Phases of the Moon & Their Meanings
During the course of each month, people can see different parts of the moon, ranging from nothing (also known as the new moon) to everything (the full moon). How much of the moon is visible on a given night is determined by its orbit relative to the Earth's orbit. Some people believe that the phases of the moon affect human behavior.
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The Phases of the Moon
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The moon goes through eight phases each month. In fact, the word month comes from the same root as the word moon; many ancient societies measured the passage of time by the phases of the moon.
The first phase of the moon is the new moon. During this phase, the moon is not visible at all in the night sky.
Next is the waxing crescent. During this phase, the right quarter of the moon is visible.
The waxing crescent is followed by a half moon, also known as the first quarter, where the right half is visible, and the waxing gibbous moon, in which 3/4 of the moon is visible.
Next comes the full moon.
After the full moon, the moon gradually fades until another new moon occurs. First comes the waning gibbous, in which 3/4 of the moon is visible. Next comes a half moon, also known as the third quarter, where the left half of the moon is visible. Finally, during the waning crescent phase, the left quarter of the moon is visible.
Causes of Moon Phase Changes
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Although the moon appears flat when we look at it from Earth, it actually is spherical just as the Earth is. It rotates around the sun like the Earth does, but the orbital path is different.
In addition, the moon is a satellite of the sun; we can only see it when sunlight reflects off of it.
For this reason, we see different parts of the moon depending on where the moon is relative to both the sky and the Earth. When sunlight illuminates the entire front of the moon, we see a full moon. When sunlight illuminates the entire back of the moon, we cannot see the front; this is the new moon phase.
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Full Moon
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A full moon occurs about once every 27 days. During this phase, the sun illuminates the entire front of the moon, allowing us to see its surface in the sky.
Some people believe that full moons affect human behavior. When children misbehave or people have a run of bad luck, it is common to ask if there is a full moon. Many werewolf stories also feature the full moon; according to folklore, werewolves turn from man to beast during this moon phase.
Witches believe that the full moon lends extra power to spells. In pagan belief, the full moon provides an ideal opportunity to practice rituals meant for healing or prosperity.
New Moon
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A new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the sun and the Earth. During this phase, the sun illuminates the back side of the moon; the moon's surface is therefore not visible from the Earth.
Societies that measure time by a lunar calendar, such as Israel, mark the start of the new month by the occurrence of the new moon.
Witches believe that the new moon is a time for new beginnings. In pagan belief, this is the correct time to initiate projects or make changes such as moving to a new house or starting a new career.
Waxing and Waning Moons
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Between the new moon and full moon, the moon is said to be in a waxing phase. This means that the front side of the moon is moving toward the sun so that it is becoming more illuminated. Between the full moon and the new moon, the opposite is true; the front of the moon is moving away from the sun so that it is becoming less illuminated.
During the waxing phase, witches believe the moon is growing in power; this continues to be a time for performing positive rituals. Pagan belief holds that the waning moon is the proper time to banish bad habits, make positive changes in your life and let go of negative influences.
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References
- Photo Credit moon image by Pawe...‚ Burgiel from Fotolia.com
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