'OLE MOONS ... the 7 phases/days and nights of DO NOTHING (scheduling down-time!)

Napping Bumblebee

DO NOTHING, or DO NOTHING NEW. Bees are busy all the time ever seen one napping?  Here's proof it does happen.  The 7 opportunities of 'Ole Moons are a time for us to look within, to listen with the whole body, and find pono (balance) and the voice of your deepest wisdom.

In other posts/session during this workshop we  offer ideas and retreat practices to make use of this gentle and restorative time.  The po'e kanaka or po'e Hawaii, the Hawaiian, used the 'ole moons to repair their nets for fishing to come; weeded and cultivated the 'aina (the land which fed them); and rested their bodies for the work that would come soon enough.  'Ole times are 7 of 30 moons of less rather than more, or more new projects.

WHEN are the 'Ole Moons?

There are at least three ways we have learned to keep track of the 'Ole Moons:

1. Refer to a Hawaiian Moon Calendar designed for the current year.  Here is a link to a current (2011) Hawaiian Moon Calendar.  This version is fun to see because of its roundness.  This is the version of the calendar we received as a Christmas gift in 2007 when we began reconnecting to Mahina the Moon.
2. On-line Hawaiian Moon Calendars.  We like this site a lot, and have used it over and over again through the years.  It includes very easy to read information about the description of the moon phases including the names, traditional meaning and application to fishing and farming, and includes a clear picture of the shape of the moon phase.  The 'Ole Moons are easy to pick out.  A second on-line Hawaiian Moon Calendar is here for your study as well.
3. The third way of keeping track of the 'Ole Moons can be done using any calendar.  You'll need to know when the NEW MOON is/what date on the calendar. 

Try this:

• NOTE THE NEW MOON

Look at a calendar, or go on-line and find out when the New Moon is for the up-coming month.

• COUNT TO SEVEN

Once you know when the New Moon is, count it as "1" and then go forward counting to "7". Day "7" is the first 'OLE DAY/NIGHT. There will be FOUR 'Ole days and nights in this cycle, "7",8", "9" and "10."  Days and Nights "7" through "10" are 'OLE.

• DO NO NEW PROJECTS During the 'Ole

This may take some practice, some of us will find rest, weed and restore difficult. Start with awareness, and let the practice happen with time. Be easy, begin by noting/attending to the way you feel during the 'Ole.

• There's a second set of 'Ole Days later in the month
• COUNT TO "21"

Days and Nights counted "21" through "23" are the second cycle of 'Ole.


Three days and nights of the moon are 'Ole, a second time for resting and DO NO NEW PROJECTS within any calendar month.

Find the 'Ole Moons?

The four-moon 'Ole Phase will start on April 9th and last through April 12th.  As you move through the pages and ideas of this workshop, consider the busy world of your life and the DO NOTHING times that come in seven moons.  Can you see how becoming attuned and aware of a rest and repair time could nourish and nurture you during the wobble-times of 'Ole?

We suggest you keep a journal of how you feel during the month of April.  While we are involved in the workshop, there will be time to leave your questions and insights.  Share in the COMMENTS anytime. There will also be a post left wide open for all of us to share our experiences, feelings, mana'o of the 'Ole Moons during April.  You are free to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with.  The work and the rest is yours.  Enjoy and value it as your personal retreat, that's the main thing.

***To continue with the workshop CLICK HERE to go to KOKUA & LAULIMA