The April Full Moon - The Hare Moon

The full Moon in April is known as The Hare Moon for a couple reasons. First, the hare. The hare is a symbol for springtime, fertility, and sensuality (sex). Second, there is a hare that can be seen in the shadows of the Moon.

There are legends told of the Moon rabbit, hare on the Moon, and Moon-gazing hare.

Key words for this Moon: Determined, Nurturing, Reliable, Steady Progress, Studious, Conscientious

Last Quarter/ Waning Cresent Moon

"Moon of Harvest"
Location: Moon is 270 - 315 degrees ahead of the Sun Span: Seven to ten and a half days after the Full Moon. Positive activities: Release of any negativity, not just banishing it but consciously letting go of it . Continuing any banishing done during the last phase.

Goals:
Continue work from last phase. Good time to concentrate on removal of self from situations, relationships, and habits. Relates to the Storing of the Harvested Plant. A time to rid oneself of everything that is causing obstruction, to get rid of anything (or one) you know longer need. Good time for hair cuts to slow growth, dye hair, pluck eyebrows (wax ...)Time for self-analysis, rest an recuperation, meditation and readying oneself for the energies of the New Moon. The third quarter, Full Moon through Last Quarter, ideally brings illumination to the influences of the entire lunar cycle. The fourth quarter, called the "Last Quarter," is from the Moon square Sun aspect through the next New Moon. It can bring a crisis in consciousness. This cycle's experiences have culminated and one must now prepare for rebirth.

Source: Thewhitegoddess.co.uk

 

 

 

 

December; Cold or Long Night Moon

As Winter arrives the  temperatures plummet.  Some also call this the Long Night Moon as the nights lengthen and the moon spends more time above the horizon.

November; Beaver or Oak Moon

Beavers were actively preparing for winter and they provided a source of warm winter furs for trappers. This moon is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon. Others call it the Oak Moon, named after the sacred tree of the Druids which withstands winter storms.

October; Blood or Hunter's Moon

Native Americans named this moon the Full Hunter’s Moon or Blood Moon as it was now time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead.  Leaves are falling and hunters can easily see the animals they hunt. The Hunter’s Moon is historically an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.

September; Corn or Harvest Moon

The September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the Autumn Equinox.  In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October.  Native Americans sometimes refer to it as the Corn moon because it marked the time when corn was supposed to be harvested. The chief Indian staples of corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice are now ready for gathering.

August; Sturgeon or Barley Moon

Sturgeon, a large fish of major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes called it the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rose, it appeared reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.  Persephone, virgin Goddess of rebirth, carries a sheaf of barley as a symbol of the harvest.  

July; Wort, Hay or Buck Moon

When the sun  was in Leo, the worts  (from the Anglo-Saxon wyrt plant) were gathered to be dried and stored.  Some tribes also called it the Hay Moon  Perhaps most commonly known as the Buck Moon, because deer start growing velvety hair-covered antlers in July.

June; Mead or Strawberry Moon

During late June and most of July the  meadows, or meads, were mowed for hay.  Also called The Strawberry Moon, as Strawberry picking season reaches its peak during this time. This is one of the few names that was universal to all Algonquin tribes.

May; FLower, Milk, or Dyad Moon

Flowers come into full bloom and corn is ready to plant. Also called the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.  Some call it the Dyad moon, (the Latin word for a pair) refers to the twin  stars of the constellation of Castor and Pollux.  

April; Hare / Pink Moon

The Hare was a sacred animal associated  in Roman legends with springtime and fertility.  In other areas, this moon was known as the Pink Moon, named after the flowers that began to appear, including the widespread grass pink or wild ground phlox. Other variations indicate more signs of full spring, such as Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon (common among coastal tribes).

March; Worm, Crow, or Seed Moon

As the earth starts to warm the earthworm casts appear, inviting the return of the robins. Some tribes called this Moon the Full Crow Moon, because the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter.  It was also known as the Seed Moon as it was now time for sowing.

Febuary; Snow / Ice Moon

This moon its most common called the Snow moon, but the tribes that used this name for the January moon called this moon the Hunger Moon as the food supply was often low this time of year.  

January; Wolf / Storm Moon

In January the stormy weather earned this moon its name.  Snow covered the earth and the howling of wolves could be heard echoing through the cold winter air. Some tribes called this the Snow Moon, but that name was more commonly used for the February moon.  

Black Moon

A Black Moon occurs when there are two dark cycles of the moon in any given calendar month. It is believed that the second dark moon of a time of great power within the spiritual world  and any magick worked during this time is especially powerful.

Blue Moon

A Blue Moon occurs when the moon with its 28 day cycle appears  twice within the same calendar month, due to that  month's 31 day duration. Many consider the Blue Moon  to be a goal moon where you set specific goals for yourself.