New Moon: The Presence of the Unseen
This New Moon offers up the chance to speak to the schisms in our blood - to heal what has been severed, and to mend the bonds we carry within.
What does it mean to feel split from ourselves, or separated from our heritage? How do we recover, reclaim, and unearth the truth of our past in order to repair our present selves?
This time of year, what is called Samhain (pronounced sow-in) by the Gaelic traditions of Europe, is when death is closest to us. We can feel it all around as the leaves begin to shed, blanketing the sidewalks and lightening the burden of each tree as they prepare to take the long rest of winter. We sense the otherworld growing nearer, engulfed by signals from the natural and supernatural alike. Space becomes more still, quieter as animals take shelter, and the daylight hours give way to greater darkness. The Amazigh people of my heritage have long believed the spirits of the dead to be gods, burying the dead in a fetal position so that they may be rebirthed back to the earth which gave them life. In this way, we can understand that God is not a power or being outside of ourselves, but an amalgam of our highest being, made one.
Sufism claims the principle of ihsan, or “doing the beautiful,” which simply means to follow the ways of right action through the path of the sacred. Sufi tradition also states that going through the motions is nothing more than a memorized dance. These steps are important, but only for the purposes of learning to dance organically, as we each are able. How can this be embodied? It’s a similar principle as baking. For anyone who has tried to follow a cake recipe, it’s imperative that we not dabble too much in alternative ingredients or measurements - until we’ve first learned the foundational skills. After that, creativity and invention is only encouraged. Once we learn to listen to ourselves properly, without the normalized influence of the daily profane, we undeniably can hear the echoes of our ancestors as they teach us who we are.
How can we know where our foundations live? Where is our jumping off point? I’ve found that through connection to ancestors, the culture of my blood, I am learning more and more what that means for me as an individual who is part of something so much greater than myself. As we all are. To trust the wisdom and guidance of our family is, I believe, the first step towards self-realization and oneness with the world. Not all of our family, of course. It’s up to us to discern who has our best interests in mind, and heed the lessons of failure and success.
Much like the dark moon, family sometimes cannot be seen. Perhaps they have crossed over, live elsewhere, or are even unknown to us. For many people this is the case. The term “ancestor” can feel vague, or even difficult to accept when so much of who we are has been splintered and separated. Because of this, we’ve begun forming new collectives based around cultural moments. TV shows, styles, brands, sports teams - all of which are understandable and healthy to partake in, since these aspects are part of existing in the here and now. They however cannot be mistaken for the sacred connection of spirit, and to replace it stone by stone with the superficial is to disrespect the countless shoulders on which we stand. If we are not careful, we’ll forget our most essential truths. What we are made of can feel broken. But the truth is that we carry the stories of our ancestors within our blood, and in the dirt of our bones. Nothing we do is outside of ourselves. We are each born whole, with worlds of stories to unfold.
s p e l l w o r k
One tradition that many cultures have shared is the veneration of rocks. Humble in form, they are the bones of our earth, changing structure yet carrying the stories of times past. Take time to sit amongst the stones, asking them for guidance and learning from their calm and simple expression. While it’s very popular to use gemstones for magical work, there is much to be learned from the rocks that make up the mountains and hills that we each call home. Rocks are tolerant, and offer strength and patience to all who may ask.
When visiting the rocks in the forest or in your own yard, bring an offering of dried or fresh herbs, spring water, or a small natural treasure. Take a journal with you to document any insights that are received. And as always, speak gratitude.
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SERA LINDSEY IS A WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND EARTH DEVOTEE. HER LIFE IS CENTERED AROUND THE COMMUNION AND DEFENSE OF OUR PRECIOUS RESOURCES.
BORN IN MOROCCO, HER FORMATIVE YEARS WERE SPENT IN ENDLESS MOTION ACROSS THE US. ROOTS FINALLY TOOK HOLD IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WHICH IS NOW WHERE SHE CALLS HOME.
Stone artwork by photographer, designer and builder Josie Iselin, as seen in her book Beach Stones