The Lunar Week: June 25 - July 1, 2012

Buck Moon:  Waxing Gibbous

This week sees the burgeoning moon slide through four signs on its journey to next week's fullness.  The week starts out in earthy, practical Virgo; sublimes to airy, measuring Libra; condenses to watery, brooding Scorpio; and transmutes to fiery, expansive Sagittarius.

This moon is also sometimes called the Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are common in many areas during the month of June.  I wish we'd see more here.  We've had a lot of promising clouds and skyward rumbling to tease us, but no rainfall, alas.




The Lunar Week, Daily:


Monday, June 25: Moon in Virgo.  Our yard is overtaken by ants at this time of year, some of which venture into the house.  As much as I hate to begrudge a living thing a place to dwell, I will likely do some purging of anthills today.  If pests are encroaching upon your living space, today is a great day  to discourage their presence.

Tuesday, June 26:  Moon in Virgo/Libra.  Use the last vestiges of nitpicky Virgo's energy to organize your closet or wardrobe.  If you found any clothes or accessories that you no longer wear, take them to a resale or consignment shop this afternoon.  While you're there, let fashion-loving Libra help you decide on one unique piece to add to your newly organized closet!

Wednesday, June 27: Moon in Libra.  If you're growing your hair out, today and tomorrow are the best of the month for a trim.

Thursday, June 28: Moon in Libra/Scorpio.  If you've been intending to have a positive, meaningful conversation with someone, today might be a great day for it.  The waxing moon as it flows from Libra to Scorpio emphasizes the transition from a mind that weighs options dispassionately to a mind that listens more to intuition and deep emotions.  If someone you love is carrying a burden, offer a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on.

Friday, June 29:  Moon in Scorpio.  Today and tomorrow are excellent days to get late season above-ground crops in the soil, if you live in a climate that is temperate and receives adequate rainfall.  I'm in Zone 8, in a place with scanty rainfall and "soil" that laughs in the face of our puny little sprinklers, so today I will instead watch a movie that makes me cry like a big old baby, so as to purge some of the emotional stuff that gets stuck inside from time to time.

Saturday, June 30:  Moon in Scorpio/Sagittarius.  The movement of the waxing moon from Scorpio to Sagittarius can help us to ease up on brooding over particulars and instead take a positive view of the big picture. Shake off the last of Scorpio's intensity with a physical activity that you enjoy.  Make a playlist with all your most guilty pleasures (if it doesn't already exist), hit play, and blast off!

Sunday, July 1:  Moon in Sagittarius.  Jupiter rules, among many other areas, higher education and intellectual expansion.  Is there a class you've been wanting to sign up for, or a new interest that's been piquing your brain lately?  Pursue it today, whether it means walking into your local craft guild, community college, or bookstore.  Learning is something that we have the chance to do every day, for our whole entire lives--let today's energy be the fire in your engine that puts you on a path to a new perspective!

The Lunar Week: Vol.3

The waning crescent of the Worm Moon will be seen in the sky until Sunday, April 3rd, when it becomes the New Pink Moon. This lunar appellation refers to wild phlox, also known as moss pink, which flourishes during April.

The general term phlox refers to a large group of flowering plants that comes in a variety of colors, sizes, and blooming patterns. Wild phlox is a dwarf variety, and an excellent ground cover. Profusions of small, pink flowers burst from dense mats of mossy leaves. Dwarf phlox is known to be fairly drought resistant, which is great for very hot and arid regions, and also for occasionally scatterbrained gardeners (like yours truly).


The Lunar Week, Daily

Monday, 28:  Moon in Capricorn.  It's a bit cloudy and drizzly in my area today, but if there's no threat of rain where you are, treat your yard to some organic fertilizer.

Tuesday, 29:  Moon in Aquarius.  I am getting back into an exercise routine that totally derailed last month.  Starting a diet to lose weight today, tomorrow, and Thursday is favored.

Wednesday, 30:  Moon in Aquarius. Feeling bogged down by routine? Join a social group that meets up once a week. You can get to know some new people, learn a new skill, and expand your mind perspective!

Thursday, 31:  Moon in Aquarius.  Start the weekend early; have friends over after work.

Friday, 1:  Moon in Pisces. Do something this evening to indulge your inner dreamer. Catch some live music, or a local theater production.

Saturday, 2:  Moon in Pisces. Give some serious thought to something that has been bothering you, and take some extra time to be objective, even if "the other side" seems completely irrational. What is it that you are doing to perpetuate this problem? Are others also influencing the situation? Make a concerted effort to push any cobwebs out of your brain and take a rational approach. Draw up a Pro/Con list, and see how the two sides stack up. Finish by weighing different courses of action, and highlight the one that seems most beneficial.

Sunday, 3:  New Moon in Aries. Get out the list you made yesterday. Review the course of action you decided was best. Get your head on straight, take a deep breath, and confront that problem with confidence!

My, What a Big Moon You Have!

In two days the moon will be full, and this will be one for the books.  Anyone observing the full moon this month might notice that she's bigger and brighter than usual.  The phenomenon will be interesting to observe, and the degree of fullness we'll see hasn't occurred for about twenty years, so it's worth stepping outside this Friday evening and gazing skyward.

The term for what we'll observe is a Supermoon.  Yes, really.  Supermoons occur when the moon enters 90% of its perigee at the same time it is full.  "Perigee" is a Greek compound that means "close to earth."  The moon's orbit around earth is not spherical, but elliptical, so the moon is not always the same distance from the earth.  The moon's perigee, then, is the section of its path that brings it closest to our planet.  So, that the moon would appear larger this month is logical.  But there's nothing like a fancy-schmancy lunar event to get people talking, and some interesting theories are out about what mischief the Supermoon will whip up for the denizens of Earth.

Some have already suggested that the Supermoon is to blame for the recent tectonic events in Japan.  Scientists quickly whisked away this theory for several reasons.  It's known that Supermoons, when full, increase high tides a little beyond their normal degree of fullness; this is called a proxigean spring tide.  But this increase is not enough to cause catastrophic events, and doesn't even occur until the moon is full, scientists say.

Still, there have been whisperings of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  Bloggers in China point to the cyclone that ripped through Darwin, Australia in 1974, and the tsunami that slammed into Indonesia in 2005.  Both preceded by Supermoons.  Australia's own astronomer Dave Reneke has gone on record saying, "Phooey."

A staff writer for Space.com holds astrologer Richard Nolle responsible for the Supermoon-Japan association.  Nolle takes credit (among other things) for both coining the term "SuperMoon," and foreseeing a disastrous weather event associated with the August 2005 Supermoon.  That event is better known as Hurricane Katrina.

The best balm for these concerns is knowing that Supermoons, despite the buzz and cool, capitalized "super" appellation (because there's no actual scientific term for the event, and full-moon-at-90%-or-greater-perigee lacks pizzazz), are actually pretty common.  Do the research yourself, at the next Saturn hour.  Find a moderate-to-sophisticated moon phase table and look up how many times the moon has been full at 90+% perigee; try to find weather events associated with these occurrences.  Take it a step further: research and compare the number of natural disasters in recorded history that occurred at times when the moon was not full at its closest approach to earth.  You may, or may not, be comforted by the results.

Whatever you believe about the associations between Supermoons and weather phenomena, it's plain to see that the moon holds many of us fascinated, scientists, astrologers, and lay-terrestrials alike.  If the skies above your home are clear this Friday evening, and the moon is visible, step outside and say hello.  Just don't tell her that she's looking bigger than usual.  She is a lady, after all.

Why Garden by the Moon?

The pantry in my great-grandfather's house was always overflowing with good things to eat.  He and his wife lived through the depression and two world wars, so canning was as much a part of their life as was folding laundry, or washing dishes.  My great-grandmother passed when I was 13, and we didn't get to her last jar of preserves until I was in college--and they were still delicious!

Lunar gardening is a simple, time-tested way of working with nature to ensure maximum results from any horticultural endeavor one might pursue.  It is not a religion, nor a superstition.  Lunar gardening is merely a method of observing how the moon and gravitational forces affect the planet, and can be practiced without reservation by anyone.

It's pretty common knowledge that the moon affects the ocean tides.  Anyone who has been to the beach has probably noticed that sometimes the waves wash up very high on the beach, and at other times do not seem to travel as far up the sand.  This happens due to a combination of the gravitational pull of the sun, moon, and earth.  The tides fluctuate daily, and also correspond to the monthly phases of the moon.

When the moon is new, the tides are at their lowest.  Concurrently, water levels everywhere are at their lowest: in the soil, in plants, and in our bodies.  As the moon waxes, water levels rise.  Water level in the soil has a direct effect on plant health, particularly on root establishment, overall plant growth, and fruiting.

The best days to plant above-ground crops (like tomatoes, peas, beans--basically every food that you pick or pluck) are from the half-full moon to the full moon.  Roots, tubers, and foods that you dig up out of the ground are best planted during the waning moon, from the time just after peak fullness until roughly the half-dark moon.  A stellar resource for gardeners and farmers is the Old Farmer's Almanac.  You can purchase your own copy very inexpensively at your local nursery or home and garden supply, or you can visit their extensive, info-packed website.

The same logic that is applied to planting by the moon can be applied to many other areas of life.  Hair care and fishing are the two most well-known lunar-influenced areas besides gardening.  To encourage hair growth, many people trim their hair during the waxing moon.  Have a short cut that gets shaggy with lightning speed?  Trim it during the waxing moon to discourage rapid growth.

Apply the same philosophy to dieting (for gaining or losing weight), planning social events, parenting (potty learning, yikes!), and self-improvement.  Weekly lunar updates are available here, put together from a variety of resources to help you plan your week according to the moon's influence.  Check back often and feel free to leave comments and questions!

The Lunar Week: Premiere!

Worm Moon.  Crow Moon.  Lenten Moon.  Sap, Famine, Fish Moon.  Chaste Moon.  Death Moon.

All are terms, old and new, for the full moon in March.  Each has a significant meaning to the culture or tribe who uses it.

This month, the moon will reach peak fullness on Saturday, March 19th, at 1:10 PM CDT, and thence begin to wane once more.  This is Winter's last full moon, a heavenly adieu to the cold.  Here are some home-and-garden-specific activities to get in this week before the white lady diminishes:

1.  Any planting of above-ground flowers, vegetables, herbs, etc., needs to be done today, Monday, the 14th.  If you are trying to grow your hair out and it needs a trim, do that today as well.

2.  If you have roots, bulbs, or tubers that need to go in the ground, planting for those can start on Sunday, the 20th and continue until the 23rd.

3.  Over the past few days, I've noticed our little Springtime ant friends scoping out the bathroom.  If pests are a problem in your living area, you can start getting rid of them on Tuesday, the 15th.  My favorite source for organic pest control (and gardening tips) is the Dirt Doctor.  He's a Dallas local, and has his own radio show.


The Lunar Week, Daily:

Monday, 14:  Moon in Cancer.  Starting an exercise program and are looking to increase muscle mass?  Recovering after illness and want to get back to a healthy body mass?  Today's a great day to begin a diet for gaining weight!

Tuesday, 15:  Moon in Leo.  Spring inspires many homeowners to spruce up their living spaces.  For anyone considering a new color in the home, today is the day to paint--inside and out!

Wednesday, 16:  Moon in Leo.  Invite a few friends over for a dinner party!

Thursday, 17:  Moon in Virgo.  I don't know about anyone else, but I am officially tired of looking at my crunchy, brown winter lawn.  Today is great for mowing to increase the growth of beautiful, luscious green grass.

Friday, 18:  Moon in Virgo.  If you have wood floors in your house, tell the kids to put on a fresh pair of socks and get ready to slide!  Wax those floors today to protect the wood and sparkle up the planks.

Saturday, 19:  Full Moon in Virgo.  Today is perfect for making two of the greatest lifestyle changes ever: quitting smoking, and losing weight.  Resolve today to drop the cigarette habit, and begin a new, healthy diet to add years to your life!

Sunday, 20:  Moon in Libra.  One of my favorite things about Spring is Sunday afternoon late lunches outside.  You don't need a million-dollar patio or fancy lawn furniture.  Spread a few blankets and dish up a Sunday repast on paper plates: today is the day to invite people over, pour your favorite drinks, and enjoy the company of friends!