Moon Phases & Breeding
Since ancient times, the moon has been believed to have special powers, including power over whether animals or even people produce offspring. Many pagan societies considered the moon a symbol of the goddess of fertility.
In modern times, scientists know that the phases of the moon are caused by the position of the moon relative to the sun and the Earth. However, many people still believe that the moon has power over fertility. Rabbit breeders and deer hunters often use the current phase of the moon when planning their activities, and some people believe that a full moon provides the best opportunity for a woman to get pregnant.
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What are the phases of the moon?
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The moon goes through several phases each month. (The word "month" comes from the same root as the word "moon" for this reason.) The new moon refers to a phase where the moon is not visible in the sky at all. Gradually, the moon becomes fuller; the full moon refers to a phase where the entire surface of the moon can be seen. After the full moon, less and less of the moon can be seen until the moon is new again. The phases between the new and full moon are known as waxing moons while the phases between the full and new moon are called waning moons.
Scientific reasons for phase changes
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The moon orbits the sun just like the Earth does, making a complete circle approximately every 27 days. As it orbits the sun, sunlight hits the surface of the moon at a different angle. The moon we see in the night sky is a reflection of the sunlight hitting it at that moment. During a full moon, the sun illuminates the entire front of the moon; during a new moon, the sun illuminates the back of the moon so that the moon cannot be seen from the Earth.
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General beliefs about the moon
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Pagans and witches hold several beliefs about the moon's power. The new moon is considered a time of new beginnings; positive spells such as spells for prosperity and healing are believed to be more powerful during this time. As the moon grows from new to full, it grows in power. The full moon is considered an extremely powerful time.
As the moon shrinks again from full to new, the time becomes right to let go of negatives in one's life. The waning moon is believed to be an ideal time for stopping bad habits, letting go of negative people, and undoing negative thought patterns in one's life.
The moon and hunting
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Many deer hunters pay attention to the phases of the moon. Deer hunters believe that more does, or female deer, come out during the full moon, and that hunting itself is more difficult during this period. Some deer hunters combine the moon phase with the sign of the Zodiac or the number of clouds in the sky when judging whether their hunt will be successful.
The moon and breeding
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Some rabbit breeders believe the full moon has an effect on how many male or female babies are in a litter. They believe that more females are born during a full moon and more males are born during a new moon. Like hunters, rabbit breeders often use the signs of the Zodiac in conjunction with the phases of the moon. Many rabbit breeders believe that certain signs will produce a high-quality litter while other signs will produce a poor litter. Gemini, Virgo, Leo, and Sagittarius are considered to be poor signs for breeding.
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References
- Photo Credit Full Moon Glow image by Jaroslaw Brzychcy from Fotolia.com
