Tomorrow's Blue Sap Moon
Following on from the Full Worm Moon on March 1, tomorrow’s Blue Sap Moon represents a time for us to shed our winter blues and celebrate the warmer months to come.
Tomorrow’s special Moon is commonly known as the Blue Sap Moon as this is the time of the year that sap begins to weep from maple trees. The return of migrating birds, softening of soil and reemergence of worms, and the blossoming of flowers and plants signals one thing….spring is here!
Judging by the beauty of the Full Worm Moon earlier this month, this weekend’s full moon will be one to watch.
'Once in a blue moon’ - what’s in the phrase?
Originally, this phrase (dated back to English medieval times) referred to occurrences that were impossible. Moons that were actually blue in colour didn’t exist! However, very occasionally, after a volcanic eruption it was possible for the Moon to appear blue due to the amount of volcanic dust in the air.
As mentioned on The Phrase Finder; “Dust particles in the atmosphere are normally of a size to diffract blue light, making the moon appear reddish at sunset. Larger volcanic dust particles diffract red light, making the moon appear bluish.”
Today, this commonly known phrase has been adapted and it now suggests that something occurs ‘very rarely’ or ‘hardly ever’.
The new meaning of the phrase is derived from a mistake that amateur astronomer, James Hugh Pruett made in a 1946 Sky & Telescope Magazine article. He read an edition of the Maine Farmers’ Almanac, but misinterpreted the system and wrote an article about the ‘second full moon in a month’. He claimed that the second full moon in a month was always a blue moon - which is not true!
Sky&Telescope admits that mistakes can happen; “Our 1946 writer, amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett (1886–1955), made an incorrect assumption about how the term had been used in the Maine Farmers' Almanac — which consistently used "Blue Moon" to mean to the third full Moon in a season containing four of them (rather than the usual three).
But there's no turning back now. The concept of a Blue Moon as the second full Moon in a month with two, as well as the third full Moon in a season with four, are now both listed as official definitions in the 4th edition of the American Heritage Dictionary (Houghton Mifflin, 2000).
By either definition, Blue Moons happen about once every 2.7 years on average. The last occurrence of two full Moons in a calendar month was in May 2007 (in North American time zones; the clock had already turned over to June 1st in Europe and Asia.) The next will be in August 2012.”
The powerful Mercury Retrograde
Mystic Mama stresses the importance of connecting with the power of the Full Moon during this Mercury Retrograde which runs through until April 15.
“Mercury Retrograde is upon us (March 22 until April 15) and in Aries it will be teaching us about patience, mindfulness and restraint.
Personally and collectively, we will be looking at the ways in which our anger and frustration need to be dealt with and unraveled so we can transform our relationships.”
The Mercury Retrograde sheds light on what has happened in the past, and how we can move on from our challenges.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac; “Due to the way our own orbit interacts with those of the other planets, they might sometimes appear to be traveling backward through the night sky with respect to the zodiac. This is, in fact, an illusion, which we call apparent retrograde motion.
Several times a year, it appears as if Mercury is going backwards. These times in particular were traditionally associated with confusions, delay, and frustration.
Perhaps Mercury’s retrograde periods can cause our plans to go awry. However, this is an excellent time to reflect on the past. It’s said that intuition is high during these periods, and coincidences can be extraordinary.”
Now’s the perfect time to look into and respond to any feelings of distress. Go forward into the new month recharged, and set new intentions that will take your relationship with yourself, and others to the next level.
Are you ready to embrace change with the Blue Sap Moon?
Join us at The Conscious Club this Saturday 31 March from 19:45 - 20:45 in a magical Full Moon meditation evening where you will let of go of the old whilst making room for the new.
In this evening we will practice the transformative ‘ Kirtan Kriya’, also known as the “SA TA NA MA” meditation, one of the most important meditations in Kundalini Yoga.
This meditation is an amazing catalyst for change. It is said that if all other meditation techniques were lost, this meditation would be enough to clear our psyche and balance our body, mind and soul. It is a beautiful meditation that helps you cleanse and purify from within planting new bright seeds of change and growth in your energy field.
Interested in coming along? Get your tickets here.
Sources:
Uh-Oh! A “Blue Moon” Ends the OOs
The meaning and origin of the expression: Once in a blue moon
Mercury Retrograde March 22nd 2018
Blue Moon Stories
2018’s 2nd Blue Moon on March 31
When is the Blue Sap Moon? It’s time to prep for this March marvel
This is the true meaning behind the Blue Sap Moon in March
MERCURY RETROGRADE DATES 2018
On Thursday, the 10th of June, the New Moon in Gemini will appear at 12:52 in Amsterdam. This moon is conjunct Mercury retrograde and square Neptune. In Astrology, this often relates to mental confusion, miscommunication and deception. Maybe not the greatest set of characteristics to be challenged with - but with caution and honesty we can come a long way!