“I think, therefore I am” – René Descartes
What does this mean?
Descartes proposed that we have a brain that thinks and it is this that creates our reality.
Take a moment to consider, we actually have senses that feed information to the mind. The mind then interprets the information that is provided. All that any sentient being can be certain of is the experience they have through their own senses and then the thoughts that follow in connection to these experiences. This is the philosophy of Phenomenology.
Before we delve into the connection between the full moon and Luna eclipse and their relationship with our inner most thoughts and perceptions, let us first glance at the science behind the effects on humans on a physical, mental and energetic level.
Healthline tells us that as far back as 400 B.C, physicians and philosophers blamed behavioural changes on the pull of the moon. The world “lunatic”, after all, came from the idea that changes in our mental state could be related to the Lunar cycles.
This isn’t entirely groundless; the ocean’s tides rise and fall in time with the moon’s phases and several marine species have reproductive cycles coinciding with the Luna cycles, as do our human females. It is well known that an adult human body is made up of 60% water. Coincidental?
A study involving 319 people, found the full moon effected the quality of sleep, as well as being associated with less deep sleep and an increase of REM (rapid eye movement) latency. Another study involving 205 people found that the full moon may affect sleep differently in males and females; females sleep less and have less REM sleep when the full moon is near, whereas males have more REM. Further studies have also concluded that humans are more physically efficient during the full and new moons.
This could largely be because the human body has adapted to the exposure to daylight and darkness, which has led to the development of circadian rhythms that affect many of our body’s systems – not just the sleep wake cycles.
Does the full moons power to brighten the sky have something to do with how we experience the full moon? This would imply, that it is one of our senses that feeds information to the brain, not the thought itself appearing from the ethos.
The time of the full moon has long been thought of as a rebirth of feminine energy, a time to connect with your emotions, your body and your intuition. The energy of the full moon is always that of a cycle coming to a crescendo or completion of its influence and essence.
If one could sense energy, what would we be interpreting? Is what we perceive as “energy” just vibration?
Again, I invite you to look into this a little deeper and question why we may feel the tides of emotions rolling in on the lead up to the full moon; perhaps this is because the body functions as a single sine wave. It is now an accepted fact in medicine that every single organ and organelle in the body is constantly vibrating, and it is not just the human body, the earth itself vibrates. The earth pulsates constantly – a phenomenon called the Schumann Resonance. This is created through a series of low-frequency resonances caused by lightning discharges in the atmosphere that envelope the entire earth. We could perhaps refer to it as the earth’s heartbeat. The frequencies vary between 3 to 60 Hz; however, the fundamental frequency of the planet occurs at 7.83 Hz.
We know that the speed of human brainwaves varies from low frequency (infra-low of <0.5 Hz) to very high frequency (gamma waves between 38 to 42 Hz). Of all the waves, the Theta waves exist between 3 to 7 and the alpha waves between 8 to 13 Hz. The Theta waves occur most during sleep and deep meditation and similarly the Alpha waves occur when a person is in a relaxed state of mind. Amazing to consider that the vibratory frequency of the brain in a state of calm coincides exactly with the background heartbeat of the earth.
A fascinating book describing the work of Masaru Emoto, advances the pseudoscientific idea that the molecular structure of water is changed by the presence of the human consciousness nearby. The book describes the process of emotions projected with intent at a body of water and then the crystals within are photographed. Their shapes appear to vastly change according to the projection of positive and negative emotions. This inspiring deeper contemplation into the biological makeup of the human body and how it is possible that it is what we experience that creates our reality.
Gravity is the force of attraction between two objects. The moons gravity pulls at the Earth, causing predictable rises and falls in sea level, known as tides. High tides occur on the side of the Earth nearest the moon due to gravity and the side farthest from the moon due to the inertia of the water. Low tides occur between these two humps. So, we can imagine the effect the moon has on the human body that we know is made up of 60% H2O. Gravity might be playing more of a role in the tides of our emotions than we give it credit!
During total eclipses, the moon, earth and sun are directly aligned and a Lunar eclipse takes place when earth sits between the sun and the moon, casting earth’s shadow across the moons face. There is a fraction of a moment in time that the light is completely interrupted, the frequency changes and we can experience this with all of our senses. These total Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon. The year 2022 has 4 eclipses, two solar and two Lunars. So, watch out for the tidal waves and remember our relaxed state of being is attuned to the earth’s heartbeat.
The spiritual aspects of the moon represent our deep emotional tides and the Luna eclipse is viewed in astrology as being a deeply transformative time that can bring abrupt and sudden change. When the Earth momentarily blocks the suns illumination that creates the full moon, it resets the current emotional cycle and allows the shadow to reveal what is hidden in our subconscious. Eclipses are also like a cosmic helping hand of the universe, putting you exactly where you need to be, in a place where the time has come to discard the safe and comfortable and grow fully into yourself. These transformative times can be complimented with the use if ceremony and rituals.
By definition, ceremony is a formal religious or public occasion that celebrates a particular event or anniversary. Ritual, however, is a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. Both ceremony and rituals can and have been used to honour the full moon as well as Luna eclipses.
Ceremonies and rituals can play an important role in creating the conditions we need in order to set positive intentions for the cycles to come. These may be traditional forms that have been used for thousands of years; such as Rapé – the shamanic tobacco used by tribal cultures in the Amazon region to overcome physical, psychological and emotional blocks, realign energy channels and detoxify the body or Kambo – the ancient frog cleanse, with no psychoactive properties, that brings on a great purge of the mind and the physical body. You can take part in smoke or sound ceremony to cleanse your energetic field, your aura, chakras or to simply cleanse your internal dialogue. Choose what resonates with you after some thorough research.
As a sentient being, experience the full moon through your vibrational sense, smell the white sage used for thousands of years by shamans, taste the ceremonial Cocoa to connect to the divine feminine energy, hear the sound waves from singing bowls and drums attuned to frequencies specific for cleansing, whilst simultaneously grounding you and helping you fly and why not feel with your hands bathing yourself in moon energized waters kissed by essential oils made from the herbs grown from the soil of this earth. You are a sensual being, embody Phenomenology!
8 ways to connect to the moon and to cleanse
- Working with crystals is a great way to help temper any sensitive or frustrated energy the Full moon and eclipse may bring. Every natural substance vibrates at a specific frequency as a result of atoms and molecules moving. Crystals vibrate at a higher frequency to the Earth as a whole, of 32,768 Hz.
- Setting intentions, writing in your journal and taking time to Zen out some place quiet that brings you closer to nature.
- Light candles and burn sage to cleanse and ground down.
- Drink ceremonial cocoa, connect to the divine feminine.
- Play music and dance under the moon.
- Roll out your mat and enjoy your favourite asanas through your yoga practice that honour the moon and its cycles.
- Connect with like-minded souls in these times of change and evolution.
- Bathe yourself in salt water of the ocean if you can, or water blessed by the full moon. Add flowers and essential oils that purify your Aura.
xx
Leila
Ps. Im now writing for Fierce Truths Magazine, so if you'd like to get more tips and inspiration for movement subscribe for the bi-monthly 120 page juicey spiritual magazine.
