April 2019 Pink Full Moon – Seeing The Good In Others

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The Full Pink Moon falls on April 19th, 2019 (5:13 AM MST) and I’m sad to say that it won’t actually be pink.  The name, like most of the other full moon names, comes from Native American history.  Around the time of April’s full moon, one of the first spring flowers would be in bloom – the pink Phlox (also called moss pink and creeping phlox).

The Full Pink Moon has other names, including the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Fish Moon, Hare Moon, and the Egg Moon.  Collectively these names all relate to springtime.  Spiritually, the Full Pink Moon always signals renewal and rebirth.  There’s something about the color pink that makes people energetic and happy.  It’s fresh and beautiful and also makes us remember beautiful imagery from our past.

April’s Full Moon is significant to many of the world’s religions for different reasons.  Christians celebrate Easter, a commercialized and repackaged holiday rooted in Ostara.  The Jews celebrate Pesach to commemorate the ancient fable of Moses, Egypt, and the ten deadly plagues of Egypt.  It also marks the Hanuman Jayanti, which commemorates the birth of the Hindu lord Hanuman, the Monkey God.

There have been instances when the moon actually appeared to be pink in the sky.  They rarely occur and are seen during times of a supermoon.  It’s caused by scattered fading sunlight and reflection.

Introduction

This ritual uses the cleansing flames from a naked fire for the clearing process. We encourage everyone to bring the things, or a symbol of those things that they wish to permanently release from their lives, so that they can ritually be consumed in the flames.  If something is too large, non-flammable, or a living being, then the participants should write them on paper and burn the paper symbolically at the appropriate time during the ceremony.

If you are leading this ritual, please not that anything bracketed with these symbols < > are instructional steps and are not spoken aloud.

You’ll need the following items:

Quarter Candles (yellow, red, blue, green)
Large White Goddess Candle – I prefer a three wick candle to symbolize the triple Goddess
Pink Rose or Flower Petals (a small handfull for each participant)
Paper and pencil for each participant
Selenite Wand
Fire pit or cauldron suitable for safely burning small objects and paper
Altar

This ritual requires a leader and two others to assist

<Leader should perform a call to action for the participants to stop talking, gather, and prepare to begin the ritual>

Some rituals begin with everyone gathered in the circle, while others have a processional.  This one is the latter type.  Have everyone gather some distance from the circle and form a long line – assign one of the people assisting to hand each person a lit candle as they silently pass and walk stoically toward the designated circle entry point.

At the entry point, ask the other person assisting to pass the selenite wand over and around each person as you would with a smudging stick.  This soft crystal absorbs negative energies.  (make sure you cleanse the selenite wand after the ceremony to avoid taking any negativity into your sacred space).

Once everyone is gathered in the circle, then proceed.

Ritual Begins

A circle gathers all around, high above and on the ground, a sacred sphere between the worlds, I do cast!

Calling the Quarters

East

I call out to the element of AIR, from the direction of the EAST – Come to our circle on this full moon night; share with us the wisdom of the world through the messenger of the wind <light yellow candle>

South

I call out to the element of FIRE, from the direction of the SOUTH – Come to our circle on this full moon night; help us in our cleansing process with your never-ending flames <light red candle>

West

I call out to the element of WATER, from the direction of the WEST – Come to our circle on this full moon night; comfort us as we navigate the seasonal change from winter to spring <light blue candle>

North

I call out to the element of EARTH, from the direction of the NORTH – Come to our circle on this full moon night; enlighten us to the possibilities of new life, new friendships, and new growth <light green candle>

Great Goddess – Mother, Healer, Nurturer, and Protector of all life; we ask for your council in this full moon circle tonight.  May you bless each person present and give them direction in their lives and the support group necessary to help them succeed <light Goddess candle>

Musical Interlude

Opening statement

The full pink moon is upon us.  Once again we are blessed with the gifts of springtime; across the lands the sounds of new life are heard, the trees are budding, and the yellow and brown of winter are slowly being erased by green and lushness.   Native Americans across this great land had many names for the full moon in April including the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Fish Moon, the Hare Moon, and the Egg Moon.  Each had a deep and important connection to springtime.  Spiritually, the Full Pink Moon signals renewal and rebirth.  We all have the opportunity to start fresh with any aspect of our lives which disappoints us or has room for improvement.

We agree that the monthly full moon is a time of illumination; a time to measure growth and to tap into our psychic gifts and intuition, but with an extra dose of energy from high above.  This Pink Full Moon is our monthly reminder that we need to focus on what is serving us and what is not.   The illumination allows us to see the complete spectrum of our lives, but only if we truly want to see it.  Far too many times we convince ourselves that the negative things in our lives will somehow turn positive, or that the toxic people in our lives will somehow become shining beacons of help and gratitude.  Do not be afraid to step away from the damaging parts of your life.  Do not allow yourselves to continue following a path that leads you into an endless loop of suffering and bewilderment.

Springtime Lesson – Feeling Happy & Seeing the Good in Others

Springtime is interesting in so many ways – sometimes it’s overwhelming with so much activity both in the physical world and the spiritual world.  It’s a time of awakening, rebirth, and new life, but also a time of realization when we observe the death and decay of winter.  It’s one of the few times annually where the circle of life is on full display.  All around we see signs of new life and also signs of eventual death.  But what’s more important is that we see how death contributes to that new life.  The leaves and clippings from last year are now decayed compost, enriching the soil and adding nutrients to the earth.  The dried branches are now fuel for our fires.  The melting snow turns to water and moves away the salt and debris from our pathways.  The earth cleanses itself, but wastes nothing in the process.

Our lesson tonight isn’t about any of the traditional springtime topics, but it’s important nonetheless.  Tonight we are going to discuss how to see the good in other people and possibly how to bring hidden good to the surface.  It’s a monumental topic, but like all big things, if we approach it in smaller steps, it can be successful.  What’s interesting in this approach is that when you spend time trying to see the good in others, you also are able to see the good in yourself, which is something many people struggle with.

We’ve all been wronged.  We’ve all been betrayed; had our hopes and dreams shattered.  We’ve all had two-faced friends who care about no one but themselves.  We’ve all seen suffering and we’ve all experienced pain.  Our world is focused on negativity.  Because of this, we can see how easy it is to become that which we try to avoid – after all negativity breeds negativity and it’s dangerously contagious.  In fact, our brains are hardwired to give more weigh to negative events due to our natural survival instincts.  It seems as if the deck is stacked against us, right?  Well I’m here to tell you a few things that will help you survive the negative world we live in.

First, you are your own dealer – the deck can only be stacked if you allow it to be.  Second, you choose who you associate with – positivity breeds positivity and being surrounded by people with uplifting personalities and moods will be favorable for your moods.  And third, you are in control of your own life and you can override adversity with enough effort.

Start by being more observant of what is happening around you; and yes, this means look up from your phone once in a while and engage your fellow human being.  To see the good in others, you need to use your eyes and not your media sources; sometimes you need to draw them out, so don’t be too quick to judge.  Observe them – do they smile, do they have an uplifting posture, do they speak about good things?  Can you see positive interactions with other people?  How to they speak to others?  Are they condescending or rude, or are they neutral and guarded?  What is their intent when they go about their everyday business?  Can you see what skill-set they have or natural gifts and abilities?  What about the person’s character?  Are they the type that stops to help a person in need, even if they aren’t obligated?  Are they honest, compassionate, endearing, complimentary, patient, kind, or virtuous?

I suspect that everyone’s brain is in high-gear now and rapidly trying to process this short list of possibilities.  Take those questions, and hopefully add some of your own, and then take off your rose-colored glasses.  You are now armed with a basic template for seeing good in someone else.  You may look differently at people you previously judged as bad and reconsider their actions.  Perhaps the person you demonized as a thief was actually trying to feed his hungry children and had no one to turn to – his intentions were good even though his execution wasn’t.  You saw the good in him just by slowing down and thinking his situation through.  What about when your teenager sloughs off chores to hang out with his friends?  As a parent, we all likely get angry, but slowing down and looking at the situation can make us see that our teenager is seeking happiness; and playing beats housework any day of the week.  They are seeking the highest good that is attainable.

I know it seems like the ultimate “wow” when a new perspective is engaged, but when you can recognize that there is good in others, only then can you see it completely within yourself.  You can recognize your own positive intentions, your own real and lasting abilities, and see every one of your own virtues of mind.  You may not be a perfect specimen, but you are a powerhouse of goodness.  Take a moment to let that fact sink in.  You don’t need a halo to be a good person.  You already are a good person; you just need to take time to recognize it.  The bonus is that once you know it, everyone else will know it too – you’ll smile more, spark up conversations that focus on good things, and you’ll be more helpful, friendly, and feel better about who you really are.

Personal Cleansing

The full moon offers us the opportunity to reflect and cleanse ourselves of negative energy and excess baggage we carry around for no apparent reason.  There are no subjects taboo nor are there any too large to release.  Often times we are led to believe that size or scale matters more than they actually do.  What matters is intent, commitment, and a willingness to deal with the fallout of personal cleansing.  Sometimes those cords we cut tonight will try to reattach themselves and continue to feed on our energies.  We must be alert and aware that releasing also likely means creating or maintaining a posture of defense against the negative trying to once again infiltrate our clean spaces.

All things are washed away in the cleansing flames; we watch as the past is consumed and that which is old and no longer valid in our lives becomes nothing more than ash and smoke.  By burning the remnants of things useless and without value, we free ourselves to find new and positive things to fill those empty spaces.

<Offer each person paper/pencil to write things down>

Each of you may approach the fire when you are ready to cast the unwanted from your life and create an open space to fill with things that have meaning. As you burn each item, state the following, “I give up freely that which is no longer serving me”

<Once everyone has burned their items, have the group join hands and say the following>

We gather tonight by the light of this Pink Full Moon; we feel the first effects of spring.  The darkness, once heavy and deep across the land is no longer, such as the weight of negativity is being stripped from our minds and bodies.  Rejoice! for our bodies and minds are now cleansed with the great fires of the South carrying the negative away. May the next turn of the Wheel bring us love and compassion, abundance and prosperity, fertility and life – As the moon above, so the earth below. So Mote it Be!

Cakes & Ale

Depending on the weather and the make-up of your group, you may choose to have a few libations and food at this time.  Talk, share stories, and get to know your fellow citizens of the earth.

Closing the circle

Spirits of the Earthly realm, thank you for your presence in our circle this night; thank you for all that you provide as we boldly go forward into the season of Spring. We bid you farewell. <extinguish green candle>

Spirits of Watery realm, thank you for your presence in our circle this night; thank you for providing us with direction to navigate around that which may try to slow us down. We bid you farewell. <extinguish blue candle>

Spirits of the Fiery realm, thank you for your presence in our circle this night; thank you for your cleansing fire and showing us that the past can be erased and those spaces filled with a bright and beautiful future. We bid you farewell. <extinguish red candle>

Spirits of the Airy realm, thank you for your presence in our circle this night; thank you for constantly refreshing everything around us; a constant reminder that we control our own path in life and we can choose to exercise the good that resides in every person gathered here. We bid you farewell. <extinguish yellow candle>

Great Goddess, we thank you for your wisdom and love. Thank you for the opportunity to share space with our brothers and sisters.  Thanks you for making us aware that all things, even those which seem harsh and unworthy , are there to provide us with infinite wisdom if we open our eyes to it.  Thank you for sharing this night with us in our sacred space. <extinguish Goddess candle>

This circle is now open!

Huzzah!

thegypsy
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