Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our festal day. (Psalm 81:3)
In chapter 4 of Sacred Time, Christine Valters Paintner invites us to recognize our own spiritual journeys in the moon’s lunar cycles. In each of them, she says, we will experience both waxing and waning – times of brilliant fullness and times of utter darkness.
Paintner connects the moon’s cycles to rhythms of the breath and to the four pausing points of our day – concepts we looked at in chapters one and two. She sees the time of the moon’s waxing as being akin to the inhale of a breath and the dawn of the day. The full moon, she connects with the full breath and with midday. The waning moon corresponds to the exhale of a breath and to dusk. The new moon she compares to an empty breath and the darkness of midnight (from page 52).
We tend to resist the waning and the emptiness, wanting always our journeys to be full and guided by constant light. But as we become more attuned to the moon’s cycles, we are reminded of our own internal rhythms and our need for times of rest.
And it is in times of rest that dreams may come to guide us, especially during times of discernment. Dreams, says Paintner, invite us to a bigger reality than the ones we live in. She believes dreams can be a deep source of wisdom for our spiritual lives.
On pages 60-61, Paintner describes how to work with a dream to try to understand its meaning for you. She offers several questions to help you explore the symbols, feelings, and experiences of a dream. If you do not already have a dream practice, this method might offer a way to begin.
For reflection:
How aware are you of the cycles of the moon? Do you recognize their effect on you in any way?
How aware are you of your dream life? Have you ever reflected on any of your dreams? What have they taught you?
Which moon phase do you feel drawn to the most: new moon, waxing, full moon, or waning? Why?
As you look over your life’s journey, can you recognize periods of waxing and waning? What does this mean to you?
Our society assumes that waning is naturally a part of growing older. Is this true for you? How have you experienced the other phases during this time in your life?
In what ways does the night sky call to you?
The Wisdom Years 