Day Zero

Day Zero. Preparing for this 27 day journey to Winter Solstice.

Zero is a topic in itself, a blog of its own, a universe - the universe. Zero is space between - between beginnings and endings, between breaths, outside of time. And this space is full, or so I hear. One of those things that I think, if I actually "got" it, I would be enlightened. Or more accurately, remember that I already am.

Just getting started here...and already I'm outside of time and space as I have known it.

Today is Day Zero, and the moon is full. Perfect. Purna, in Sanskrit, means both full and perfect. Just like zero. This moon today was full at 6:30 am PST, 1 degree 55 minutes Gemini. The Sabian symbol for this degree is: A quick wind is making sport with the sea. Through sharp mist as far as sight reaches are scurrying whitecaps. The sun at the same time was at 1 degree 55 minutes Sagittarius. The Sabian symbol for this degree is: A nervous gentleman dressed in an elaborate Santa Claus costume is filling Christmas stockings furtively. How to put these symbols together - to describe this particular full moon? A quick wind is blowing, and seas are choppy - time is short - what is most important to give?

Not every full moon this time of year carries this symbolism. But this time of year is always about Sagittarius, the sign of the archer. The archer draws back the bowstring now. This is time for cultivating intention. The arrow will fly on Winter Solstice, when the sun moves into Capricorn on 21 December - at 10:08 pm PST. Cardinal Earth. Manifestation. And the strength with which that arrow flies is proportional to the depth of the drawing back.

The next 27 days are an opportunity to draw in deeply.

Where do I aim? I've been thinking about and playing with this for weeks now. And today - Day Zero - under this auspicious full moon, I am perfecting my choice. To what do I dedicate this time? How will I gather myself in this quick wind?

I know it is about living from the inside out. Knowing I am whole ~ one with the Divine ~ and aligning with that. Knowing that forgetting this is also an act of the Divine. The dance of concealment and revelation. Remembering (when I can), that this being human is an opportunity, that these physical, emotional, and energy bodies are gifts.

For over 15 years, my conscious practice has been about connecting to the Divine. From "lower" chakras to "upper." A beautiful thing. And progress to be doing so consciously, as the first 30 years of my life I had been unconsciously fleeing to the relative safety of these upper realms. I clung to my upper chakras, knees drawn into my chest, eyes closed, face pressed away from the world below, sometimes in despair sometimes in disdain. So, waking up "up there" was a relief. Fun, actually. Even interacting with the disembodied Spirits I encountered there wasn't nearly as scary as having my feet on the Earth.

And slowly, as I awaken, I am beginning to reach down here and there, stretch a toe toward the Great Mother, breathe more deeply into my belly, become more willing to feel what is beyond/below words, and burrow in to the living energy of what it is to be human. And what do I find there? The Divine :)

And so - connecting above and below, below and above. Around and around - a never ending circuit of energy, the Nataraja's spiral dance of creation. The aurobouros.

The zero.

And from here, anything is possible. Peace on Earth. For all. That is what I would most want to devote myself to.

So, to bring this back to (ahem) time and space. What is my intention for the next 27 days? Toward what do I aim my bow? Remembering ("re-member-ing") myself to wholeness. And when I do, to connect with the wholeness in others. And when I don't, to cultivate willingness. For the sake of us all. For the strength and wisdom to take action in alignment with Joy and Peace.

How will I do this? With what strength will I draw back the bowstring? Through practice done with intention. At least one every day: asana, meditation, conscious breathing, chanting, singing, drawing.... For me specifically, I plan to practice with awareness of aligning the energy centers of my body - the three main energetic focal points (core of the pelvis, heart, and upper palate) , and also the seven primary chakras, with specially attention to connecting the lower and upper chakras at the heart. In my case, this especially involves exploring and occupying my lower chakras more consciously. Today, I'll clear and reset my altar to prepare.

This is where I plan to begin the journey. I open to Grace, watching, listening, and hoping for surprises and revelation along the way.