which now shone vividly through that once barely- discernible fissure,... extending from the roof of the building, in a zigzag direction, to the base. While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened.”
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), A metaphor for the defloration of the deceased Madeline Usher.
This marks the second in my Full Moon Blog Series. Full moons have long fascinated me, bringing day and night dreams of both fantasy and romantic passion, my two favorite writing topics.
Writing my current work in progress, Enchanted Bookstore: Seeking a Scribe, led me to research the folkore of full moons. That book involves a quest which must be completed by the rising of the Red Moon, before evil has a connection from my fantasy world of Draganspeir to the real world
The next time the full moon will rise is tomorrow, August 24th (17:06 GMT).
It is named the Red Moon because it appears slightly reddish, rising through the sultry heat haze of August. It was also named the Sturgeon Moon by Indian tribes of the Great Lakes region, when sturgeon are plentiful in those waters at this time in the summer. Other common names for this August moon are the Green Corn Moon, Lammas, Grain Moon, Barley Moon, Dispute Moon, Holly Moon , and Moon of Encirclement.
Many cultures celebrate gathered harvests with this moon, hence all the grain references. August 1st marks a Celtic feast called Lunasa or Lughnassadh, the celebration of grain harvest. This was known as Lammas, “Loaf Mass,” in Old English times.
It was originally known as Sextilis during Roman times, before being renamed as the August Moon after Augustus Ceasar. On three August dates, the 17th, 23rd, and 27th, the god Vulcan was honored, to ward off accidental fires during this dry month.
August held holy days in early Greece, celebrating on the 13th for Hecate, the Dark Mother, and on the 23rd for the Goddess Nemesis, who balanced the scales of justice with rightful punishment.
Continuing yet today in India, Hindus honor their elephant-headed god Ganesha in August, but it is unlucky to look upon the full moon during the celebration. Instead, flowers and dishes of rice are offered to images of the deity who is known to remove obstacles and bring good luck.
Correspondences of the August Moon
Nature Spirits: dryads
Herbs: chamomile, St. Johns wort, bay, angelica, fennel, rue, orange
Colours: yellow, gods
Flowers: sunflower, marigold
Scents: frankincense, heliotrop
Stones: cat's eye, carnelian, jasper, fire agate
Trees: hazel, alder, cedar
Animals: lion, phoenix, sphinx, dragon
Birds: crane, falcon, eagle
Deities: Ganesha, Thoth, Hathor, Diana, Hecate, Nemesis
Power Flow: energy into harvesting; gathering, appreciating. Vitality, health. Friendships.
On Tuesday evening be sure to pause and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the Red Moon.
Reference: Months of the Moon
8 comments:
This is very interesting, Marsha. Thanks for sharing!
You're very welcome! I'm hoping to see it rise with a red tinge from the horizon, but that may be more likely in areas of stagnant humidity like the Midwest. That's not enough of a reason for me to miss Ohio though. :)
Excellent blog site. Great job. Enjoyed reading it.
What a delightful post! I've always been fascinated about the full moon. Thanks so much for sharing your research.
I've been mooned in an absolute delightful way. Thanks. And since I enjoy your blog so much I have a blog award for you. Come and get it.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
I'm so glad you all enjoyed being "mooned." :)Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Marsha, fantastic post, I love the moon, and have been following the cycle's more since doing research for The Lycan Moon. Great information!
Sara
Thanks, Sara. I'm curious now what moons you chose for Lycan Moon. :)
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