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Ode to Women and the Moon
by Melinda Ribner
I
s there anything more beauti- measured by a yardstick of ac-
ful than a moon lit evening? At complishments or worldly val-
the time of her fullness, the moon ues. Like the moon, she yearns
outshines all the surrounding stars to have no light of her own,
and planets. So beautiful, so soli- desiring only to experience her
tary, she stands elegantly in the union with the Source of all
sky, inspiring us each to shine in light. This union can only take
our lives. Lovers meet under her place in private. In our most
light to hold hands and profess quiet moments, she offers us
their love for each other. To all a ticket to the awesome peace
those who confront the darkness and eternity of the divine.
of challenge and despair, she In many mystical traditions,
radiates a powerful message of the moon, as well as the soul,
hope. Her very being is a faithful is a feminine living entity. A
testimony that there is light amidst woman is likened to the moon.
darkness. Holidays of many Like the moon, a woman is
religious traditions take place in changeable, she is flowing, she
accordance with her light. is radiant and she is beautiful.
When the light of the moon is In her youth, a woman becomes
diminishing, she models humility aware of the special relation-
to us, teaching us how to get out ship she shares with the moon
of the way, how to trust, how to and other feminine beings.
let go. From the new moon, we Her menses is often scheduled
learn how to be in the spaces of around the cycles of the moon.
not knowing, of becoming, of be- Her closest girlfriends often
ing, allowing and accepting what share a visit from the ‘friend’
is happening in our life, even if it is we also have cycles to our lives. within days of each other. If she travels
hard, not beautiful, and painful. If we remember the moon, we to another part of the world, in a short
At the times of our life when we are given faith and comfort during our time her monthly cycle will be coor-
are tested and humbled, when our times of darkness, when our light is hid- dinated with that of the women she
light is seemingly diminished - we may den. We too will be renewed like the befriends in the new place. How this
have lost loved ones or what we hold moon. Our light will shine brightly, in occurs is a mystery to her, but a woman
precious, we may be confronting an a new way, once again. We only need is inextricably connected to the moon
illness, perhaps we lost our job, our patience. Whatever is happening, good in ways beyond her understanding and
financial savings, we may even feel or seemingly not so good, this too will power.
betrayed by those most dear, we must pass. There is always a new beginning. From ancient times until today,
remember the moon. Like the moon, We can begin our lives again. We are the time of the new moon is consid-
not limited to what was before us. There ered a special holiday for women. In
will be a new moon. the Jewish tradition, a woman should
Like the new moon, there are suspend her work, meet with other
depths in our being that can only be women to meditate, pray, learn, share,
touched through the listening and at- sing and dance together at this time. In
tunement to that which is hidden within recent years, this custom has become
us. When we quiet the ego mind, we widespread. Today, hundreds and
may hear the voice of the soul. Give thousands of women all over the world
yourself time to listen to the soul. What from many spiritual traditions honor
she has to say is very different than one their special connection to the moon
may expect. as they gather together at the time of
Honor and physical riches will not the new moon or full moon, possibly
make the soul happy for she actually much like women of ancient times
delights in what is hidden. The exter- gathered together in their ‘Red Tents”
nal world is even a distraction to her. at the time of the new moon.
She knows that who she is can not be The Hebrew word for month is
48 Broward County
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