Soul Care Practices to Steep in Moon Joy
Image from the Artemis II mission.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve enjoyed the wild hope that comes from the Artemis II mission around the moon. The term ‘moon joy’ was said after the astronauts were exclaiming about what they were seeing from space while talking to command centre. The woman on the other line, after hearing everything they were saying and the pure excitement and awe in their voices said, “Copy, moon joy”. Since then, that phrase has stuck with me (and the world) as a phrase that signals hope, possibilities, and the joy that comes from seeing the very things that make up your everyday living in a new way that makes it come alive again, leaving you enchanted beyond belief.
The mission around the moon has people feeling awe and wonder at our incredible cosmos, has given us renewed hope at seeing people work together to do something never done before, and has allowed us the space to come together as humanity, even with all our differences, to rally around a common good. If you want to linger in this feeling a little longer, even though the mission is complete, see below for a list of Soul Care Practices to Steep in Moon Joy.
Image taken on the Artemis II Mission.
Practice Visio Divina
The images from the mission are popping up everywhere, from social media to the NASA App (did you know they have a free app to download with all sorts of wonderful information about the mission!).
While looking, you may come across images from the mission that leave you in complete awe (like the one above). When you find one of those images, practice the 5 movements of Visio Divina with it: Quiet Preparation of the Heart, Gaze with Openness, Notice what Stirs, Respond in Prayer, and Contemplation.
For a full walk-through of the practice of Visio Divina, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Moon paintings from back in 2020!
Paint the Moon
If you’ve been captivated by the views and colours of the moon, try painting it! I followed this tutorial back in 2020 and ended up mailing moon paintings to friends across Canada who wanted to experience a little moon joy (even though we didn’t use that term back then). It doesn’t take long, you can’t really make a mistake, and you can have a little something to hang in your work or play space, or even to send to a friend
A fantastic read!
Read a Book
If you want to dive deeper into the astronomy world, try reading the book Star Struck by David Bradstreet. This book explores the intersection of astronomy, faith, with church and science history mixed in, and is a fascinating read that become of my all-time favourite books when I read devoured it back in 2021.
Another fascinating book is The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein.
Try visiting your local library and see what’s available in the Astronomy section. Or, explore the world of science fiction and let your mind be captivated by the wonder of what humans can create!
Image by Ibatullin Ildar
Write a letter to the Moon
When hearing Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian astronaut who was part of the mission, talk about what he’s learned from his Indigenous mentors, he shares how the moon is called ‘Grandmother Moon’. Then, while on mission, the crew named a bright crater Carroll after astronaut Reid Wiseman’s wife who passed away from cancer. As you read books, scroll through images and videos learning about the mission, and even as you take time to look up at the sky, notice what stirs and write a poem or letter to the moon, perhaps even addressing your letter to Grandmother Moon, or reflecting on the loved ones you’ve lost in your own life. Let this be a time of free-flow writing, not having to be perfect, but being something that feels like a release.
Read it on Substack.
Enjoy what others are creating
The beauty of the human collective experiencing the Artemis II mission is that we all experience it through our unique lenses. I’ve shared an article on Substack that highlights two pieces I’ve written about the mission. The pieces talk specifically about moon joy, and even about how I wanted to be an astronomer as a kid. Take a read and let them inspire you. And listen to the inspiring takes the crew has to share since returning from their experience. Christina Koch talks about how the world is a crew, and Victor Glover talks about his faith and loving our neighbours… it’s all so beautiful!
While we can often think of soul care as only soul nourishing practices like our set aside times of prayer and practices we would label as ones that relate to our faith life, soul care incorporates care of our full inner landscape, nourishing not just our faith but our creativity, our hearts, our minds, and all the pieces that make us who we are. My prayer is that these practices cultivate moon joy in a number of ways that remind you how accessible soul care truly is— as simple as looking up at the moon and letting the wonder and awe reverberate in your depths.
