How to Visit the Leo Full Moon
Join tonight's Full Moon Ritual at 6pm PST
Below you’ll find a brief meditation on the concept of visitation; learn how it applies to rituals of the moon; and receive an invite to our Full Moon in Leo ceremony tonight at 6pm.
Leanne Betasamoke Simpson begins her essay, Land As Pedagogy,* by telling the story of a Nishnaabeg child who went to visit a maple tree one morning with the spring fresh on her cheeks.
During her visit, the child pays close attention to a squirrel nibbling and sucking at the maple bark.
By visiting this tree, because of the child’s curiosity, and the generosity of the Ninaatigoog (maple tree) and the Ajidamoo (red squirrel), she learns about maple syrup and brings the knowledge home to her family.
Simpson says she loves this story because it has no violence in it and is about a circle of loving relations.
Every year during syrup harvesting season she re-visits this story.
Visiting stories, visiting friends, visiting trees, visiting the winds. According to Simpson, the concept of visiting is central to maintaining Nishnaabeg ways of life.
“Visiting within Nishnaabeg intelligence means sharing oneself through story, through principled and respectful consensual reciprocity with another living being. […] Visiting is fun, enjoyable, nurturing of intimate connections and relationship building. Visiting is the core of our political system…” (Simpson, 18)
Let’s take a moment to consider what that means.
A visit is an encounter between two beings who deliberately seek each other out to enjoy one another’s company.
While together, the visitors learn from each other. They strengthen their bonds. They add chapters to the story of their relationship.
There’s a crisis of loneliness in colonial culture. Over hundreds of years of enclosure, people were cut off from their connection with the land, with their histories and cultures. Then they exported that severance around the world.
Simpson’s whole essay is about the ways that colonizers attempted to destroy Nishnaabeg educational traditions, which made their peaceful ways of social organization possible.
Relationship building is a Nishnaabeg means of resistance.
Every month, the Full Moon comes to visit us. She comes with messages, and armfuls of gifts. Do we greet her at the door, or do we ignore her?
The Leo Full Moon is a story teller. A bringer of blessings and optimism. A teacher of courage.
When she visits, we get to listen to her stories, receive her gifts, and share our own. We get to become close with her.
Our Full Moon rituals are opportunities to strengthen our relationships with the earth, the cosmos, our traditions, and with each other.
I hope you can make it to our Full Moon in Leo ritual tonight at 6pm PST.
At the ritual we will…
Perform a solar meditation to call back our vital life forces
Practice divination to help us listen to the Moon
Tell the stories of Leo and Aquarius
Create a blessing to help us build our courage
Share the blessing of our encouragement with those we love
Instructions to prepare and link to join the Full Moon Ritual below. Can’t wait to see you there!