Here in coastal Washington state, wildflowers are popping out daily.

This month the full moon blooms in the woods in the form of Palmate Coltsfoot, a disk-shaped white wildflower with pink tinges. I have spent so many hours staring at the full moon orb that I see its shape repeated over and over in nature: snowballs, jingle shells, agates, sand dollars, queen Anne’s lace and on and on. I have imprinted on the moon as if she was my mother, and together we’ve made a neural pathway through my brain. Of course I’ve already told you that I’m a Lunatic.

The clouds are breaking up now, so I hope I’ll be able to enjoy the full moonrise from the beach tonight—always an iffy thing here in the far northwest. If I see the big planting moon tonight, I’ll tell her about the culminations in my life that I’m celebrating, and I’ll ask her blessing for my ongoing projects.

I believe in the power of moonlight to connect us to our ancient past, to our archetypal selves who have always marked their lives by her turnings.

I adore dancing under the fullmoonlight, as it is bright enough to wander around outside, yet it has that magical quality of being cool, gentle—a whisper from another spinning orb heard at this intersection of time and space. It’s also a great time to meditate with bird allies, who are wide awake and chattering away. Add in the chorus of frogs near the lagoon and we have a full choir to sing up the moon. So go outside tonight and add some sparkle to your evening, and reach back in time to touch the heart of your ancestors who gazed in wonder at this same moon.

CONTEMPLATIONS

• What do you think your ancestors saw?
• What do you see?
• What do you find special about moonlight?
• What fullness in your life can you celebrate and honor with gratitude?

MEDITATE ON A MOONRISE VIDEO

If you can’t see the real thing, here’s a substitute. This brief video shows the moonrise over Anacortes, a town in the San Juan Islands that I see lit up most nights across the Strait.