Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
For me, Mid-Autumn Festival brings back happy memories of eating mooncakes with lotus paste and egg yolk, making red paper lanterns, spending time with friends and family in the backyard, and watching the full moon rise in the sky.
Mid-Autumn Festival, or 中秋节, occurs on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, around the autumn equinox; it is celebrated among many Asian cultures, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The moon is fullest at this time, allowing for crops to be harvested. It is a time of abundance, family, friends, community, gratitude, and joy.
The folk tale most commonly associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival involves Chang’e (嫦娥) and Hou Yi (后羿), a wife and husband, respectively. There are many different versions of the story, so I will recount the one I know:
Hou Yi, a renowned archer, shot down 9 of the 10 suns in the sky. As a reward for saving the people from a scorched fate, he was given the elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother of the West. However, he did not drink the vial, as he loved his wife, Chang’e, and wanted to stay with her. After relating this information to Chang’e, she immediately coveted the treasure for her own and stole it. She began to fly to the moon, and has remained there to this day with only the Jade Rabbit for company - as he continues to prepare the elixir of life. In other versions of this tale, Chang’e drinks the elixir in order to prevent a jealous apprentice from obtaining them, thus proving her love and loyalty. Offerings of mooncakes and fruits are made on this day to Chang’e.
Festivals and celebrations like this give us time and space to reflect on what is most important to us.
What are the things that you are grateful for?
What are the things that you most cherish?
What are you wanting to accomplish in life?
For myself, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to reshape my life so that it is much more fulfilling than it was a couple of years ago. I am grateful for my chosen family and the blessings I have received from my family-of-origin. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned through my journey - hard-earned as they were; without them, I would not be where I am today.
The moon is both shadow and light, and as such, symbolizes unity.
May you be filled with peace and harmony.
Legal Resources in TX
The legal system can be confusing and frustrating. Here are some resources to assist you with your legal situation.
Legal Advice:
Information & Advice on how to proceed legally in your situation
LiveChat: speak with a law student, attorney, or paralegal in real time
Legal Help Directory: directory of legal aid organizations serving your area
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas: speak to an attorney volunteer in-person or on the phone
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: provides legal advice & representation
Special Programs: specific help for vulnerable populations
Texas Free Legal Answers: email a pro bono attorney your question (for clients in TX with low or modest incomes)
Texas Court Help: provides legal advice & resources for finding a lawyer
Legal Representation:
Help with finding a lawyer to represent you in your legal case
Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) & Match Program: reduced-fee legal services, including legal representation, for those who may not be able to afford regular legal fees. Available for family law, guardianship cases, and drafting simple wills. Call the LRS office to qualify: (512) 472-8303.
Texas Legal Services Center: no-cost legal representation for qualified applicants
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: Call (956) 996-8752 to apply for legal representation.
Family Law Intake: If you need help with a family law problem or want to start an intake, call the phone # above on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday.
Texas Advocacy Project: online application for free legal representation for survivors of family & dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in TX
SAFE Alliance Legal Services: Legal support offered to survivors of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. Services include legal advocates, legal advice, and direct legal representation for family law, immigration law, civil issues, and limited criminal law.
Avvo: Lawyer search engine with profiles, ratings, & reviews
Hopefully you find these to be helpful! Feel free to reach out and let me know if you find additional legal resources.
Disclaimer: I am not legally trained. These are resources that clients have found to be helpful throughout my clinical experience.