Harvest Moon & Children’s Festival Sunday at Buddhist Temple in Ventura

Here in coastal Southern California, in summer we’re often enshrouded in fog and we miss the moon.

But once fall descends, we are often blessed with glorious clear sky visions of Moon in all its phases.

This particular Harvest Moon has been exceptional all week, and last night’s full Harvest Moon was glorious, energizing and inspiring as you can see from this photo by David Pu’u.

We celebrated the Harvest Moon by taking the clay Ganesh we made last year down to the water so he could return to Mt Kailash. Traditionally, this would have been done on Sept 11 and we fully intended to.  But I was sick and it just didn’t feel right so I decided on the next full moon. And I’m so glad! It was such a beautiful night. My son, my husband and I walked to where the water that flows behind our house joins the ocean when the tide is high. Since it was low, the water flowing from the hills behind our house and down Prince Barrance, and from the hills behind my mom’s house, and San Jon Barranca, was calm. We took turns kneeling by the water’s edge and rubbing the clay in the water to moisten it so he would soften and dissolve.

We will continue to reflect on how our obstacles have been removed, for how much we have harvested, and to be grateful for so many gifts. On Sunday, September 26 from 11am-8pm,  we will attend the free Mid-Autumn Festival at the An Lac Mission 901 S. Saticoy Avenue in Ventura’s far east end. Organized by the An Lac Mission and the Vietnamese Language School, this is a family friendly event with music, entertainment, dancing, a magic show, children’s competitions, a Vietnamese Elvis impersonator, costumes and free moon cake for children.

Personally, I am looking forward to the vegetarian cuisine! At an event last year, I fell in love with all the wonderful ways the Vietnamese use tofu. The flavors of the dishes I tried last year were exquisite. There will also be Sri Lankan food.

While the event is free, they will be charging for the food and certainly accepting donations. This is a fundraiser for the Jade Buddha exhibition which is coming in February.

While you are there, enjoy the garden and say hello to Guan Yin The Compassionate Rebel!