Moonlight is a heavenly elixir which is essential in our ability to connect with the feminine aspects of who we are. In the past, when people lived closer to the earth and used less artificial light and technology, we were more in touch with the moon and its healing qualities. We were able to live in rhythm with our bodies and with the natural phases of the earth, moon and all of life.

The divine feminine mystery is reflected in the moon and its energy. Tuning in and using the energy of the moon can have a profound effect on our bodies, soul and spirit. One profound aspect of the female body in which the moon plays a role is with the menstrual cycle. The twenty-eight days in a full cycle of the moon coincides with the average menstrual cycle. It is most beneficial to bleed during the inward new moon and ovulate during the fertile, vibrant, full moon.

On a spiritual level, we often feel inspired to begin a new project during the new moon phase. We then allow the increased light to carry us through to the fruition as the moon becomes full. After the full moon wanes, we often feel the need to rest and allow time to retreat before beginning to nurture a new creative seed on the next new moon. Sometimes projects take longer than one cycle, yet beginning on the new moon is very auspicious and aligned. It gives the project tremendous support for its manifestation. Becoming aware of the moon’s effect on our lives allows for us to become more in tune with nature, with our own creativity and with the flow of life itself.

Gathering moonlight not only draws in the feminine, nurturing elixir, it also assists our bodies in becoming more in tune with the moon cycle and with our own creativity and fertility; literally and figuratively. We can use this energy to connect deeply with the internal, mysterious aspects of ourselves, allowing the yin power to awaken within us and be expressed as us.

The Gathering Moonlight Practice is very beneficial during the full moon, yet practice this when you fell drawn to do so. You may want to begin the practice on the new moon and continue through the phases, which adds the benefit of journeying with the complete lunar cycle. During the new moon, the moon is up during the day so will not be seen easily, yet tune in and find her with your intuition. She often will draw your attention to her and will guide to where she is in the sky.

Each phase of the moon offers a different feel, and as we do this, we will discover the subtle and healing aspects of all of the moon phases. Staying in touch with the moon’s journey and relationship with the sun is a glorious experience. Enjoy each phase and notice what it offers along your own journey.

Practice:

To gather moonlight, stand on the earth, with your feet firmly planted, shoulder width apart, with your tailbone slightly tucked in. Take a few deep breaths, sending the exhale down into the earth, releasing and grounding into the planet.

Look up at the moon and connect with her. Bring your arms up above your head and face your palms to her. Begin to breath through your palms, gathering the moonlight there. Allow it to flow down your arms into your heart center. Continue drawing it into your palms, yet also feel the moonlight spreading out from your heart into your entire body.

Continue to gaze at the moon and gather her light for five to ten minutes. Let the light enter through your eyes as well, in an open, receptive manner. Feel the light spread through every cell in your body and expand out a few feet to fill your field. Notice how it feels to be filled with the moonlight elixir. Be open and receptive to hearing or perceiving any insight from the moon. Listen very quietly as you are soaking in her energy.

When you feel complete, send gratitude to the moon for her assistance in nurturing you, as she shines moonlight, the reflection of the sun, into your body and soul.

Practice this each day and take note of changes in your creativity and inner cycles. You may be pleasantly surprised to see its effects over time. It will align you and open you up to your own internal rhythms, which are very connected to the natural cycles in all life. And you will be in harmony with the silvery, subtle, peaceful radiance of the divine feminine.

I have come to realize that it isn’t so much about which practice we choose to do, it is more about the feeling and the energy we cultivate while doing it. This feeling of joy, of the heart bursting open as we go inside to rest in that place which is peaceful and fulfilled, is really what all practices are pointing to.

I have, at times, felt guilt when I would rather sing than cultivate energy through a traditional qigong form. I have been trained as a qigong practitioner to practice a certain amount of time daily in order to keep my energy strong and healthy. Yet, isn’t this what I am doing while singing? I feel the cultivation of energy just as strong when I do things that I truly enjoy doing. It seems obvious that if we are doing a practice and feel like it is a chore, we aren’t cultivating a healing energy. We are cultivating resistance, anger and impatience. Yet, if we open the definition of qigong, which simply means energy and effort, work, or cultivation, qigong can take on any form. It is our heart’s desire.

What do you enjoy doing? Gardening? Playing an instrument, cooking or writing? Any of these activities can be used as a path of cultivation, as long as we are present, focused on the task and enjoying it. Gardening Qigong may entail connecting to the earth, the soil, the seeds and plants. Music Qigong may entail really tuning oneself to the sound, the breath and the silence between the notes.

So, as I sing my heart out with Singing Qigong, I invite you to also express your favorite activity as a qigong practice; Cultivating Joy. As we allow our hearts to sing, through whatever form we express, we allow this energy to fill us and overflow.

Photo By Moon Mullen

To do the practice:
Stand with feet hip width apart, with your tailbone tucked in as if you are sitting on the edge of a stool. Soften the knees (not too stiff or bent), which will allow energy to flow through them easily. Relax your shoulders. Imagine a cord of light at the top of your head, connecting to the sky, stretching the spine gently. Ground yourself by taking a few breaths from your heart center and sending them down through your feet and into the earth. Now, hold your hands a few inches apart, facing each other. Imagine that there is a ball of golden light between them.

Bring your hands in front of your lower tan tien. Now, as you inhale, bring them toward the body, contracting hands in, creating a smaller ball, and as you exhale, expand hands out, expanding the ball. Once you are familiar with the breath and hand movement, add the movement of your entire body; as you contract the ball, rock back so your weight is on the heels of your feet and as you expand the ball out, rock forward so your weight is on the balls of your feet, moving your body like the waves of the ocean. Continue the combined movement of hands, body and breath as you cultivate the energy. Begin to tune into the movement of the ocean (waves and/or low/high tide). Notice the rhythm and movement of water and qi within your own body.

Continue building the jing in this way to create vitality and longevity. Keep your attention on the jing and the lower tan tien. Once it feels full and vibrant (5 minutes or so), condense the energy ball into the lower tan tien to store it there. Now, move your hands up to the level of the middle tan tien, at the heart center. Repeat the ocean movement, building the qi and your immunity. When if feels complete, store the energy there. Now, once again, move your hands up to the upper tan tien at the forehead. Repeat movement, building the shen and awareness. When it feels complete, store the energy there.

Now begin to bring your hands down, gently sweeping and collecting the extra energy around you that you have cultivated, condensing it into the lower tan tien. For women: place your right hand on the abdomen and left hand on top of the right hand. For men: place your left hand on the abdomen and right hand on top of the left hand. Seal the energy in, knowing it will be used by the body as it is needed. Feel the effects of your practice and your connection with the rhythm of life.

One of the oldest and more powerful nirguna mantras is “So Ham”, also called the Hamsa Meditation. Hamsa means “white swan” in Sanskrit, which symbolizes spiritual grace and purity. So Ham means “I Am That I Am’. The mantra gently brings one’s attention back to itself, and dissolves into pure Being. It holds both the question and the answer within it. This mantra predates Hinduism and Buddhism and some people believe that Buddha used this mantra for his own realization.

To do the Hamsa Meditation, as you inhale, breathe in “Ham” and as you exhale breathe out “So”. This is a silent meditation and the breath should also be as quiet as possible. You can also do the opposite breath; breathing in “So” and breathing out “Ham”. Experiment with the two versions to see which feels right for you in the moment. This repetitive cycle is said to balance the inner masculine and feminine qualities. As you breathe, keep your attention on the breath and the internal sound of the mantra. Notice the space between the mantra, the silence, and allow that to reveal Itself.

Many realized beings have expressed the power of breath to bring us into the present; the Presence. Adding a mantra, especially one which is very simple and true, has profound effects on our ability to rest and realize our true nature.

Ham…So…Ham…So…

Yet, this entry is not about solar power in the usual sense. I would like to expand this idea to a more personal experience. As a qigong practitioner, I would like to share with you the concept of each of us having solar panels within us. It sounds a bit strange, yet it is true. Our palms, which are potent energy collectors and transmitters, collect the sun very similar to a solar panel on the roof of our homes.

We tend to believe that the only way we can receive energy is by eating and drinking. The more alive the foods are that we eat, the more energy we bring in. This is certainly true, yet by practicing energy cultivation we can gather light from the sun, bypassing the process of digestion, and feeding every cell with light in an effective and simple way.

To gather energy from the sun, stand or sit in a relaxed position and face the sun. Hold your arms above the head, or at a comfortable position. Face the palms toward the sun. You may also tilt the head to face the sun more fully.

As you breathe in, imagine you are inhaling at the palms. Allow the breath to come in through the pores of the skin. The light of the sun is riding on the breath, so as you breath, the light is moving into the body. As you breath out, notice that the energy is moving deeper into the body. You may feel it flow into the heart center, or into the lower abdomen, the lower tan tien (a potent collection and storage center), or other areas that may be depleted. Simply hold your attention on the palms and on the breath while keeping an open perception of where the energy is moving within. I also recommend sending gratitude back to the sun as you breathe and simply notice the effect of that.

You may begin to feel the palms warming up and tingling. They may feel full as they collect the light. Be aware of what you experience as you gather the sun’s energy. Do this for as long as desired, typically 5- 15 minutes.

I enjoy doing this practice in the early morning. It is a beautiful way to greet the day and it fills me with a radiance that I can use throughout it. I tend to eat less with this practice, since I feel energized on a deeper level.

You can also do this practice with the moon, which is reflecting the light of the sun. The moon energy has a softer, more feminine quality and is wonderful for tapping into that similar essence within. Doing this on the full moon is very potent. Gathering moonlight may especially help women become more aligned with the natural rhythms of the body.

As we begin to use the sun’s resources for the energy to run our homes, businesses and future technologies, let us also build an internal relationship with it; feeding our hearts, feeding our bodies and in turn spreading this radiant light into all aspects of life.