Hello All
Happy Friday to you!
It is easy to understand why there were so many festivals, rituals and celebrations, for as long as humanity is old, around the magic of the moon. Approximately 250,000 miles from Earth, the moon’s gravitational pull influences and affects us all – every day – whether we know it or not, understand the power or not, use the energy – or not.
The Moon is famous in legend, folklore, song and psalm. The shadows clearly seen on a bright full moon have allowed humans to project all kinds of stories and tales about the moon for eons. This coming Sunday is a SUPERMOON!
What’s a supermoon? It’s a new or full moon closely coinciding with perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. An astrologer, Richard Nolle, coined the term supermoon over 30 years ago and they can cause real physical effects, such as larger-than-usual tides.
Does the moon look larger to you in the winter? It should. The Earth is closest to the sun in December each year, meaning that the star’s gravity pulls the moon closer toward the planet. Because of this effect the largest supermoons happen in the winter.
Each of us has some type of love affair with our moon. I prefer to pay attention to the moon in fun ways. Such as in the native American traditions of naming each moon cycle differently.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name of the full moon in December is “Full Cold Moon,” and given the weather in December (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), that’s not a surprise.
This is also reflected in the names from native peoples of North America. According to the Ontario Native Literacy Project, the Ojibwe called December’s full moon “Mnidoons Giizis,” the “Big Spirit Moon” or “Blue Moon.” For the Ojibwe, it marked the 12th calendar month, and was a time for healing. The Haida of the Pacific Northwest called it the “Snow Moon,” or “Ta’aaw Kungaay.”
Among the Hopi, whose ceremonial life revolved around the lunar and solar cycles, the lunation just before the winter solstice was the “Sparrow-Hawk” moon.
In the Southern Hemisphere, December is summertime. The Māori of New Zealand described the lunar months in November to December as Hakihea, or “birds are now sitting in their nests,” according to the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
In China, the traditional lunar calendar calls the December lunation the 10th month. Called Yángyuè, or Yang month, it’s named for the yang ― the masculine, positive principle of Taoism familiar to Westerners as part of the yin and yang.
In the west we commonly refer to the ‘man in the moon’ but in China it is a toad or a hare. The Yaku of Siberia see a girl carrying buckets that are yoked upon her shoulders. A jaguar or fox is what most Peruvians see and the Incas saw a face that was created by the jealous sun throwing dust at the moon to prevent it from shining so bright.
The Native Americans were so involved in the 13 Lunar cycles that each full moon cycle was given a name. The list of each moon cycle, starting with this month’s moon is below.
September – Corn Moon – in hopes the harvest doesn’t occur too soon.
October – Harvest Moon – The farmers can work into the night because of its bright light.
November – Beaver Moon – The traps were set at this time to ensure warm furs for the clan. This is also often called the Hunter’s Moon to bring luck and abundance in hunting to the people.
December – Cold Moon – to honor the chill of winter, the balance to summer’s heat. The first moon of November/December.
December – Long Night Moon – the full moon that rises during the longest nights of the year. It can be a ‘Blue Moon’ on occasion because it is the second full moon in the same month.
January – Wolf Moon – the wolf packs howl hungrily during this time of year.
February – Snow Moon – usually during this month the biggest snow falls occur.
March – Worm Moon – the ground starts to warm and soften and the worms appear. The Northern Tribes called this moon the Full Crow Moon for they believed the call of the Crow during this time signaled the end to winter.
April – Pink Moon – for all the flowers and flowering trees and bushes this time of year. Some tribes refer to it as the Fish Moon because most fish spawn at this time.
May – Flower Moon – because of all the blooming of the wildflowers at this time. Also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon. Many a farmer to this day plant their corn fields at this time.
June – Strawberry Moon or Rose Moon – both are in full bloom.
July – Thunder Moon – for all the hot summer thunderstorms that roll through our skies.
August – Sturgeon Moon – This is the best time to catch the big fish in the Great Lakes. It is also called Red Moon by some tribes because of the reddish hue the moon takes this time of year.
Humanity has worshiped the moon and its gentle, sensuous and protective light since the beginnings of time. May the lights reflected by our moon bring warmth, healing and serenity into your life every month as it revolves around our world.
Dancing In the Moonlight
We get it on almost every night
When that moon is big and bright
It’s a supernatural delight!
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight
Everybody here is out of sight
They don’t bark and they don’t fight
They keep things loose they keep it tight
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight
Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody’s feeling warm and bright
It’s such a fine and natural sight
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight
We like our fun and we never fight
You can’t dance and stay uptight
It’s a supernatural delight
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight
Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody’s feeling warm and bright
It’s such a fine and natural sight
Everybody’s dancing in the moonlight
Moonshadow
© Cat Stevens / YUSUF ISLAM
Yes, I’m being followed by a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands
Lose my plow, lose my land
Oh, if I ever lose my hands
Oh, if – I won’t have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes
If my colors all run dry
Yes, if I ever lose my eyes
Oh, if – I won’t have to cry no more
Yes, I’m being followed by a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs
I won’t moan, and I won’t beg
Oh, if I ever lose my legs
Oh, if – I won’t have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth
All my teeth, north and south
Yes, if I ever lose my mouth
Oh, if – I won’t have to talk-
Did it take long to find me?
I ask the faithful light
Oh, did it take long to find me?
And, are you going to stay the night?
I’m being followed by a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow