Be the Lighthouse

My latest Teabag Tarot took me by pleasant surprise today. By nature, I am clearly a dualist.... half light, half dark. I swing from one to the other and every stage and step in between.

When people tell me to change my beliefs, emotions or actions in some way, my first reaction is to dig in and refuse. I want to acknowledge what is currently true for me before stepping into the change space. Change is also part of my nature ~ early on in my life my mother called me Windy because my moods changed like or with the wind. I want to own the change myself. And I do. I swing back and forth ~ and I do it to my own tempo.

That made today's Teabag Tarot especially pertinent. It felt quixotic.... and it felt grounding. All at the same time. I look at what is most important to me, what feeds my soul, what rises out of the dark depths of my being. What I find in those depths is that gentle spreading of the light at dawn ~ or at the rise of the full moon. I love bathing in the often surprisingly soothing light of the full moon. Everything in me gets lighter. No matter what the situation around me, I find myself smiling, wanting to dance or prance in that light.

First, the light has to spread inside me ~ to fill my dark corners and brighten my senses. Then, I can stretch out and be the lighthouse. The light inside me beams out toward others. I know they see and feel it. It is reflected in them, in their responses to me. It's not particularly MY light or a glaringly bright light. It's gentle, accepting of where they are, helping to carry them on to the next place or moment or day.

Being a lighthouse means essentially two things: the light comes from within and it shines through the fog, the dark and the storm. There's no need for a lighthouse in the glaring noonday light or when everything is going our way. It's more important now than ever: when we are all in the midst of turmoil, darkness and change. I'll do what I can.

What are you doing to encourage the light within you? How are you being a lighthouse? Are you in need of a lighthouse? Where do you look to find that light? Who in your life spreads that light and encouragement? Are there moments when you can find the light within? and moments when you can't?

July 2015 Aquarius Blue Moon

July 31st is the second Full Moon of the month which makes it a Blue Moon. This Moon is eight degrees Aquarius and with the Sun in Leo, there is opportunity for choice: open to the group or detach and go solo. Or find the balance between independence and interdependence.

This Full Moon is also alive with vision and new horizons. Like a TV dish, it draws insights from the ether. Because of its capacity to focus on the future, it has trouble in the present. Create the ideal and keep the feet firmly planted on Mother Earth. Be sure the foundation is solid and be willing to illuminate whatever fears, tensions or apprehensions show up. Deal with them. Feel them. Face them. Upgrade those feelings. Breathe through any changes or breakthroughs. And be ready for any 'ahas' that may show up, for any radical upgrades in thinking, organizing, perceptions of reality.

What are you feeling as this Full Moon lights up the sky? How can you open yourself to changes? What is the Full Moon lighting up within you? How solid is your foundation? What can you do to shore it up?

Full Moon in Sagittarius, June 2015

Aaah. Another Full Moon. Have I ever said that I love the Moon? I believe my first, most ancient love was Lady Moon.

This month's Full Moon is in Sagittarius. Besides which, it's in Mercury Retrograde. What could possibly be more compelling?

Sagittarius is all about faith, wisdom, publishing, foreign travel and the quest for truth. This Full Moon will be right there. Personal life, world events, all focussed on these same issues... going on a journey, writing, religion... watch for them! Your belief system may be challenged or you may feel the need to defend your faith or you may be roused to a stronger sense of purpose. All this can give you a feeling of being unstoppable, able to take on the world! Careful of being overconfident. The high may be endorphins which dissipate along the way to leave you challenged and with fewer resources that you expected.

What is pulling your forward during this moon? How do you choose to proceed? Are you feeling challenged? or righteous? Where is your next step leading you?

Cancer Full Moon

The January Full Moon is also called the Wolf Full Moon, referring to the wolves howling in the deep cold of winter. Wolves were more willing to come closer to villages to find heat and food.

This Full Moon is also the in Cancer. As it is connected to Pluto, the New Year begins with a powerful charge: Focus on what needs to shift, change, end or transform in your life. Let go and let the door slam shut behind you! Allow the old, fulfilled karma to depart ~ and with it, anyone or anything that is holding you back. Embrace the change that this Full Moon is bringing.

This is also a Grand Cross Full Moon ~ (Capricorn Sun opposite Full Moon Cancer crossing the axis of the North Node in Libra and the South Node in Aries) ~ which means that energy is moving. Even though there is change underway, do not make the changes impulsively. Follow the center path. Move forward decisively and with awareness and create the life you most deeply desire.

Change is happening deep within as well ~ and is manifesting itself through external events in your life. Balance your masculine and feminine energy to empower and support your creativity during this time.  Focus your intention and trust your feelings, your intuition.

What are you willing to release? to transform? How will you encourage your own creativity? What do you need to let go of? What do you most desire?

Dark Resurrection

Here we are. Once again within a day of the Full Moon. Beside us stands Inanna, Goddess of Going Into Dark Places.

The card reads: If you descend into darkness, you can emerge unscathed. What it fails to mention is that you will not emerge unchanged. So much time and energy is spent on being unscathed that it is easy to miss the changes.

The greatest power of Inanna is that She could descend into the Darkness ~ the Deepest Darkness, the realm of her sister Ereshkigal. Every step of the way, through seven gates, the Queen Moon had to remove every visible aspect of Her Queenhood.

Think this was easy? Maybe that it didn't change Her? I doubt anyone, including the Queen Moon, could walk into that Darkness and strip Herself of every vestige of identity and not be changed.

As I move forward into the New Year ~ through this first Full Moon ~ I recognize and acknowledge my own fears when I face Darkness in any of its myriad forms. I may be unscathed. Outwardly the same. Inwardly, I find a new and more complete strength, born from facing the fear and the darkness. Resurrecting into the Light of the new Full Moon. Rebirthing into the Light of the Sun.

What Darkness have you faced, or descended into? What change has it brought into your life? How do you embrace the change? Which Light will you emerge into? What will carry you forward?

December's Capricorn New Moon

Accompanying the Winter Solstice this year is the Capricorn New Moon. As ever, Capricorn is about deep reflection and introspection fitting perfectly into the winter cycle of hibernation and allowing time to ponder what newness and shape may be coming into one's future.

In this reflective stage ~ and the 'letting go' phase of the New Moon ~ I consider the brand new year approaching as a time to take action, to deepen my connection with my higher self and with the Ineffable One. I choose an empowered and authentic life.

Moving forward from this New Moon, stepping into the New Year, is perfect timing for releasing the past ~ all of the past, whether I deemed it good, bad or indifferent. I choose to spend this time grounding and centering myself to establish my deep, heartfelt next step with honor, integrity, boldness and courage. I disengage from any false beliefs and self-limitations as I ride the wave of transformation into my next twelve month cycle via the current cultural calendar, awake, aware, conscious, grounded.

This New Moon lights my way to embracing my Shadow, loving both my Light and my Dark. I continue on the path to wholeness and balance, redefining my beliefs along the way. I do not get what I want; I get what I believe. I get what I call forth from the Darkness of the New Moon into the Light of the coming year and next Full Moon.

What do you believe? What does this New Moon say to you? How do you empower yourself? What do you call forth into the New Year?

Full Moon in Taurus

I was all set to write about something else in today's blog when an astrologer friend said, "Don't take a position!"

"Why not? What are you talking about?" I asked.

She chuckled and told me that this Full Moon would bring out the 'positions' in all of us ~ and may cause some problems in the manner in which they pop up. "It's about finding your deeper values and being flexible in the way in which you show them."

Great. I'm guessing that means I need to watch what I say and how I say it, which is often on my mind. Communication, clear communication, is one of my greater values. It'd be good if that showed up right now.

I decided to look for more information. This is what I found at mysticmamma.com:
"This Full Moon is a good time to determine just what you value and want to stand for, create in your life and carry forth into the next cycle of evolution." But this was my favorite part in its echo of what my friend had said: "If you look around you can see the bloody knuckles, scraped knees and noticeable limps of those around you who may not have taken Saturn's 'suggestions' to put responsibility, discipline and mature patience into play... Now, seeing as Scorpio's realm is power, sexuality, death and transformation as well as the shamanic and shadow worlds, we are experiencing just how fundamental the surrender (a most feminine action)_ to the Divine is for our survival...
Attachment (Taurus) and letting go, i.e. death (Scorpio) are big themes highlighted at this Moon. Look deeply and closely at anything diminishing your self-worth and address the issues underlying your lack of intimacy, inability to show up in all your radiance, or buried beliefs in scarcity."

Okay. So how'd mysticmamma ~ and my friend for that matter ~ get inside my head and heart to expose my biggest issues..... or, wait, are these issues for more people than me? Is that what she's suggesting? Yeah. That's about the sum of it.

Can you feel the pull of the Full Moon? How do you feel? What's being uncovered about your values? What attachment do you need to release?

After the Eclipse

Throughout the night of the Lunar Eclipse, I was awake. I would slip into sleep, then awaken to step outside to see where the Moon, Sun and Earth were in their dance. I would return to bed and the process would begin anew.

I felt strong, connected, thrilled ~ anything but tired. When I awoke in the morning ~ well, when I finally got out of bed to prepare for work ~ I felt rested. What a strange mix of activity, power, light, life and connection!

As I was leaving for work, I was agape at the tremendous beauty that shone above me. I snapped the above image. As often happens, the photo only scratches the surface of how captivating the moon and clouds were.

I often feel energized and electic with power on and around the Full Moon. That coupled with the Lunar Eclipse left me tired, ready to sleep and dream. The stages through which the Moon passes share energy with our own phases of life ~ sometimes even of day.

How does the Full Moon affect you? Do you feel the pull of the Moon? How does it happen? How connected are you to those phases?

Another Super Moon

Cloud Reflection by ML Monroe 2014

The more Super Moons we have ~ or label ~ the less impressive they sound. Suffice it to say, no matter how many there are, I will be impressed. I've taken more pictures of Lady Moon than of any other person, place or thing. I'm continually fascinated by Her.

This one is the closest and the brightest of 2014.

The theme for this Full Moon is about standing in your own personal power. Own your power as it is in this very moment ~ because this moment is truly all you have. What's past is past. Own your choices without dwelling on them, without second-guessing whether they were right or wrong. Step into clarity and steadfast healing. Let go of resistance to change ~ evaluate what is going on in the present moment and allow for grace to enter and move you and your life into the best direction. Stay aware of what motivates you and how you move into your core, your truth, your purpose. As with all Full Moons, open yourself to letting Light into every corner and watch what it reveals!

What motivates you? What is your purpose? How do you feel about the Light brightening the darkest corners of your life? How do you feel about the Moon?

Capricorn Full Moon

©2014 by ML  Monroe

Change or be changed.
That's the most basic message of the Capricorn Full Moon. Sun in Cancer, the Mother archetype; Moon in Capricorn, the Father archetype. There is also much about sacred balance of energy.

This is the opportune time to face fears, to understand what brings up dread, to shine a light on those shadowy corners of life. Dig down deep. Face whatever gunk surfaces. Persevere through every crisis that continues growth. The focus of that will be life's work or calling ~ not necessarily job unless that's aligned with the deeper calling of life. It's also the time to step into authenticity, allowing the real Self to be fully present.

The dance is between Cancer with its focus on feelings, flow and nurturing and Capricorn with its focus on diligence, outcomes and achieving. At this time, it's not an either-or; it's a both-and. So the dance to maintain balance goes on.

This Moon is about going deep and surfacing.

I've been feeling it's pull for days now. My feelings have fluctuated from being down to being thrilled to numbness to simple joy in everyday moments. Wow! Good to know it's not just me.

How are you feeling? What kinds of muck is rising to the surface of your life? Are you being challenged to look deeper at your life's calling? Is there change in the ethers for you?

Full Moon in Scorpio

The Full Moon in Scorpio ~~ Mysterious.... Magical.... Alluring.... Elusive.... Transformational

Scorpio, like the Triple Goddess, shows three faces: Scorpion, Eagle, Phoenix.  Scorpio is fearless in its exploration of the deeper and darker emotions of our psyche. Scorpion crawls and hides until threatened. Eagle can be similar in its nature of hiding; its territory high in the sky rather than low on the ground. Both strike quickly and efficiently. Phoenix is the epitome of transformation: life rising from its own funeral pyre. Within that fire lies the secret of immortality and resurrection.

The Full Moon in Scorpio is about facing what needs to die and acknowledging what wants to live; about accepting Don Juan's wisdom to have "death as our adviser." It's also about endurance and the long haul with no choice but to go deep ~ or go home. This Full Moon connects with Saturn to intensify the themes of delving into the Shadow in order to accomplish that release of what no longer serves ~ and transform, be reborn ~ continuing to realize not to get too attached to one's personal story since it is, does and will change.

What do you have in your life that is changing or needs to change? What skeletons are rattling in your closet? How will your story change?

Eostre ~ Goddess of Change

How Eostre Became the Goddess of Spring

©2014 by Mary-Lynne Monroe

http://www.skylightpublishing.com/gullylir/artha-about.jpg

Many, many moons ago ~ more full moons past than have ever been counted ~ the gods and goddesses quarreled over who should be honored at the turning of the seasons. Clearly, there were fewer turnings than deities.

As another turning approached, tempers flared ~ the arguments brightening the sun, melting the snow, warming the earth. Grass grew taller and greener. Flowers poked their colorful heads out through their leaves. Rivers burbled faster. Yet the arguing gods and goddesses barely noticed, so entirely wrapped in their arguments were they.

Zeus electrified the air with his lightning bolt. Thor's hammer thundered a retort. Kali spewed roiling lava over the land. Yemaya's surf pounded a tattoo in response. Every god and every goddess vied for acknowledgement, position and power. Their dueling responses signaled the coming season: Spring, when everything is grander and more colorfully explosive than any other season.

Weaving through the gathered crowd of immortals was Eostre, a goddess new to the Divine City, inexperienced with the ways of the gods and goddesses as they quarreled. Hair shimmering like spun silver, she listened attentively and quietly to the noise and chatter around her. In the midst of the other dazzling divine, her appearance though beautiful was unremarkable. Absorbing the view of the marketplace with its stalls of fruit, bread and other wares overflowing their baskets and tables, she found the abundance nearly overwhelming.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Eostre_.jpg

In the midst of the hubbub, she moved unnoticed. She herself, however, saw everything. Small creatures darted in and out among the feet and legs on the path. Her deep violet eyes missed not a one. Anyone watching as she passed the final table and crossed the threshold out of the City and into the surrounding woodland would have seen Eostre begin to shrink. Soon she was the size of a rabbit doe ~ then she was the shape of the doe, as she made her way deeper into the woods.

Once Eostre was deep within the woods, she stopped to rest in some underbrush beneath a tree at the edge of a small clearing. Recognizing the holy difference of Eostre even in the form of a doe, other rabbits hopped over to be near her. Birds flew to branches over her. Flowers and leaves turned in her direction as if seeking out the sun. Deer, badgers, squirrels and other denizens of the forest slowly filled the clearing near her.

Unknown to Eostre, the Moon goddess Artemis had followed her. Thinking she was alone with her woodland friends, Eostre shifted her form back to human. No animal ran. No bird flew away. No leaf turned away. All remained quietly in the clearing, focusing on the Goddess of Change. Artemis, watching this shift and aware of the honor bestowed on Eostre, stepped forward herself into the clearing. Instantly, every creature startled and fled.

Eostre herself startled at the sight of the Goddess of the Hunt. She too wanted to flee, but knew there was nowhere to go where Artemis could not follow.

"Why have you followed me?" she asked.

"Your youth and beauty attracted me. You appear as my Maidens do: strong, self-aware, mindful. If I hadn't watched you shape-shift, I would have lost you."

"That was my purpose: to be lost."

"Why?"

"All the anger and fighting wear me down. This is the season of joy, creativity, love, birth and growth. How can all that negativity call forth an honoree for a season of beauty and positivity?"

Artemis paused, leaning on her long huntress bow, and smiled.

"Will you return to the City with me?" she asked. "I believe we have found our Spring honoree."

"I will spend tonight in this wood, Artemis," Eostre responded. "You have frightened the creatures of the wood with your huntress ways. I will see them calm before I return."

"As you wish," Artemis responded. "As tonight is the Full Moon, it is my place to be in the night sky. I will be in the City again in the morning. Will you meet me at the gate by which you left?"

"Yes," she promised. "I will be there shortly after dawn."

As Artemis in her form of the Full Moon moved through the night sky, she looked down on the glade to see all the creatures again gathered around Eostre. The nocturnal creatures were awake; the diurnal creatures were asleep. All were at peace.

The next morning, Eostre entered the gate to the Divine City with Artemis at her side. As they moved through the streets of the City, arguments and conversations stopped. All heads turned toward the two goddesses.

When they arrived at the central square, Artemis took Eostre by the hand and led her to the fountain. The two goddesses stood side by side as all the gods and goddesses gathered. In the quiet, birds twittered in the nearby trees, frogs croaked in the fountain, dogs and cats walked through the legs of those gathered and laid down around the fountain. The movement and sound of these creatures did not escape the notice of the gathering deities.

Artemis raised her voice and said, "My sisters and brothers, yesterday as the Huntress I followed this radiant goddess into the woods, expecting to find her alone. But I did not find her so. She was in a clearing surrounded by every woodland creature ~ walkers, creepers, crawlers, fliers, jumpers, all of them. Even the flowers and plants were aware of her presence. Their devotion was keen."

She turned toward Eostre. "She spoke of the joy and beauty of this Spring season. From my place in the sky as the Full Moon, I saw her. Throughout the night, the fauna and flora of the forest continued to honor her. I believe she is our Goddess of Spring."

As one, the gods and goddesses raised their voices in approval. The dogs howled, the cats purred, the frogs sang, the insects buzzed. Every living thing agreed.

That is how Eostre became the Goddess of the Spring turning ~ and on the Full Moon!

Lunar Eclipse ~ April 2014

©2014 Mary-Lynne Monroe

Last night over most of North and Central America, there shone an incredible Lunar Eclipse. I stayed up late to take some pictures ~ this is one of my favorites. I watched enraptured as the shadow crept across the face of the explosively bright full moon. 

Why stay up until past midnight, on a work night, to take pictures of this? I mean, it happens, right? There will be pictures on the internet, right? NASA and several observatories certainly posted some... NASA, in conjunction with the Marshall Space Flight Center, posted a live Ustream feed ~ in real time and the comfort of home. Remarkable to see!

Yet.... yet.... What I wanted, what called to me, what left me awestruck, was looking at the event itself in the night sky. I was the only one on my street for most of the time. As the full shadow slipped into place revealing the red glow Blood Moon, I heard doors creak open and saw a couple across the street come out of their house to look at the sky, then turn around and return indoors. The creaks of other doors happened again. I assume the neighbors who had come outside were all heading back in and into the comfort of their living rooms and beds. I was left alone again, with my camera, standing on my front porch, mouth agape in wonder.

As I write this I wonder who is the real lunatic? Me, the moon worshipper? or those who do not grasp the magnificence and wonder of our universe.

Where were you during the eclipse? What in our world, life or universe awes you the most?

Reaching for the Moon

©2014 Mary-Lynne Monroe

I love the full moon. Any full moon. Every full moon. I have taken more pictures of the full moon than any three people I know.... maybe more. In truth, I love the moon ~ any time, any where, any way.

Coming off the freeway while driving to work on St. Patrick's Day, I saw the full moon huge and beautiful ~ and I couldn't stop to take a picture. My heart sang, "Please be visible at work." My mind breathed, "Thank You for letting me see Your beauty."

Lo and behold, when I arrived at work and got out of the car, there She was ~ still big and bright and beautiful. I took a couple of pictures through the trees ~ gorgeous images ~ then went upstairs, unlocked the office, dropped my stuff on my desk and went out on the deck surrounding the office. I took several more pictures. Among them, this one ~ an incredible image of the tree top reaching toward the glowing moon.

I recalled stories about the moon. Myths, dreams, fantasies, truths, fictions. What comes most easily to mind is a quote from Mary Anne Radmacher written on a card on my altar at home: "I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." I know the truth of that statement. Every place I've been, from Egypt to China to Ireland and the rest, I've looked upon that same moon and felt a sense of home. And every one of those places contributed to re-forming me into who I am now.

Like the tree in my picture, I continue to reach toward the moon. For me, the moon isn't a goal to reach, it's a harbinger of growth, change, familiarity. It's an apprehending of home, in every sense of the word.

What does "reach for the moon" mean to you? What is your relationship with the moon? What does the moon symbolize for you?

Full Moon and Writing

Today's Full Moon in Virgo is about belonging to oneself, deciding when one wants to join in with others and when one wants to maintain autonomy. It's about knowing oneself deeply.

Spending time at a writing retreat yesterday revealed more about who I am and what I value about myself. My comfort level strong enough to opt not to follow the prompts... or to opt to follow them when they spoke to me. I've experienced many writing sessions where the leader/teacher would say, "Follow the prompt or not, as you choose. Or write about what's important to you." Sometimes, though rarely, I followed the 'not' part of that direction. Mostly, I did as instructed. [Good student type]

Yesterday's writing was about autonomy ~ total choice. Even in the midst of the group, I chose what I was doing, when I was doing it, and whether or not to share it. It felt as though I was coming into my own.

What do you do when someone you respect and have given authority gives you a direction? What if you don't feel like following that direction? [This does not apply to bosses, who have a different level of authority!] How do you decide when to join in, follow directions or remain autonomous?

Extreme Moons of January

©MLMonroe

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines PERIGEE as "the point in outer space where an object traveling around the Earth is closest to the Earth." What we refer to as Super Moons happen when the moon is at its perigee. It looks closer and larger than it does at other times.

In January of 2014, there are two Super Moons; two times during the same month when the moon is at its perigee. Both of those times are New Moons so the size of these moons is not observable to the naked eye. The first of these moons arrived on January 1st; the second will arrive on January 30th.

The opposite of PERIGEE is APOGEE, defined by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as "the point in outer space where an object traveling around the Earth is farthest away from the Earth."

And in January 2014, there was a Mini Moon, the moon at its apogee, on January 16th. This Mini Moon was the first full moon of 2014; it was at its farthest point away from the Earth.

Extremes and somewhat unusual occurrences to be happening not just once in a month, or even twice, but three times in one month. What do you think that promises for the year of 2014?

Dreamscape

image by Daniel Danger

In many of my dreams, I find myself walking or running or simply floating in the air. I'm out of reach of those who are seeking to harm me. I'm also in a position to see what's happening below which enables me to decide what kind of action to take next: keep rising into the air, move in the air in one direction or another, shout a warning to those below me, find my way down to the ground.... lots of choices.

"Flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is representative of your own personal sense of power." (dreammoods.com) I've found this to be so true! When I feel like I'm being chased or 'shot down' in the dream, I realize that it's due to my feeling somewhat out of control in the awake world. I've loved the sense of empowerment that being airborne and in control &/or out of danger gives me. I reinforces my overall sense of well-being.

Which of your dreams affects your sense of well-being? What do you do to reinforce your self? and your sense of personal power?

More of the Moon

From Mystic Mamma:

The Pisces Full Moon ... is a powerful portal for your spiritual growth. This is the Harvest Moon. We are harvesting what we have sown this year. [It] is about faith, spirituality and intuition. You are being asked to dream, meditate and be creative.

Right now, today, this very moment, we are experiencing the meaning of the Harvest Moon: we are reaping what we have sown. This phrase is one which shows up in many spiritual traditions and commentaries. It relates the spiritual world to the physical world in which we live and move. Faith and intuition are the milieu of our spirituality. They give us the broader understanding and form the foundation upon which we build.

I spent many years distrusting astrology and astrologers because I didn't have a very developed faith. I had doctrine, but that's not the same thing. Doctrine relates to the teachings, but faith relates to the understanding, the feeling, the deeper sense of knowingness that moves us forward in the world.

What is the groundwork of your faith? How has it changed over time?

Hidden Glow

Did you ever feel as though you were a bright light in hiding? Or that the bright light of your interior self glows between the branches of how you choose to present in the world?

I had a fascinating experience of that today in two separate incidents.
In the first, a colleague took offense at my 'glowing light' as I mentioned a different way of viewing a situation in which the colleague was decidedly invested in personal POV. I found myself undisturbed by the dispute ~ not because I saw myself as 'right' but because I perceived that there were as many differences of opinion as people in the room. I felt open and shining and clear in my intention.
In the second, a different colleague was grateful for my presence at a brainstorming meeting. My input and ideas were appreciated and the flow of discussion was clear as the headwaters of the Metolius River. Crystalline, radiant and boundless.

Where do you find yourself hiding your glow? Where do you find others keeping you in hiding? Is either sense of hiding comfortable? Do you want it to change?

Lunatic, Are We?

The current moon is close to full. This really does look full, doesn't it? In another two days, it will be even larger and rounder. Amazing process to watch when it gets this close!

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term "lunatic" came from the late 13th century and meant "affected with periodic insanity, dependent on the changes of the moon," from the Old French lunatique, lunage "insane." (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=lunatic)

When standing on my lawn or in the middle of the street or on the balcony of a hotel or on a sandy ocean beach, camera in hand, snapping photo after photo of the various phases of Lady Moon, I ponder whether or not I fall under that definition. Personally, Lady Moon is one of my most photographed beings in the galaxy. Almost a year ago, I began taking snapshots of the Lady in her full or nearly full preen. She is absolutely gorgeous! Her poses in the night sky are awe-inspiring and I never tire of staring at Her either in the night or in my pictures.

What natural phenomenon do you like? Do you take pictures of it? Why? How do the pictures influence you?