luise asked this question on 4/28/2000:
Ok, I got one for you. I have found different meanings for "Blue Moons". The most widely used and accepted is where it is the 2nd full moon in one calendar month. The second was from a book that stated a "Blue Moon" is the moon period falling between Oct. 31st and Nov. 2nd, the "time without a time" period. Then there is the view I cotton to that states it is the 2nd full moon within an Astrological sign. What are everyone else's views and why?
Blessings, Luise
amethystrose gave this response on 5/1/2000:
You are right that the Blue Moon is the moon period between October 27 to November 1. It is also called the Mood of the Dead, The Haunting Moon, Ancestor Moon, and Hunter's Moon.
This moon has not survived in the solar calendar which we now use and therefore there is no corresponding name. All cultures which used a lunar calendar, however, had a Blue Moon, or thirteenth month. For some, this time was considered only to be a few days long; for others, it covered an entire twenty-nine days. Some cultured gave this month a name; others considered it a dread or expecially holy time, too sacred to name.
There are many different celebrations that come from many different cultures all over the world. Most of them are feasts for the dead like our own Samhain.
Some correspondences for you:
Nature Spirits: bansidhes and other beings who carry messages between worlds.
Herbs: ginger, hops, wormwood, hyssop, patchouli, mugwort, nutmeg, star anise
Colors: black, white, purple
Flowers: white lily, dahlia, chrysanthemum
Scents: rosemary, dragons blood, lilac, pine, wisteria
Stones: obsidian, onyx, Apache tear
trees: pine, cypress, yew, elder
Animals: bat, wolf, sow, dog, snake
Birds: owls, raven, falcon
Deities: Cybele, Circe, Hel, Nephthys, Cerridwen, Horned God, Caillech, Freyja, Holda
Power Flow: release, remember; communion with the dead. Prophecy. Releasing old negative memories and emotions.
For more information on this moon and other moons, you may want to read Moon Magick by, D. J. Conway or just ask!
Blessings!
amethystrose gave this follow-up answer on 5/1/2000:
Also, the reason you have found it to be the second moon in one month is that it is generally the second moon for October...therefore being near the end of the month.
Also, sorry for so many responses...my server seems to be messing up lately.
Blessings!
The average rating for this answer is 5.