"Everything in time becomes..... a sort of weather gauge. The sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the winds, the mists, the trees, the flower, the herbs and almost every animal. All these become instruments of real knowledge."
___ "The Shepherd of Branbury's Rules"
Before long-range weather forecasts and satellite information became available, people relied upon their own observation of nature to discover weather trends. These often infinitesimal signs provided good guides to planting, growth and reaping. People who rely upon the land for their living still have knowledge of these signs and watch animal movements, cloud shapes, and rain patterns with an eye that is more receptive than most. For our ancestors good weather observation was often all that stood between plenty and dearth.
What we once took for granted as ready information has become increasingly mysterious or magical to those who do not order their lives by such observation. The wisdom and rhythm of the sun and moon are seldom noted by us now, except to the extent that we are timekeepers of the celestial continuum; yet solar and lunar weather lore - whether the flaming dawn or sunset that portends foul or fair weather, or the ring around the moon that speaks of frost - contributes to our most significant understanding of patterns. Such close observations may be needed by us again as weather patterns change, bringing rains, winds, and droughts at times and in places we do not expect them. We are going to have to find new - and possibly old - ways of realigning ourselves with the elements of weather wisdom.
"Learn more about the weather patterns and lore of your district. Take the gauge of the weather throughout the day and learn its patterns for yourself."
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
I think this is very true, all the old weather lore is being lost and yet there are many signs if we know what to look for. My mother always sauid thast it was 'blowing fir rain' if the wind made tha backs of leaves visible. A ring around the moon tells me that rain is coming but there is much more that I would like to learn - and observation is the way to do that. A great post.
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