'In Between Life Lounge' + Dark Moon Ritual

Learn More About the Goddess Mythology of the ‘In Between Life Lounge’ in this Video then check out the ritual below

As we quickly descend into the shortest and darkest days in the never-ending cycle of the Year, this period between Samhain and Solstice is often called the In Between Life Lounge.

In the human life cycle this is the period between death and rebirth when our soul is called to reflect on the lesson of our last life and to choose the optimal circumstances for our evolution in the next lifetime - a process akin to choosing goals and resolutions for the next year. 

Until light is once again rekindled with potential at Solstice and/or on the new moon, we are in the dark jungle wilderness of shadow work and self reflection.

How something begins is how it ends +

How something ends will also inform the next beginning.

The dark of the year, like the dark moon time of each month, is a time of slowing down to reflect on the wins, losses and growth of both our last year as well as our entire life up until now.

The reflection ritual below can be done either alone with your journal or together with family or soul family. You’re welcome to bring one of these powerful questions to the table at Thanksgiving or any holiday to add some depth to your family connection.

Reflection Ritual

For the Dark of the Year + the Dark of the Month

If you’re opting for a solo ritual, call in extra meaning by starting with a bath, brewing a cup of tea or cider and/or lighting a candle or a fire.

Whether you’re alone or in community, you’re welcome to choose one or many of the prompts below for reflection. Notice which question(s) in particular call to you. As always, depth is more valuable than breadth so no need to choose more than one. If you’re journalling, avoid the urge to edit or censor yourself. Freewrite with pen to paper and just let whatever comes out fly. If journalling feels daunting for you put on a 5-20 minute timer and stop when it’s finished.

When closing your self reflection practice, briefly read back over your responses. There’s no need to take action yet but you can identify if there are any obvious shifts that can be made in the coming moments, days or weeks. Your responses will take time to marinate in your consciousness and influence your future choices. Chances are the patterns or longings that you identified may appear more noticeable in the next few days.

To complete your practice, take a few mindful breaths with eyes closed. Place a hand on your heart and a hand on your belly in the Mudra of Radical Self Acceptance to feel the breath filling your lower palm.

Offer gratitude for your body, your vehicle in this lifetime.

Offer gratitude to your soul for calling you to self reflection.

Offer gratitude for this ever unfolding, mysterious gift of life.

Acknowledge that this simple action has drawn you into deeper relationship with your soul and make a commitment to live from this space of soul honoring as you move forward into the rest of your life.

Reflection Questions:

What is working in your life? What’s not working so well? 

What values are most important to you? Are you embodying their importance in your life?

Do you have a bucket list? How are you doing on that bucket list? 

In what areas of your life do you feel like a hamster on a wheel and how might you slow (or even step off) the wheel in the coming season and/or year?

How are you being challenged by life to grow? 

What are your most meaningful human connections? How can you nurture them? 

How is joy guiding your decisions and life choices? How is fear guiding your decisions and life choices?

If your life were to end tomorrow, what memories would you hold most sacred? 

What area of your life can you renew by recommitting to curiosity, optimism, beginner’s mind?

Have you stopped dancing? Have you stopped singing?

What old wounds are within festering, ignored and unattended? 

If you were to know your life were ending in one month, what would you let fall away?

How are you creating space to reflect on your last year during this time of darkness? What are you finding in the depths within? You’re welcome to share below.