November 4: Pick the Rice Clean

Sennguru

4 minutes ago

2 min read

Mawnin', fam. 🌘

Di moon is a waning crescent this morning, about 21% lit and getting thinner every night. Di new moon land next Monday, November 9, in di early hours before sunrise. These last slim days of di cycle are for clearing, not for adding. Picture an auntie on a veranda in St. Elizabeth, a big enamel basin of rice in her lap before she put di pot on. She don't rush it. She tilt di basin to di light and pick out di little stones and di husk one by one, so nobody bite down on grit at dinner. That's di work today. You don't have to throw out di whole basin of your life. Just pick out di few little stones that keep spoiling di meal, and leave di good grain to cook.

Today's Jamaica Pulse Practice

Sit easy with one hand flat on your lap like di bottom of a basin. Breathe in for four and picture di grain settling soft in your hand. Hold for two and notice what feel heavy or sharp. Then breathe out slow for six and flick your fingers open gently, like you tossing a little stone over di veranda rail. Do it five rounds, and with each breath out, release one small worry you don't need to carry into today.

Tonight, di moon don't rise till about two o'clock in di morning, so di early night stay dark and quiet. Step outside for a few minutes after dinner and just listen. Count three night sounds: di whistling frogs in di bush, di crickets, a dog far off down di lane. With each one, name one small thing you picked out of your day and let it go. Then tell yourself, "Mi keep di good grain. Mi nuh need di stone."

Today's Affirmation

I am happy because I make room for what is good by clearing out what is not. I am healthy as I let go of di little things that weigh on my body and mind. I am wealthy in di good grain I keep, my time, my peace, my people. And I am strong enough to sort my life slow and careful, one stone at a time.