the moon moves me

by Annie Gebel

Let’s all think back to Earth Science. I know, science isn’t my usual topic, but stick with me for a second. Do you remember learning that the moon has its own gravitational force? Do you remember that the moon’s gravity is what causes the tides in our oceans? Well, even if you don’t remember, it’s still true! The beautiful moon, over 230,000 miles from our beautiful Earth, creates the tides, the ebb and flow of the oceans.

That’s a big deal.

When I was in 7th or 8th grade, learning about planets and space, I don’t remember recognizing what a big deal this is. Now, though...now that I’m older, I somehow feel smaller. Not less, actually more (but I’m getting ahead of myself), but I see my place in the world, in the universe, differently than I did when I was younger. I look up at the moon with wonder and awe now. Thinking about this little orb in the sky having such an impact on the ocean waters...it’s empowering and amazing.

And the Earth and our body’s have similar percentages of water in them. So, if the moon can pull the ocean waters, doesn’t it stand to reason that the moon could pull on us a little bit too?

I know, I lost a few of you there. You were with me on the science, but I just stepped a little outside the box, didn’t I? It’s okay. I used to laugh nervously when people talked about the effect the moon has on human beings too. That was until I started paying attention. I read, listened to people’s experiences, and tracked my own energy and moods. What I noticed was that the moon’s energy matched mine. I mean, I fought it because I believed I was supposed to, but when I let myself feel how I felt, I was tired and slow when the moon was fading in the sky. When the moon was growing bigger and becoming full I had more motivation and so many ideas I couldn’t possibly act on them all. Do you ever feel like that?

The moon, in many cultures, is seen as the grandmother of our connections to nature. As this feminine powerhouse in the sky, the moon’s energy often affects women more than men, who are guided by the sun’s movement. You can think of masculine energy as more structured - up in the morning, maybe feeling that afternoon lull, and down to rest for the night. Feminine energy cycles as well, but not daily. Whether talking about the hormonal menstrual cycle women experience, or the moon’s pull, feminine energy’s pattern can be found over weeks. There’s a few days of feeling more interested and positive, followed by a burst of motivation. For a week or so, we may desire connections with others, have seemingly endless energy to do all the things, and feel great about life. But those days are followed by a slowing, a time of great discernment (something I learned from Sarah Jenks), about what (or who) we want and don’t want in our lives. And then we often feel like hibernating for a few days before we start to feel more interested in life off the couch again.

Cycles. We see it in the seasons and with the moon’s phases in the sky, which can be linked to the longer feminine energy cycle. 1. The new moon, when there’s just the first little sliver of crescent moon in the sky, as it’s cycle begins, is connected with the first little tinges of energy. This is a time where we have ideas begin to sprout and we are slightly more future focused.

2. The waxing moon is when we see a half circle of moon as it’s reflecting more and more of the sun’s light. During this time we find that we really start to get things done. We’ve got more energy to put ideas into action and make some progress with projects.

3. As the moon becomes full we often feel full of energy, interested in gathering with people, possibly even more attractive. This is often a time where things seem easy or smooth in our lives.

4. The waning moon is the opposite of the waxing. It’s when the moon is a half circle because it’s losing more of the sun’s reflected light each night. During the waning moon our energy starts to lessen too. We might find ourselves being short with people, wanting to rest more and do or think less.

5. And then there’s the dark moon, which is two or three nights before the new moon, when you can’t see the moon at all, even on a cloudless night. During these days you might find yourself feeling even more worn out. 6. Then the new moon returns and your energy can begin to flow more freely again.