Full Moon of May - The Full Flower Moon

"Rocky Shoals Spider Lily - Full flower Moon" by Ted Borg, South Carolina

This evening, May 5, you will be able to view the full moon of May: --This moon is known by several names: Full Flower Moon or Budding Moon because flowers are now abundant everywhere. It was also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon

Each full moon has several names related to the natural or planting cycles, the former being more popular with Native Americans and the latter with the early colonists. Full moon names go back hundreds of years to Native Americans of the northern and eastern United States who kept track of the seasons by giving names to each full moon based on natural occurrences.

For the colonists and the tribes that planted, May was often called the month of the Corn Planting Moon.

Those that believe that the gravitational force that pulls the tides and pulls a horseshoe crab ashore to mate, also causes crops (particularly those that bear fruit above ground) to sprout faster from the earth during the full moon.

Believers would also say to plant nothing when the moon is “dark.” That’s when plants rest and the gardener should kill weeds because they won’t grow back. The full and waning moon is a good time to plant root crops, or transplanting seedlings with wide root systems.

Variations of the Native American moon names come from the European settlers who created their own versions. Native Americans did not domesticate cows, so it was the settlers who named the May full moon the Milk Moon. During May cows, goats, and sheep enjoy the abundance of sprouting weeds, grasses, and herbs in the pastures and produce lots of rich milk, full of vitamins.

The full moon is the perfect time to sweep the heart, mind and home clean of any clutter - this is guaranteed to raise your spirit.

So, this evening, raise your eyes to the sky and enjoy the beautiful gift that Mother Nature has given us.

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"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator"
(Mahatma Gandhi)

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