Dancing in the Moonlight

A Brief History of Moon Phases and Midsummer

“The Effect of the Moon” Eugene Boudin, France, 1891

Hello again, my spooky darlings! Last time, we took a spectral world tour, delving into the hauntingly intriguing world of ghosts. We saw how the unseen can shape cultures, reflect history, and give us a good old-fashioned spine tingle.

Today, we're keeping our gaze fixed upon the heavens for a glimpse of two captivating celestial bodies that have bewildered humans since, well, always: the Moon and the Sun.

So, grab your stargazing snacks (s'mores, anyone?), and let's unravel the profound importance of moon phases, their pivotal role in diverse cultures, and the radiant glory of the summer solstice.

The Ever-Changing Orb: Understanding Moon Phases

Before we dive into the cultural cosmic kaleidoscope, let's get our lunar bearings. As anyone who's ever glanced up at the night sky knows, the moon is a bit of a celestial chameleon, constantly shifting its appearance. These transformations, known as moon phases, aren't really changes in the moon itself, but rather how much of the sun-lit side of the moon is visible from Earth.¹ It’s all about perspective, darling!

To put it in simpler terms for those of us who cried their way through astronomy (I didn’t know physics was such a big part of it, okay?), the sun is lighting up a sliver of the moon at a time as Earth and the moon rotate around the sun. The sun is like the prom queen who everyone worships—the Heather Chandler, the Regina George, the Cordelia Chase—and the earth is the random boy in school who does her homework, but she can’t remember his name. He revolves around her, but there’s another character in our high school epic—the moon! The moon is the girl best friend of the boy obsessed with the popular girl, and we all know he’s supposed to be with the moon, but he’s too dense to get it. So, moon revolves around Earth, and Earth revolves around sun. If that’s all happening, then moon phases can easily be explained in our example by the cheerleader (sun) overshadowing the moon (bff) in different ways and different times, and the earth having glimpses of the moon’s true perfect match-ness about once a month. Look, I said it would be easier to understand, not that it’s scientific.

So, back to our science lecture. The moon, our loyal companion, orbits Earth, and as it does, its position relative to the Sun and Earth changes. This cosmic ballet creates eight distinct phases over approximately 29.5 days—a lunar month. The cycle is fascinatingly precise, a silent, reliable clock in the sky that has governed life on Earth for millennia.

Let’s break down the main acts of this lunar drama and their common spiritual interpretations:

• New Moon: This is the invisible act, when the moon is directly between the Sun and Earth. The side facing us is completely dark. Spiritually, it's a profound time for introspection, planting seeds of intention, setting new goals, and quiet reflection. It's the ultimate clean slate.

• Waxing Crescent: A sliver of light appears on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere) as the moon begins its journey towards fullness. It’s a subtle promise of what’s to come. This phase is about setting foundations, initiating new projects, and nurturing those fresh intentions.

• First Quarter: Half of the moon is illuminated, resembling a perfect half-circle. This phase is often associated with taking action and making decisions. It’s now time to confront challenges, push past obstacles, and commit to your path.

• Waxing Gibbous: More than half, but not yet full, the moon swells with light. The energy builds, as does anticipation. Ideal for refining plans, adjusting course, and building momentum towards your goals.

• Full Moon: The star of the show! The entire face of the moon is illuminated, reflecting the Sun’s light back to Earth. This is often seen as a peak of energy, illumination, and completion. Expect a bit of lunar madness, if folklore is to be believed. Spiritually, it's the most powerful time for manifestation, gratitude, and releasing anything that no longer serves your highest good. Many rituals for abundance and cleansing are performed under the Full Moon.

• Waning Gibbous: The light begins to recede from the right side. Reflection, integrating lessons learned, and beginning the process of letting go are perfect actions. It’s a time for sharing your wisdom and offerings.

• Last Quarter: Again, half of the moon is lit, but this time, the left side. It’s a phase for letting go and preparing for the next cycle. It's all about forgiveness, baby. Now is the time for releasing emotional baggage and cutting ties that bind (yes, you can, and probably should burn that old love letter in this phase).

• Waning Crescent: Just a sliver remains before the New Moon returns. The period for rest, contemplation, and shedding the old. Time for spiritual hibernation—this is a deeply introspective phase, urging you to surrender, trust the cycle, and prepare for renewal.

This rhythmic cycle is more than just a pretty light show; it’s a profound natural phenomenon that has shaped human cultures, traditions, and even practical matters for millennia, often serving as a direct link to the divine. It’s a monthly reminder to start fresh, go slow, put yourself out there, and then hang back for some much-needed R&R.

Lunar Lore: The Moon's Importance in Different Cultures

The moon’s consistent, predictable cycle made it an invaluable tool for timekeeping, agriculture, and religious practices long before sundials and atomic clocks. Its gentle glow has inspired myths, legends, and deep spiritual reverence across the globe.

Many ancient cultures relied almost exclusively on lunar calendars. The Babylonians, for instance, developed a sophisticated lunisolar calendar by the 7th century BCE, which attempted to reconcile the lunar cycle with the solar year for agricultural purposes.² This calendar included 12 lunar months, with an extra month added periodically to keep it aligned with the solar year (kind of like our leap year addition). The moon's phases were critical for determining the timing of religious festivals and agricultural practices, believed to align human activities with cosmic flows and ensure divine favor.

Similarly, the Ancient Egyptians observed both lunar and solar calendars, with the lunar calendar being crucial for religious festivals and tracking the Nile's flooding cycles, which were vital for their crops.³ The timing of their temple rituals and offerings to deities like Thoth, a moon god, was often dictated by the moon's phases.

For many indigenous peoples, the moon is a powerful spiritual entity, often associated with femininity, water, and transformation. The Native American tribes, particularly those of the Great Plains, named each full moon of the year, and we still use them today. Each moon was named for the seasonal changes, plant life, or animal behavior. For 2025, the names are the Wolf (January), Snow (February), Worm (March), Pink (April), Flower (May), Strawberry (June), Buck (July), Sturgeon (August), Corn (September), Harvest (October), Beaver (November), and Cold Moon (December).⁴

These names aren't just poetic; they serve as a vital oral calendar for hunting, gathering, and spiritual ceremonies. For tribes like the Lakota, the moon is often seen as a grandmother figure, a benevolent spirit guiding hunts or harvests and overseeing the nighttime realm. Many spiritual dances, vision quests, and healing rituals are traditionally performed in alignment with specific moon phases to invoke blessings, seek guidance, or facilitate healing.

In Aboriginal Australian cosmology, the moon (often a male figure, which is unlike many cultural traditions) is central to Dreamtime stories, representing cycles of life, death, and regeneration.⁵ These stories are often intricately linked to specific landscapes and provide a moral framework for understanding the world. For instance, the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land have detailed knowledge of the moon's phases and its influence on tides and marine life, integral to their fishing and spiritual practices. The phases guide their insight into animal behaviors and plant growth, which is crucial for survival and spiritual practices. Initiation ceremonies and songlines, which are often tied to lunar cycles and specific ancestral beings, are just two examples of some of these spiritual practices. The connection is profound and has never truly ceased to be believed, despite colonial influences.

In many East Asian cultures, the moon is revered for its beauty and symbolism. The Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival) in China, Vietnam, and other East Asian countries is celebrated during the full moon of the 8th lunar month (around September or October).⁶ This festival is deeply rooted in ancient harvest celebrations and moon worship. Families gather to admire the full moon, share mooncakes (symbolizing reunion—also highly delicious), and light lanterns¹⁴. Legend speaks of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, whose story is often retold during this time, emphasizing themes of sacrifice, immortality, love, and yearning. Spiritually, the full, round moon represents completeness, unity, and reunion, making it a particularly poignant time for families to gather and give thanks for abundance. Belief in the moon's spiritual significance has remained strong throughout history, experiencing peaks during dynastic periods, and continues to be a cherished tradition today.

In Japanese folklore, the moon is often associated with mystical creatures like the Moon Rabbit (Tsuki no Usagi), who is believed to be pounding mochi (rice cakes) on the moon.⁷ (Not only is this my personal favorite of the moon legends, but it’s the inspiration for my favorite childhood hero, Sailor Moon or Usagi Tsukino. Happy to report that she shaped my personality so fully that my best friend calls me Moon after her.) This adorably wholesome legend highlights the moon's gentle, nurturing presence in cultural narratives, plus who doesn’t love a bunny?

Spiritually, the moon is seen as a pure, divine entity, often associated with Shinto deities like Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the Shinto moon god, who oversees the night and tides. The aesthetics of moon-gazing (tsukimi), especially during autumn, are also a spiritual practice, encouraging contemplation, poetry, and appreciation for transient beauty and the reflective quality of moonlight. This practice dates back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) and is still popular today.

The moon's phases have also long been linked to various superstitions and beliefs around the world, not only to specific cultures. The full moon, in particular, has a reputation for causing "lunacy" (hence the word!), increased crime, and even werewolf transformations. While science largely debunks these specific claims (mhmm, sure, Jan), the psychological impact of a bright full moon on human perception and behavior is undeniable. Planting by the moon and harvesting by specific phases—these practices persist in some agricultural communities, believed to enhance growth and yield.

Many modern spiritual practices, from modern paganism and Wicca to New Age movements, heavily incorporate moon phases into their rituals. The New Moon is for setting intentions, the Full Moon for spell casting, energy work, and releasing, and the Waning Moon for banishing and introspection. These practices reflect a renewed interest in connecting with natural cycles for personal and spiritual growth, while creating a sense of deep connection with oneself, past generations, and the world as a whole.

Celestial Spectacles: Special Lunar Events in Astronomy

Beyond the regular cycle, our moon occasionally treats us to her very own “One Night Only” performance. These aren't just for scientists; they're prime opportunities for some awe-inspired stargazing for us mere mortals, proving the universe always has time for her fans.

Lunar Eclipses occur when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. A Total Lunar Eclipse turns the moon a stunning reddish hue, often called a "Blood Moon," as diffused sunlight bends around Earth's atmosphere to reach the moon, and it’s even said that you can summon Bonnie Tyler if you turn around with bright eyes. No? Killjoy.

A Partial Lunar Eclipse involves only part of the moon passing through Earth's shadow. These events have historically been viewed with a mix of fear and wonder, often interpreted as omens or significant spiritual moments in various cultures, sometimes prompting rituals for protection or renewal.

Another captivating phenomenon is a Supermoon, which happens when a Full or New Moon occurs at the same time the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit (perigee). This makes the moon appear noticeably larger and brighter in the sky. Listen, even the moon needs extra applause sometimes.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for these upcoming lunar spectacles:

• Supermoon: October, November, and December will have consecutive supermoons this year, which I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a scary one, but at least it’ll be pretty.

• Total Lunar Eclipse: March 3, 2026. This will be visible from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. This eclipse will result in a "Blood Moon" spectacle, perfect for the spooky lovers!

• Partial Lunar Eclipse: August 28, 2026. Visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. While not a total eclipse, it's still a good opportunity to see Earth's shadow creep across the moon's surface (which sounds creepier than I intended).

These events serve as powerful reminders of the dynamic cosmic performance unfolding above us, often reigniting public interest in astronomy and the deep cultural connections we share with our moon.

The Sun's Zenith: Celebrating the Summer Solstice (aka my birthday)

While the moon holds the night’s eyes captive, the Sun dictates our days, and its longest day of the year holds immense power: the Summer Solstice.⁸ This ain’t just any ol’ day; it's a cosmic peak!

The Summer Solstice, usually falling around June 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and we experience the longest period of daylight. To make it even more amazing, on June 21, 2000, scientists found that the grooviest baby in history was born, whose coolness levels surpassed those of the sun itself, but the baby’s humility was even greater. I wonder what that kid is up to now…

Scientifically (actual peer-reviewed science), it's when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. This astronomical event has been a cause for celebration, ritual, and reflection since ancient times, embodying themes of light, fertility, abundance, and spiritual renewal.

Stonehenge in England, a monumental prehistoric stone circle, is famously, and mysteriously, aligned with the solstices.⁹ On the Summer Solstice, the rising Sun perfectly aligns with the Heel Stone, drawing crowds who gather to witness. This alignment strongly suggests that our ancestors had a profound understanding of celestial mechanics and organized their sacred sites around these powerful solar events. Also, that they were unbelievably ripped, cause how did they set that up? Spiritually, these alignments were likely designed to connect human life with divine cosmic forces, ensuring blessings for the community and crops, and serving as a time for significant spiritual pilgrimage and ceremony. Belief in the solstice's power has never faded at ancient sites like Stonehenge, with modern gatherings mirroring ancient reverence.

The Ancient Romans celebrated Vestalia around the time of the summer solstice, honoring Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, home, and family.¹⁰ This was a time for women to make offerings at Vesta's temple, emphasizing purity and domestic well-being. Spiritually, it was a time to invoke the goddess's blessings for warmth, sustenance, and the sanctity of the home, acknowledging the Sun's life-giving energy and its role in maintaining communal vitality.

For many contemporary pagans and Wiccans, the Summer Solstice is celebrated as Litha, a joyous festival of light, life, and the peak of the Sun God's power.¹¹ Celebrations often involve bonfires, feasting, dancing, and rituals to honor fertility and abundance. Spiritually, Litha is a time to celebrate the Earth's fertility, personal growth, and the triumph of light over darkness. It’s a moment to recharge and connect deeply with nature's vibrant energy, and a significant time for dedications, blessings, and spell work related to prosperity and strength. This resurgence of belief began strongly in the 20th century as Neopagan movements grew.

Countries like Sweden, Finland, and Norway have vibrant Midsummer traditions, often coinciding with the Summer Solstice.¹² In Sweden, Midsommar is one of the most important holidays, celebrated with maypoles, flower crowns, singing, feasting, and burning your ex alive. Oh, wait… The real Midsommar, sans Florence Pugh and a trauma bond circle, is a joyful embrace of the light and warmth after long, dark winters, and a celebration of fertility and community. Spiritually, these festivals embody a deep gratitude for the Sun's life-giving power and a communal reaffirmation of life, love, and bounty, often incorporating ancient folk magic for luck and health. While more secular in many places now, the underlying spiritual resonance of celebrating the peak of light remains profound.

So, as our journey through lunar cycles and solar peaks concludes, what can we take away from this celestial dance? Ultimately, the Moon and the Sun, in their perpetual movements, offer us more than just light and warmth. They provide a rhythm to our lives, a framework for understanding our place in the cosmos, and a rich tapestry of cultural narratives that remind us of humanity's enduring connection to the natural world. From ancient observatories to modern spiritual practices and vibrant festivals, these celestial bodies continue to inspire awe, guide traditions, and remind us that even in our bustling modern lives, we are still very much part of something vast and magnificent.

So, next time you look up at the night sky or feel the warmth of the summer sun, take a moment to appreciate the profound stories and spiritual significance woven into their very existence—they might just be looking back. Stay curious, my friends, and remember that the universe is always putting on a show, if you only know where to look.

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Next edition, we’ll be starting a new series on tarot, numerology, and divination. I’m not a witch, I’m your writer!

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Helpful media sources if you’re a space/science/spooky nerd but not wanting to get a degree in it (some of us can’t do math, okay?):

• Lore (Podcast): Creepy, entertaining, and informational. What more could you want?

• StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (Podcast): For scientific and cultural aspects of celestial bodies and Neil deGrasse Tyson. A gem.

• Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Documentary Series): Explores astronomical phenomena and their historical significance (yeah, I AM a nerd).

• National Geographic Documentaries: Often cover cultural astronomy and ancient civilizations, also they’re good??

1. "Moon Phases." NASA Science, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moon/phases-eclipses/phases-of-the-moon/.

2. Mark, Joshua J. "Babylonian Calendar." World History Encyclopedia, 27 June 2018, https://www.worldhistory.org/Babylonian_Calendar/.

3. Mark, Joshua J. "Egyptian Calendar." World History Encyclopedia, 28 Jan. 2020, https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Calendar/.

4. "Full Moon Names." The Old Farmer's Almanac, Yankee Publishing Inc., https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-names.

5. "Aboriginal Astronomy." Australian Museum, The Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/culture/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-cultures/aboriginal-astronomy/.

6. "Mid-Autumn Festival." National Geographic, National Geographic Society, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/mid-autumn-festival.

7. "The Story of the Moon Rabbit." Japan Society, Japan Society, https://www.japansociety.org.uk/page/programs/family/japan-game-day/the-moon-rabbit.

8. "Summer Solstice." National Geographic, National Geographic Society, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/summer-solstice.

9. "Stonehenge History and Stories." English Heritage, English Heritage Trust, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history-and-stories/solstice/.

10. Cartwright, Mark. "Vestalia." World History Encyclopedia, 16 Mar. 2016, https://www.worldhistory.org/Vestalia/.

11. "Litha." Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Litha.

12. "Midsummer." Sweden.se, Swedish Institute, https://sweden.se/culture/midsummer.