Book of the Waxing Crescent Moon: Moon Maiden Circle Contents: i. Introduction I. Waxing Crescent Moontra II. Waxing Crescent Phase III. Waxing Crescent Link IV. Waxing Crescent Power V. Waxing Crescent Pursuit VI. Waxing Crescent Ritual A. Ready B. Render C. Reflect VII. Waxing Crescent Phasework A. Creative Expressions VIII. Twinklings around Waxing Crescent i. Introduction Book of the Waxing Crescent Moon. This book details the specific practices for the waxing crescent moon phase, which we abbreviate as WXCM. We encourage you to return to this book each waxing crescent moon and do the following: i. Offer the Waxing Crescent Moontra when you spy the WXC moon in the sky ii. Conduct the Waxing Crescent Moonthly Ritual iii. Complete the WXCM Masterpiece Phasework iv. Generate WXCM Quests Twinklings around the WXCM v. Visit the Waxing Crescent Moon Meeting Room where you should always... Read, reply and recommend BEFORE you post, Dear Friend! I. Waxing Crescent Moontra Crescent cradle of wonder's gleam You compel me to build from my store of dreams II. Waxing Crescent Phase The second phase in the moon’s cycle is waxing crescent. It represents childhood with its transition from the winter of birthing into the growth of spring, whose spirit is wonder. The waxing crescent moon reflects the creative and vital spark within each of us. Characterized by curiosity and limitless stores of positive energy, the waxing crescent moon phase inspires us to create and to build from our store of dreams. Chandria encourages us along the path of our making that we might truly live by our own design. This is no small feat. It requires the drive to learn and the desire to create--pursuits both powered by the fuel that is wonder. To this end, she sets tasks before us that help to determine our abilities and interests around which we can build our future. III. Waxing Crescent Link The life stage linked with the waxing crescent moon is childhood. The thaw begins. Winter yields to spring showing the first hint of the brightness to come. Excitement and enthusiasm abound as the plan-makers become the action-takers. Waxing crescent moons are busy bees bursting with childlike desire to create. They begin the building process bursting with energy. They can accomplish so much in so little time. They are avid learners, makers, and doers. They count all of their efforts fun and worthwhile. It is through the waxing crescent moons’ sense of wonder--their pure curiosity and interest in their world that they are able to forge ahead with such ambition. They are yet ignorant of such obstacles as doubt and fear of failure. Filled with ideas aplenty, they accept only possibility and shape their world through their creative pursuits and optimistic perspective. This is the heart of waxing crescent phasework. IV. Waxing Crescent Power The power associated with the waxing crescent moon phase is wonder. Wonder is the curiosity that attracts us to new people and experiences, ideas and possibilities. It sparks all of our creative endeavors. It is a healthy interest in what is and a grand imagination for what could be. Wonder is a very compelling force. It is the engine that drives our spirit’s vehicle along this grand journey. It calls us out into the adventure of living and coaxes us off the beaten path, that we might create our own. Chandria challenges us always to engage our world in childlike wonder. She urges us to open ourselves to all of life’s possibilities, that we might reap the great benefits known to those who consistently engage new people and experiences with curiosity, optimism, and enthusiasm, or simply, with wonder. The secret of wonder is its tunnel vision that boars full steam ahead, blind to fear in its innocent desire to find out what it can do. Wonder does not sit around thinking "what if I can't". Wonder says "I'll never know unless I try". Wonder needs to know what it will find ahead on the trail so it never stops seeking something new around the bend. All that we have and know is a product of creative expression that began with a single thought in the wonder-ful seeking mind, whether our own or someone else's, or a combination of the two. From the clothes we wear to the foods we eat to the subjects we study to the activities we engage in and the way we interact with others and our world in general--these are all constructs, each of which began with a single thought. During the waxing crescent phase of the moon, we focus the creative power of our thoughts on coming up with whatever it is that will best express our ideas to others and contribute to the creation of our world. With wonder at the wheel, it may well be that anything is possible. V. Waxing Crescent Pursuit Corresponding with the "H" in Chandria, our waxing crescent pursuit is to hew, or form and shape with tools. Whenever we set out on an adventure, engage in an activity, act, produce, learn, or create anything, we hew our path along the grand journey. No two journeyers make all of the same decisions, take all of the same actions, or learn and create all of the same things. Even when we venture out together, our experiences differ. Our path is unique because our set of tools is unique. Our tools are our abilities, our inclinations, and the insights we have gained from education and experience. Some are inborn or provided by family. Others come from organizations like school and recreational activities. Still others come with companions we meet along the way. When we combine our tools, we have a unique set. What is not unique is the force that inspires us to use these tools to hew our individual path. That force is wonder. It is a bold and insatiable energy that compels us to question and create. Without wonder, we would not eagerly pursue a path worth preserving for the enrichment of others. VI. Waxing Crescent Ritual The waxing crescent moonthly ritual focuses on building the power of wonder and engaging in the pursuit of hewing our own unique path. To conduct this ritual, follow the standard format provided in the Ritual book, substituting the suggested verses and practices that follow in the ready, render, and reflect sections. Remember always that all aspects of Chandrian ritual are optional and suggested and should be adapted and personalized to suit our needs. Color-cladding: Dress in light colors or clad yourself in green: the color of nature's growth. Ware-laying: Ring the standard with a green ribbon and/or place a piece of aventurine or malachite in the waxing crescent moon phase. Mood-making: Convene in low light. Conduct your ritual in silence or play light music that inspires you. Use sweet imagination stirring scents such as neroli and bergamot. VI.A. Ready Offering: Send the gift of wonder to your sisters-in-spirit under the sign of offering. Invoking: Offer the following verse under the sign of request: Sister spirits everywhere Hear my waxing crescent moon prayer Send your spirit's vital spark my way To help me build from dreams this gleaming day VI.B. Render Focusing: Offer the following verse under the sign of focus: Open me now to the world of imagining Wonderful, wonder-filled builder of dreams Where hope-buds bloom and visions inspire me: "After it, follow it; Follow the Gleam!"( Tennyson) During the heart of the waxing crescent moonthly ritual, we generate our Quests Twinklings or complete the Masterpiece Phasework, depending on the amount of time we have for our ritual. VI.C. Reflect After closing the ritual according to the instructions in the Ritual book, we take a few minutes to reflect, making a few notes about the ritual experience or just jotting down our present thoughts, collecting everything in our Chandrian Chronicle. VII. Waxing Crescent Phasework We consider all of our creations to be treasured extensions of ourselves and so we endearingly call each a masterpiece, that one day we might create a work that others will recognize as such. The Masterpiece Phasework activity directs us to channel our energies into producing a work that is a reflection of ourselves. This is the time to indulge our creative streak. We begin this phasework activity by quieting our mind and asking our spirit what she wants to create. We let the decision come from within, ignoring what our mind says initially. If we feel stuck, we may suggest some genres (i.e. poem, story, song, collage) and topics (love, hope, peace) to ourselves. Then, we quiet our mind and await a pull in one direction or other. If we get a warm or peaceful feeling with a particular suggestion, we go with it. If we feel a twang or hesitation, we try again. This way, whatever we do create in this session is sure to be a product of our heart's desire. VII.A. Creative Expressions Here are some ideas for creative pursuits: - Compose a poem or music - Write a story or song lyrics - Draw or paint a picture - Design a Web page - Choreograph a dance - Coin a new catch phrase - Arrange dried or silk flowers - Craft a word or number puzzle - Assemble a new outfit - Concoct a recipe - Paste together a collage - String a bead necklace - Fashion a mandala - Conduct a science experiment - Plant a garden - Pen a joke or riddle - Invent a time-saving gadget - Parody a famous verse or lyric - Construct a time capsule VIII. Twinklings around Waxing Crescent Beyond our natural creativity and instinctive desire to build, as children it is our nature to be inquisitive and open-minded. In these twinklings called quests, we ask a question aloud to ourselves and quietly, patiently await a response. When we hear words in our head, we attribute the response to our own mind or ego and press for an answer from a deeper or grander and more connected source. If, in response to a query, we feel a vague discomfort of some kind--especially in the abdomen--that is not connected to a known physical condition, we determine that was probably a product of our limited perspective and not the right answer. When instead we get a positive feeling about something, or suggest an answer and then feel a warmth or other sense of peace descend upon us, we attribute the response to source, spirit, intuition or whatever we want to call the greater universal truth. Then, we believe that we have found our answer.