Last Thursday we were lucky to see the last super moon of
2020, the Flower Moon, which is called so because of the plethora of flowers that
bloom in the month of May. Like all full
moons it is coloured with vibrant reds, yellows and pinks and splashes of bright
orange and purple, a real May beauty.
This particular Flower Moon corresponds to Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, a holiday that takes place by Buddhists across Asia, sometimes called Buddha's Birthday which commemorates the birth, the inspired wisdom and death of Gautama Buddha. The actual date of Vesak varies depending upon the calendar used in the particular area, but this year it coincides, for most Asian countries, with the day of the Flower Moon.
Happy Flower Moon and happy Buddha's Birthday, dear Friends!!
On the other hand, full moons, supposedly, alter our disposition and sleep, but they are, also, superstitiously, associated with phantoms and demons! The moon's alleged influence has also affected the English language, like the words lunacy and lunatic that originate from the word "luna" which is Latin for moon. So, while watching the beautiful Flower Moon we somehow ponder, in the back of our mind, if there is any actual truth about these improbable but rather tense and fearful myths?!
Since the beginning of human history, civilisations around the world have been bewitched by the moon, earth's nearest neighbour. Experts point out that most of the fear and intrigue comes from the lunar phases because centuries ago, the irregularity of the moon compared with the constancy of the sun were both mystifying and terrifying.
The Mayans believed that the moon goddess brought enormous floods and powerful storms upon the earth, as for the Aztecs the moon was the decapitated head if an atrocious matricidal goddess, But in ancient Greece and Rome, the moon goddess Selene was portrayed as the beautiful sister of the sun-god Appolo.
As the moon regulates water it also regulates the rise and fall of human emotions, according to an old saying. The saying goes that a fool moon is the best time to accept a marriage proposal, as love is amplified, furthermore the full moon is the best time to consummate a marriage, according to ancient Greeks.
For thousands of years, doctors and mental health professionals believed there was a connection between mania and the moon. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine believed, during the 5th century BC, that one who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night is being visited by the goddess of the moon!
Nowadays, superstitiously. nurses blame the fool moon for chaos and incoming patients while the police have linked the fool moon with aggressive behaviour.
How superstitious and sometimes irrational can we possibly be?
(I wish to thank ERT, BBC. France 24, CNN, and Kathimerini, Estia and the Daily and Sunday Express for the valuable information for this post.)
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| A Devine Flower Moon |
This particular Flower Moon corresponds to Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, a holiday that takes place by Buddhists across Asia, sometimes called Buddha's Birthday which commemorates the birth, the inspired wisdom and death of Gautama Buddha. The actual date of Vesak varies depending upon the calendar used in the particular area, but this year it coincides, for most Asian countries, with the day of the Flower Moon.
Happy Flower Moon and happy Buddha's Birthday, dear Friends!!
On the other hand, full moons, supposedly, alter our disposition and sleep, but they are, also, superstitiously, associated with phantoms and demons! The moon's alleged influence has also affected the English language, like the words lunacy and lunatic that originate from the word "luna" which is Latin for moon. So, while watching the beautiful Flower Moon we somehow ponder, in the back of our mind, if there is any actual truth about these improbable but rather tense and fearful myths?!
Since the beginning of human history, civilisations around the world have been bewitched by the moon, earth's nearest neighbour. Experts point out that most of the fear and intrigue comes from the lunar phases because centuries ago, the irregularity of the moon compared with the constancy of the sun were both mystifying and terrifying.
The Mayans believed that the moon goddess brought enormous floods and powerful storms upon the earth, as for the Aztecs the moon was the decapitated head if an atrocious matricidal goddess, But in ancient Greece and Rome, the moon goddess Selene was portrayed as the beautiful sister of the sun-god Appolo.
As the moon regulates water it also regulates the rise and fall of human emotions, according to an old saying. The saying goes that a fool moon is the best time to accept a marriage proposal, as love is amplified, furthermore the full moon is the best time to consummate a marriage, according to ancient Greeks.
For thousands of years, doctors and mental health professionals believed there was a connection between mania and the moon. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine believed, during the 5th century BC, that one who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night is being visited by the goddess of the moon!
Nowadays, superstitiously. nurses blame the fool moon for chaos and incoming patients while the police have linked the fool moon with aggressive behaviour.
How superstitious and sometimes irrational can we possibly be?
(I wish to thank ERT, BBC. France 24, CNN, and Kathimerini, Estia and the Daily and Sunday Express for the valuable information for this post.)
 |
| A Bouquet of May Flowers for You Dear Reader |
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