Wishes from the Heart

As the Moon waxes in Leo, we're still in the seed time of planting wishes and sending intentions out into the universe. How do we make wishes with the Moon, and how is this different from other ways to set intentions? I introduced the concept of New Moon wishes; here's a little more about the process.

Wishing with the Moon recognizes that we live in a cosmos full of sentient beings who are all wishing too, a process of co-creation. David Spangler suggests the model of a galaxy full of stars is more holistic and more accurate than the model of a solar system, ourselves the one star at the center, sometimes recommended for setting intentions.

Yes, we create our realities in the sense that how we perceive and feel has a tremendous influence on how we experience the world. Yes, with intention, we can influence the path of our lives and the world around us. The world, though, does not exist solely to be molded into whatever we desire. We are not alone, we live in communities of all kinds and sizes, and we influence and are influenced by everything around us.

This recognition of community is central to the energy of Cancer, sign of the New Moon Eclipse. In its positive sense, Cancerian communities are our homes, our families, our tribes ... the network of those who love and support us, who offer us security and safety, who want us to be happy. The shadow side of Cancerian communities are the webs of tradition and the kinds of security needs that hold us back, telling us the world outside is scary and dangerous and it's better to just stay home.

Today's Leo Moon energy can help us sort out which is which, crafting wishes that honor community without allowing empty traditions or groundless fears to hold us back.

Leo is the energy of creative, passionate self expression. We can see Leo as a reaction against Cancer, puling away from the tribe and saying, "I've gotta be me!" or we can see Leo as a result of Cancer, the ability to fully and warmly express the best of who we are because we are loved and supported. Ultimately, we need to find that sense of strength, compassion and security within ourselves, by loving who we are. It helps tremendously if that kind of caring is part of our childhood: The innovation and wildly successful investor Warren Buffet said in a recent interview that the best advice he ever received was the unconditional love his father gave him. For many of us, though, it's a long process of growth and exploration to find that secure base.

The Leo Moon can help by providing the fiery warmth to express what's in our hearts. The Moon is the container of our feelings. Expressing those feelings is a way to honor the Moon, and ourselves. Through personal expression, we learn – we feel – who we are more fully.

This is not a recommendation to go yell at whoever you're mad at. This is an invitation to take paper and pen, paint, crayons, markers, pencils, whatever is at hand, and give form to whatever is inside you. No editing, no critical eye commenting on "mistakes" ... those voices are given a rest.

Pull together a collection of whatever you can find. Find a quiet (relatively quiet) time and space. Take a deep breath. Pick up pen or marker or brush. Begin.

Stay with the flow. No labels, just experience. Move with the feelings as they shift and change. Dark colors may change to bright ones. Sunny words might turn to stormy ones. Either, both, back and forth. You might find yourself diving deeply into one color, idea or memory. Stay with what emerges until it finds a point of completion.

Then, at that point of rest, breathe deeply. What wish would you make for this New Moon Eclipse time? What is expressing itself through you now?

The galaxy is an image from NASA. The poppy is today's image of the day at WikiMedia Commons, the center of the flower of an orange Iceland Poppy ('Champagne Bubbles') taken in the Teacup Garden at the Chanticleer Garden where this cultivar was selected, by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey for Chanticleer Garden.