All Ancient Cultures Honored the Moon

In the twenty-eight day lunar cycle, the New Moon, sometimes called "the dark of the moon," is recognized by indigenous people around the world as an especially important time - a time of energy and potential, a time to make and renew commitments, a time to plant seeds for the future.

In that spirit, members of the Pachamama community, use the occasion of the New Moon as a day of recommitment -- a kind of personal periodic Earth Day. We remind ourselves of our partnership with the Achuar, we renew our commitment to the earth, and we take concrete actions to express that commitment.

You are invited and encouraged to join in this program by taking these actions each New Moon:

Remember and Recommit

Get back in touch with your partnership with the Achuar, your stand for preserving the earth's rainforests, and with Pachamama herself. Consciously spend some period of time on the day of the New Moon being outside in the natural world. Reread the Declaration you made when you joined The Pachamama Alliance, and consciously recommit yourself.

Lighten Your Footprint on the Earth

Take an action or actions that are earth-honoring. Use the New Moon as a time to experiment with ways to reduce your consumption of the earth's non-renewable natural resources. Examples: reduce or eliminate your use of fossil fuel that day; fast for all or part of the day; ride your bike or walk to work; use your own bags for carrying groceries; put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat; have your car tuned up for better mileage; avoid buying products that come with extraneous packaging. Discover your own ways to "lighten your footprint" on this day.

Share Your Commitment and Expand the Work

Engage in a conversation with at least one other person about the work of The Pachamama Alliance with the intention of deepening your own stand and expanding the Pachamama community.

Please be sure to let us know about any New Moon activities you take that you would like to share with other members of The Pachamama Alliance community by emailing: info@pachamama.org