Sun and Moon - Autumn Equinox
| At Equinox we move away from the summer's freewheeling dominant emotional and physical energies, towards the mental and spiritual realms supported by the study and introspection of winter. |  |
Thanks to Anne who captured the Golden Sun and Moon sharing in the morning rebirth at the Hill of Tara. 21 December 2013 - Winter Solstice - Rebirth of the Sun God from the Goddess
Astronomical Sun and Moon
Visit the NASA Solar System -Sun for more information
Our Sun is a 4.5 billion-year-old star – a hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium at the center of our solar system. The Sun is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth, and without it's energy, life as we know it could not exist here on our home planet.
The Sun is the largest object in our solar system. The Sun’s volume would need 1.3 million Earths to fill it. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris in orbit around it. The hottest part of the Sun is its core, where temperatures top 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius). The Sun’s activity, from its powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, influences the nature of space throughout the solar system.
Visit NASA Solar System - Moon for more information
The brightest and largest object in our night sky, the Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet's wobble on its axis, leading to a relatively stable climate. It also causes tides, creating a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years. The Moon was likely formed after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth.
Earth's Moon is the fifth largest of the 200+ moons orbiting planets in our solar system.
Moon
calendar
The
calendar we use in Ireland is founded on the sun's cycles. The only
calendar totally based on the moon is Islamic. And it leads to a
very different year. New months begin when
the lunar crescent is first observed, after
the dark new moon. This is reminiscent of the Celtic ideas of the day
starting in the dark. Evening and sunset begin the new day, not
sunrise.
The Islamic lunar calendar establishes religious festivals, rather than secular activities such as commerce or agriculture. Thus it has taken on a very specific role, which is not strongly related to our day to day physical experience. Yet, it is generally accepted worldwide that human and other beings behaviour is affected by the lunar cycle. We know for sure about the menstrual cycle and tides.
Solunar
Theory
A
famous experiment, involving oysters, was done in the 1930s. It was
known that oysters open their shells on every high tide. What Frank
A. Brown, a biologist at Northwestern University, near Chicago,
wondered was whether this was caused by the action of the ocean or
the moon. He surmised that maybe they sensed extra water, and hence
food, around them and that it was time to open and feed.
A
group of oysters were collected from the ocean floor and placed in a
darkened tank at the University. For the first week they continued
to open their shells at the time of the high tide in their far away
ocean home. It was in the second week that Dr. Brown got the answer
to his question. The oysters started opening their shells when the
moon was directly overhead or on the other side of the earth in
relation to Chicago not their ocean location.
Other
researchers studied the hypothesis, John Knight looking at fishery
activity. He discovered that the largest fish, in the greatest
quantities, were caught during the new moon phase. When others
looked at hunter's catches of birds and animals the same was true.
These observations have led to general acceptance of the Solunar
Theory which is nowadays best known by hunters and fishermen.
We
know that the sun's energies have a major effect on earth's energies,
as they are exemplified in the seasons. And we are also aware of the
moon's effect. Combine the two and you acquire a major input of
cosmic energy. During all this research it became apparent that the
combination of sun and moon position was relevant.
When
both sun and moon are visible, their gravitational pull combines, the
result is the biggest Solunar effect, also when they are opposite
each other. The Solunar effect is also noticed when the moon is
directly above or below you. And the closer the sun and moon are to
us, the stronger their influence. Thus when the moon is new or full
it will have greatest consequence, also at moonrise and moonset.
In
terms of the annual cycles, the Solunar effect is outstanding in
June, especially at new moon when both sun and moon are in the sky
together and also during full moon when they are opposite each other.
So at dawn or dusk with the moon directly overhead, we are
experiencing one of the highest hits of lunar and solar energy in the
year.
Prayer to the Sun
Looking at the Sun. There is a prayer said when looking at the sun.
Oh Lord, You are the sun of my soul and the light of my soul and the light of my soul too. Give me the grace to keep it as You would I should.
Duchas Schools Collection - from Galway
Prayer to the Moon
On seeing the new moon this prayer is said:
I see the new moon and the new moon sees me. God bless the new moon, and God bless me. Grace in the kitchen, grace in the hall. May the grace of God be among us all.
Duchas Schools Collection - Leitrim
| May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide you on your way. |
Silver
and the Moon
Fact
1 - metallic silver is a strong energy conductor.
Fact 2 - we are
all familiar with silver associations to the moon.
Fact 3 - we are
all acquainted with the moon connections to emotions especially
wisdom. Put these three factual ingredients into a mixing bowl and
what do you get? Overwhelm is likely, depending on your emotional
state.
Gold
and the Sun
Gold is also an energy conductor. It is usually related to the sun. And the sun has emotional attachments of the highest form, for the sun is associated with love.
Interesting
side thought: Solomon, of the Bible, is celebrated as the wisest
king. He is also famed for his prolific gold mines. He drew on the
energies of both sun and moon.
Full Moon Rising Sun Meditation
Perhaps you would enjoy visualising
standing in the place of the figure in the landscape above.
Notice
that you are directly under the full moon and that you are facing the
rising sun. The moon is at its strongest and you can pull in the
wholeness of its wisdom energy. The sun is emerging, offering
nurture when we connect to its energy. Draw down the wisdom of the
moon and with that in place, welcome the love of the jewelled sun
into your heart.
Having
embodied lunar wisdom and solar love, centre it into the place of
balance of your body, the solar plexus. When ready imagine these
united universal energies flowing down both legs, passing through the
soles of your feet, and it being rooted into the land, passing down
to the very core of the earth.
Golden Light Meditation
This beautiful picture of full super moon was taken by Josie Salter in Tasmania in March 2021.
Wow, the gold coming from it is so beautiful. I felt to ask her permission to share it on TC the energy of divine love for sure. I could not help but think this golden energy is pouring down all around us in this time of healing. Bernadette Mac
When I do a meditation this is what I visualise in my mind's eye... ... a golden light coming down and surrounding the body. |  |
A tradition in Ireland, the Month’s Mind, commemorates someone who has died about 30 days after their passing. This echoes the Wicca tradition that the soul is journeying for the whole cycle of a moon, about 28 days. |
Leanbh na Griann
1st May 2010 - Inspired by Symbol & Poetry - Tara
We held the space to birth the “Leanbh na Griann”, child of the sun or golden child. We linked to our inward golden child then shared that energy with the land by throwing white and yellow petals onto the mound, blessing all beings for the highest good.
Silver apples of the moon, golden apples of the sun.
We picked 4 places over the hill and processed to each part with people joined by candle bearers trailing garlands of coloured ribbon and flowers. One candle bearer had a representation of the Silver apple of the Moon, the other candle bearer a representation of the Golden apple of the Sun. This symbolism arose from W.B. Yeats famous poem :
The Song of Wandering Aengus - the last stanza of which reads: | Though I am old with wandering Through hollow lands and hilly lands, I will find out where she has gone And kiss her lips and take her hands; And walk among long dappled grass, And pluck till time and times are done The silver apples of the moon, The golden apples of the sun. |
Mexican Gifts by Paul Guinan
from his https://www.bigredhair.com/blog
In May 1519, a Mexican ambassador from Tenochtitlan met with people from an unknown land. Mexican diplomatic protocols dictated that gifts be given. To really impress these strangers, the Mexicans sent extravagant gifts.
Bernal Diaz was an eyewitness to the presentation of these gifts. He described the impressive gold and silver discs:
A round plate, about the size of a the size of a wagon wheel, representing the sun, the whole of the finest gold, and of the most beautiful workmanship; a most extraordinary work of art. The second was a round plate, even larger than the former, of massive silver, representing the moon.
I based the designs of these discs on representations of the sun deity (Tōnatiuh) and moon deity (Coyolxāuhqui).
