As November’s full moon illuminates our sky, we welcome the Beaver Moon – named by Native American tribes and colonial settlers who knew this as the time when beavers prepared for winter, building their homes and storing food before the waters froze. Like the beavers who work with nature’s rhythms, we too are called to prepare our inner sanctuaries for the coming winter months.
This lunar cycle beautifully aligns with the energy of Green Tara, the mother of compassion in Buddhist tradition. Green Tara, known as the swift protector, reminds us that the most important sanctuary we can build is one of self-compassion within our own hearts.
We often forget to extend to ourselves the same kindness we so easily offer others; consider these moments when self-compassion is especially needed:
- When you have made choices you regret
- After speaking words you wish you could take back
- When you fall off a wellness or spiritual practice
- During times you‘ve let others down
- When you haven’t lived up to your own expectations
- When you have made a poor financial decision
- When you feel you‘re not progressing fast enough in your personal growth
- After ending relationships that weren’t serving you
- When you‘ve prioritized others’ needs over your own for too long
The Beaver Moon carries the energy of preparation and self-protection, and just as beavers build their lodges with careful attention, you can use this lunar energy to:
- Build stronger boundaries with love of self
- Create sacred space for your inner healing
- Store energy and resources for your emotional winter seasons
- Release judgment about your past actions
- Embrace our journey with all its perceived “imperfections”
Full Moon Ritual for Self-Compassion
Materials Needed:
- A green candle
- A mirror
- A bowl of water
- Your Sacred Mothers and Goddesses Oracle deck
- A crystal (rose quartz or moonstone if available)
The Ritual
- Create Sacred Space Begin by cleansing your space (Sage, Sweetgrass, Palo Santo, incense). Place your bowl of water under the moonlight or near a window.
- Opening Meditation Light your green candle and invoke Green Tara’s presence: “Compassionate Tara, guide me in extending the same loving kindness to myself that you offer to all beings.”
- Mirror Work Look into your mirror and speak these words: “I embrace all parts of my journey with compassion. I am worthy of the same kindness I give to others. I release the burden of perfectionism. I am exactly where I need to be.”
- Oracle Reading Shuffle your Sacred Mothers and Goddesses Oracle deck while focusing on self-compassion. Pull three cards for:
- What needs my compassion most right now?
- How can I better nurture myself?
- What message does Green Tara have for my healing?
- Closing Practice Dip your fingers in the moon-charged water and touch them to your heart center, saying: “With the wisdom of Green Tara and the nurturing energy of this Beaver Moon, I choose to love myself fully, including all my perceived flaws and missteps. As the moon illuminates the night sky, so too does compassion light my path forward.”
Daily Integration Practice
For the next lunar cycle, each time you notice self-judgment arising, pause and ask:
- “How would I respond to a beloved friend in this situation?”
- “What would Green Tara’s compassionate gaze see at this moment?”
- “How can I build a self-love around this experience?”
Remember that like the beaver’s lodge, self-compassion is both a shelter and a practice – something we build steadily over time, one kind thought, one gentle moment at a time. Let this Beaver Moon be your reminder that preparation and protection can come from a place of profound self-love rather than fear or judgment.
May Green Tara’s swift compassion guide you in transforming moments of self-criticism into opportunities for deeper self-acceptance and love.
