Full Moon Musings and the Word "Why"

There was never a frustrated, sad moment of my life where I don't remember sitting down to write as a release. This moment is no different. At this moment, the moon is full and so is the Universe, with the moon's energy. I can feel it. A little too deeply in fact.

I read something tonight that made me think. "We can see the shadow and also hold space for the light. Today we celebrate the creative power of the Thunder Moon. In ancient mythology, Zeus—the king of the gods—was created with thunderbolts. Like Zeus, this is a powerful opportunity to create something incredible with your life—may it be manifesting your dream career, travel, love, family or spiritual awakening. This moon signifies letting go of anything that no longer serves you and creating the life that you want to not only live, but love. Tap into your most creative self, and let the lunar magic fill you."

Let go of anything that no longer serves you. The other night at a small ski area in Tahoe, I sat up at a lodge with some beautiful women and wrote a few things down on a piece of paper. Then I released it. Set it on fire until it burned to bits and then stomped on the ashes. Flame gone. Put out the fire. Have you ever had a release ceremony? Released these things that have plagued me and kept me awake at night into the Universe...and then howled at the moon. For real. Yeah, I know...it's weird. But, it's also freeing.

Slower summer days mean I have more time to think about the "why" behind, well, almost everything.  While in Tahoe, some friends and I were talking about that word, "why"...is "why" actually a good question to ask, after all? Think about it. I did. Every time I've asked "why?" when it comes to a situation I can't control, it has given me an answer that I don't quite understand. Which leaves me unfulfilled and wanting more. Is it because the word is infused with some element of negativity that causes its recipient to answer defensively? I went back into the archives of my brain and thought more deeply about this. What did I realize, and learn through discussion with friends?

When you ask the question, "why?" - as in "Why did you treat me like that?" or "Why did you do that?" - you're expecting the human being on the other end to be in a place where they are true to themselves. That's a lofty expectation, isn't it? Hmmm. Intriguing. I've never thought about it that way. Our expectations are that the recipient of "why?" is actually an enlightened human. That's a lot to take in, huh? You still with me?

-Pause for coffee break. See you shortly. Maybe grab a special gummy while you're at it. Ready?-

Okay, we're back. What if, instead, we were to shift the conversation to a more simple approach and ask "how" and "what" questions? Do you think we'd encounter a difference? We live in a world where humans are not true to themselves, so how can we expect them to be true to others? A friend wrote an insightful post tonight,

"I don't know how to live in a world that is not honest. Where people don't love each other for who they are. Where it's more important to be popular rather than good. Where hate seems to be the norm. I never thought I would say this but I'm so sad at the state of our humanity..." and then she included a quote from Buddhist Pema Chodron,

“If there’s any possibility for enlightenment, it’s right now, not at some future time. Now is the time. What does it take to use the life we already have to make us wiser than more stuck? What is the source of wisdom at a personal, individual level?”

So the question is not "Why are you stuck?" and "Why can't you move forward towards enlightenment?" Rather, it's "How will you move forward?" or "What's holding you back from moving forward?" Ask yourself the question today. What's holding you back from enlightenment? What's keeping you from being human and authentic and caring and kind? What scares you? Not "Why does it scare you?" but rather, "How do I feel about this and what is the root of the fear?" Feels a little different, right? If you are surrounding yourself with humans that encourage you to be stagnant, what does that say about you? And them? Truth is at the center of it all.

Those aren't your people. Forget them. Love them and encourage them, but don't for a second believe they can serve you. Remember what your brother Jack Kerouac said from On the Road?!

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!””

FUCK YES. THAT IS IT, JACK! NAILED IT.

Find the humans who inspire you. The ones who may not be fully enlightened, but encourage you to be your best self. The ones that yawn...well, #WWJD (what would Jack do??)? I'm afraid to release, but it's closing time and after all, "Open all the doors and let you out into the world...You don't have to go home but you can't stay here...Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Thanks for that, Semisonics.

I don't care about your big house. Or your expensive car. I care about your soul. What your eyes have seen and how they've seen it. The steps your feet have taken. Your heart. The joy and pain you've felt. All of the pretty and ugly things that make you HUMAN.

Shangri la la la la laaaaaa and happy full moon...

Moondust

P.S. And no, I am not currently eating special gummies and I'd encourage you not to as well. Come on, people! Smile at a stranger and get high on life.