I See the Moon: Wild Advent

 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars that you have established; what are humans that you are mindful of them,

    mortals that you care for them?

~~Psalm 8:3-4💛

The night before our final (cold) full moon of 2025, I could not sleep. I had gone to bed early. But around midnight, found myself wide awake. This was not my first time. I have experienced this before. It's well documented that in the days leading up to the full moon, our sleep can be affected.

In yoga class yesterday, I broached the subject of the full moon. My students were familiar with this phenomenon. A full moon is a time of, well, fullness. This fullness can be experienced in myriad ways. Babies tend to be born during full moons. Medical professionals often report that mental health issues can be exacerbated during full moons. In class, we practiced balance poses to help mitigate some of these potential challenges. Tree pose and half-moon or ardha chandrasana.

And of course, savasana. 

As I gazed at the rising moon later that evening, I was on the phone with my daughter, Caroline. She was walking her dog in New York City, looking at the moon as her own busy day was drawing to a close. 

That we can connect with loved ones far away while appreciating a gorgeous full moon is something I pray I will never take for granted. What a gift! Later that evening, we Facetimed with our grandson as he opened our birthday gifts that had arrived in the mail that day. Once again, I feel such gratitude that we can stay connected through technology.

There is a wildness, a wilderness to make a biblical association, that extends beyond our immediate perception. In the vastness of the cosmos, we are connected in ways we can (sort of) comprehend and again in ways that remain mysteries. The full moon reminds me of God’s great love for all of us. It reminds me that we are not alone. No surprise that such infinite, unconditional affection could overwhelm our fragile and finite neural circuitry. 

With other wild creatures, I awaken before a full moon. I ponder the amazing goodness and provision of God, and I am grateful to the Creator of the Universe, who literally wakes us up with such glorious, brilliant light that is simply impossible to miss.

Spiritual Practice: Watch this film featuring Ilia Delio. Reflect on your experience of some of the great mysteries of the cosmos.