The Power of the Moon
Since the dawn of time humanity has felt the power of the Moon. We have felt the power of the moon since we evolved from apes.
The moon was an orb of wonder to our ancestors. Over a lunar month the moon phases from new to full to new moon. The power of the Moon has inspired awe and wonder globally in pre-industrial cultures. They also saw the Moon steal the light of the Sun during an eclipse and many thought that was the end of the world.
The power of the Moon was felt by us in many ways. The Moon and lunar deities appear in many myths and legends across space and time. We also have astrological interpretations and understand the changing patterns of the lunar cycle.
Another name for the Moon is Luna. She is the Roman goddess of the Moon. Luna is also the origin of the word lunacy and lunatics. Stories of mad people, werewolves and vampires abound around the full moon.
Moon Myths & Deities
There are many well-known mythologies with female lunar deities. There are countless names for the moon goddess and her relationship with the Sun and femininity. The moon has been known as the Greek goddess Artemis, the Roman goddess Luna, and the Chinese goddess Chang’e.
Many pagan traditions have worshipped the moon as the embodiment of the feminine. The changing phases of the Moon are seen to correspond to all ages of the moon goddess, especially the maiden, mother and crone. Pagan names for the moon goddess include Diana, Etaine, Hecate, and Selene.
In Chinese cosmogony, the Moon is identified with the yin, the feminine principle. This is because the menstrual cycle corresponds to one lunar month of 29 to 30 days. In Chinese culture, the Sun and the Moon, or yang and yin, represent the masculine and the feminine.
In Indian Vedic astrology, the Moon is a lunar deity called Chandra also known as Soma. The lunar God was also known as the lord of the night and the one who illuminates the night. In Indian astrology, the moon also represents the mind, mother, queen, emotions, sensitivity, softness and imagination.
The ancient Egyptians saw the face in the Moon as masculine. Their lunar gods included Thoth, Khonsu, and Osiris. Isis is said to be married to the moon as she was married to Osiris. The Egyptian calendar, like those of so many ancient people, was based on the Moon.
The lunar lunacy effect, or Transylvania effect, persisted in Europe during the middle ages. In those dark times of superstition, it was thought that people transformed into werewolves or vampires during a full moon.
Today many still feel the mystical powers of the full moon. Many feel the Moon induces erratic behaviours, hospital admissions, suicides, homicides, traffic accidents, dog bites, and other strange events. In the UK, several police departments in 2007 added officers on full-moon nights in an effort to cope with predicted higher crime rates.
Moon Energy & Cycles
In astrology, the lunar cycle supports the growth of all living things on Earth. The moon travels through the zodiac each solar year as the earth orbits the sun. For millennia the astrology of different cultures has predicted how the moon affects us through its interactions with the Sun, planets, and stars.
From the very beginning of life, the Sun and the Moon have established two different rhythms. The Sun rises and sets daily and it creates the annual seasons. The Sun also provides heat and light that nourishes life on the Earth. The Moon raises and lowers the water in which life is nourished and provides light to guide you at night.
Each lunar cycle is 29.5 days long. During this time the Moon waned and vanished from the sky. People from all faiths and cultures felt reborn, stronger, and more alive when the full moon returned to bathe them in its ethereal light.
The new moon phase, or first quarter, is a time for new beginnings. It is a time for growth, external activities, and the expansion of ideas.
The second quarter begins halfway between the new moon and the full moon. This is a time of growth and development, and articulation of existing ideas. Your psychic energies peak at the full moon. Also, your spiritual channelling becomes very clear and accurate under the moon’s ethereal light.
The third quarter begins at full moon to halfway between full and new moon. This is a time of maturity and fruition. It also stands for illumination, fulfilment, completion, unrest, and emotional expression.
The fourth quarter begins about halfway between the full moon and the new moon. This is a time of disintegration, drawing back for reorganization, and for reflection.
Science and the Moon
Many believe that the Moon affects our behaviour because it influences water. The human body is about 80% water. The moon was thought to work its mischievous magic by disrupting the alignment of water molecules in the nervous system.
Science has shown that the gravitational effects of the Moon are far too small to create meaningful effects on brain activity. They say that the Moon’s gravitational force affects open bodies of water such as oceans and lakes but not closed sources of water such as the human brain. Also, the gravitational effect of the Moon is just as potent during new moons.
Scientific researchers have found no scientific evidence of the lunar lunacy effect. They combined the results of multiple studies and treated them as one huge study using meta-analysis. They found that full moons are unrelated to many events including crimes, suicides, psychiatric problems, and emergency calls.
When there is a full moon we usually notice when something odd happens. Then we tell others about it and remember it. This is because such co-occurrences fit with our preconceptions and our selective recall perceives a connection between full moons and strange events.
We Owe Our Existence to Luna
The Moon was formed when a Mars-sized object smashed into the Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. This enormous collision spun out a cloud of debris that coalesced into the moon we know and love today.
Originally the Moon was only 20-30,000km from the Earth. This is a fraction of its current distance. From the surface of the Earth, the Moon would have looked 10 to 20 times bigger than it is today.
You might owe your very existence to the Moon. This is because the Moon’s gravity adds energy to Earth’s plate tectonics. The effect of gravity is a cube of its distance. Without plate tectonics, the Earth would be toasty and dead just like Venus.
The tidal pull of the Moon pulls on the Earth’s oceans and raises them towards the equator. This lowers water levels at the poles and adds energy to the ocean currents. Also, the tides may have encouraged life to adapt and move from the oceans to land.
The Moon has also slowed Earth’s rotation on its axis. Just after formation, the Earth turned once every 6 hours. Without the moon to slow us down we would experience more severe weather.
The Moon also stabilized the Earth’s rotation on its axis. Without the Moon, the Earth may have rolled over on its axis on a regular basis causing a complete redistribution of the Earth’s water.
Luna Helps You Grow Spiritually
During each lunar cycle, Luna emits different frequencies which tend to influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Also, each full moon has its own flavour and charges you with different energies.
The light of the Moon uncovers the hidden aspects of your soul and your being. The Full Moon reflects light on your inner world. Your inner world consists of our subconscious beliefs, feelings, and emotions.
When the Moon is full you can channel light and energy into your light body. This is great for triggering alchemical change. You will gain a clearer vision and understanding of your inner world. Your strength peaks in Luna’s light and you have access to new levels of being and enhanced creativity.
The full Moon allows you to let go of what is no longer serving you. With its light, you can easily overcome and defeat whatever is holding you back from reaching your full potential.
During the light of the Moon, you may notice a deeper connection to the world around you. Ask yourself what you would like to accomplish, and also what would you like to let go of.
The Full Moon is also a powerful time to set goals to manifest. Write down a list of what you would like to accomplish and set your intentions with the light of the Moon.
All the light in the universe is reflected by the Moon including sunlight. Luna transmutes the energy you pick up from the living universe. You receive this energy by connecting through meditation, energy healing, and receiving cosmic and divine light codes.