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.
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Oh, I love these little almanac pieces! And the moon – such a fascinating thing.
Hi, Danielle: And welcome back to TSP. Yes, we girls love that cray moon, don’t we? I know I do, and am so glad you do, as well. Please stay tuned for more. We plan to keep up our almanac entries. Hope to see you soon.
I love this piece. I haven’t thought about menses in many years, but you remind me of the continued influence of moon phases upon my being, even though I am beyond the monthly flow. And that mysterious new moon charms me as well.
Quoting another song (from a slightly different vantage point also beyond the pull of menses), “I don’t expect to be treated like a fool no more, I don’t expect to sleep through the night..”.
I sleep with my blinds open after dark so when I do wake before dawn, I can track moonrise. I stare at the moon like I stare at the ocean. The sight of either draws and soothes me elementally. Thanks for the reminder to keep a heads up for Friday’s appearance.
Hi, Deborah. And welcome back to TSP. We love hearing from you. Yes, that moon. We are tied to it, no matter what our age, if only for its charm. Please come back soon.
Hey there, TexasDeb: Love the image of you tracking the moonrise. I sleep in a way that allows the moonshine to pass across me as it shifts, and while I know that is the literal, and classic definition of a lunatic, I’m good with that. Luna, luna: Bring it on. I bathe in it. You too. Good for us. Thanks so much, and please come back soon.
The moon fascinates me, in both its beauty and its science. As an former astronomy teacher, I feel drawn to it in a very different way than what you describe, but pulled nonetheless. It is beautiful, in all its glory.
Hi, Corina: The moon does fascinate, doesn’t it? It makes us wonder about so much, allowing our hearts to rise up to it and simply consider things. Yes, it pulls us, and while it pulls us differently, as you point out, it pulls us all the same. Please come back soon.