Lunar Lore

• The Moon and natural phenomena
  • The link between the Lunar Cycle and the oceanic tides is well established. In a strict sense tidal motion does not respond directly to the gravitational pull of the Moon but follows a pattern of resonance. This resonant pattern has been set in motion by the gravitational effect of the orbiting moon on the rotating earth over a long period of time.
  
  
• The Moon and plants and animals
  • Marine biologists¹ on the Australian Barrier Reef informed me that coral mates at the full moon.
  • Herbivores ovulate around the Full Moon. The world's leading expert on deer states that the height of the deer rutting season occurs around two full moons. One of the two will be the Leo Full Moon. (late July - late August)
  • Migratory Birds appear to follow the patterns of the moon for timing and finding their path of migration. Zoologists in Alaska noticed that animals: bears, caribou, salmon moved at the Full Moon.
  • An expert³ on animal behaviour reported that his hamsters turned their wheels 'more dizzily' during the full moon.
  • Game birds tend to return to certain locations at the time of the Hunter's Moon ⁴.
  • Studies² into healing revealed that the full moon amplified the electrical charge in living cells. A sensitive voltmeter, he had attached to a tree picked up a faint electrical force. However, at the time of the full moon, this force soared upward on the scale.
  
  
• The Moon and Agriculture
  • The Harvest Moon⁴ occurs in late summer [at or after the autumnal equinox]. Farmers and farm workers would take advantage of the additional hours of light and work through the night in order to complete the harvest.
  
  
• The Moon and our Time-table
  Many Religious and Traditional Festivals are scheduled in line with lunar phases.
  • The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice.
  • Easter Sunday is the first Sunday on or after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox.
  
  
• The Moon and weather
  • The Moon is thought to influence the formation of tropical hurricanes.
  • The connection between the full moon and frost is so well established that it affects investment patterns. For example, investors⁵ on the world commodities exchanges go long of coffee futures around the winter full moons in Brazil.
  
  
• The Moon and emotional weather
  • Air stewards⁶ report that passengers on aircraft flights are more difficult to handle and there are more incidents at the full moon.
  • Modern investigations into human bio-rhythms have discovered that their emotional cycle ties in with the 28 day lunar cycle.

• The Moon and Birth
  • Female reproductive cycles respond to the lunar cycle.
  • Medical staff⁷ report that women who have already had children are significantly more likely to give birth on the day of the full moon.
  • Fertility expert, editor of Correlation Journal and astrologer, Dr Pat Harris' initial research into 114 IVF treatments found that astrology, clinic location, and family history (reproductive health problems) all had significant associations with success and failure of outcome. She concluded that her research supports the association of the Moon along with the positions of Venus and Jupiter with fertility and an increased likelihood of having children. [see]
  
  
• Health around the Full Moon
  • A research team⁸ at Leeds university found a significant increase in visits to medical practices for consultations after the full moon.
  • Doctors⁹ report an increase in epileptic seizures and bleeding ulcers at the time of the full moon.
  
  
• The Moon and Madness
  The association between the Lunar phases and mental illness is legendary.
  • The word lunatic comes from the Latin word Luna for Moon.
  • In Britain, the 1824 Lunacy Act stated that people were liable to go mad when the Moon was full.
  • Research¹⁰ found a dramatic rise in admissions to psychiatric hospitals in New York on days of the full Moon.
  • Arson attacks¹⁰ increase by 100% at the time of the full moon. However, arson also rises when there is a drop in the atmospheric pressure, which may also be connected with the phases of the moon¹¹.
  • A higher number of mental patients become highly disturbed around the time of full moon¹².
  
  
• Murder and the Full Moon
  • According to a US study¹⁰, murders - many apparently motiveless - trebled around the time of the full moon.
  • Author, Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was inspired by the true story of Charles Hyde. Hyde committed a host of 'chilling deeds' at the time of the Full Moon.
  • Various studies¹² have shown that suicide rates are higher around the full moon.
  
  
• The Moon and Accidents
  • Alcohol consumption rises¹⁰ at the start and end of the lunar cycle. More drunk drivers, more crashes and more hangovers occur at this critical time. It's hard to know if the astrological connection between the Moon and liquids or the Moon and emotions is the root cause.
  • At the time of the full moon, hospital accident and emergency units see about 10% more patients¹³. 80% of casualty nurses and 64% of doctors believe the moon adversely affects patient behavior.
  • Crimes of violence increase at the full moon¹⁴.

• Some lunar facts and figures and how they relate to the Equinox Moon Phase Calendar. What is the synodic month? How do the moon phases reverse in the Southern Hemisphere?

• More about the Equinox Annual Wall Mounted Moon Calendar and Fridge Magnet. The phases of the Moon are depicted along with other celestial data throughout the year.

• Lunar Phases for a year set out on a large Fridge Magnet that comes attached to a card. New Moons, Full Moons, Blue Moons are marked.

• Just before the Moon enters the next sign (every two and a half days) there is a period of minutes, hours and sometimes days when the Moon is 'void of course'. Here is a table showing the times, how it works and how nothing goes quite as planned during these peiods. Some activities work well in the 'void'

• Astronomy and astrology merges in an episode of a popular British TV series Midsomer Murders entitled Written in the Stars. An astronomer was murdered with a meteorite at the eclipse and DI Barnaby suspects an astrologer played by Maureen Lipman due to her uncanny predictions. Note the Moon Calendar on the door at the astrologer's home.

• Nowadays, a 'blue moon' is the name given to the second full moon appearing in a single month. This phenomenon occurs roughly every two and a half years when a calendar year includes 13 full moons. As this does not occur monthly like a full moon, the expression 'once in a blue moon' is used to refer to an event that occurs infrequently.

• How do the Moon Phases affect you personally? The Equinox Year Forecast includes the Lunations (Full and New Moons) and their associated changes within your life. Each new moon falls in a different zone in your chart and brings a focus to this part of your life.

• This shows the full map of the site with icons leading to different zones. Here you can reach the Equinox charts, analyses by Liz Greene, Rob Hand, Astro*Carto*Graphy, Celestial Products, Zodiac Cards live astrology readings News items, over 100 articles and a special guide to Astrology and Science.