Tonight at 11:10 p.m. PDT (EDT 2:10 a.m. tomorrow) is the Harvest Moon. This is the name given to the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. The Harvest Moon usually occurs in September, but this year October's full moon is closer and so gets the honor.On average, the moon rises 50 minutes later each day than it did the day before. But near the equinox, the narrow angle of the ecliptic (the path of the sun, moon, and planets) to the horizon means that the moon rises less than 30 minutes later than the previous day. So during the Harvest Moon and just before and after, the moon rises very shortly after sunset. Nowadays, that doesn't seen like such a big deal. But in days of old, having no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise for several days meant farmers could work in the fields much later, harvesting by moonlight. Hence the name Harvest Moon.
The Harvest Moon supposedly is especially big, bright and orange. But it's not really any bigger or brighter or oranger than any full moon. After sunset around any full moon, the moon has just risen and is near the horizon. When you look toward the horizon you are looking through a greater thickness of Earth's atmosphere than when you look up and overhead. The atmosphere scatters blue light (that's why the sky looks blue). When the atmosphere is thicker, it scatters blue light most effectively, but also lets red light pass through to your eyes. This makes a moon near the horizon look yellow or orange or reddish. The large size of the moon near the horizon is a trick your eyes are playing called the Moon Illusion. It's really not any bigger, it just looks that way!
In Wiccan traditions, this is the perfect time to clear the clutter in both your mind and your personal life. Go deep within and sort through your own strengths and weaknesses. The full moon represents the Goddess at her most fertile. This is the optimum time for creating change.
This month is a time of hearth and home. As cold weather arrives, our thoughts turn to the comforts of home. Set up a hearth or kitchen altar for when you are cooking and baking. Use that time for contemplation and to clear out both emotional and physical clutter before winter forces you to spend the days inside.
