AT THE SECOND HOUR and the 30^th minute of today, the moon was officially full. December’s full moon is known as the Full Cold Moon, a name we have taken from the Native American tradition. It is also known as the Full Long Nights Moon, because during the month of December, when winter cold fastens its grip, the midwinter night is indeed long, and the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun. Yet another name for this moon is the Moon before Yule, which makes perfect sense, of course. This December we actually have two full moons, this one, and one on December 31, which this year will officially be called the Full Long Nights Moon. How do I know this? I write and record the daily almanac piece entitled The Naturalist’s Datebook, heard exclusively on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius 112/XM 157. Listen up. And see my other TSP almanac pieces here, including a recent piece on how I change my diet at the full moon, as well as at the new moon, each month.

THE NEW MOON IS UPON US, and as I do every new moon, I change what I eat. Crazy? Better to call me a lunatic, since that relates to the moon, and so do I, when twice a month I get in sync with that the moon is doing and in doing so, lessen those stubborn, persistent womanly symptoms that kick up or kick in or just plain drag you down.

The new moon was official in the first hour and 33^rd minute of Sunday, October 18, and I’ll eat on a slightly different regimen for two weeks, until the next full moon, which will be November second.

Why? Because I believe in it, because the dietary changes are small, and because it works. In fact it has worked for me for more than 10 years. On the new moon, and for two full weeks following, into the little coffee grinder I keep specifically for this use purpose (and not for coffee), I put one tablespoon flax seeds and one tablespoon pumpkin seeds, adding the resulting mean and a teaspoon of fish oil into the regular daily protein shake. On the full moon I’ll change this to one tablespoon sunflower seeds, one tablespoon sesame seeds, and a tablespoon of Evening Primrose oil, holding that pattern until that next full moon. (All the time, these days, I’m following the general principles of the diet I mentioned recently, but adapting my important little extras as above.)

The next full moon is called the Full Beaver Moon. We get our names from the Native American tradition. How do I know this? I write and record the daily almanac piece entitled The Naturalist’s Datebook, heard exclusively on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius 112/XM 157. Listen up. And see my other TSP almanac pieces here.

I got my dietary change prescription years ago at the suggestion of a doctor, when I still had really bad PMS. Even in menopause, it’s a wonder. Lunatic? You bet. And glad to be so.

(Wikipedia new moon image.)

I’LL FOLLOW THE SUN, is the popular Beatles’ lyric, and while I love the song, as well as its distinctly male point of view, it’s not mine. Or yours, probably, since women are oh-so-very-lunar.

The very word for “menstruation” relates us to the moon, since both it and the word “menses” are derived from Latin mensis for month, which in turn relates to the Greek mene, for moon, which in its full meaning takes into account that the moon takes nearly 28 (specifically 27.32) days to revolve around the Earth.

Believed for centuries to be the great influencer of our tidal selves, while that notion has fallen away to some degree, it’s still worth our respect, as many women will tell you that their cycles are very much tied to the moon.

No matter what you believe, all of us can agree that a full moon is a thing of beauty, and on Friday, September 4, the moon will be full.

September’s full moon is known as the Full Corn Moon. We take our full moon names from the Native American tradition, this one designating the time of year when corn is harvested. The other popular name for September’s marvelous full moon is the Harvest Moon. Whatever you call it, use this time to gather your wits and take stock of the bounty of your life.

How do I know this? I write and record the daily almanac piece entitled The Naturalists’s Datebook, heard exclusively on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius 112/XM 157. Listen up.