Lighting candles and performing rituals is wonderful, but celebrating the Moon with ordinary gestures can be even sweeter and more intimate.
Everything is juicier and more out-of-control during the Full Moon. That makes this short sweet massage with sesame oil especially rich and rewarding. It is grounding and beautifying. It’s an easy way to tune into the Full Moon every month. But it might be especially nice this month, when the political madness crazies can knock you off your feet.
Here’s the practice (to be performed on the days before, during, and after the Full Moon): Get naked. Before stepping into your bath or shower, have some cold-pressed (untreated) sesame oil available. Massage it on your face with a loving, circular motion, into your scalp too. Rub it on your feet. With nice long strokes take it up your legs. Massage your thighs, belly, curves, and breasts. Rub it into your shoulders, arms and neck.
Leave it on for a few minutes as it absorbs into the skin (I do a few standing yoga postures while I’m waiting, but you could also sing, dance, or drum your fingers). Then step into your daily bath or shower as usual. You won’t need extra soap. As your pores open, the oil is cleansing, detoxifying, and nourishing your body. Afterwards, as you towel yourself dry, notice the difference in your skin and spirit.
Ayurvedic doctors recommend this as a daily practice. I do it often throughout the month, but I’ve noticed its effects are most pronounced during the Full Moon. Sesame is a hardy plant that grows where little else can grow; it has served mankind for milennia. It’s packed with nutrients; it’s antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Massaging with it helps to increase circulation, calm the nerves, center the mind, soften the skin, tone the muscles, energize the spirit, and bring deeper sleep. The Full Moon multiplies all these benefits.
This is truly a Moon potion as the Moon rules both sesame seeds and your body—which suggests a wonderful contemplation during your practice. Become aware that the Goddess is in the oil—and in the beautiful body that your hands are touching. Ahhh… what a lovely way to honor the Full Moon.
If you’d like to connect to the Moon throughout the month in greater depth, if you like to journal and/or muse on your place in the celestial scheme of things, you may enjoy my enrolling in my monthly Moon workshop (by snail-mail or email). It’s designed to deepen your relationship with the primary guardians of natural time, the Sun, the Moon, the zodiac, and your inner wise one.
Very nice Dana! Thank you for sharing this.