The Moon

The Moon

"I give you praise, moon of guidance,
That I have seen you again,
That I have seen the New Moon,
The lovely leader of the way."
    ____ Scots Gaelic prayer to the moon (trans. CM)


   Few people today mark the moon's phases, unless they go out a lot at night or their work calls them to contemplate the mysteries of the moon. The tides and seasons of our own mood have their corresponde4nce with the moon's phases, which we can use  with benefit once we are aware of them.  It is easy to have only a daytime life, obedient only to the sun's diurnal rhythm.  The longer monthly pattern of the moon is less discernible to us, but much more profoundly connected with our unvoiced preoccupation, with the sub feelings, memories, and instincts that inform us with their subtle messages.
    To be aware, as the writer of this invocation was, of the moon as 'leader of the way' is a great gift. The inexorable daily rhythm of the sun can sometimes beat us upon the anvil of life as problems hassle us, and the sun's longer rhythm of the four seasons brings us through changes over a whole year. But the cycle of the moon sees our soul through the phases of birth, growth, achievement, and death in one month, giving us relief, change and encouragement. Whatever the problem, no matter how heavy the burden, we can look up and see that the moon has renewed itself yet again - as we also can.

"Go out and commune with the moon tonight, whether it is visible or not. Note your mood over a couple months and see how its changes correspond to the moon's phases."
[From: The Celtic Spirit by Caitlin Matthews]

The Moon tonight is in the Gibbous phase - just before it becomes Full....