The Moon Doesn't Need Your To-Do List

Tonight the moon will be full.

Some people will make moon water. Some will pull tarot cards. Some will cleanse their crystals or write pages of intentions to release.

And all of those things are lovely.

But sometimes I think we accidentally turn every beautiful moment into another thing we have to do.

The moon has been keeping her rhythm long before any of us started making lists about her.

She doesn't expect anything from us.

She simply shows up.

Perhaps that's the invitation.

Not to perform the perfect full moon ritual.
Not to worry whether we used the right candle or the right herbs.
Not to wonder if we missed the exact minute she reached her fullest.

Perhaps the invitation is simply to step outside.

Feel the night air.

Notice how different the world looks when it's lit softly instead of brightly.

Stand there for a minute longer than you normally would.

If you're holding a warm cup of tea, even better.

If you happen to light a candle, let it be because you enjoy the glow.

If all you do is look up and whisper, "Thank you for another month," I think that's enough too.

I've found that the older I get, the less interested I become in collecting perfect rituals.

I'm much more interested in collecting honest ones.

The candle I light because today felt heavy.

The tea I make because my hands need something warm to hold.

The walk through the garden where I notice a frog, or a bird, or the first flower that quietly decided to bloom.

Those moments have become every bit as sacred as anything written in an old spell book.

Maybe that's the real magic.

Not asking the moon to change your life.

But allowing her to remind you to notice the life you're already living.

If the sky is clear tonight, I hope you step outside for a few minutes.

Leave your expectations indoors.

The moon has never needed your performance.

Only your attention.