The Garden Way: Cultivating Intentionality in a Fast-Paced World.

Full Wolf Moon in Cancer

This morning, my dog, Grace, and I got the chance to behold the beautiful sight of the Full Wolf Moon over the family farm across the street. I probably admired it more than the dog, who was busy sniffing the air for smells of livestock, as she does every morning.

The Wolf Moon is the moon of instinct, calling, and a hunger for what is true. Its symbols are the call of the crow flying over leafless trees at dawn, the pack of coyotes wandering the meadow at dusk, and the lone howl that rises in the darkness over the wilderness at night.

It’s the moon that asks: “What part of you is ready to speak again?” Not loudly — but honestly.

It’s also the moon of winter survival, which fits this morning perfectly: cold air, cows breathing their steamy breath into the air as they peacefully chew their cuds in the icy pasture, gardeners tending the small rhythms of life as they drink their morning coffee and gaze at their gardens, barren of plants but full of winter birds scratching in the snow for seeds.

This Full Wolf Moon brings a feral clarity to our senses and sharpness to our reflection, especially when the house is still quiet on an early weekend morning.

Turning Toward Life Again

January turns away from the vestiges of the year before and turns once again toward light and life. Today, we reflect on the spark that remains within us and carry it forward into the New Year. What is that lingering longing you have inside you? The project that has been calling you for months, or maybe even years? The idea that has been bouncing around in your head, waiting to be birthed into the world?

Let the light from today’s full moon and this reflection help you identify that spark and use January’s new light to plan for its ignition in the coming months.

• What small light inside me survived the darkest days of the last month, year, or years?
• How does this light align with my core values, hopes, and dreams for myself?
• How do I tend this small light, knowing that it is still fragile?
• What small, embodied acts can I do with this infant energy that bring me closer to its birth?

Use whatever reflective tool you like to help you with these prompts. I want to draw tarot cards to help guide my reflection, but you can journal your answers, meditate or pray for guidance, or read them before you go to sleep at night and pray for a dream that helps you answer the questions. Maybe you use augury, and want to observe nature for clues to the answers. Whatever tool works best for you – whatever resonates with you best.

Looking for Signs of Change…

My husband can see the saucer magnolia behind our home from his spot on the couch in the living room. He commented yesterday that it seemed like the tree wanted to bloom (even though it was bitterly cold with the wind chill outside). The trees, birds, and other living things recognize the shifting light – buds start to swell with the stronger sunlight, one warm day causes daffodils to start emerging, and birds begin to flock together to move to spring locations. Once you reflect on that spark within you, begin to notice those tiny signs that the Universe is answering your questions – maybe it’s a comment that someone in your home makes, then someone at work says the same thing. Perhaps the book you are reading opens up to an encouraging word that answers your probing questions. I like to jot these messages down, whether they are answers to prayers, comments from strangers, or synchronicities that arise. Let these be your guideposts for the coming days.

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