Experience the Magic
If you’re looking how to find and appreciate Divine moments every day, and deepen your connection to Nature and indeed the Universe we inhabit, there is no better time than April’s Full Pink Moon in Libra.
So stick around to the end of the video because I’m going to share some tips, some little known facts, and an easy ritual template that will help you make the most of this auspicious time.
Importance of Full Moon Rituals
In the Ara Tradition, we celebrate the sunrise, sunset, new and full moon, and seasonal changes as connected rather than separate. When we observe changes in the quality of light between the sunrise and sunset, or the changing phases of the moon and seasons, we reconnect to a sense of organic flow—how all life experiences are woven together.
Full moon rituals, just like our seasonal holiday rituals, are about aligning ourselves with Nature and Her natural rhythms.
From a psychological perspective, Full moon rituals are about letting the mind settle and opening our awareness of new ways of processing and thinking about the issues and concerns we contend within our daily lives.
The moon relates to your inner world, and when it beams at its fullest potential, emotions become heightened.
When there's a full moon, she sits opposite the sun, which symbolizes divine feminine and masculine energies coming face-to-face to elicit harmony between your emotional and physical reality.
The sun reflects your outer world, physical identity, and the ego; it is the way you express yourself in the physical dimension, but its light also provides you with enough strength and courage to move forward.
With the sun and moon on complete opposite sides of the zodiac wheel, you — both personally and collectively — are being asked to create balance between your inner and outer world. One cannot exist without the other.
Connect with Nature’s Flow
The phases of the moon are a powerful and constant reminder that life is a series of cycles that repeat themselves, ad infinitum.
Every season, lunar cycle, and transition is part of a great flow.
Once you become aware of this flow of life, you can join the flow rather than trying to control it. Nature’s flow cannot be controlled. Once you learn how to surrender and move with it—when you walk with the flow of life instead of against it—health returns on all levels.
As the moon leads us through the seasons of the year, each full moon has a significant meaning. Our ancestors assigned names for each of the full moons within the year, which represent the importance of the month within the year. We’ll explore that in a little bit.
Full Moon rituals help to bring our awareness of our own internal seasons and how our own seasons are naturally aligned with Mother Nature's seasons and the ebb and flow of the universe we live within.
The moon has been our constant celestial reminder of our connection with Nature, the universe, and our own alignment within it. And from time immemorial, the moon has played an important part in our human culture, tradition, and history.
In fact, Honoring the Full Moon connects us with the ancestors of the land we inhabit.
For instance, the ancient indigenous people of North America had a deep connection to the moon and regarded it with great reverence and respect. The moon played a significant role in their daily lives, and many of their traditions and beliefs were centered around its phases and cycles.
For example, many indigenous cultures used the lunar calendar to mark the passage of time and to plan their activities, such as planting and harvesting crops, hunting, and fishing. They also used the moon as a guide for navigation and as a source of inspiration for art, music, and storytelling.
The moon was often seen as a powerful and sacred entity that influenced the natural world and the behavior of animals. Some tribes believed that the moon had the power to heal and protect, while others saw it as a symbol of femininity and motherhood.
Overall, the moon held a special place in the hearts and minds of ancient indigenous people of North America, and its importance can still be seen in many of their cultural practices and traditions today.
In recent times we have either forgotten or simply lost touch with our connection with the Great Mother and the universe we inhabit. Full moon rituals are an opportunity to revive this connection with Nature, our bodies, our natural rhythms, and the universe.
And bringing a ceremonial frame of mind to your time in Nature infuses the simplest acts with sacredness.
Spiritual significance of the Pink Moon
As the Full Moon symbolizes completion, the Full Pink Moon is a reminder that through Nature we can let go of what no longer serves us and make room for new energy and new beginnings.
So, how can we use the energies of the Full Pink Moon to align spiritually and to bring balance to our lives?
The first step is to spend some time in Nature and notice the energies of the Full Pink Moon. You can do this in many ways - walking in nature, gardening, meditating in nature, or just taking some time to be still and observe.
The second step is to use simple rituals to attune yourself to the rhythm of Nature. This could be like lighting a candle and meditating, writing down your intentions and releasing them to the Moon, or offering a prayer or blessing to the Universe. These simple rituals help to connect you to the beauty of Nature and the healing power of the Full Pink Moon.
The third step is to give yourself time to reflect and notice how the Full Pink Moon's energies are affecting your life. This could be done through journaling, sitting in stillness, or connecting with your intuition.
Learn more about our full moon rituals:
Why is it Called the Pink Moon?
Full Moon names come from several places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all the Moon’s phases—not only the full Moon.
Although we wish this name had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical.
Known for its showers and ever warming temperatures, April is also known as a month when spring flowers begin to appear.
Herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. As the name infers, the flowers are pink in color, thus the name for April’s full moon.
The Pink Moon has also been called the Full Sprouting Grass Moon because the new grass begins to come up at this time. Some coastal tribes refer to it as the Full Fish Moon because this was the time that the salmon swam upstream to spawn. Also according to legend, now is the time when fish come back from the spirit world to purify bodies of water and the creatures living in them.
- Farmer's Almanac
Other Moon names for this month:
With spring thaws come the Algonquin Breaking Ice Moon and the Dakota Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable, referencing the melting ice and increased mobility of the early spring season,
When spring growth appears, so does the Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala), speaking to the plant growth that will soon kick into high gear.
Animals returning to the area inspired the Lakota name Moon When the Ducks Come Back. Certain Dakota peoples chose the name Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs. Other names are Broken Snowshoe Moon (Anishinaabe), Frog Moon (Cree), and Sugar Maker Moon (Western Abenaki).
How to Watch for the Full Moon Rise
At a full Moon, the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun so the face of the Moon facing toward the Earth will be illuminated by the Sun’s rays.
What’s interesting about the full moon Is that Most of the time, the full moon isn't perfectly full. We always see the same side of the moon, but part of it is in shadow, due to the moon's rotation. Only when the moon, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned is the moon 100% full, and that alignment produces a lunar eclipse.
Venture outside on the night of Wednesday, April 5, 2023 to catch a glimpse of April’s full Pink Moon. This full Moon actually reaches peak illumination at 12:37 A.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 6, which means that it will be at its peak on the night of April 5 in more westerly time zones.
For the best view of this lovely spring Moon, find an open area and watch as the Moon rises just above the horizon, at which point it will appear its biggest and take on a golden hue!
(Want to know when the Moon rises in your neck of the woods? Check out the Farmer’s Almanac Moonrise Calculator)
How the Zodiac Influences the Moon’s Energy
For many of us who live in concert with Nature’s rhythms, the Full Moon is one of the most magical of times -- an ideal occasion for becoming intentional and for creating change.
The Moon orbits one full turn around the Earth in 28 days. And as it does, it passes through each of the Zodiac signs for about 2 to 2 1/2 days.
The sign of the Moon on any given day broadcasts a subtle emotional undercurrent.
Just as our personalities can be described in terms of the position of the Sun and Moon at the time of birth, the changing moods and energies of our daily lives can be correlated with the passage of the Moon through the Zodiac each month.
Although any Full Moon can mark a time for manifestation, it is helpful to know which sign of the Zodiac the Full Moon is in, and how that effects the energies at work.
Like the mystery of the lunar pull, it's hard to put your finger on … it’s also not scientifically proven … yet it can serve as a good guideline in terms of whatever goal or intention we’ve set out for ourselves.
Full Moon in Libra
Each full moon presents a time of release. It’s the peak of the lunar cycle, and a culmination of your efforts. It is deeply emotional and helps illuminate the unseen elements of your unconscious and psyche. Each full moon allows emotional wounds to surface so that you can heal them.
The Libra Full Moon provides an opportunity to reflect on your life and allow deep healing. Libra reminds you to find balance in relationships. Relationships reflect what you need to heal and balance.
With the opposition of the sun and moon, you can see both sides of the transition. It helps you find balance between opposing forces. The pressure the Libra Full Moon is applying is transformative and making permanent changes. The Sun (Aries) and Moon (Libra) are opposite each other helping you find balance. Libra helps you reflect on who you are in relationships, while Aries helps you look at yourself as an individual. It’s an important time to look at yourself to gain clarity and insight into your next steps.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
In this video, you learned some important facts about the Full Moon in March that will help you make the most of this auspicious time.
You also discovered why Full Moon rituals are so important.
You also learned that the Full Moon in April offers a chance to balance the solar energy of the sun in Aries with the lunar energy of the Full Moon in Libra. This balance can help us tap into our intuition while remaining grounded in reality.
So, as you prepare for the Full Moon in April, remember the deeper meaning behind this lunar cycle. Embrace the energy of renewal and growth, and use it to set intentions for your own spiritual practice.
So make sure you schedule some time to get outside to enjoy the Full Moon.
An Easy Ritual
And if you’re looking for an easy Full Moon in April ritual, here are some tips for you:
- Spend some time focusing on your breathing, to bring yourself into the present moment and to let go of all the everyday troubles and concerns.
- Take a moment to think about all that you learned in this video and what wisdom Grandmother Moon may have for you at this time.
- Specifically -- What wisdom does the Full Moon in March have for you? How can you absorb Her energy as She sits in Virgo? What wisdom does the Native American lore have for you?
- Now Focus your gaze on the moon. Feel the energy of the Moon cascading down upon you –
- Allow the full moon to bathe you in a protective circle of light. Vibrant with energy, feel your space transformed, filled with the purity of spirit.
- Feel the energy shining on you, illuminating you…
- Allow your intuition to receive what Grandmother Moon may have to say to you at this time.
- Take a moment to write down the words that you were given, the words that you created.
Your Next Step
If you want to learn more about how to find and appreciate Divine moments every day, and deepen your connection to Nature and indeed the Universe itself, … to achieve joy, fulfillment
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but seriously …
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