Supermoons are everywhere lately. We see them talked about on social media by magical and non-magical people alike. Some people are enthralled by them and others don’t really care. But it seems like every full moon this year has been a “Supermoon”. So, I went on a minor mission to figure out what that phrase actually means, if it has any basis in science, or if it’s just a phrase people use when the full moon looks bigger than normal.
One of the most common celestial bodies that modern witches follow is the moon. Throughout history, the moon has played a very large role in pagan faiths and the lives of everyday people. There are many legends and mythological stories that hold the moon as a central figure either as a deity, a divine figure, or a guiding light. In Greek mythology, Selene is a Titan Goddess of the moon. In Norse mythology, Máni is a God of the Moon. There is no one Irish deity associated with the moon, though many have an association with light in general.
A blue moon is not actually a blue moon. The moon doesn’t turn blue — even though that would pretty neat for a blue moon — but there are two different definitions for the term “blue moon”. The older definition says that a blue moon refers to the third full moon in a season with four full moons. It has something to do with correcting the lunar cycle and making sure that when people were planting and growing their crops by the moon calendar, that seasons didn’t “come too early”.
This moon phase calendar has been helpful for me as someone who doesn’t always want to rely on an app for the moon phase. Make it along with me! This moon phase calendar is super easy to make and you only need a few things. Make it for yourself. Make it with your kids. Make it just because you want to!
If you work with moon phases, you may be familiar with the term dark moon. This can depend, though, because some witches call it the new moon and skip over the dark moon. That’s fine – your practice is your own. I don’t tend to skip over the period of the dark moon, though, and I think it is important that you at least consider it in your practice.
