Monday, March 9th, 2015

Good Morning Readers:

What a beautiful morning. Today we continue along with the March Moon, the March Moon is known by many names reflecting the fickle weather of this changing season. The Phase today is the Waxing Gibbous. The Waxing Gibbous prepares us for the coming new moon by encouraging us to release the negative aspects of our life. Today the moon enters Virgo at 9:10 am. Light and love dear readers. Blessed be. 

Full Crust  Moon:

Native American names  were created to help different tribes track the seasons. Think of it as a nickname for the Moon. The March Full Crust Moon relates to the crusted snow cover of this time caused by the snow thawing by day and freezing at night.

Waxing Gibbous Moon:

A waxing gibbous moon appears high in the east at sunset. It’s more than half-lit  but less than full.

This moon phase comes between one and two weeks after the  new moon.

Photo Credit: Felipe Miguel

The moon has moved in its orbit so that it’s now relatively far from the sun in our sky. A waxing gibbous moon rises during the hours between noon and sunset. It sets in the wee hours after midnight.

People sometimes see a waxing gibbous moon in the afternoon, shortly after moonrise, while it’s ascending in the east as the sun is descending in the west. It’s easy to see a waxing gibbous moon in the daytime because, at this phase of the moon, a large fraction of the moon’s day side is facing our way. Thus a waxing gibbous moon is more noticeable in the sky than a crescent moon, with only a slim fraction of the lunar day side visible. Also, a waxing gibbous moon is far from the sun on the sky’s dome, so the sun’s glare isn’t hiding it from view.The word gibbous comes from a root word that means hump-backed. You can see the hump-backed shape of the waxing gibbous moon

Moon in Virgo:

Your Moon Sign describes your instinctive or emotional energies, your innate reactions, and the things you need to feel comfortable or secure. It can reveal your emotional, genetic and intuitive makeup. Whilst your Sun Sign describes qualities you are learning to develop and become, your Moon Sign describes those that you already are.

With the Moon in the practical and systematic sign of Virgo, you are likely to be someone who is highly appreciative of structure, organization and detail. You will find your life works better with well-established systems in your personal and professional life. Virgo is an Earth sign, and so pertains to tangible or physical things. It is also known as Mutable, which infers a need for variety and change. When physicality and change are brought together, the principle of refinement is found. Born with the Moon in Virgo, you are likely to have an innate need to improve or refine the circumstances around you – combining practical know-how with the analytical quality needed to achieve specific results.

Sunday, March 8th, 2015

Good Morning Readers.

 Spring, or at least  the promise of it has come to the Midwest.This morning the dawn broke illuminating  each frozen dew drop  as if the fairies themselves had blessed them  just for me.Today the magic continues as  we remain in the March Maple Sugar Moon so named for the  only time of year the tree shares its sweet bounty as  sap flows, allowing us to enjoy its bounty.The Waning Gibbous Moon shining brightly down upon us reminds us to let go and release anything hurtful or harmful in our lives making ready for the coming New Moon Cycle. Today is also a  perfect day to sit back relax and enjoy the day currently the moon is in Libra, an air sign which favors creating balance and harmony and following that  our moon is Void-of-Course from 9:25 pm until Monday morn. Light and Lover readers. and until tomorrow, Blessed Be.

Sugar Moon:

According to Anishinabe legend, this month 3rd moon of winter is called the Maple Sugar Moon, aptly named for the only time of  year sap flows from the maple trees. In the hilltowns of Western Mass., steam pours from sugar shacks and fresh maple sap is boiled down to make maple syrup. Many sugar shacks invite families to their annual pancake breakfasts during these weeks to enjoy fresh maple syrup and share in the process of making syrup.

Waning Gibbous:

Three and a half to seven days after the Full Moon. The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing as it phases to the coming New Moon. This is the Moon of the Earth Mothers. Demeter, Ceres, Korte, Danu (Anu), and Bast. What work has been done is now gathered in and the crop offered as a sacrifice to the Mother who so freely gave. It is the time to harvest, time to renew.This spirit can be embraced in our spirit as well as we review endeavors and correct mistakes.It is the time to settle disputes and make amends. A time to rid oneself of obstruction, or habits you know longer need.A time for self-analysis, rest, recuperation, meditation and preparation for the energies of the New Moon. The third quarter or the moon ideally brings illumination to the influences of the entire lunar cycle.

Moon in Libra:

The moon in Libra allows us to express our people skills, This is the time to allow yourself to make a positive  changes in terms of your  relationship with  loved ones. The Moon in Libra bestows the  qualities of tact, kindness and gentleness.You may find yourself harnessing a natural charm which will enhance your abilities to be a great listener today. It is  a perfect  day to heal a broken relationship or to make a new one. .

For myself I intend to enjoy an extra cup of tea and call an old friend on my back porch!

The Monthly Moon: March

PLANTING DAYS OF MARCH

MARCH 7, 2015 | WENDIW | EDIT

The Ole Farmers Almanac  has been a resource for advice and lore for decades. As a Midwestern Farmers daughter, I was familiarized to at my Grandparent’s knee. Both my grandmothers were avid gardeners, recognized as the families elder for food storage and health. The Almanac was the most important book in the house concerning planting, harvesting and storing of the families food, as well as folk remedies for  every ailment known to man.  Both my Grandfathers were  renowned for their skill as ” Water Witches”  or ” dowsing.”  They, as farmers/ ranchers, were in charge of the large planting and butchering and general animal husbandry for the farm as was common among the  farmers of that time. They  consulted the “Almanac” as well before starting any major endeavor. I remember the Almanac dog-eared and stained poking from the pocket of his overalls as we walked the fields in the Spring.

The Farmers Almanac sections of Gardening by the Moon Calendar is determined by our age-old formula and applies generally to regions where the climate is favorable. Because the gardening calendar is based on the phase and position of the Moon, it is consistent across all growing zones. Recommended dates are still “weather permitting,” and you should talk with your local greenhouse or agricultural extension office for the optimal window of time within which to use these dates but the Almanac has always been the primary source of information for all things concerning planting.

6th-8th Fine for sowing grains, hay, and forage crops. Plant flowers. Favorable days for planting root crops.
9th-10th Start seedbeds. Good days for transplanting. Excellent time for planting root crops that can be planted now. Also good for leafy vegetables.
11th-13th Barren days, do no planting.
14th-15th Any root crops that can be planted now will do well.
16th-17th A barren period, best suited for killing plant pests. Do plowing and cultivating.
18th-19th Good for planting cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and other vine crops. Set strawberry plants. Good days for transplanting. Favorable days for planting beets, carrots, radishes, salsify, turnips, peanuts, and other root crops.
20th-21st Cultivate and spray, do general farm work, but no planting.
22nd-23rd Favorable for planting crops bearing yield above the ground.
24th-25th Seeds planted now tend to rot in the ground.
26th-28th Excellent for sowing seedbeds and flower gardens. Best planting days for aboveground crops, especially peas, beans, cucumbers, and squash where climate permits.
29th-31st A most barren period, best for killing plant pests or doing chores around the farm.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac that contains information about the  weather, the tides, planting charts, and astronomy. It also contains recipes, and articles on a number of gardening and farming techniques, as well as the general agri-community life. The book also features anecdotes and a section that predicting trends in the coming year.

Released the second Tuesday in the September that precedes the year printed on its cover,The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been published continuously since 1792, making it the oldest continuously published periodically in North America

Saturday, March l7th, 2015

Good Morning Readers;

This morning we continue our journey through the cycle of March's Worm moon. It is widely accepted as the last moon of winter heralding the coming Spring. The Native names for this moon reflect the changing of the seasons and the hopes of the coming Spring. We have phased through the Full Moon today and enter the time of the Waxing Gibbous Moon.Wiccan and Pagans find this to release or banish negative or destructive parts of out life. We clear these energies in preparation of the coming New Moon.

The Worm Moon
Snow slowly begins to melt, the ground softens, and earthworms show their heads again and their castings or fecal matter can be found. Other signs of spring gave rise to other variations: the cawing of crows (the Crow Moon); the formation of crusts on the snow from repeated thawing and freezing (the Crust Moon); and the time for tapping maple trees (the Sap Moon). Christian settlers also called this the Lenten Moon and considered it the last moon of winter.

Waxing Gibbous Moon:

The waxing gibbous moon happens when the moon is between a 45 and 90-degree angle with respect to the Earth and Sun. So we are seeing more than half of the moon illuminated and less than half in shadow. The word gibbous refers to phases where the moon is more than half illuminated. “Waxing” essentially means growing or increasing in illumination. Each evening, as the moon’s orbital motion, carries it towards the Earth-sun line, we see more of the moon’s day side.

Each lunar cycle begins with a new moon. As the Moon moves eastward away from the Sun in the sky, we see a bit more of the sunlit side of the Moon each night. We call this waxing. After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half illuminated, so it is a waxing crescent moon. When half of the Moon’s disc is illuminated, we call it the first quarter moon. As the sunlit portion continues to increase, now more than half illuminated, it becomes waxing gibbous moon. When the Moon reaches maximum illumination, a full moon, the Moon has completed one-half of the lunar month.

During the second half of the lunar month, the Moon grows thinner each night. We call this waning. The waning gibbous moon phase occurs first, followed by the last quarter moon when half of the Moon’s disc is illuminated. Next is the waning crescent moon, which wanes until the illumination is completely gone; a new moon

Moon in Libra: 

With the Moon in the sign of Libra, you are likely to have a deep need for peace and harmony in your life. Libra is symbolized by the Scales, relating to any area of life requiring balance. This need extends from your personal environment to your working life, and the relationships you have with others.

Friday, March 6th, 2015

Good Morning Readers;

Today is the last night of the  Full Moon for March. Even though, this evenings micro moon is at the farthest point  in its journey, it's power remain.  It’ll be the Northern Hemisphere’s third and final full moon of winter and the Southern Hemisphere’s third and final full moon of summer.  But tonight, no matter where you live on Earth, look for the moon to look plenty full as it shines from dusk until dawn. The Full Moon has long enchanted the poetic imagination. The powers of nature are at their peak, and the unconscious mind is open to subtle influences at this time. Her  roundness reminds of the  abundance and fulfillment of life. We can align ourselves with this natural magic by observing the Full Moon phase as an occasion to recite ceremonial affirmations and feel the energy of our intentions.This evening the moon enters Libra at 7:58 pm encouraging friendship and social events just in time for the weekend. Light and love readers, until tomorrow.blessed be . 

Micro Moon

The full moon's cycle places the moon is at its furthest distance from the Earth, or apogee. Because the moon orbits our planet on an elliptical path, it is not always the same distance from us. When its orbit is at its furthest and it's full, astronomers call it an apogee full moon, while people seeking to give it a catchy name (and others who like to write about moons with catchy names) call it a micro moon or mini moon.Tonight’s moon might look full, but the crest of the moon’s full phase came on March 5, 2015 at 18:05 Universal Time, or 12:05 p.m. Central Standard Time,” according to Earthsky.org,

Moon in Libra

The Moon in Libra has a breezy sense of  elegance. The Moon in Libra is a good time for entertaining. Relaxed, leisurely gatherings are favored given the Libra moon enhances communication. Being together becomes sublime in settings that are esthetically pleasing.The Libra moon favors compromise and negotiating.She encourages  the restoration of balance with a friend or family member. Take it easy today by  beautifying your home space  decorating and de-cluttering or  treat yourself to a bouquet of  flowers as a reminder of the coming Spring.As an Air sign activities of an intellectual nature are favored as well  indulge yourself by  attending a lecture, visiting a museum, writing or editing enjoying the  luxury of a day of contemplation.

Thursday, March 5th, 2015

Good Morning Readers:

 I need to apologize and correct  yesterday's post this morning, as well as sending a big thank you to Jeff Jones for bringing this to my attention. The Full Moon of March is not a Super Moon, in fact it is the opposite of it.This evenings moon, is in fact, the smallest moon of 2015, not a Super Moon as I had reported.I This moon is considered a Mico or Mini- Moon.This evening the full moon and the lunar apogee ( the moon’s farthest point in its monthly orbit ) both fall on the same date.Tonight's moon will be about 30,000 miles farther from us than the years closest Full moon on September 28th. .Abenaki called the March Full Moon  the Mozokas, or Moose Hunter Moon while the Anishnaabe, or Ojibwe/Chippewa, as Bebookwaadaagame-giizis(oog), or snow crust moon, The Moon will reach its fullest point at 1:05pm.  Additionally the  moon is void of course from 1:36 pm to 7:52 pm on Friday when it will enters Libra, a sign favoring cooperation and compromise. Light and love readers, and until tomorrow, Blessed Be 

Micro Moon:

the full moon of this particular March is the farthest our satellite ever manages to pull away from Earth.“At 2:33 a.m. EST, the moon stands 252,516 miles (406,384 kilometers) from Earth’s center, as reported by ”Astronomy.com "This makes tonight’s full moon the smallest of 2015.”“It appears low in the east as darkness falls and climbs highest in the south shortly after midnight,” Astronomy.com says.This is  the third full moon of 2015, the last one of this long, cold winter, hopefully. Earthsky. org reports that it is  unusual for only two full moons to  fall during this season. Our full moon today will look full, it will not actually reach that point until midday on the fifth.

Full Moon 

The link between the Lunar Cycle and the oceanic tides and the animal kingdom is well known.Contrary to popular belief tidal motion doesn't actually respond to the gravitational pull of the Moon but follows a pattern of resonance instead. This resonant pattern has been set in motion by the gravitational effect of the orbiting moon on the rotating earth over a long period of time.Marine biologist on the Australian Barrier Reef note that coral mates at the full moon.Herbivores ovulate around the Full Moon. The world's leading expert on deer states that the height of the deer rutting season occurs around two full moons. One of the two will be the Leo Full Moon. In(late July - late August)Migratory Birds appear to follow the patterns of the moon for timing and finding their path of migration. Zoologists in Alaska noticed that animals: bears, caribou, salmon moved at the Full Moon.Experts on animal behavior reported game birds tend to return to certain locations at the time of the Hunter's Moon.Studies into healing revealed that the full moon amplifies the electrical charge in living cells. A sensitive voltmeter, he had attached to a tree picked up a faint electrical force. However, at the time of the full moon, this force soared upward on the scale.
Void- of- Course:
The void of course moon is nothing to worry about, it brings no ill purpose. Void of course simply means there could be delays in your tasks. Do not be surprised if during these times you may experience more delays during this time. It is advised that during a void of course time to refrain from making important decisions in your personal and professional life. Some activities such as meditation. It is a good time to just sit back and relax. I am an extreme type A personality and am finding the moon void of course times are teaching me to step back and take stock of my life more The void of course moon is nothing to worry about, it brings no ill purpose. Void of course simply means there could be delays in your tasks. Do not be surprised if during these times you may experience more delays during this time. It is advised that during a void of course time to refrain from making important decisions in your personal and professional life. Some activities such as meditation. It is a good time to just sit back and relax. I am an extreme type A personality and am finding the moon void of course times are teaching me to step back and take stock of my life more.

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

 Good Morning Readers;

For many of you this cold and snowy morning, it may be hard to believe that Spring is just around the corner, but this months' Moon is all about the coming change of seasons. Whether it is the  bebookwaadaagame-(oog)  or Snow Crust Moon of the Ashanabe  tribes or the Siqon or Little Spring Moon of the Pasamaquaddy tribe this month brings the hope of  Spring to the people of North America.  Today farmers and fisherman carry on this tradition; seeds are bought, gardens are planned  and  tools made ready.Modern pagans and Wiccans also honor the March moon as a time to prepare with  traditions and rituals to honor Ostara, the Spring equinox on the 20th. This evening our moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase and 98% full with the moon reaching its full glory on Thursday at 1:05 pm. The moon remains in Leo today until 3:48pm when it will be Void-of-Course until Wednesday at 6:58am when  Virgo lends its energy to matters of health, so once this last storm blows through you may just want to take advantage of the warmer weather coming our way the weekend  to take  stroll through the neighborhood. Love and light dear readers and until tomorrow blessed be.

Little Spring Moon

Native American tribes used a calendar based upon the full moon cycle rather than months as we do today. Each moon's name was based on the climate  their environment.

Waxing Gibbous Phase

 Building, growth, and learning, are  themes in this phase of the moon. It is meant to be a time for us to grow as well building our magic as the moon progresses toward the glory and power of the Full Moon. 

Void of course:

The moon sets the emotional tone as it transits through the Zodiac signs. It changes signs every 2 1/2 days. You can work with this rhythm to "go with the flow" of the MoonThe period of time between when the Moon makes a final aspect in one sign and  enters a new sign is defined as a void-of-course.It is a time of rest and contemplation. . Projects and magic work done at this time will have unexpected results or may even produce the opposite of your intention, better to wait for the guiding force of the next sign to produce the results expected.  The moon will enter Virgo at 6:58 am.

Moon in Virgo'

 Virgo as an earth sign is geared toward productivity It favors clearing, refining, purging, detoxing and organizing. It favors launching self-improvement schemes. Your steps may be more purposeful, and this helps you with tasks that require patience and focus on details. You can get into a zen-like groove of action, so mundane tasks like cleaning don't seem so laborious. You want to be working and seeing signs of tangible effort.