Being::Over The Moon

Being: Conscious, mortal existence; life.

Every month we welcome two families, two people, two voices to share their stories in whatever way they chose. We hope that you find joy in their daily lives, and their simple habit of just being.

One of the simplest ways to slow down when life gets hectic is to take our time and listen to the natural world around us- the changing of the seasons; the earthly rhythm of things. This is so valuable for children, but also for ourselves. Of course, we’re all aware of the seasons as they come and go and pass us by. After all, wasn’t it just Christmas what seems like only yesterday? And now, spring is suddenly in the air (at least here on the west coast). Slowing down to notice the first buds of spring on the otherwise bare hydrangea, the sudden smell of earth in the air, the shifting of the wind, all of these things, well, they are all so grounding. This January, when we greeted the New Year, I decided I wanted to take this further. I wanted to celebrate something that is otherworldly and so very full of its own incredible rhythm. The moon.

I’ve always been drawn to the moon, and I believe that moonlight is about the most magical and mystical light there is. I dream about one day planting a moon garden, a garden full only of silvery white plants (lily of the valley, silver sage, dusty miller, lamb’s ear) that come to life and glow by the light of the moon. At the top of our stairs, we have the perfect window for gazing up at the moon and the rest of the night sky. I often pause there on my way to bed to stand in the moonlight, if only for a moment. Bear with me here, but it is a moment in which I often think about the cyclical rhythm of our lives, and am reminded, looking at the vast night sky, that what is important is not what I worry about, but rather the good things, and the joy. It’s almost as though the moonlight casts a spell of reassurance that, at the end of the day, most often all is right with the world. But the most special of all is that my daughter was born on the full moon. Though I was in the hospital to be induced that very day (my third trimester became high risk), she started labor all on her own- she was determined to choose her own birthday! As the afternoon drew to a close and the full moon was rising, my beautiful girl was born.

So, to honor the moon and the celestial, tidal rhythm of things, I’ve started cooking a full moon feast each month. They aren’t elaborate feasts, just simple meals that allow us a little time to notice our lovely Mrs. Moon. It’s also a time to eat with the seasons. Full moon feasts are meals made only with what each season has to offer, grounding us to both the earth and night sky alike. There are some lovely books about the moon that will no doubt inspire: Full Moon Feast, by Jessica Prentice, is an incredible resource for learning about each moon and includes recipes for celebrating. Long Night Moon, by Cynthia Rylant, is also a wonderful introduction to the moon for children. And then there are the lovely stories- Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen, and Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown. But, above all, I think it’s the names of each moon that I love most: Wolf, Snow, and Strawberry from the First Nations; Quiet, Horses, and Singing from the Celts; Wyrt, Mead, and Hare from the Wiccan; to name only a few.

And, really, it is so lovely at the end of each feast, having talked about the moon together at the table, to hold my little girl and with her gaze up into the night sky by the glow of the moon.

A moment of pure magic.

Thank you to Gwen of Barn Raising for being with us all this month. We hope that you will join us every Thursday as Gwen shares her reflections, photos, and words.