27th September :: This marvelous photo was taken by Steven Sweet from the north edge of Lake Ontario showing Toronto’s glittering skyline and the Moon’s rise around 5:30 AM this morning. I’m a huge fan of his Facebook page and a fellow Lunatic (hope he won’t mind the term….I also think of him as the Moon Whisperer!). For those not conversant with her phases, Grandmother Moon is in her waning or balsamic phase, her Full Moon’s brilliance of a week ago subsiding towards next Wednesday’s New Moon in Libra.
This new Substack place essentially came via Grandmother Moon’s inspirations, especially over these past three years by way of the videos created to honor the monthly New Moons. (All of you former MailChimp subscribers already know about these!) You can have a look at them in their respective playlists for 2022, 2023, and 2024 at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@carolohmartbehan/playlists
Among my passions is taking part in Earth-honoring ceremonies. My memoir, Answering Avalon’s Call, spells this all out in narrative fashion. The Wheel of the Year with its round of the four Seasons and respective celebrations—most quite ancient in origin—is the basis of many of these gatherings. The Moon’s cycle from New to Full and to New again is another ancient and spiraling pathway through each year. I’m blessed to have taken part in countless Moon rituals and for a long time now. Drumming with others around a bonfire with the Full Moon beaming down is an unforgettable experience! At the least I’m willing to wager that most of you have felt / feel the stirring enchantment of the Moon in her Fullness making sleep perhaps a little challenging on those nights of silvery brilliance.
That my first two posts here are Moon-centered speaks to this central part of my Earth Pilgrim journey. Much more of this is spelled out at my WordPress site, should you be curious: https://goldenspiraljourney.wordpress.com/ ;-)
As children of this sweet Earth, the Moon is our nearest cosmic Neighbor and is also a faithful Companion, day in…day out, New Moons to Full Moons, in her celestial monthly cycle all the year round. In this too often chaotic and challenging world we are in, Grandmother Moon offers her serene, steady, daily presence.
As these writing undertakings and journey evolve here at Substack / Notes of an Earth Pilgrim, Grandmother Moon will be offering her continuing suggestions, without a shadow of a doubt. Some will show up in these posts.(!) I’ve already mentioned that coming up in this next week is the Libra New Moon with an accompanying Annular Solar Eclipse. Firstly, New Moons—ritually—are a time to set intentions to be fostered by the growing of the lunar light towards Fullness. Ideas to activate follow below. To take a step further regarding the Eclipse and its energies, here’s a video of Pam Gregory’s whose astrological insights and suggestions have long guided me and countless others in Lunar knowledge and more.
So yes, ponder what new intention you’d like to set as this New Moon arrives in our skies on October 2nd. And then to truly tap into the fun of it (for it is good fun), go out at some point that day knowing She’s up there passing invisibly overhead in her Dark guise, and say your intention quietly and with thanks.
And speaking of the Play of Light, is anyone else hearing Van Morrison crooning beguilingly, Well it’s a marvelous night for a Moondance…..?! Happy Moondancing & more!
In the Dance,
~carol in Lightspring Glen