Author: SP

Understanding

At 6:57am on Thursday, January 11th, the Moon was New. So as I write this, we’re a little more than halfway toward fullness. That actually feels like an allegory for my overall sense of being right now – halfway toward fullness.

The focus for the last lunar cycle was one of Realization. In that post, I said that I was looking for moments where there is stillness and appreciation for the wonders this life can bring, and moments where the soul can find a safe place to breathe.

In January of 2017 – so, 7 years ago now – I started these monthly New Moon intentions with one about self-acceptance. In that post, I wrote, “This past Friday’s New Moon brought a vow to focus on the work of self-acceptance – both personally and professionally.… More...

Realization

At 6:32pm on Tuesday, December 12th, the moon was New again. We were almost half a cycle in when I posted for last month, and the Moon was just full again this past Tuesday – so while these posts are evenly spaced, I am not posting close enough to the New Moon for my own liking. I will add that to my list of New Year intentions.

Last cycle, I focused on Compassion. While the path toward the focus was dedicated to finding Compassion in our hearts for others, I closed the post by reflecting on needing to find Compassion for ourselves too. In closing, I said that “We should strive to be who we want to be, not who other people have come to expect, and acknowledge that we are as deserving of Compassion as those we would seek to be Compassionate toward.”… More...

Compassion

At 4:27am on November 13th the Moon was New. It’s been over half a cycle now – but that’s okay. It’s been a busy autumn – particularly the past six weeks – but there have also been beacons shining amidst the craziness.

During the last cycle I was focused on the concept of Consideration. In the closing paragraph of that post I said that “I want to try to do my best to be mindful of those around me – those who may have an expressed need as well as those who might be simply “doing their best to get by” – and ask myself how I can best Consider others in what I say and what I do.”

This focus on Consideration was borne out of a feeling that I wasn’t receiving any.… More...

Actualizing

At 5:38am on Wednesday, August 16th the Moon was New again. The fact that this is being posted so close to the time is a testament to the accuracy of this cycle’s focus — but I am getting ahead of myself.

The focus for the last cycle was Assumption. In that post I spoke about “emotional reasoning”, and talked about how I would often assume an emotional significance or emotional weight to something someone might say or do, or a way someone will behave, that they did not intend. I also said that I wanted to allow space for fate to evolve rather than Assuming, and thereby possibly unintentionally manifesting an outcome.

Part of my work this past month involved reading “The Game of Life and How to Play It” by Florence Scovel Shinn.… More...

Assumption

At 2:32pm on Monday, July 17th, the Moon was New again. She isn’t due to come to fullness until Tuesday at 2:32pm, so we’re not quite half-way through the cycle. Interesting though, that this cycle the New and Full moons both arrive at 2:32pm ET. If anyone knows if there is any astronomical reason or any astrological significance, please let me know. Given the complexity of the cosmos, I’m apt to think it’s a coincidence, but I’m not sure I believe in coincidences.

For the last cycle I set out to focus on Autonomy, specifically how I can incorporate it into a life where I am called to interact with other individuals. I concluded by noting that Immanuel Kant suggested that the concept of Autonomy entails individuals acting in accordance with their rational will and self-imposed moral principles, rather than being governed by external factors, or heteronomy.… More...

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 pounds Brussels Sprouts shaved
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400º
  • Trim Brussels Sprouts
  • Toss all ingredients in a bowl to coat
  • Spread on baking sheet
  • Bake 30-40 minutes, checking every 10-15 minutes to remove crispy leaves and turn sprouts

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 212 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 Red potatoes (medium) quartered
  • 3 Garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 Butter
  • 1/2 cup Milk warmed
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
  • Drain well. Add the butter, milk and salt; mash. Stir in cheese.

Autonomy

Last Sunday at 12:37am the Moon was New again. We’re at three consecutive months at publishing these within a week of the New Moon. I don’t feel like I can rest in the timing yet – but, as with all things, we’re getting there.

The last cycle’s focus was Courage – of which there has needed to be plenty. This year keeps presenting new and different challenges, which have required me to seemingly adapt my view of my reality as well as my place in it. To quote Plato from ‘Cratylus’, “Heraclitus, I believe, says that all things pass and nothing stays, and comparing existing things to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river.”… More...

Courage

This past Friday, at 11:53am, the Moon was New again. This is the second cycle in a row where I’ve gotten this intention composed within about a week. This feels like good timing – close enough to be relevant, but not rushed.

Last month’s theme of Conflation spoke about how so many moments this year seemed to ignite patterned responses from years ago – or were even being concurrently mirrored in other parts of my life. The past few weeks have seen the work of doing my best to stay in this reality as I try to navigate the challenges I face now.

There has been no shortage of challenges either. Last week I had to contend with a milestone birthday, the energy shift I feel around the time of a New Moon, and the anniversary of my mother’s passing – all this, in addition to moving through the changes that 2023 has brought.… More...

Conflation

At 12:13am on April 20th the Moon was New again. It hasn’t quite been a week yet, and I have gone longer after a New Moon to compose one of these – but I felt an urgency to post this tonight.

The theme last month was Healing, and in that post I talked about how I felt like this year I was waking from a long, long nap – finally realizing the life I was in the midst of. It’s a frightening prospect to look back at how you made decisions, how you crafted your reality – only to realize that none of the logical paths you had used made any sense any more. Reality isn’t meant to be crafted, it’s meant to be experienced.… More...