Full Harvest Moon - Celebrations

On Monday just before bedtime, I stood at the kitchen door, just in case I could catch a glimpse of the full moon. This Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon, the name coming from farming communities who would use the extra light for the few days around this time, to extend their working hours while bringing in the crops. Yes apparently there is something special about the way this Autumn Full Moon behaves.

Full Moon - September 12th 2011

 A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

 I have always loved this time of year, the harvest festival is one of my favourite childhood memories. For years we took a basket of food to school, where a display of all of the produce would be laid out on the stage in the hall. The baskets would then be added to with any extras, and taken out into the community surrounding the school to be given as gifts to older residents.

As a teacher I continued to be lucky enough to  join in with the harvest assemblies. This year although I won't be at a harvest gathering, I have again been lucky enough to have enjoyed the "fruits" of Mr Stayingawake's gardening and allotmenting efforts. I have also been able to share some of this early harvest with others, which has probably been the best part of it all. 

Maybe I will have to slip into a Harvest Festival this year after all, just to listen to the singing if nothing else! One of my favourite more modern Harvest time children's songs......

On this occasion of the Harvest Full Moon I made another Vision Board, keeping in mind the idea of gathering or harvesting, from the lessons I've learned over the past 6 months.

Maturity is the ability to reap without apology and not complain when things don't go well. 

-Jim Rohn

Full Moon Vision Board

"Maturity is that time when the mirrors in our mind turn to windows and instead of seeing the reflection of ourselves we see others." 

- Unknown

I am still doing some reflecting and reading, and now I also need to make some time for journalling and to keep my "green light" central in my sights. I am still learning how to move on from old ways of being. There has been much progress made, some set backs as you would expect, and masses of new learning. The green light is my go signal. There has been too much "getting ready", and too much "striving" to be perfect or thereabouts, and these things have interferred with my being and my doing. It is time to simply..."go girl" and to "be girl"...with more focused and deliberate doing. The time is now.

As much of my online reading is suggesting, this is a time to celebrate hard work and achievements; to take some time to be still; to appreciate the gifts from the universe; to ponder my place in it; and to savour the deep pleasure and mystery of this wonderful universe and it's creativity.

 Honor the harvest moon by acknowledging the lessons you’ve mastered, intentions brought to fruition, and personal work you’ve accomplished without judgment.

(from newmoonmanifesting  )

 There is pressure calling for you to stop and pay attention to what is happening around you instead of moving without noticing anything except what you think is going on. Things are a bit surreal putting you in a position of establishing reality when it appears there is a lack of it all around you. From this point on for the next two weeks while the lunar cycle wanes suits the process of cleansing and releasing what you have more clearly seen that no longer needs to be in your life.

( from lifencompass )

 Just one short pause on the journey. The next phase is beginning and with the releasing of what is no longer needed in my life,  it becomes clear again what this next phase is all about.

I hope that you are enjoying the beginning of Autumn, or indeed the beginning of Spring, for those just coming out of the Winter months. Thinking of those of you who have been affected by the turbulent weather in the past months and hoping that whatever season you are passing through is kind to you.