I suspect, over the years, in one form or another, that almost everyone has some experience with the moon. We all got a dab of lunar learning in school. You know – waning and waxing, crescent, full, new, Blue, Harvest, eclipse, etc., etc. And this is not to mention all the references in many cultures throughout history that have drawn attention to, worshiped and explored various aspects of moon-related experiences.
Recently, while rummaging through some old files, I came across a front page, bold type, the Miami Herald front page announcing, “MAN WALKS ON THE MOON,” dated Monday, July 21, 1969, about a month before “Woodstock” in August of the same year – but then I don’t seem to recall much about that either!
The sub headline read “A small Step for Man a Leap for Mankind.” The whole front page of the newspaper was devoted to the lunar landing with a large photograph of astronauts Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong planting the U.S. flag on the lunar surface.
But I digress, because it is not moon studies or lunar landings that have gotten my attention since I was young enough to remember. It is the full moon about which I speak! For as long as I can remember (which varies a little these days!), the full moon and its monthly appearance manages to rock my boat. I remember, in college, the campus would gear up for extra activity during the full moon and hospitals anticipated more admissions. On the face of it I thought this was a bunch of stuff, until I began to pay a little closer attention.
Full moons seem to disrupt. I don’t even need to know when one will occur. I can tell when one approaches and I can prepare for sleeplessness and general annoying tendencies which coincide with unusual behavior. Over the years I have discussed this phenomenon with many friends and acquaintances, because I figured, it was just me!
Much to my surprise and interest, many have shared similar experiences.
Take, for example, this past weekend as we not only approached a full moon but tossed in some high wind and rain and astronomical high tides. The trifecta of complete discombobulation for yours truly, it was not pretty. I could feel the pull and the power of this moon’s presence, by now, after all my years, unmistakably tapping on our doorstep – “One small step for ol’ Mitch, a leap for what comes next!”
The clouds moving over our back fields were pretty spooky, and since I couldn’t sleep, the next best thing I could do was make a few photographs. It is pitch black out back here at night so there was little to interfere with my going nuts and the amazing light in the sky. The moon backlit clouds that moved like a freight train overhead, illuminated by the sun’s reflection and the moon’s projection. It was truly mesmerizing and at the same time annoying, because I knew what was coming, and it did.
The moon is powerful.