Full Moon in February 2012- The Snow Moon

Winter

Clouded with snow 
The cold winds blow,


And shrill on leafless bough 


The robin with its burning breast 


Alone sings now.

The rayless sun, 
Day's journey done,


Sheds its last ebbing light 


On fields in leagues of beauty spread


Unearthly white.

Thick draws the dark, 
And spark by spark, 


The frost-fires kindle, and soon


Over that sea of frozen foam 


Floats the white moon.

- Walter de la Mare

February Full Moon

During my lifetime I have lived in several different countries. There were times when I felt homesick and far from home, however, there was always one comforting thing for me. I would gaze at the moon and know that wherever I was that my family and loved ones could also be looking at the same moon. There was always a sense of connectedness , especially when the moon was full.

Because the February moon is most often associated with snow, we look upon it as a time for new beginnings, a time for renewal, youth, mending a broken heart or making way for a new love as the signs of winter begin to fade.

This moon brings us the opportunity to toss out that which is old and useless both metaphorically and physically.

Metaphorically, it is time to let go of emotions or of people that bring stress and negativity to your life.

Physically, this is a time for cleaning and discarding to make way for the spring (Spring Cleaning most likely derived from this tradition). If you are a pack rat, clean your closets and donate items and clothing. Your generosity may give another person a chance to make a new beginning. Or maybe it’s your body that needs cleaning. This is a good time to start a healthy diet or to lose weight.

Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. The Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.

Because the month of February has only 28 days (or 29 in a leap year), there have been a few occasions during which this month has been without a full moon. In particular, there was no full moon in February 1866, 1885, 1915, 1934, 1961 or 1999.

Folklore:

Full Moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia, insanity (hence the terms lunacy and lunatic) and various "magical phenomena" such as lycanthropy. (Belief that human beings can be transformed into animals.)

Psychologists, however, state that they have found no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon. How many of you agree with that statement? Personally, I feel that there is a definite energy that is abound during a full moon and that the body is receptive to this. Many report a change in emotions and temperament during this cycle.

Full moon names:

The traditional English names for February's full moon is Wolf Moon.

The name given by Native Americans in the northern and eastern United States is Snow Moon.

Heads up tonight to view Natures gift to us.

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