Watch the Moon to Be Calmer

Life offers us many opportunities to be present, to find more calm. We just need to notice it, to take advantage of those moments.

The light of the moon

Last night I went to the balcony for a few minutes. It was a dark night, with many clouds. But in the sky, I could see the moon behind the clouds.

My eyes were attracted by the moon and by the clouds that moved in front of its light.

I watched the moon for a few moments. I watched the clouds moving slowly. The moonlight glowed and illuminated them as they were passing by.

It almost seemed like the moon was watching the clouds very closely and illuminated them to get a better look.

“The moon is a loyal companion.

It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.

Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”

― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

The light of our attention

The effect that the moon light had on the clouds reminded me of the practices we can also do to learn to use our attention.

We also can learn to focus more on what we are doing. Focus our attention on what is around us in the present moment.

The same way the moon shines a light on the clouds, we can also focus our awareness on what is happening around us.

We can pay attention to the emotions we feel. Focus all our attention on it. Be present, notice it.

We can stop and feel how our body is in this moment, feel where it is most tense or where we feel any small pain. We can stop for a moment and focus our attention on that. Notice it. Give it the attention it deserves.

Or focus in our thoughts. We can observe them, follow them. If we can observe them, we are no longer dominated by them. We become aware of them, we become aware of the fact that we have thoughts and, at the same time, of the fact we are watching them.

“The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.”

― Deng Ming-Dao, Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

Looking at the sky and enjoying the amazing show that nature offers us every day, is an easy way to calm down, to interrupt the streams of agitation that try to dominate us.

The next time we look at the sky, we can try to see much more than the obvious — if it’s sunny or rainy, clear or cloudy.

We can notice the beauty that is being offered to us, notice the details, and in these details discover new moments of stillness and well-being.

“Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them. Darks and lights in them. Everyone is part of a connected cosmic system. Part earth and sea, wind and fire, with some salt and dust swimming in them. We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside.

PART SUN AND MOON by Suzy Kassem”

― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem".