Moon Magic and Myths

The moon cycles from the darkest point, known as a new moon, to a bright round full moon approximately every 30 days.

Weather Lore:
- When the moon points up, the weather will be good, when it points down, it will rain
- When a large star, or planet, is near the moon, the weather will be violent
- Fog and a small moon bring an easterly winds

Tides:
- When the moon is low, the tides will be higher than normal
- When the moon is at its brightest, the tides are at their highest
- Deaths occur most often when the tide is going out, and births occur when the tide is coming in

Good Luck:
- People once believed the moon was made of silver, so they would ask the moon for help and jingle the change in their pockets, as they gazed at it's glory.
- Legend says that to cure warts, catch some moonbeams in a metal basin and wash your hands in it, saying "I wash my hands in thy dish, 'O man in the moon, do grant my wish, and come and take this away"

Bad Luck:
- It was thought that to sleep in direct moonlight caused madness or blindness.
- In time, the word, Lunatic, from "luna", meaning moon, and "tic", meaning struck, evolved from this belief.

Image: www.astronomycast.com

New Moon Lore:
When a person sees the new moon for the first time, they are to bow to it three times, or three times three, in honor of the ancient Egyptian Trinity; Osiris, Isis, and Horus, (the father, mother, and son).

Good Luck:
- The new moon is an auspicious time for planting, courtship, the starting of new business ventures, or trips.
- It is also the best time to cut the hair and fingernails for better growth later on.
- An old English tradition holds that a new wife seeing the new moon for the first time, should run quickly to her bedroom and turn down her bed to ensure a happy marriage.
- At first sight of the new moon, one should turn a silver coin in his purse or pocket and make a wish.
- Seeing a new moon for the first time on a Monday will bring you good luck.
- If the first time you see a new moon, is over your right shoulder, it is a sign of fun times ahead.
- If you happen to be holding something, in both of your hands, when you see the new moon for the first time, you will never want for anything.
- A wish made while looking at new moon will come true within a year

Bad Luck:
- It is unlucky to view the first new moon through glass or through a tree, it is also unlucky to point at the moon.
- It is bad luck to dig a grave or bury a body during a new moon.

Weather:
- If the new moon is on Monday, then the weather will be good
- If a new moon occurs on a Saturday, then there will be twenty days of wind and rain
- If a new moon occurs on a Sunday, there will be a flood before the month is over.
- The strongest storms and hurricanes are likely to be 1-3 days after a new moon and 3-5 days after a full moon.

AND FINALLY
Glance at the moon over your right shoulder and say:
New moon, new moon, true and bright,
If I have a lover let me dream of him tonight.
If I am to marry far, let me hear a bird cry;
If I am to marry near, let me hear a cow low;
If I am to marry never, let me hear a hammer knock.

Good Luck:
- To see the thin crescent over ones left shoulder is lucky

- Charms and Amulets, in the shape of a crescent moon, are used to protect you from the evil eye, witchcraft and encourage personal wealth.

- The Crescent must always point to the left, this represents the first quarter of the moon, when things prosper and grow.

- In Roman times, women used to wear silver moon crescents on their shoes to ensure having healthy babies.

Weather:
- Many rings around the moon, signal a series of severe storms.

- A single ring around the moon that quickly vanishes, predicts fine weather.

- A constant ring around the moon, is an omen of rain or snow

Bad Luck:
- When the New Moon holds the Old Moon in its arms, (A ring around the New Moon) disasters will occur at sea.