Half Moon Hotel
Photography by Maria Ramirez-Adams
And so we arrive to the Half Moon Motel, caught between two eclipses and this mad season not nearly done revolutionising our world. The bright lady is turning within to prepare for her rebirth at the solstice and her next dance with the sun.
Though she hangs half in shadow in the sky, this is the third quarter of her phase. The portion of her dissemination that delivers a requisite crisis in consciousness. Ultimately designed to reorient and redirect us, we feel into the old ways and means that in truth have never served. We begin the descent into the darkest phase, sifting shadows and musing upon what must give or go.
We bump up against diffidence and difficulty, feel our resistance and our rage. Life reflects lessons and learning yet required. We too are called inwards, to a place far from the noise of a rebirthing world to cultivate the change we wish to be. Bumping up against our workbench, stubbing our toes in the dark.
The antidote is always The Work. Despite the performative spectrum we are expected now to tap dance upon - or perhaps in spite of it - true shadow work is always done quietly, rigorously and consistently in the darkness of your own private underworld. It is not for anyone else, though once done it will echo out through the world and tilt it.
Shadow work is not subject to approval and is halted by judgement. In this solitary place you are required to compassionately hold yourself to your learning curve, which is why guidance from the surface can help you feel safer or keep you on track but cannot ever take your steps for you.
Shadow work is the soul's call to the human it inhabits, over and over again. To see the poison as medicine and the pain as productive. To befriend the parts we long turn away from or trade for far lesser gods. It is always overdue and never before time.
If you ring for room service at the half moon hotel, only shadows will answer your call. Waiting in reception for the button to light up and hoping you will finally dance with them out in the twilight beyond the door.
.
The eye is always caught by light but shadows have more to say
~ Gregory Maguire
Words c. Kerrie Basha 2020