Why ‘Whole Moon Living?’
It was quite a few months ago now, while listening to the wonderful Andrea Michelle and Amanda Pua Walsh on an old Astrology Hub Podcast episode, when I realised why our business is called ‘Whole Moon Living’.
Don and I were both drawn to the name long ago; we knew intellectually it conveyed what we were trying to do in our biz beautifully. But until this week, I didn’t viscerally know it, I didn’t feel-it-in-my-bones know.
Andrea Michelle was discussing how the asteroids in astrology that represent the various feminine archetypes were at that time aspecting each other in a way that isn’t often seen. And as is usually the way with her and Amanda, the amazing insights about the nature of existence just kept being dropped like tiny truth bombs that always blow me away. And then she said this about healing through the feminine:
‘We need to whole ourselves rather than heal ourselves.’
She went on to outline that ‘healing’ suggests a deficiency, that something is missing or stolen. That we are less than what we used to be. But ‘whole-ing’ recognises that our shadows are a part of our whole. Our traumas, negative behaviours and experiences, our shame and embarrassment – no matter how broken or incomplete you may feel, you are whole.
This is not to minimise the traumas, shame and embarrassment you have experienced in your life – far from it. It’s to say that even though this has happened to you, it doesn’t mean you’re somehow less than other people. You are still whole, you are still – You. No matter what you have experienced, no one and nothing gets to take away your fundamental wholeness.
When we whole ourselves, we understand that we are already complete. There can be no ‘when I recover from mental illness or trauma/lose weight/stress less/am more (or less) assertive/less socially inept (or any other idea of perfection we force on ourselves) I’ll be who I want to be’.
This can’t happen, because when you realise there’s nothing missing, you know you have everything you need right now to be who you are. And who you are needs love and compassion, no matter where you are on your journey.
Sure, you can move your body more, eat healthier foods and look after your mental health, but it won’t be because you’re trying to fill some missing piece of yourself, it will be an act of self love. You don’t need fixing, you need honouring.
This is radical self love. This is whole-ing yourself.
When we whole ourselves, we see every part of ourselves with love and honesty. We are finally able to peer into the shadows and still see ourselves, deserving of our love and even respect.
This empowers us to hold the truth of how we show up in our relationships – with ourselves, others, animals, the world, the universe and reality itself. And then we get to live life and make decisions based on a radical acceptance of our whole selves, not just the bits we think are acceptable to others.
And when you whole yourself and unconditionally love yourself, that love is contagious. You will want to share this wholeness with everyone and everything. You will want to honour the wholeness in every living thing on earth, and Gaia herself.
Now, as incredibly simple as this is, it’s nevertheless seriously hard work – the work of lifetimes!
There are so many aspects of our identity, culture, ancestry and history that make this tough.
And that’s the space that we inhabit here at Whole Moon Living.
We’re holding a supportive space for you to reclaim your wholeness, just like the moon.
She is always half in shadow (the dark side of the moon), and from our perspective, she is all shadow once every month. But just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean her shadow side has disappeared. She is still always whole.
Just like you.
We’re so excited to work with you and want to create spaces that make you – and everyone – welcome. Because whole moon living means embracing the whole of the moon!
Welcome to Whole Moon Living.
Embrace it all!