Friday, March 30, 2012

Looking for a Sign Part 3: Year of the Moon

The moon is important for many farmers.  In Biodynamic farming all planets and celestial bodies are considered to effect plant growth, but the rising and falling of the moon is considered especially important.  Much like the pull of the moon effects tides it is also considered to effect the movement of sap in the plants.  This helps to dictate advantageous times to prune, cut timber, transplant, plant and harvest.  There is actually some science to back this up.  Planting by the moon is also advise by some Old Farmer Almanacs and certainly just the ability to work into the evening has inspired the title of the Harvest Moon for the moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox.  All the old farmers in Walla Walla would also tell you that a frost is most likely right around the full moon, something that I observed during my time there for sure.

The moon is also obviously an important sign of fertility as human women and females of other species typically have their cycles in a way that corresponds to waxing and waning.

In my own life the cycles of the moon have also often denoted special happenings.  Particularly I remember all the full moon nights I had in Tanzania as being significant in one way or another, including on on which there was a lunar eclipse.

This year the full moon is on my birthday (May 6) and I am already planning to pick up some chicks for a laying flock on the full moon weekend, which also happens to be passover and easter (which I assume are always on the full moon since they follow the lunar calendar?)  The signs for this to be a year of lunar signs, especially full moons, seem plentiful.  This is perhaps not the best sign to pick as other than associations with women, fertility and menstruation it is often associated with madness and insanity.  Somehow I feel that that might also be apt.

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