December Full Moon

The Full Moon, or Gemini Moon, of December 12th will be the closest and largest Full Moon since March 8, 1993. We won't have a closer encounter with the Full Moon again until November 14, 2016!

According to Real Astrologers:

The chart for the Full Moon on December 12 shows an incredible amount of energy and force contained at this moment in time by a grand cross formed in mutable signs with the Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Gemini, Saturn in Virgo, and Uranus in Pisces, all around 21 degrees.

The Full Moon of Gemini is supposed to be a time of freely speaking one’s mind - it's also a good moon for changing your mind.

This December Full Moon should be a good night to begin decorating your home for Christmas - if you haven't already. The creativity from the energy of the Full Moon will help you to make creative gifts for holiday giving or planning activities for the Winter Solstice. Why not bake cookies or make homemade gifts? This is also a great time to include children in the Christmas or Solstice planning.

(Artwork by Sasha's Tea Room)

Full Moon Fever

With the approaching full moon this weekend, I decided to post fun facts about the moon. The full moon falls on Monday, September 15th.

--The full moon is a lunar phase occurring when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun and all three bodies are aligned in a straight line.

--By measuring the ages of lunar rocks, we know that the moon is about 4.6 billion years old, or about the same age as Earth.

--The surface gravity of the moon is only one-sixth that of the Earth.

--The moon orbits the Earth at an average speed of 2,300 miles an hour.

--The moon's gravitational pull on the Earth is the main cause of the rise and fall of ocean tides.

--To the unaided eye, the bright lunar highlands and the dark maria (Latin for "seas") make up the "man in the moon." (I've always thought the man in the moon looked like Santa Claus; my hubby thinks it looks like the symbol of Jackie Gleason's The Honeymooners.)

--A "Blue Moon" is the 2nd full moon that occurs during the same month. The next blue moon will be in December 2009.

--According to a study at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, the chances of being bitten by a dog are twice as high during a full moon.

--The full moon occurs every 29.5 days.

--The only month that can occur without a full moon is February.

--The honeymoon is named after the full moon in June. As it fell between the planting and harvesting of crops this was traditionally the best month to get married.

--Contrary to popular belief, no cheese has ever been found on the moon.