simply not what is important in the moment and we can get caught up trying to tackle some big challenges before we are prepared to really address them. The important thing is to make the effort and be kind to yourself and keep your eye on what is truly meaningful. And as importantly, you will eventually need to accept that you have at least some complicity in the circumstances in which you now find yourself. This realization, as upsetting as it will be for some, will be the doorway to liberation for others. After all, we have a choice: we can continue to live in the shadow or choose to step into the light. To step forward then is simply that...look ahead, and get out of the past.
Please share your thoughts... |
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Advice from the Skillful Doctor
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Question: I get really down on myself by Feb 1st when I haven't done anything towards achieving my New Year's Resolution. Because of this, year after year, it makes me feel hesitant to make a resolution at all because I feel so guilty and weak for not doing what I said I would do.
Answer: You are not alone. By judging yourself for not accomplishing a big goal, you naturally feel badly and this makes sense. However, if you think about it, you are setting yourself up for this feeling and in essence, you're choosing to live in the shadows.
 Instead, you might consider how hard it is to make major changes and accept that some goals may be too ambitious and keep you in a rut of sorts. As a result, you don't make any real progress and feel badly about yourself. So rather than letting that become an excuse for negativity and low self esteem, why don't you consider finding "a change" you can absolutely attain? Now is the time to break out of that vicious cycle by making a commitment to doing something that is absolutely, 100 percent achievable. Even if it's just "tomorrow I will go outside for a walk," resolve to do it and in doing so, you'll get a sense of accomplishment and growth. There is always time for more resolutions, the critical thing is that you move forward and feel good about yourself in the process.
Tell us about your resolution or submit your own question here.
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Announcement
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 On Tuesday, February 15th at 7pm, I will be leading a workshop at The Bedford Post Inn. The workshop will cover "Restoring Balance in a 'Chronic' Culture." Chronic health conditions on the rise in the US, where more than half of Americans are afflicted with a long-term or permanent illness. This workshop is designed to help anyone who is dealing with a chronic condition, anyone whose loved one has a chronic condition and anyone who feels out of balance. Whether someone is struggling with fibromyalgia or asthma, migraines or depression, back pain or cancer, infertility or addiction, the workshop will offer actionable steps for dealing with a long-term condition physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will also offer thoughts on why these often-devastating afflictions are so common today.
To register, please visit www.bedfordpostinn.com/yoga-loft and go to "online schedule." If you have any questions, you can email Rebekah at the Bedford Post Inn: yoga@bedfordpostinn.com
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Beginning in February, SunRaven will offer "A Day of Transcendence and Skillful Living for Couples" consultations. This daylong experiential workshop is intended to bring couples closer together and in alignment with the personal health and fulfillment that they wish for. Indeed, it is in partnership that we can best learn to nourish ourselves and our relationship. The day, then, is designed to integrate these aspects into one unifying plan. By experiencing one day like this together, a model for Skillful Living is set. For more information, please contact me at michael@sunraven.org.
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The next three episodes of The Skillful Living Room Radio Show will be available here the day after they air. You can, of course, listen live, by tuning into the "listen live" link at Business Talk Radio. The show airs every Saturday at 12 Noon EST.
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FINALLY! A MeaningFull Action for the Full Moon
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I close today's letter with this suggested activity for the full moon:
Make a point in the next 10 days - before the New Year - to make a resolution that is very attainable. Then do it. Think of it as a pre-New Year's Resolution, a warm-up. Will you call a friend just to tell her how much she means to you? Will you finally take the box of clothes that have been in your closet to the Salvation Army? Will you repot one of your plants so it has space to grow? Will you pick up the next piece of litter you see? Will you make someone smile? Ultimately, the idea is to get you back in the groove, into the light now. Why wait?
Mitakuye Oyasin,
Michael Finkelstein
SunRaven
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The Next Installment: New Moon, January 4, 2011
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