Three things cannot be long hidded: the sun, the moon, and the truth ~ Buddha

The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand ~ Frederic Lawrence Knowle

On February 7th, 2012 at 4:53 PM EST, we will enter into the February Full Moon, most commonly known as the Full Snow Moon. This is a Leo Full Moon which seems apropos considering that Leo sits directly across the table from Aquarius. Today, Saturn has also gone into retrograde.

I will say this, in the last few months my life has been on fire. I’ve been on a collision course with my destiny at lightning speed with so much passion, that at times, even I need to say, “Whoa, slow down and be present during all this!” Weeks ago during the Aquarius New Moon in January of 2012, I wrote….

Articulate your passions and speak them out loud. Once your dreaming is done, AWAKE my friends. AWAKE and strategically plan your dominating path. That is where I am at right now. My goal is to raze old paradigms, set my soul on fire and CREATE.

I spoke about the metaphorical symbolism of awakening from your dreams into emerging fires and that is what I have been encountering. In recent weeks, I’ve performed in public for a pole dancing showcase, had blog posts featured on Owning Pink and Vertical Art and Fitness, filmed a pole dancing short film, traveled to Washington DC and have begun work on many other projects… such as a site redesign, stage managing a pole show, . embracing the love of my life and so the list goes. It seems only fitting that on this Full Snow Moon the results of dreams and goals are emerging in full blossom.

But then, I remember last year during the Full Snow Moon, how my life was going at a rapid pace. I was in constant movement, as I am now, and I realized, I needed rest. In Full Snow Moon 2011 ~ Let This Weary Body Rest, I spoke specifically about that as I prepared for a relaxing weekend in Miami. Perhaps, I knew the need for reflection would occur this time around again.  Therefore, I’m grateful for the restful weekend I just experienced in Washington D.C. It was an amazing break from the constant motion of New York and gave me time to reassess and re-energize. I had time to actually write in my journal, light candles…at the Holocaust Museum in remembrance, and even meditate on a train!

To my initial thought though, the occurrences of this Full Snow Moon do not surprise me. What I did not take into account was Saturn going into retrograde. It is said that when Saturn goes into retrograde we need to be careful about our commitments, projects and responsibilities. We need to watch our tendency to say YES and apparently, we shouldn’t even take on any new commitments, or make huge financial decisions. You can take these thoughts at face value, slight interest or let it rule your life but I find it very timely. Just yesterday, I had to make a firm position to not move forward with a commitment I had started. I had a few whisperings of my intuition that I ignored <– (a self issue I need to work on ASAP) but when the time came to make a final decision and wavering occurred, I knew I needed to step away, say NO and be at complete peace with that decision. It’s a lesson learned.

What also excites me is the notion of the Leo being in the full moon as it relates to love, relationships, passion and desire. As has been the case for a long while now, I am completely, wholeheartedly in love. Due to life’s shifts, perhaps the position of the moon, our own actions and how the world works, our lives have intersected again and I am ever grateful. This Leo Full Moon just further reiterates our place in the galaxy and our destiny together. I am excited for our love and how awesome its going to make the world, just saying.

LESSONS LEARNED

Listen to your intuition. (Your soul will steer you where you should be.)

After dreaming, Wake UP. (It’s the only way your passionate interest will become your reality.)

Be still and breathe. (Progress, Motion and Activities are great but there must be balance. Give yourself rest and reflection.)

Let Go. (Too often we hold on to notions, ideas, projects and relationships that serve no purpose but to add noise or take away energy. Let go if you need to, it will be ok.)

Love unabashedly, freely & wholeheartedly.

MOON MUSINGS OF NOTE

January New Moon ~ Sprout, Release, Express

Full Snow Moon – Let This Weary Body Rest

Lull of the Moon on My Spirit

Photo Credit: NASA

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On January 23rd 2012 at 2:39 EST, we entered into the Aquarius New Moon. Today is the Lunar New Year and it is a time of celebration, reflecting and excitement.

It is a day of sprouting, releasing and expressing.

Here are a few things to note that I’ve learned in my research today. The Aquarius new moon is on the brave fixed (military) star Altair in Aquila the Eagle. Mars goes into retrograde tomorrow!

 Words that are swirling around this new moon are BRAVE. VALIANT. DARING. UNYIELDING. FIERCE. POWER. ENERGY. CREATIVE ORGINIALITY. BEGINNINGS. FREEDOM. TRUTH. ENLIGHTENMENT. IMAGINATION. INNOVATION. COURAGE. CONVICTION. STRATEGY. DEVISING.

What I know is this. I have planted seeds for many adventures in my life and what is now needed is clarity, focus, strategic planning, violent decisions and a dominating will to create my own path.

As the new moon began, I was literally awoken from a slumber because of an emerging fire.

I KID YOU NOT. Around midnight, there was a loud banging on my door. When I opened it, there were 10 fireman, if not more going up and down the stairs of my apartment building. Something had caught fire. Yes, literally but also it was a metaphor to the cycle of this new moon in my life.

All was well. No one was injured and we all were able to keep our homes. What I take from this experience is the symbolism of being awaken from a dream to an emerging fire. 

Articulate your passions and speak them out loud. Once your dreaming is done, AWAKE my friends. AWAKE and strategically plan your dominating path. That is where I am at right now. My goal is to raze old paradigms, set my soul on fire and CREATE.

Some of my plans that I’m willing to reveal right now.

1. WANDERLUST -  I just booked a ticket to DC

2. WRITING/POLE – I’m putting the finishing touches on my first Vertical Art & Fitness magazine article. (Did I mention they are featured in Barnes and Noble?)

3. VIDEOGRAPHY/POLE – I’ve been commissioned to record, edit & help develop a pole dancing short film. (We’re working on our shooting schedule right now!)

4. PHOTOGRAPHY – I’ve been commissioned to shoot a friend. (I’m still growing my wings in photography. I’ll be doing her headshots, some fun artsy things and possibly a boudoir shot or two!)

5. THEATER/POLE – I’ve just agreed to stage manage a pole event in the summer.

6. VIDEOGRAPHY/POLE – I’ve been asked to work on the creative team and film with a group of amazing people for an upcoming pole production.

7. EVENTS – I’m in the midst of planning the annual C.R.E.A.T.E trip. Our guest list has been finalized. Now on to location, dates & fun activities!

7. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – I’ve signed up for a 10 day SILENT retreat focusing on meditation, yoga and nature. (I know for sure I’m probably gonna have a breakdown BUT there will be “beauty” in the breakdown.)

8. ART/POLE – I have plans to feature Aerial Amy and TS Valenzuela on “The North Pole”. Two dynamic, amazing women making waves in the pole industry and I can’t wait to bombard them with a million questions!

9. WRITING/EMPOWERMENT – I’m working on my second post for Owning Pink, of which I’m now a regular contributing blogger. (Saying that amazes me. Lissa, Melanie and the rest of the time are POWERHOUSES and I get to play and make a difference with them)

10. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – I’m in the process of finding a life coach or therapist. Its simply that time again. There’s a box in my brain called Pandora and the bitch is banging to be opened!

11. PHOTOGRAPHY/BUSINESS – I’m hiring Jantira K to be my photographer for a couple of projects coming up for my personal business and planning this shoot, which is more elaborate that originally thought is just so freaking fun!

12. ART/BUSINESS – I’m learning to doodle. There is major significance in this. Of which, I may share at another time.

You may ask but hey, what about that other project you mentioned before, or your internship or your this and your that. And how are you gonna do all those things? Aren’t you overstretched? Why are your interest all across the board? Don’t you need some damn, focus!?

A. The list above isn’t my lift list or my” accomplish because now its 2012 and this is the year of manifesting and getting shit done” list. They are things that are just added to my ongoing list of “Sheena’s Life Rocks and She Gets to Play and Do Things She Loves Everyday.”

B. Not all of these things are my focus RIGHT NOW. Right now, I’m finishing my article for Vertical Art & Fitness. Other projects are months away, some are weeks away, some are tomorrow.

C. This is precisely what I mean about strategic planning. I write for a number of different websites and blogs, actually. Some I’ve never announced and others you may know about. But what I now realize since I’m branching out in writing, is that I need an editorial schedule for myself.

D. Along with creating a new writing schedule for myself, I now need to redo my whole process of how I get shit down. I haven’t figured out all the kinks yet. One day, I’ll have to share with you my method for the last two years. Once in which I’m proud of and have loved it. But it just doesn’t serve me any longer. So one of my main focuses this month is learning a new way to plan, strategize and get all my fun shit done.

LESSONS

So what am I releasing? I’m releasing what isn’t serving me. I’m releasing the process I’ve used for the last two years that I think is innovative, creative and so fun in regarding to my schedule and projects but that which no longer works with my new lifestyle.

I’m releasing fear. I haven’t written about it yet but this past weekend I performed in a pole dancing showcase and for weeks I’ve been carrying fear and many other negative emotions as it relates to this even though my participating was my choice and I love this art form. Still, I’ve been carrying a weight of worry. Then I learned some lessons, the show was amazing and I realized I didn’t need the fear.

I’m releasing the judgement of my intuition. I have spot on, amazing intuition but for many reasons, some of which I hashed out on twitter, I am hesitant to listen to it. I’m releasing that judgement and am going to listen to the whispers of my soul!

What am I taking in? I’m taking in LOVE. Self love. His love. Wholehearted, passion, unabashed love. Love for my passions. Love for pole. Love for joy, for popsicle and red velvet cake. Love for travel. Love from spirit, source and soul. I’m taking in LOVE. I’m willing to take in a little grace. A lot of gratitude. Some much needed stillness. And I’m taking in the opportunities I’ve created for myself! This is my life, it’s what I create it to be.

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In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

~ Albert Camus

The 2011 Winter Solstice occurs on December 22nd at 12:30 AM EST.

I’ve noticed a pattern of deep significance in the events of my life and how it relates in timing to important occurrences in nature. The ceremonies of my life are in accord with the rituals of nature. I would not have it any other way.

Today is my holiday. My holy day.

I would like to think that many of the seasonal celebrations of this time of year were and are inspired by the historical and natural phenomena of the Winter Solstice. One in which we pay even more attention to the cycle of the sun, as it relates to the earth, to ourselves and to spirit.

As we transition into this next phase of time, I would encourage you to use this metaphorical hibernating time as a way to dream. Dream your heart out. Dream your thoughts out loud. Dream your fears and hesitations away. DREAM SO BIG THAT YOU FREAK PEOPLE OUT!

I observe the Winter Solstice with my own rituals. They are highlighted in previous post which are linked at the end of this post and I would encourage you to take the time to explore and read those posts. They are among my favorite on Sociology of Sheena.

This year’s Winter Solstice coincided with a new phase of my pole movement journey. Most significant moments of observation in nature coincide with one of my many dance and movement classes, therefore I am not surprised that today was no exception. I took my first of six courses in pole dancing with Amy Kim at Shockra Studios. I will have to elaborate on that class, AMY the powerhouse and my recent experiences at another time. Its more so the fact that this new moment happened today. The fact that I was so in tuned with my body, that I moved in new ways and that I found even more articulations and expressions with my body on this beautiful day just makes me want to dance and never stop, EVER!

I suppose going forward I will just have to be more intentional about creating solstice celebrations that involve movement, music, drumming and the power of the female body. It is written and so it must be. Yes, Solstice and Equinox Movement Meditations & Celebrations must be created for 2012!

Shifting gears, this year, I want to encourage you, if you want, to ritualistically approach this day.

1. Release and Live. I believe the only way to move forward in total freedom is to release anything holding you. It does not mean forgetting. It does not mean absolving. It does not mean condoning, erasing or even allowing for mercy and grace. We can work on mercy and grace on another day. Today is about releasing the hold. Because once the power of the hold is released, you are in total freedom to move, explore and to live. Write down what you need to release. It could be a thought, a person or anything. Write down whatever isn’t serving your highest good. Write it down. It could be one thing or one hundred things. In your own way and timing release it in a manner that you see fit. You can burn it, rip it to shreds, paint over it, bury it, drown it, or tie it to a balloon and let it fly away. Just Write. Release. Live.

2. Scribe Your Thoughts. Take the time to write out everything. Reflect on this past season, dream on this new one. Write morning pages. Write evening pages. Write all the things you want to do and all the things you have done. Write your thoughts out. Get them out your mind and move them to paper. Scribe your mental observations. Reflect.  Ponder with a pen about what has been and what you will manifest into being. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few prompts that you can take in any direction that you want. 1. What are you most looking forward to leaving in the Autumnal Equinox that has just passed? 2. What are you excited to explore during the Winter Solstice? 3. What gives you immense joy? 4. Who are you? 5. What is nature saying to you at this very moment?

3. Cultivate Sacred Space. Make your entire home a sanctuary. Let every square inch be a holy space; one in which effervescent love covers everything. Purge what you will. Move. Polish. Shift. Make your home a beautiful altar. Let your home engage all of your senses. Aesthetically make your entire home pleasing to you. Home is HOLY. Make it so that is always! If you need suggestions on cultivating a sacred space, I’ll share a few. When you wake in the morning, what is the first thing that you see besides the person who may be beside you? Be intentional about making sure that when you open your eyes, what you see is something you love. When you open the door into your home, what is the first thing that your eyes focus on? (In wanting to feel immediate peace when I walk into my home, I made sure the first thing in my line of vision was my buddha statue, my favorite books, my oil burner and dried flowers in a vase. I always feel good seeing those items right when I open my front door). What does your home smell like? Burn a new incense scent. What colors are highlighted in your home? Clear the clutter. Let more light in. Dust your floorboards. Make your home a place of joy, love and holiness!

4. Natural Vibrations - Nature is key. Find ways to incorporate all the elements in your home. Light a candle. Fill a vase with water. Grow a plant. Open a window. Find literal and metaphorical ways to allow for Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Bring natural elements from outside into your home.

5. Body Language - Move your body. Relax your body. Love your body. Remember my disregard for grace as it related to you needing to release things in order to live in point number one. Now is the time for grace. Apply every ounce of grace you can summon to every inch of your wonderful, natural body. You are a sacred temple. Yes, home is a sanctuary but YOU, you are the holy of holies! LOVE YOUR BODY. Give yourself a spa date at home. Pour milk and honey in your bath. Exfoliate your skin. Turn your favorite song on and dance. Feast like a goddess. Treat your body like you are a god and/or goddess. Everything is perfect and as it should be.

6. REMEMBRANCE – Remember those who have gone before. Our ancestors. Our elders. Our loved ones. Remember what we lost but what is also always here. Today I remember James. I remember Maura. I remember my Grandma Veola. I remember their love, their significance and how they are always. Energy can not be created or destroyed. They and we are always.

These are some of my suggestions for ritualistically approaching today. These can be done everyday, at least I believe so. Every day should be a moment of significance. Every moment should be intentional, passionate and thoughtful. So think holy. Be holy. Live holy. Eat holy. YOU ARE SO PRECIOUS and WONDERFUL.

Enjoy the Winter Solstice. We have shifted into a new season. There are literal, metaphorical, emotional, spiritual, sensual, sexual, physical and metaphysical reasons, shifts and dynamics occurring. Be in tuned with that. Tap into that power. Channel it and live fully in it!

WINTER SOLSTICE MUSING

Everything and all is divine.

It is all connected and I am a part of it all.

Every bit of natural wonder is a part of me.

I am acutely aware of the life giving power of the sun and I adore it.

I am thrilled with the lull of the moon on my body and I celebrate it.

Every season serves its purpose. Winter is just as significant as Summer.

I acknowledge it. I take it in. I love it all.

I am spirit. Nature is spirit.

Everything is divine.

I am divine.

I am a divine warrior goddess deeply

in tuned to mother nature

and all of her wonderful gifts & offering

including this lovely Winter Solstice.

LET US LOVE WINTER, FOR IT IS THE SPRING OF GENIUS ~ PIETRO ARETINO

SLY’s RELEVANT POST

Vernal March Equinox 2011

Summer Solstice ~ The Sun Rises Once Again 2011

Autumnal September Equinox 2011

The Winter Solstice ~ Darkness Has It’s Uses 2010

Lull of the Moon on my Spirit

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