In the longstanding tradition of mystical Jews and lifestyle publications, we bring you New Moon Readings. They aren’t fortune telling or magic, and they’re not about luck or a mysterious power. They draw upon on the wise monthly themes of the Hebrew calendar, the influence of the solar system on our daily lives, and, sometimes, totally pagan prognostication tools (tarot!) to guide us.
Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar year. According to the Book of Formation, this month belongs to the beginner who seeks authenticity by freeing herself from the bonds of expectation and fear of failure.
On Passover, the fifteenth day of Nisan, with ritual and story as our center, we recall collective liberation as a means to inspire us to break free of limiting beliefs and personal bondage of any kind.
As the first moon of the lunar year, Nisan also welcomes a new astrological cycle and illuminates the value of stepping forward with a beginner’s mind.
The Aries/Ram’s mantra may best be described as, “Let’s go, now!”
Holding onto familiar stories, even when they enslave our hearts and minds, is often easier than opening ourselves to the unknown. We know this well, but practice is more precarious than theory. Still, the sap is flowing, buds are blooming, and the moon rises each evening, that we may be reminded of the growth and freedom available to us in the present moment.
Pema Chödrön often uses the metaphor of an airplane circling the runway, unwilling to take off. “I fear this, I want that to be perfect, just one more minute.” The mind will shackle us with the intention of keeping us safe. Our mind does not like the unknown.
It is the work of this month, assisted by our cosmic Aries light, to take off, to trust our heart’s journey and celebrate the freedom of a beginner’s mind.
Zivar Amrami is an artist, mama, and founder of the New Moon Project. Learn more about Zivar by visiting her website or find her on Instagram where she posts most often.
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