Enjoy the Full Moon Weekend!

Q: What do Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D. and the super full moon in Capricorn have in common?

A: They both offer distinct medicine for your ovaries.

Dr. Northrup, one of my own personal she-roes, and someone who influenced my own health and healing, writes in Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing, “Even in modern society, where we are cut off from the rhythms of nature, the cycle of ovulation is influenced by the moon … Scientific research has documented that the moon rules the flow of fluids (ocean tides as well as body fluids) and affects the unconscious mind and dreams. The timing of the menstrual cycle, the fertility cycle and the labor also follow the moon-dominated tides of the ocean. Environmental cues such as light, the moon, and the tides play a documented role in regulating women’s menstrual cycles and fertility.”

From this, one can derive that a full moon has a medicine all in its own, a medicine for your ovaries—moon light. The reason why is because moon light directly influences our pineal gland and our pineal gland, as Linda Crockett says, monitors “the rhythmic timing of our biological processes.” In other words, our rhythm and timing are completely influenced by the pineal gland’s ability to absorb light. The pineal gland then works in conjunction with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands regulating hormonal rhythms. So, exposing yourself to moon light during a full moon will not only energize you, but it will help regulate your menstrual cycles over time too.

This is particularly important now because on Sunday, June 23 the moon will be the closest to earth it is going to be in 2013—intensifying the influence of its light. That said, given that we just experienced the summer solstice, we are at a peak time for absorbing light! (While there are many productive uses for this weekend’s heightened energy, sleep might not be one of them.)

One way to ensure you make the most of this weekend’s energy is to get outside. Connect with the moon— watch the moon rise tonight. Connect with nature—take a long walk in the late evening or just spend time enjoying the outdoors. Connect with others—have a fun picnic in your backyard. Connect with your creativity—this is a time of heightened inspiration, as well so set aside some time for innovative projects that are meaningful for you. Dance, have fun in nature, enjoy your community/friends, and engage with your creative passion, and you will find rhythm and joy.

And since this is a Capricorn full moon, you may be driven to use the energy in a way that feels more like work. If that’s the case, here are some prompts from Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar that make for great journal entries:

1.     Describe a time in your life when you thrived. Elaborate on what happened during that time—where you were, whom you were with, and what you did. More specifically, what did you contribute toward making that period one in which you thrived?

2.     Think about your life in the future. Imagine that everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You have worked hard and succeeded at accomplishing all of your life goals. Think of this as the realization of all your life dreams. Now, write about what you imagined.“ (Laura King, 2008)

3.     Imagine yourself on your path toward your goal. How are you going to get there? Also imagine possible obstacles that can come up. How are you going to overcome these obstacles? Now write about what you imagined.

Most importantly, allow yourself to tune into your intuition.  One thing for sure is this is the time of year when in the northern hemisphere we have an excuse to play more, to be free and explore.  So tap into that. Ask yourself, what is my intuition guiding me to know, to discover and to integrate? The best way I know to access my intuition is to let go, and become engaged in the present moment—the place where magic lives.

As always, I send you my love.  Have an incredible weekend.