The Blue Moon

oh, look at that...it's tomorrow!! (no, not the blue moon, but it's after midnight :P )

This Blue Moon, December 31, 2009 is a very rare and magical blue moon; falling on New Years Eve, and coupling with a partial lunar eclipse!

For years a blue moon has been defined as the second full moon during a calendar month. This definition came about after a 1946 article in the Sky and Telescope magazine, where the author had misinterpreted the Maine Farmers Almanac. A 1932 publication of the Almanac stated that the blue moon was the third full moon in a season that held four full moon cycles, as opposed to a typical season which holds only three full moons. Farmers use the cycle of the moon's phases for planting and harvesting crops. Catholic priests also had to recognize this rare moon; without identifying it, their Lent and Egg moons would fall to early, causing Easter to fall before the proper Sunday.

The moon has also taken on a blueish hue following natural phenomenon such as the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, after which the moon appeared blue for nearly two years in surrounding areas.

The blue moon, also called the 'Goal Moon' is a very powerful moon for witches. This moon is three times more powerful than a normal full moon. There are several aspects to this power, including heightened spiritual awareness, a time to add power to desired goals and manifestations, and to fine tune your divination practices. The lunar eclipse is a good time to cast spells for protection, and cleansing away negative energies.  Blue moon magic can be cast three days prior to the full moon, and three days following.  Traditionally the blue moon is seen as a time for meditation and particularly for personal issues and global concerns.

I hope you enjoyed, or maybe even learned something here!