Thursday, September 19, 2013

2013 Moon Festival


In traditional Chinese Culture dating back to the Song dynasty (960-1279), today is the Moon or Mid-Autumn Festival.  Today marks the full return of annual yin.  In Chinese Cosmology, it is possible to explain the movement of all things in terms of the years qi (pronounced chee -- no English word equivalent exists; qi is most often referred to as energy, however, this is not the full story) broadly viewed as a cyclical pattern of yin and yang which is easily seen when looking at the seasons.  Winter being the time when Yin (earth, mother, stillness, cold) is at its peak and yang is most diminished.  Summer being the time when Yang (fire, heaven, father, movement, heat) is at its peak and yin is most diminished.  The moon festival is the celebration and recognition that yin is the new yang, baby!  White is out, black is back.  

Farmers the world over are now harvesting the bountiful fruits of summer (yang).  The Moon Festival marks the time to take these fruits indoors for nourishment and storage in preparation for the big yin of winter.  Externally we are gathering and storing qi, but the Moon Festival also marks the time for us to recognize this change-of-the-guard internally as well.  

The roots of the fruits that will come to pass over the next several months have already been laid down via yang over the course of spring and summer.  The moon festival is the time to formally acknowledge black is back and yang aint no thang.  In other words, chill out, rest, relax, reflect.  In action, be more reluctant as opposed to relying on impulsive actions aimed at getting what you want.  What occurs over the next several months already has the momentum to carry itself through towards the ends that were clearly laid down while yang was growing and strong in the spring/summer.  Any amount of undue force exerted on circumstance from here on out will bring about conflict, disaster and perhaps even untimely passing (2013's Water Snake will bite if yang fails to rest).  

So if you have moon cakes, eat them today and nourish yourself with the great grounding yin of the moon.  No moon cakes?  No worries, simply take a bit of time and acknowledge that you actually don't have any control over the circumstances you find yourself in; that yang is great and all, but curled up with a warm fuzzy blanket on a plush couch with tea sounds like the better idea compared to a sweaty jog around the lake.  Put your feet on the ground.  In order to walk any path, your feet must first be on the ground. 

Chinese Astrology for Thursday, Sept 19, 2013 as interpreted by Liu Ming:
The moon is full. Today in the Chinese Almanac is called the Mid-Autumn (or Moon) Festival an important annual festival since the Song dynasty (960 and 1279). This full moon designates the return of annual Yin is in full swing. It is appropriate to raise a toast (unfiltered sake in a black bowl) to the moon and welcome her back to power. Thank her for recalling your spiritual aspirations and resolving the conflicts of declining Yang. Read her a poem or two. Medicinal baths and soaks work wonders. The day supports a new resolution about diet.