Gaia's Garden

Although we may feel the emotional ebb and flow of the lunar cycle, many may not attribute the heightened emotions around the full moon to its lunar cause, and yet the moon has a tremendous effect on all of us, you need only look at the tides of the sea to recognise some of the power the moon has on our daily earth lives.... Read on to discover more about The Moon and the importance of the Lunar Cycle, not just on our emotional and physical lives, but on our surrounding environment, from potato sowing to tree trimming....

It has been well noted in the medical field that we bleed more when the moon is full, and practitioners of the psychiatric and mental health profession would undoubtedly agree that the moon does have some influence over our general mood and state of mind. As the moon reaches fullness, the air is more fired with energy, emotional people may find themselves with heightened, and quick changing emotions - hence the word 'lunatic' with it's roots in the word 'lunar'. At the time of the Dark Moon / No Moon or New Moon people may feel a similar emotional pull, although this may be more of a lack-of-direction feeling as the new lunar cycle sets itself in motion, the energy then building as the moon starts waxing once again.

The moon is at the beginning of her cycle and forms a [partial] line with the sun. The new moon rises early and sets with the sun. Now is the time for new beginnings.

The body's purgative and self healing powers are at their strongest now, and a new moon is an ideal time for a monthly fast to prepare your body for a fresh new start. I have found that trimming my hair on a new moon encourages it to grow quicker and healthier.

As the earth breathes out, sap rises and growth above soil is favoured. During a waxing moon is the best time to sow and plant anything which yields a harvest above the soil. [This includes flowers and blooms].
In the first week following the new moon sow leafy veg [excluding lettuce] and plants whose seeds are the edible part : spinach, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cress, asparagus, celery and the likes....
In the days following the waxing half moon sow plants whose seeds are within the edible part : tomatoes, peppers, beans*, fruit trees and bushes. Cucumbers are the exception here, and fair better if they are planted in the week following the new moon. *Beans have been noted to grow particularly well if sown during the full moon.

Lawns grow well during the waxing period - if you are looking for a lush, thick lawn mow it now. If you prefer a slow growing lawn, it is best to mow during the waning moon. The lawn is the exception to the general waxing rule concerning the cutting of plants and trees - now is not a good time to be pruning, the sap is rising, resulting in the plants and trees 'bleeding' more heavily. Re-potting and re-locating plants can be carried out during the waxing phase - the plants will recover and strike out new roots quickly.

The human body is particularly receptive during the waxing moon. Growth and rejuvenation is favoured - now is the time for healing, strengthening, and revitalising. Rest and relaxation are especially beneficial now and you may find that physical stress is more strenuous now than during a waning moon.

Wounds bleed more heavily as the full moon approaches - it is not unheard of for minor operations to be delayed so as to avoid their falling on a full moon : incidentally, the probability of haemorrhage after an operation increases drastically after the moon's second quarter - there are less complications at the new moon. It is also recorded that most deaths from tuberculosis occur 7 days before the full moon - this is apparently down to the influence that the moon's phases has on the blood's pH level.
Animals born during a waxing or on the full moon are generally healthier and more resistant than those born during the waning phase.

Magic leading up to the full moon is generally outgoing. Use the moon's energy for creative work, feel the rise of energy as the moon swells and grows and climaxes with the full moon.

The sun and moon are now [partially] opposite each other, with the moon rising at sunset and setting in early morning.

People are prone to irritation and annoyance, or over-excitement, at the time of the full moon and the days leading up to it - the unrest and emotional turmoil is evident, and crime statistics rise dramatically!

As mentioned in the waxing section above, wounds bleed more heavily at full moon.

Growth above soil reaches its zenith now. Tests and research have shown that the concentration of healing extracts in herbs [at the time of picking] is dependent on the moon - full moon is considered a powerful time to gather your herbs and mushrooms! and if it's a clear night, you have the added benefit of the moon's glow to light your way.
Pliny the Elder [c.23 - 79AD] noted that chicks hatched on full moon were apt to be healthiest.

Christmas trees which are felled in the time honoured moon governed way - on the third day before the eleventh full moon of the year - will apparently keep their needles for longer than those felled later. It is also generally accepted that the waning moon is a good alternative felling time.
It is easy to 'do wrong' on the gardening front during a full moon - stick to gathering any herbs that you need, and leave any other garden work for another day.

As the earth breathes in with the phase of the waning moon, the earth's state of reception increases. Now is the time to cut plants and trim trees and shrubs - they will 'bleed' less and recover quicker than during the waxing phase. The human body, however, breathes out - for humans, the waning moon is a time for developing strengths and purging the body. A time for cleansing. The waning moon is the best time for giving up bad habits - just after the last quarter.

Strenuous physical work is easier now than during a waxing moon : there is less physical pain, wounds heal more quickly, and bleeding is more easily stilled.

In the garden, the waning moon lends itself to all ground work - and everything which grows, and yields, below soil profits from this time. Sow and plant root vegetables such as celery, carrots, radishes, onions, beetroot, bulbs and tubers in the week after the full moon. Potatoes are best sown directly after the full moon. To plant flowers during a waning moon would not yield the best results. Lettuce is the exception to the leafy veg. waxing rule and gains optimum results planted during the waning phase.
In the week before the new moon it is generally accepted that no vegetables should be planted.

Spring cleaning and major clear-outs are best done on a waning day - and you will feel the strain less than on a waxing moon too.

Magic leading up to the new moon is best suited to inner work. Now is the time for looking within, for personal psychic power work, and a time best suited to meditation... you will be calmer, more focused, and will find concentration is easier during this phase. A time for wisdom, knowledge and healing.

And so the cycle is complete, a new moon is reached...and the cycle begins again.

Research at sleep laboratories discovered that our internal sleep rhythm is 24 hours and 50 minutes - the time is takes for the moon to orbit once around the earth. A woman's ovulation cycle corresponds to one lunar month - although it is less likely to be as in sync today as it used to be because of the many artificial influences on our lives.

The moon has influenced cultures for thousands of years - her constant and measurable cycles gave us our first calendars and today many cultures are still governed by the lunar cycle, sharing similar names for the moon cycles which depict the changing seasons and the month's place in the cycle : April for instance is known as the Seed Moon, Planting Moon, Growing Moon, Planter's Moon, Budding Trees Moon, Eastermonath, Pink Moon, or Green Grass Moon [to name but a few - moon calendars will be covered in more depth in future articles].

You've no doubt heard, or even used the phrase, "once in a blue moon" - well, it's not as infrequent an occurrence as the saying might suggest. A blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in one calendar month. The second full moon of the month is known as the blue moon.
If two new moons [or dark / no moons] occur in the same month, the second new moon is called the black moon.

The effect the moon has on us, and our surroundings, can be extended to include the moons journey through the astrological constellations. The moon stays in each star sign for 2-3 days/nights - you may have heard the phrase "moon-void-of-course" - this is the time when the moon moves between the star signs. It is considered ill-advised to do anything which involves making important decisions during the void-of-course moon, you may feel slightly disorientated or lack focus during these moments. Using the moons energy according to the astrological signs can be applied to all areas of life - from housework to gardening, health and body awareness to financial matters.... but that's for another article.......

top

Related Articles : Gathering and Gardening by the Moon An article by Caren D. Catterall - "As a moonchild, born in Cancer, I guess I am naturally drawn to the Moon. A deep undercurrent of growing and contracting energy pulls on my focus and emotions. Her beautiful silvery orb incites me as she grows, and draws me inside myself during her dark phases..." Read More