Full Moon Teachings | National Indigenous Peoples Month
- Date
- June 10, 2025
- Time
- 6:00 PM EDT - 8:00 PM EDT
- Location
- 288 Church Street East, 8th Floor
- Open To
- All TMU & GTA Community members
- Contact
- Amy Desjarlais, amy.desjarlais@torontomu.ca
- Website
- https://www.torontomu.ca/indigenous/events/national-indigenous-peoples-month
As part of National Indigenous Peoples Month, Rebirthed Teachings’ Lead Facilitator will offer a special Full Moon teaching in June that is open to all members of the TMU and Greater Toronto Area communities.
Unlike a Full Moon ceremony – which is traditionally for women-identifying and womb-bearing people – this educational offering is an inclusive opportunity for everyone to explore a unique approach to individual self-care and well-being, and learn about the cultural and spiritual significance of the moon in Anishinaabe teachings.
All genders are welcome to join, listen, reflect and take part in this respectful and meaningful learning experience.
What is a Full Moon ceremony?
A Full Moon ceremony is a community gathering specifically for womb-bearing people, and women-identifying persons. In Anishinaabe teachings the link between the 28-day cycle of the moon, and that of womb bearing people is significant. The ceremony links the waters of the womb with the life-giving waters of the planet and acknowledges the significance of womb-bearing people for their role of bringing new life into the world. Women identifying peoples are welcome to join together to celebrate and honour the time of the full moon, to receive respite in the company of Grandparents and older relatives for sage advice, support, and to take time to pray for their respective families, communities and loved ones.
How do I participate?
This is a time for participating in a teaching, and experiential learning opportunity. This is not the best time for asking questions about sacred objects, items or the ceremony itself. The best way to learn at this time is to quietly observe, and ask minimal direction from the facilitator and/or helpers in attendance. (New to the Indigenous teachings? See Frequently Asked Questions and additional resources below.) General Guidelines:
- Absolutely no drugs or alcohol permitted near the fire.
- All visitors please refrain from touching the Elders’ and helpers’ sacred bundle items (external link) , drums, feathers, unless asked to do so. etc.
- We ask that no paper wrappers, plastic, or waste of any kind enter the fire.
How do I offer my prayers or intentions?
The Anishinaabe four sacred medicines (external link) will be on-hand. Tobacco, Cedar, Sage and Sweetgrass. We ask that visitors partake of any combination of the medicines (external link) and offer your prayers and intentions to the fire with these medicines (external link) . (Women on moontime (external link) - may ask for a helper, see below). If you have your own medicines (external link) - please check with the firekeeper before adding it to the fire (we just ask that no paper wrappers, plastic or waste of any kind enter the fire).
Respect in diversity
Enter the eastern doorway to the sacred fire, and travel around the fire in the direction you are most comfortable doing so. Visitors may follow the sun, or the earth rotation (move around the ceremony space either clockwise or counter clockwise) Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples have a longstanding relationship with one another, thus we uphold and extend this respect for one another’s ceremonial protocols while in mixed company with other nations.
Moontime
Women and womb-bearing peoples menstruating (some call this sacred time “Moontime (external link) ”) are welcome to join the circle at any time in your moon cycle with participation at your comfort level. Anishinaabe teachings respect that these women are taking time for themselves to balance and do their own selfcare at this time. Women who wish to support the circle while on their moontime (external link) will have space to do so, as well as helpers to offer medicines to the fire on their behalf if they wish to request this support.
Skirts
Women and womb-bearing peoples may choose to wear skirts for the teaching, though this is entirely optional for this specific ceremony as we will be in mixed company, please feel free to wear whatever suits you.
What is a smudge and how do I do it? (external link) video (Betty Carr-Braint, Trent University)
Why is there a “doorway to enter the circle?” (external link) PDF (Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Teachings)
What are the four sacred medicines? (external link) PDF (Anishinawbe Health Toronto Traditional Teachings)
Ojibwe Medicine Wheel Teachings (external link) website (Four Directions Teachings)
Anishinawbe Health Toronto Traditional Teachings (external link) website
This event is part of Mzawe Kiing Anishinaabek Giizis | National Indigenous Peoples Month.
This month is a time for self-education, with a number of opportunities to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the university community and beyond.
Aambe Bizhaak! / All are welcome!
About the organizers/team
Rebirthed Teachings is a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff who collaborate to foster truth, understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, with the aim of increasing understanding of our shared history.
Accessibility
The university is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. This event will include live captioning and ASL interpretation if required. If you have any accommodation requirements, please email amy.desjarlais@torontomu.ca.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email amy.desjarlais@torontomu.ca
This resource includes Indigenous Traditional Knowledge which is not meant to be taken or used out of context. All Rebirthed Teachings materials are created under:
- Creative Commons
- Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
- CC BY-NC-ND
Users are permitted to download Rebirthed Teachings works and share them with others as long as they credit Rebirthed Teachings, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.
**Material also subject to Traditional Teachings & Protocols. Inquire with Rebirthed Teachings Lead for more information.
