“What goes on in the Dark, will come out in the light!” -Eshe Riviears

Here I will go over several things that will increase your ability to live in tune with the rhythms of nature. First, I would like to start off with a moon meditation. Thoughts to clear the mind and calm the soul.

Moon Meditation/Affirmation

Sister Moon, release your energy to me and empower me with your wisdom.

Sister Moon, remind me of my connection to all things great and small on this planet and in the universe. Allow me the peace that comes from acknowledging that there is a regular succession to things within nature and I am part of that plan.

Keep me open to the possibilities that are ripe within me, to continue the work of energies long past, but still circulating.

Light the path, allow me the darkness, and charm me with your eternal beauty. I am ready for the light that you give me. -Eshe Riviears

What people learned from the example of the lunar cycle was the basic pattern necessary for renewal. Rest, meditation, vision and gestation were as revered a part of the cycle as production. Without one, the others suffer. This is a principle of activity that our modern cultures have largely abandoned. The moon is active every night. Use it to motivate the change you desire in your own life.

The moon can be a tool of self-management, time-management and life enhancing principles that encourage one to pay attention to “how we are to live”. It connects us to the planet and the universe, the trees, the animals and all of our planet that we are dependent on. It also connects us to “ritual”, which is very important, because we all need ritual. We all like a “system” or “process” that we can count on day after day, or at a specific time because of a specific trigger. It helps us to feel safe, in control, bonded and connected. We release the fear, when we can reduce the parameters of what “could” happen versus “will” happen.

Terms of The Moon:

Waxing Moon: “Waxing” means the illuminated of the portion is increasing. “Waning” means the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing. “Crescent” means the moon is less than halfway illuminated. “Gibbous” means the moon is more than halfway illuminated. You can combine those terms to describe any moon is not precisely a Full, New, First or Last Quarter Moon.

New Moon (NM): The moon’s illuminated side is facing the Earth. The moon is not visible (except during a solar eclipse).

Waxing Crescent: The moon appears to be partly, but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is increasing.

First Quarter Moon (FQ): One-half of the moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Waxing Gibbous: The moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Full Moon (FM): The moon’s illuminated side is facing the Earth. The moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight.

Waning Gibbous: The moon appears to be more than one-half, but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Third Quarter Moon or Last Quarter (LQ): One-half of the moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Waning Crescent: The moon appears to be partly, but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Latitude: Used to specify position on the earth, it is the distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees. The equator is at 0 degrees, and the poles are at 90 degrees north and south latitude. One degree of latitude equals approximately 110 kilometers (69 miles)

Longitude: Used to specify position on the earth, it is the distance east or west of the prime meridian of Greenwich, England, measured in degrees. Measurements range from the prime meridian at 0 degrees to 180 degrees west and east from this point.

Phases of The Moon & How It Effects You: Basically, we have 3 major phases of the moon; waxing, full and waning.

Waxing Moon: from the time of the new moon to the full moon –This is the “building” moon. This is the one that we work, with a fresh mind, on projects and other underground interests and desires. This reminds me of the saying, “What goes on in the dark, will come out in the light.” For me this is the quiet “planning” moon. I get so much done during this time, my ideas are flowing and I’m a volcano of information and inspiration. This builds in me until the full moon, at which time I’m exploding with the ideas that I’ve tended over the last 2 weeks. Farmers are quite aware of planting and harvesting days and this is my planting time. For farmers that plant by the moon, this is the time to plant “root” crops, turnips, carrots, garlic.

Full Moon: The Full moon is the time from a few days before the full moon to the day after. This is the time of completion, the time of growth, ripeness & maturity, the time of awareness and enlightenment - en “light” “en” “me” nt. I find that is the best time for me to write at night, with the moon shining on my papers and enhancing my ideas. I find that I’m awakened with incredible formulas at 2:30am and they become some of the most popular. This is the time to plant those things that flower and produce above ground, like flowers, tomatoes, peppers, fruit trees and the like.

Waning Moon: The Waning moon is the time after the Full moon when the moon is slowly disappearing, it is growing smaller and smaller, day by day. This is when we are going “into the dark” of the moon. This is the time of “detoxing”. It is a time of reflection, creating quiet time and completing or refining projects. This is also the time to remove those things that you no longer need in your life. For farmers, this is the time to plant root crops. We can look at the roots of our lives also and re-discover how much we have changed and allowed ourselves to develop. We can set new goals and begin new plans. We have this opportunity every month to allow ourselves (our energy) to change, and move upward (blossom) or downward (plan). Which means we have these changes 12 times every year and we can decide what to do with it. This cycle of re-birth is one of the main messages/lessons of the moon.

I have always loved the moon, the sun, the ocean and the woods ever since I was a young girl. As I continued my path and got to the term “natural living”, I realized that there was more to it than eating sprouts & granola and using “herbal bush” tea. Once I realized that the “missing piece” was a fuller traditional and folkloric understanding of my home, my land, my surroundings, my life took off in a different directions. I realized that I had been holding myself back by allowing what I “see” to be my only point of reference, especially when I “felt” different things going on around me, that changed continuously. As women, we are usually very clear on “monthly” and cyclical changes, because our bodies are on cycle, usually 28 day cycle. This is when we release our unused “fertility liquid”. We also know that animal mating cycle are also on a lunar rhythm.

For societies upon whose lives depended on their relationship & survival, based on their understanding of the flow of the seasons and the success of seasonal crops; the moon and those who seemed to have a special tie to the moon were revered. Women were in charge of all of the “mysteries” of creation, because they were given the powers of creation through their menstrual cycle. Herein lies the power (and respect) of women tied to agricultural, healing and the connection to the “green world”, which was later modified into “witch-craft”. Because these women knew how to use nature and the powers of nature, women have always been Healers. This power was turned against them with the advent of Christianity and the rise and desire of men to control & seize this power that women had. Traditional female/women jobs, like healer, (doctor), priestess (priest) and farmer because of jealousy and power struggles, now became the domains of men.

One of the methods was to burn, kill and destroy the women and the places that were used to conduct their natural cycle work…(which medicine or temples). (This was done mainly in Europe & North America, not Africa or other land/nature based societies.) This natural understanding of the workings of the natural energy of the planet was driven underground for fear of being accused of “witchcraft” and the work was slowly lost, except in certain circles. Farming was one of the circles where this information was not lost. One point that must be made is that this information is from traditional information of our connection to the Creator of all Things. This information in itself is not a religion, it is an understanding of how the planet works and how we are affected by the energy of our nearest neighbor planet, the moon and how we can use this information to create a better, more satisfying Life. Everything connected with the planet creates our reality, the changing of the seasons, the time of the day and the moon and its cycle.

About The Author: Eshe Riviears is an Herbalist, Kinesiologist, Master Formulator and Organic Master Gardener. She teaches classes, does private consultations and has her own line of herbal formulations. She can be reached at (770) 787-4352 or herbalist(at)herbsistah.com Check her out at HerbSistah.com.