Green Man Blog - Moon Talk

Full Moon - Blessing Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:11:00 -0700

July's Full Moon is called the Blessing Moon. At this time of year, corn and tomatoes are ripening, along with many vine plants such as squash and cucumbers. As we enjoy the early harvests of Mother Earth's abundance, we also reap our own personal first harvests. The energies of this Full Moon are those of success and appreciating our own accomplishments. This is the perfect time to look at all the good things we have and all that we have accomplished and to "count our blessings".

This moon is also known as the "Wort Moon" (from the Old English word "wyrt" meaning "plant"). Herbs have been growing in abundance over the past few months and those which flower have likely already done so. They are ready to be harvested. The herbs you harvest at this time can be dried to last through the winter months.

Other names for this moon are "Ripe Corn Moon", "Hay Moon", and "Meadow Moon". The corn and hay in the fields are ready to be harvested and the meadows are at their greatest point of growth.

Hare in the Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:28:26 -0700

I'm sure everyone has seen the Man in the Moon, but have you ever seen the Hare in the Moon?

There are many Eastern Asian and Mesoamerican legends about a rabbit living on the moon. I first heard about this from a friend whose mother is Japanese.

I couldn't see it for the longest time, but suddenly there it was! Sometimes I can't even see the man, only the rabbit.

Go outside and take a look!

Too Far Away...

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:54:00 -0700

The Cruel Moon

The cruel Moon hangs out of reach
Up above the shadowy beech.
Her face is stupid, but her eye
Is small and sharp and very sly.
Nurse says the Moon can drive you mad?
No, that's a silly story, lad!
Though she be angry, though she would
Destroy all England if she could,
Yet think, what damage can she do
Hanging there so far from you?
Don't heed what frightened nurses say:
Moons hang much too far away.

-from Fairies and Fusiliers by Robert Graves, 1918.

July 20, 1969 - Man Lands on the Moon

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:00:00 -0700

It was 41 years ago today that man first landed on the moon.

Command module pilot Michael Collin had these words to say: "I really believe that if the political leaders of the world could see their planet from a distance of 100,000 miles their outlook could be fundamentally changed. That all-important border would be invisible, that noisy argument silenced. The tiny globe would continue to turn, serenely ignoring its subdivisions, presenting a unified facade that would cry out for unified understanding, for homogeneous treatment. The Earth must become as it appears: blue and white, not capitalist or communist; blue and white, not rich or poor; blue and white, not envious or envied."

One of the key words Collins uses to describe Earth is "fragile" and he said that 40 years later it is still fragile "and growing more so."

"When we flew to the moon, our population was 3 billion; today it has more than doubled and is headed for 8 billion, the experts say. I do not think this growth is sustainable or healthy. The loss of habitat, the trashing of oceans, the accumulation of waste products - this is no way to treat a planet."

He's right, don’t you think?

New Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:00:00 -0700

No, I'm not talking about Team Edward vs. Team Jacob!

I'm talking moon phases here. The new moon occurs when the sun and moon are in conjuction, occupying the same part of the sky as viewed from the Earth's surface. At this time the moon doesn't reflect the light of the sun and so cannot be seen. The new moon phase is from the day of the new moon to three days after.

The new moon is the time of the Maiden Goddess and new beginnings. The appearance of the new crescent moon was celebrated in days of old as the moon coming back to life. This is a time of newness and growing energy. The moment of the new moon is the moment when the old passes away and the new is not yet here. It is a great time to make changes in your life, like ending bad habits or relationships, and for setting intentions for things you would like to create and manifest in your life. Job hunting, business ventures, love and romance, health - this a powerful time for starting something new.

Strong Sun Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:21:00 -0700

Today's Full Moon is known as the Strong Sun Moon. We are just past the Summer Solstice, the time of year when the sun reaches its peak. From now on until the Winter Solstice the days will slowly get shorter. But right now, the days are long and the sun shines brightly until late in the day. The crops in the fields are nearing the time of the first harvest, and Mother Earth's abundance is all around us. The long, warm days encourage us to get outside and play and explore nature. Take a hike, go for a swim, ride a bike, eat dinner outside, or just lounge around and bask in the sun's rays. It's summer!

Flower Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:00:00 -0700

"April showers bring May flowers." Last month's rains nourished the earth and now the flowers are blooming under the warm sun. The mild weather between the cold of winter and the heat of summer makes this perfect gardening weather. Time to get outside and get your hands in the soil! The warm weather encourages us to go out and play.

This is a good time to work on commitments, in spirit and in love. Time to affirm your goals and intentions, and to give thanks for all the good things in your life. Look for new opportunites to bloom and grow, to be in "full flower" yourself. Reach for the stars, while keeping yourself rooted in Mother Earth.

Barley Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0700

This year, the September Full Moon is the Barley Moon, also known as the Corn Moon or Fruit Moon. September is usually associated with the Harvest Moon (the Full Moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox), but about every third year September's Full Moon is early in the month and too far away from the Equinox, and so is known as the Barley Moon.

Early September is the time to harvest the ripe corn and fruit and to reap the grain fields. Although the days are still warm and sunny, we are moving toward the Autumnal Equinox and the dark time of the year. The fields are full of the abundance that will sustain us through the winter months.

In Wiccan traditions, the grain symbolizes the mysteries of the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Each kernel of grain is descended from the first grain ever grown. Though the grain may die when it is cut down in the fields, the seeds it yields carry new life to grow again. Like the grain, the blood of our ancestors runs through our veins. Different though we may be, we are all related, products of this ancient, fertile life force.

Celebrate this Full Moon with a bottle of wine (the fruit of the vine) and with good friends. Raise up your cup of wine to salute the Moon, and as you catch the her reflection in your cup, drink in the essence of the Goddess and the God.

Seed Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:09:59 -0700

The storms of the last month have nourished the earth. The weather is getting warmer, the grass is green, and wildflowers are popping up.

This is planting time. Time to plant your seeds, whether actual seeds or the seeds of new ideas that have been brewing for the past few months. It’s time to move from the planning phase into action. Get started. Bring new things into your life to grow.

This is a time of conception, fertility, and the eager energy of new growth. It is a good time to do magickal workings related to beginnings. On the mundane side, all those projects you have been planning over the winter? It’s time to stop planning and start doing! Plant a garden, paint the living room, reorganize the bookcase.

Celebrate the fertility of the earth and its gifts to us!

Harvest Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0700

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.

Wyrt Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:00:00 -0700

The Full Moon in August is known as the Wyrt (or Wort) Moon. This is an old Anglo-Saxon word for "herb" or "green plant". Other names for this Full Moon are the Corn Moon or Barley Moon. The energies around this Moon are ones of abundance, agriculture and marriage. This is the first Full Moon after the first harvest. Now is the time to harvest and collect any herbs to be used over the next year and begin storing them. If your harvest was one of ideas or projects, rather than grains or herbs, it is still time to plan for preserving what you have obtained.

In Wiccan traditions we remember to give an offering back to the Goddess for her generosity. You can return some grains to the Earth Mother, metaphorically sowing the seeds of rebirth. Remember also to give to those in need. Karma is a seed you plant - what goes around, comes around, threefold.

Feast and celebrate the abundance of the harvest with your family and friends. Magick done at this time of the year can help you or someone else (with their permission!) reap the benefits of hard work and the Earth's abundance.

Chaste Moon

nospam@example.com (Dryad) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:41:00 -0700

Tonight we celebrate the Chaste Moon. The earth is fertile and overflowing with potential for the creation of new life. This is a time of new beginnings, a time to honor the purity and balance of nature. The first spring flowers are beginning to sprout, baby animals are starting to appear, and bird song fills the air. At this time Nature is pure potential waiting to be fulfilled.

Continue reading "Chaste Moon"