Lono Moon

The last phases of the Anahulu Ho'Emi (the third 10 day week of the Kaulana Mahina) include two kapu moons -- reminding us contemporary kanaka, to give thanks for all the care given during the Malama (month) about to end.  Nothing ends, nothing dies, all is ever-recreated, but cycles pass and that is what study and practice with life in the flow is about.  From the coolness of the Quonset hut kitchen-writing place in the woods, the pot of water for washing dishes steams up:  the hot water is ready to do its work.  I will need to stop this story to wash dishes or turn the water off and do them later.  I'm feeling maluhiluhi.  My pace is reduced, resting and giving thanks for the malama, I've been horizontal more than up-right.  A few dishes left from the delicious French-toast breakfast I stirred together are what needs washing up so dinner pots and pans can fill with the fish stew I'm dreaming up.  So, the makua o'o's life is many things, an abundance of horizontals and up-right positions carried out with a variety of speeds.  The love for writing flows too as this work is hand work, real work carried out not by talking about it, but crafting it with the fingers and hands.  The same hands that need to do the dishes. 

Maluhiluhi.  Did you click on that link and read the definition or did you glean meaning from the context; or did you know already?  Glancing at the clock on the computer, I gauge the time between writing and re-filling my body with nourishment.  That French toast breakfast was many hours ago, the need for something ono and nourishing stirs.  To get from dirty dishes to fresh pot of fish stew will mean using the reduced level of energy wisely.  The steam still rises from the water on the burner, the stew will take less than a hour to prepare and serve, Pete will be back in a couple hours, my energy and this tale are in a complementary flow. 

Kaulana Mahina, the Hawaiian Moon Calendar and system of tracking the Moon's influences on Earth is such an inclusive and encompassing practice.  Tied inseparably with the Hawaiian perspective of the environment that includes ALL EXISTENCE (seen and unseen) the kahuna observed time, over the long time ... ho'omanawanui.  With diligence and regularity the observable became cycles upon which people counted.  Today and tonight, the Lono Moon is one where the gods of harvest and abundance are acknowledged, thanked and included in the whole of living. 

Pete is planting the three butternut squash starts this afternoon in our garden down the road.  Squash shaped like the ipu, the gourd are the shape and kinolau of the god Lono.  I consulted my written material, still practicing, and remembering, unlearning Gregorian counting (the calendar on your wall) and told Pete, "Yes, look Lono is a time to plant ipu-shaped food."  With that intent, we give thanks to the gods who sustain us, who malama us.  It is fitting that our well-ness include mahalo, thanks so more comes.  We notice, we feel, we look:  "Time to wash dishes.  Time to give thanks.  Time to plant."  The kupuna and kahuna did there work, time for me to wash the dishes.

Kane and Lono Moons ... time to give thanks

We are just back from a quick drive down the hill to the Farmers' Market at Bayview.  One of our favorite farming friend sells the 'lowest-priced'starts and had snow peas, a generous bunch of dark greens and butternut squash starts.  For less than $10 we have food to eat over the weekend and starts to plant soon (but, not quite yet) for a harvest of winter food.  Another local family are expert worm folks, the whole family gets into the marketing of their enterprise and we all benefit from the tiny creatures who churn the earth into compost and worm castings.  Before heading home we stopped at the Good Cheer Garden.  A band of students from Bastyr College (naturopaths in the making) littered the rows of vegetables weeding, mulching, planting.  In the mix of the energetic 'litter' the piped piper of the gardens was orchestrating assignments from her kneeling position.  This garden feeds a mission we experience:  "growing food for a hunger-free community."  Pete's a regular volunteer at Good Cheer Garden, doing everything from mowing to trench-digging, hauling and installing green house and whatever else needs doing. There's a small push mower in the tool shed that'll be just right for me to get the orchard grass maintained.  We stopped to ask after it.  Once Pete got here attention she said, "Take it.  We'll ask for it when we need it."

As we drove back up the hill Pete was singing, "Back in the saddle again..."  It's what he's feeling, and obviously the many people and places that are touched by his hands of doing and makin' benefit from him being back in the groove.  Work and resources flow into our lives as we settle into our individual saddles.  We malama that seed of ourselves and Na Akua, the gods answer with our asking.  Today/tonight and tomorrow are the moons of recognition and thanksgiving to Kane and Lono.  These are the sources of malama unseen if one is unconscious of his-her connection and home-ness.  The rain, the air, the growing plants, the plants and animals that share their lives for our thriving.  Gods of health and harvest, these gods have many names and all attach to the source of malama ... care. 

Prayer and offerings

We have much to offer in prayer, Kane and Lono

• mahalo for the place that offers us time and softening ... we plant seeds
• mahalo for the patience to weather the waiting ... hoomanawanui
• mahalo for the company of people who are different ... we are different, they are different
• mahalo for the healing beliefs that are more frequent and choosen more often ... we change
• mahalo for the evolving nature of our relationships with family, community with our self
• mahalo for the abundance of help that we attract to make our home more comfortable
• mahalo for the work of writing and knotting together pieces of story from there, there, there and here ... blogs are the best!
• mahalo for harvests, planting, and cultivating ... ideas, food and our own nature
• mahalo for the recovering that takes place for my brother after a harsh period of chemo-radiation
• mahalo for what comes next

Mahalo are prayers the gods eat up. 

NEW MOON IN TAURUS

Malama I Ka `Aina ... the title and practice, came as an inspiration during the Aries energy of new beginnings.  New starts need care to grow.  Now, the fine-tuning and care necessary to persevere comes with the Earthy influence of Taurus.  Here in the woods, I notice how the recent warmth of the sun has already brought the sleeping limbs of cherry, pear and peach trees into fluffy blossom.  The moss-covered floor of the forest is drying, turning color with the appearance of higher sun.  My walks have introduced me to the enduring long-lasting, deeply rooted trees:  Doug Fir, Sylvia the Madrona, Garth the Guardian.  As I spend time with these ancestors and ask to be known to them, they talk.  I listen.  Patience, I feel the patience.

New Moon is a time to listen and look again at our purpose, our goals, our kuleana.  Astrologer Kathy Rose offers a beautiful view of NEW MOON IN TAURUS.  Listen and consider your goals and your intentions.  Add the newly developing connection with KAULANA MAHINA, a different way of looking at time.  New Moon according to most calendars and the video here names MAY 3RD as NEW MOON.  This moon we pay attention to the variation and the flexibility of MAHINA's timing.' 

Consider this:

• We have begun this workshop on Sunday, May 1st, look at the sidebar on this blog and NOTICE the shape and description of the moon. 
• IF you are living in a place where you're able to see the moon, go outside and look for Mahina.  Notice the illumination or the absence of it. 
• We are going to drive out of the woods and find a place to see Mahina rise or make her appearance.  It's an exercise, a practice to add to our first-hand experience.

During the next couple of days and nights, we will re-new the intentions set during the April Aries  new intentions.  If possible, go outside, look up.  What do you see?