Moon Medicine

Etain Finn attends a Moon Medicine meeting at the Trailblazer and find out if it is lunacy or something to help centre and connect us on more levels than one.

With frequent mentions on social feeds and in yoga circles, I have been intrigued by the “Moon Medicine” events for some time. Coinciding with the lunar cycle, Moon Medicine are “monthly gatherings in Dublin for Wild Women” that mix the mystical with the arts. Each event is curated and hosted by the creative agency the Trailblazery https://www.thetrailblazery.com/ in a different location in Dublin. Past locations have included the round room in the Rotunda, the location for the September Event was the appropriately named Chapel of Ease, in Ringsend.

I signed up for September’s gathering and arrived armed with the suggested layers of clothing, a cushion to sit on, water and “a journal for Aha moments”. I ask a fellow attendee outside the venue, who mentions that she has been to several events what I should expect, she advises that all her previous sessions have been really different, so to enter without preconceptions. The participants queuing outside span the age spectrum, and there are equal numbers attending solo and in groups of friends.

As attendees arrive they are presented with a gift of a scroll with information on the current lunar phases and a poem, and directed to the room to settle in. With an abundance of attendees, floor and mat space is at a premium but people happily squeeze in. The top of the room hosts an impressive altar of flowers, candles and cards, which seems very in keeping with the harvest season.   

The session starts with an introduction and an explainer from the host of the evening and creative director of the Trailblazery Kathy Scott, and a discussion on the impact of lunar cycles and the current signs. As the Harvest Moon in September involves Pisces, and Virgo, there is an emphasis on exploring the meaning of water based signs. Indeed Kathy advises that some attendees will go for a swim under the moonlight after the gathering, but also suggests the less daunting prospect of taking a bath in Epsom salts as a form of ritual to embrace the Full moon in Pisces. She advises full moons are said to be times of revelation and enlightenment and this the last one before the Equinox. As Pisces is a dreamy, watery sign and Virgo is a practical sign, this moon may be particularly charged.

An engaging hostess, Kathy also discusses her training in Kundalini yoga, and her experiences training at a rather intense sounding kundalini retreat. The background and philosophies of Kundalini and Yogi Bhajan, before the group engage in some traditional Kundalini practices, focused on breathwork and meditation.  There is also the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful piano playing and distinctive voice of guest luminary Farah Elle, an Irish Libyan singer-songwriter and artist.

There is a welcome break for herbal tea and dark chocolate before the event resumes, with the other guest luminary of the evening, the fascinating Dana Walrath. Dana is a medical anthropologist, writer and artist who has written extensively on topics such as the Armenian Genocide. She is leaving  Dublin following a fellowship at the Global Brain Health Institute in Trinity College, Dublin.

Dana’s ability to combine her anthropological expertise, with her art and her philosophies make her an interesting speaker. Her talk is illustrated by images on the projector screen of her artwork. She shares illustrations from her book “Aliceheimers”, dealing with her experience of caring for her mother, Alice, who suffered from dementia. Dana seeks to reframe the perception of dementia, and to use it as an opportunity to live with the new person, than to view it as the disintegration of self.

Her talk centres around the “Feminine Rites of Passage” and she is particularly thought provoking in her discussions on subjects relating to women’s health, from the experiences of menstruation and childbirth, to menopause and dementia (which occurs more frequently in women). She discusses cultural comparisons in the feminine rites of passage and the differences in treatment of events from celebration to stigmatisation, and has the audience enthralled.

The evening concludes with a short ritual practice with participants invited to consider what they want to leave behind them with this full moon cycle and closes with the sounds of Farah on the piano.

As some of the party depart for the sea, guests are advised that they may find the full moon experiences triggers some emotional upheaval or effects and that an “aftercare” email will arrive in their inbox over the weekend, as well as some ‘intel’ or notes to remind us of all the information that has been imparted over the course of the evening.  Alongside the advice and notes, there is a list of  holistic therapists of various practices who are recommended for any healing work that could arise, and is a useful resource to have.

As each event varies, it is difficult to neatly summarise what a “Moon Medicine” gathering is, however where it is particularly successful, is creating a sense of community and belonging for those who wish to engaged with their spiritual side but don’t wish to subscribe to traditional or organised religion. It also appeals to a diverse range of interests.

There is no pressure to participate in every part of the event and guests are reminded they can opt out at any time, and that nobody else’s personal experiences should be shared outside the night. Some may be drawn to the astrological focus, and full moon, or perhaps the ritual practice, but equally for those with an interest in the arts, live music and spoken word, or even just hearing interesting speakers, there is aspects of the event that will appeal to different people, and most will depart with a little bit of lunar illumination.