Cold Full Moon: Keep Your Guard UP!

I've braced myself for panicked phone calls, emergency texts, and disappearing clients.

I see an uptick in relapses in my clients every time a full moon hits on a weekend. Don't be a part of this statistic.

The Cold Full Moon is approaching, reaching its peak on December 15th, and with it comes a surge of intense energies that can either empower or destabilize your recovery journey.

The Cold Moon, also known traditionally as the Long Night Moon, arrives as winter tightens its grip. This full moon earned its name from Indigenous peoples who recognized it as marking the start of winter's coldest, longest nights. Suspended in the crisp December sky, it follows the sun's low arc, staying visible longer than any other full moon of the year.

You can take control over your life and leverage this phenomenon, or you can succumb to the intense energy and overwhelming urges to use crystal meth. Here's your opportunity to build new strategies for recovery that align with winter's natural rhythms of rest and reflection.

The Cold Moon: A Time for Deep Inner Work

This full moon carries unique qualities we can harness for our recovery work. The cold, clear winter air creates perfect conditions for the moon's light to penetrate our awareness with exceptional clarity. In recovery, we can use this crystalline energy to:

Embrace the Power of Stillness: Winter teaches us that periods of apparent dormancy are essential for growth. Many of my clients struggle with this concept because addiction trained us to constantly chase the next high. The Cold Moon reminds us that true power often lies in stillness. When we stop fighting our natural need for rest and reflection, we often find the answers we've been seeking.

Illuminate Hidden Patterns: The December moon casts long shadows across snow-covered ground, creating stark contrasts that reveal shapes we might miss in other seasons. Similarly, this lunar energy helps us see our behavioral patterns with renewed clarity. I like to sit with my journal or meditate and ask, "What patterns emerge in the contrast between light and shadow?" Allow your intuition to guide you through these revelations.

Connect with Deep Wisdom: Just as our ancestors gathered around fires during long winter nights to share stories and wisdom, this is a perfect time to dive deep into your recovery knowledge. Those pieces of ourselves in the shadows are always there, waiting to be discovered, and the Cold Moon's extended illumination gives us extra time for this important work.

Practical Ways to Work with the Cold Moon Energy

The unique qualities of the December full moon call for specific practices that honor both the season and our recovery journey:

Winter Moon Ritual: Bundle up warm and spend 10-15 minutes under the night sky. The cold air will sharpen your senses and awareness. Focus on your breath, watching it materialize in the frigid air - a powerful reminder of your life force. This is also an opportunity to review your prophetic vision in the moon's clarifying light.

Journaling by Candlelight: The early darkness of winter evenings creates a perfect atmosphere for introspective writing. Explore your recovery journey's current season. What needs to rest? What continues to grow even in the cold?

Gratitude in Darkness: List three things you're grateful for specifically during this darker season of the year. The Cold Moon teaches us to find light even in the longest nights, much like recovery shows us hope in our darkest moments.

Winter Release Ceremony: Write down habits or thoughts that no longer serve your recovery on small pieces of paper. As you safely burn these papers under the Cold Moon, imagine the smoke rising into the crisp winter air, carrying away old patterns and making space for new growth.

Strengthening Your Support Network in the Cold Season

Winter has always been a time when communities draw closer together for warmth and survival. The Cold Moon illuminates our need for connection:

Create or join a moonlight walking group with others in recovery. The crisp air and shared movement can spark profound conversations.

Host a warm beverage ceremony during the full moon. Share hot tea or cocoa while discussing recovery challenges and victories.

Reach out to your sponsor or recovery coach for a fireside chat about your winter recovery goals.

The Cold Moon arrives at a time when nature pulls inward, reminding us that rest and reflection aren't just acceptable - they're essential. Don't let yourself become a victim of your emotions or the season's challenges. Step into your power and harness the unique gifts of the December full moon.

Remember, this isn't about fighting the darkness - it's about finding your light within it.

Love, Dallas 💚