September 15th New Moon Intention & Affirmation

The new moon is here so I have a new tarot curated intention and affirmation for us to work with. I used the Modern Witch Tarot, and we pulled the Eight of Swords, the Knight of Cups, and the King of Wands. Be sure to have a look at the cards to see what they inspire in you. Let’s dive in!

Having plans and healthy routines gives life structure and helps us achieve our desires, but they can also feel restrictive, especially when embedded in societal norms or beliefs that aren’t supportive. When the mind rushes forward with plots and plans we inevitably go along for the ride, and in doing so, risk losing our way.

In my life, there have been times when plotting and planning led me astray. I got so focused the outcome, I forgot to stop and way to ask, “Why?” When I finally gifted myself a moment of pause, I realized I was so mission oriented, I’d lost sight of my motivation, intention, and desire. Has this ever happened to you?

Intention: Sometimes we get constrained by plans. We tell ourselves we must stick with them, just to stick with them, and we forget the “why” behind the journey, the decision, or the goal. At times like this it’s helpful to remember thatOur motivations and desires are like a rudder on a boat, they steer the way. Periodically checking in with each gives us the opportunity to adjust as needed.

Affirmation: My path is not laid before me; it is made by walking.

What exactly are we expecting from life? From the perspective of American societal norms, we are taught from a young age to plan and decide what we are going to do with our lives, and then do what we can to make it happen. Remember being asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? I do.

At five years old my response was cowgirl. I wanted to ride horses and enjoy animals, the land, and nature. I wanted to live on a farm and eat food grown from my garden. I remember adults saying, “How about a nurse, secretary, or teacher?” I didn’t think much of this at the time, but as I reflect, I realize by the age of six I was telling people I wanted to be a teacher. My cowgirl dreams were gone.

As I reflect further, I’m reminded of my senior year in high school. With college and career to consider, this was a particularly aggressive time in terms of planning and decision making. That question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” loomed large. I knew I didn’t really want to be teacher, nurse, or secretary, yet no vision rose to take their place.

My lack of clarity was cemented by a belief that if dreams and desires weren’t practical (or aligned with societal norms) they shouldn’t be pursued. As my peers went to college, I stayed behind, working two, sometimes three, part time jobs. Working everyday didn’t leave me much time to think, and I liked it that way. Work, sleep, repeat. For a long time, I found the hamster wheel of getting by good enough.

It wasn’t until my early twenties that I realized I wanted something different. Autopilot no longer felt good, and I became curious about what desires lay beneath beliefs around practicality, plans, and societal norms. I began to consider, who I was, and what I wanted. I wondered why I hadn’t allowed myself to ask these questions sooner. I remembered the days I wanted to be a cowgirl, then a teacher, then nothing.

I took things one step at a time, and through trial and error, I became aware of what felt good to me. I tried new things, took classes that interested me, started journaling, and as my mom would say, “followed the fun.” I connected to the little girl who imagined a life among nature and animals.

When I look back, I see footprints made by inquiry and action, rather than plots or plans. They circle and swirl, only occasionally making straight lines. I understand that some paths are straight forward, and some aren’t, and that’s okay. I don’t worry about outcomes and destinations as much I used to. I know if I’m connected to my intention, motivation, and desire, I’ll get where I’m meant to be.

I’ve learned that my path is my path, and your path is your path, but both are made by walking. Nothing is truly laid before us, and yet there’s so much to discover. To the little Emily who wanted to be a cowgirl I say, “May the inner flame of desire and inspiration illuminate your path. Like a torch in the night, let it reveal each next step. May you always find the strength and courage to go forward, even if you must abandon some plot or plan.”

This moon cycle, take a moment to consider times you felt you had to follow a plan. Was the plan self-imposed or did it feel motivated by outside sources? How did it go?

What about times you course corrected or redirected your time and energy. Why did you do that? What inspired the change?

Here’s an excerpt from Antonio Machado’s poem “Traveler, There Is No Path” from his book There is No Road. It’s been a wonderful inspiration for this moon cycles intention and affirmation.

“Traveler, the path is your tracks
And nothing more.
Traveler, there is no path
The path is made by walking.
By walking you make a path
And turning, you look back
At a way you will never tread again
Traveler, there is no road
Only wakes in the sea.”

- Antonio Machado