In episode 27 of the ecotherapy podcast, I have a night-time ponder in my garden to contemplate the final full moon of 2020. I suggest some simple ways to connect with the Moon as one of nature’s most magnificent mysteries. Click on the slim black player above to listen.

What things spring to mind for you when you think of a full moon? What feelings surface? I remember running a tarot workshop a few years ago. During an exploration of the Moon card, it was clear that different people had very different feelings about it. Everything from ‘scary’ to ‘beautiful’ came up for the group. It’s funny how this permanent fixture of nature can be so divisive, despite the fact that pretty much all of us have been gazing at it since we were babies.

The Moon has associations with the nighttime, and therefore, the time when we can’t see our surroundings, perhaps bringing a sense of danger. At the same time, it can provide the light in the darkness for us, potentially bringing safety.

Personally, I just find it to be the most magnificent and stunning part of the night sky. I try to take some time several times a month for a small meditation or two with the Moon. Simply gazing up at the sky and considering this satellite orbiting around us constantly, whilst we orbit constantly around the sun, ironically brings me back down to Earth. Gazing up at the glowing globe, reflecting the life-giving power of the Sun, creates a sense of wonder and stability about the planet I’m standing on. It can do the same for you, too.

The Moon’s place in many spiritual traditions of the world is a testament to its beauty and power. From the Pagan practice of honouring the Moon’s phases to the legend of Buddhist Monks chanting sutras underneath the full moon for centuries to pass down the teachings of the Buddha, its links with the wonders of life are plentiful.

Some people even refer to the practice of Moon watching as Lunar Ecotherapy or Moon Ecotherapy, giving it a special category all of its own. Quite right too if you ask me!

Tune in to hear my thoughts about how Moon watching can be a powerful and inspirational aspect of ecotherapy. I hope you enjoy it, folks!