The Beaver Moon – Building Foundations and Inner Strength

The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is traditionally the time when beavers begin to prepare their lodges for winter. This full moon signifies the importance of building a strong foundation to support you through the colder, darker months ahead. In yoga, the Beaver Moon encourages us to focus on inner strength, stability, and the grounding practices that help us weather life’s challenges.

Understanding the Beaver Moon’s Energies

The Beaver Moon occurs during a time of transition between autumn and winter. As the days grow shorter and colder, the natural world begins to slow down and prepare for hibernation. This full moon invites us to reflect on our own foundations—both physical and emotional—and to strengthen them for the months ahead.

Energetically, the Beaver Moon is about preparation and perseverance. It’s a time to fortify your body, mind, and spirit, ensuring that you have the resilience to navigate whatever challenges may come. In your yoga practice, this translates to grounding, stabilizing poses that build inner strength and help you feel secure and supported.

Creating a Beaver Moon Yoga Practice

A yoga practice during the Beaver Moon should focus on grounding, stability, and inner strength. Here’s a sequence that aligns with these themes:

1. Grounding Meditation with Affirmations (5-10 minutes):

Begin your practice with a grounding meditation. Sit comfortably with your spine tall, close your eyes, and take several deep breaths. As you inhale, imagine drawing energy up from the Earth, filling your body with stability and strength. As you exhale, release any tension or stress. After a few minutes of deep breathing, silently repeat affirmations such as “I am strong,” “I am grounded,” and “I am resilient.” This meditation helps to center your mind and prepare you for the grounding work ahead.

2. Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with Visualization (5 minutes):

Mountain Pose is a simple yet powerful pose for cultivating a sense of grounding and stability. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, arms at your sides, and weight evenly distributed. Close your eyes and visualize yourself as a strong, steady mountain, rooted deeply into the Earth. Feel the energy of the Beaver Moon anchoring you, providing a solid foundation from which you can build. Hold this pose for several breaths, focusing on your connection to the ground beneath you.

3. Chair Pose (Utkatasana) (5 minutes):

Chair Pose is a strengthening pose that builds endurance and inner fire. From Mountain Pose, bend your knees and sink your hips back as if sitting in an imaginary chair. Extend your arms overhead or bring them to your heart center. Engage your core, and hold the pose, feeling the strength in your legs and the stability in your foundation. This pose encourages perseverance and helps you build the inner strength needed to face challenges head-on.

4. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) (5 minutes):

Bridge Pose is a heart-opening backbend that also strengthens the legs, glutes, and core. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart. Press into your feet and lift your hips towards the sky, interlacing your fingers beneath your back. This pose not only builds physical strength but also opens the heart, helping you to maintain emotional resilience. As you hold the pose, focus on the stability of your foundation, both physically and emotionally.

5. Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I) (5 minutes):

Warrior I is a grounding, powerful pose that embodies strength and determination. From a standing position, step one foot back and bend your front knee, keeping your back leg straight. Reach your arms overhead, and sink into the pose, feeling the stability in your legs and the power in your stance. This pose connects you to the Earth and helps you to build inner strength and focus. Repeat on the other side.

6. Garland Pose (Malasana) (5 minutes):

Garland Pose is a deep squat that opens the hips and strengthens the lower body. From a standing position, squat down with your feet wider than hip-width apart, bringing your palms together at your heart. Use your elbows to gently press your knees apart, deepening the stretch in your hips. This pose helps to release tension in the lower body while also grounding your energy. As you hold the pose, feel the strength and stability in your foundation.

7. Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana) (5 minutes):

Seated Forward Fold is a calming pose that encourages introspection and grounding. Sit with your legs extended straight in front of you, inhale to lengthen your spine, and exhale as you fold forward, reaching for your feet or shins. This pose helps to release tension in the back and hamstrings while also calming the mind. Use this time to reflect on the foundation you are building and to strengthen your connection to the Earth.

8. Child’s Pose (Balasana) (5 minutes):

Child’s Pose is a restorative, grounding pose that provides a sense of safety and security. From a kneeling position, sit back on your heels and fold forward, extending your arms in front of you or resting them by your sides. This pose allows you to surrender to the Earth, releasing any remaining tension or stress. As you rest in Child’s Pose, focus on the stability of your foundation and the inner strength you are cultivating.

9. Savasana with Body Scan (10 minutes):

Finish your practice with a long, restorative Savasana. Lie flat on your back with your arms at your sides, palms facing up. Close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Perform a body scan, starting at your toes and working your way up to the crown of your head. As you scan each part of your body, consciously relax and release any tension. Allow yourself to fully relax, feeling grounded, stable, and secure.

Journaling and Reflection

After your practice, take some time to journal about the foundations you are building in your life. Reflect on what supports you, both physically and emotionally, and how you can strengthen these foundations. The Beaver Moon is a time for preparation and perseverance, so consider what steps you can take to fortify your inner strength and stability. Use this time to set intentions for the winter months ahead, focusing on resilience, endurance, and self-care.

 

The Beaver Moon is a powerful time to build and strengthen the foundations that support you. By aligning your yoga practice with the energies of this full moon, you can cultivate inner strength, stability, and resilience, ensuring that you are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Embrace this time of preparation and fortification, knowing that the strong foundation you build now will support you through the coming months.