Moon Sister

My friend called me Moon Sister.  I had assumed it was because the first time I met her we had a bonfire under a full moon.  It was a wonderful night, we were far off of the grid so even with the full moon all of the stars were bright.   We were all mothers of young children, and no matter how much we loved them we were glad to be off together, exploring the fact that we were more than just mothers.   We composed silly songs.  We carefully made our way down a dock on Lake Nicatous and the five other women tried to help me see my first shooting star.  I had never laughed that long and hard.  I'm sure some of it was the power of the full moon.  It always leaves me a little off-kilter, sometimes in a good way and sometimes not.  It can be hard to concentrate when she is around.  Much like a beautiful woman.

As an adolescent I would look up at the full moon.  It was a reminder of the Universe and our little place in it.  Gravity felt like an illusion and it would be easy to float up in to the sky and visit with the Woman in the Moon whose features I could make out so clearly.  Smiling at all of us who noticed her with love and compassion.  Inviting us to come out to play.  Full Moon was in attendance for many of my most memorable nights.  Driving from the hospital with my newborn son, his 2 year old older brother excitedly exclaimed, "Da Mooooon Da Mooooon!"  He knew.  Full Moon was our escort home.  The years that I lived on the beach I visited her almost every time she arrived.  She was a confidant, a witness, a sister.  

Although the name fit for many reasons, I eventually found out why my friend called me Moon Sister.  One evening I heard her talking with a woman and she said, "You know there is a giant owl behind you, right?"  And this woman said, "Yes, of course, that is (she named him but I don't remember the name)."  Now, the woman with the giant owl was Micmac and the Native American culture is more in touch with spirits and animal guides so this question was answered matter-of-factly.  Being raised White Anglo-Saxon Protestant you would think I would have been at least a little skeptical.  But I wasn't.  I asked my friend if she always saw things like that.  She told me that when she meets someone she can see their Spirit Guides.  She does not usually mention it to people because most people would think she was crazy.  I was disappointed that she had never told me who she saw with me, so asked her if I didn't have one.  She said, "Of course you do!  That is why I call you Moon Sister.  The smiling face of the Full Moon follows you everywhere."