The Moon - Facts & Folklore - Call Of The Raven

Mankind's fascination with the Moon long predates the written word. We can only surmize the awe that early man and woman must have felt when gazing up at the Moon, having no real understanding of what they were seeing. Our love of the Moon did not end with early man, however; every civilization upon the Earth has a long history of worship, customs, practices, and folklore which surrounds the Moon.
(More on Moon Folklore below.)

Tracking the monthly Moon phases became the method for early calendaring systems; animal horns found from the Paleolithic period have been found with moons carved into them in series from crescent, to full, to dark. In fact, lunar calendaring was the method of tracking the passage of time up until the year 45 B.C., when Julius Caesar officially banished lunar time, and introduced the Julian Calendar, which was later transformed into our modern Gregorian Calendar.

Going back to early man...once man recognized the cycles to the Moon, it was not long before they realized that the Moon phases corresponded and even seemed to bring about
other cycles and phases in the natural world. Farmers have been planting their crops with the moon cycle in mind for as long as anyone can remember. Many animal species mate according to the cycles of the Moon. The Moon controls the tides of the waters on Earth, and the air and atmosphere are also pulled cyclically by the Moon. And yes, the Moon affects human beings as well -- its cyclical pulls create predictable rhythms in our emotions and our psyches, as well as the ebb and flow of certain energies existant around us. For more in-depth information about the cyclical rhythms and energies of the Moon, and how to use them to your advantage, please see the Lunar Cycles page. Man and woman's recognition of these natural cycles and rhythms in the natural world, and in themselves, led to a greater appreciation of the Moon and its importance to our world -- and out of that appreciation and recognition came a vibrant and interesting cultural mark -- reflected in art, spiritual practices and beliefs, customs, and literature, which can be seen in every culture around the world.

In 1969, a bit of the mystery and romance was taken away from us. The Moon no longer held quite the same mystical appeal as it once did -- we had conquered the seemingly unattainable, the desire that had beat in the heart of mankind for thousands of years -- we walked the face of the Moon itself. We tend to feel a bit blase about the Moon these days -- we seek to explore even further into the Universe, as our technology catches up with our adventurous spirit. The Moon for many people is no more than a lifeless "rock" in the heavens which illuminates the night sky, and has no more personal meaning than a chance of better visibility when driving on a darkened road -- or perhaps something to cause us to pause just a moment or two from our busy lives to gaze up at the sky in appreciation of the glow the full moon.

So where are we left, now that thousands of years of beliefs and the charming mystique of the unattainable have culminated in a sudden disenchantment?? Many people still seek to function in attunement with the Moon; others are vaguely aware of the moon's cycles without fully appreciating their significance, as they read the daily newspaper, calendar, and weather report. Farmers still look to the Lunar Cycles when planting their crops -- but what about the rest of us? To understand and take advantage of the natural cyclical rhythms of the Moon, please see the
Lunar Cycles page.

A ring or halo around the Moon is believed to predict rain or snow.

If you move to a new house or location during a Waning (decreasing) Moon, it will ensure you never go hungry.

Almost every culture believed that if the New Moon began on a Monday (Moon-Day), it would be an unlucky day.

Sailors believed that if a large star or planet was seen close to the Moon, there was bad weather coming. (They called the star a "Moon Dog.")

In Cornwall, if a birth took place during the Waxing (increasing) Moon, the next child would be the same sex as the one just born.

To dream of a future husband, go out into the light of the first Full Moon of the New Year. Say, "Moon, Moon, tell unto me, when my true love I shall see? What fine clothes am I to wear, how many children shall I bear? For if my love comes not to me, dark and dismal my life will be."

An Irish custom states that to see the future, whether for good or bad, take a mirror outside and let the light of the Moon fall onto the surface and stare into it. Any face that appears there will be deeply connected to your future.

Farmers believe that crops sown near a Full Moon will be ready for harvesting a month earlier than crops sown during a Waxing Moon.

Upon seeing the New Moon, bow to Her and turn over the silver or coins in your pocket. This will bring you luck in all your affairs.

A verse:

New Moon, true Moon

Star in the stream,

Pray tell my fortune

In my dream.

Another verse:

Pale Moon doth rain,

Red Moon doth blow,

White Moon doth neither rain nor snow.

A British folk spell for a woman to attract a desired man to her, involved walking naked through a garden by moonlight, scattering rose petals behind her, while intently visualizing the man she wished to attract. (Assuredly, this would attract at least one man to her, if not the desired one.) :)