October Sees Rare Double Hunter’s Moon

The month of October in the UK saw a rare double Hunter’s moon, the Daily Record reports.  The first full moon of the autumn was visible at twilight on two consecutive evenings, which is a phenomenon referred to as a blue moon. This does not literally mean that the moon is blue in appearance, although certain atmospheric conditions may give it a bluish tinge. 

The phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ also originates from this rare occurrence, when the year has 13 full moons rather than the usual 12, due to the imbalance between the modern calendar and the natural phases of the moon. 

Because each of the monthly full moons have their own seasonal name, the extra full moon which occurs once every two or three years became known as the blue moon. 

Nowadays, scientists can explain the lunar cycle in exact detail, but in previous generations, the moon has been a source of awe and wonder. In pre-industrial times, people tracked the moon cycle for practical reasons too: full moons, which occur every 29.5 days, allowed hunter-gatherer societies extra time to work at night. 

This is why September’s full moon is still known as the Harvest moon, as agricultural workers stayed out late to gather crops under the moonlight. In fact, each of the full moons has its own name, which were originally bestowed by the tribes of Native America, but have now been widely adapted around the world.

October is known as the Hunter’s moon, because this was traditionally the best time of year to hunt deer fattened by the summer, and other animals who could hide less easily once the vegetation began to die back, the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) website explains. 

November’s moon is known as the Beaver moon, although there is less agreement about the reason for this. It may be because it was the time of year that Native Americans set traps for beavers, or because beavers are particularly active at this time of year, building dams before winter.

There are many other fascinating reasons for the names of the other full moons of the season, and of course many other myths and legends which celebrate the more magical and mysterious aspect of the moon. Many people regard the moon as a source of feminine spirituality and energy, and a natural counterpoint to the more masculine energy of the sun. 

There is no doubt about the gravitational pull of the moon on earth, as it controls the tides, and even causes the earth’s crust to rise and fall by a few centimetres. Some people believe that this energy is absorbs by the earth’s natural materials, particularly precious gemstones such as crystals. They find that by charging their crystals by the light of a full moon, they can renew this energy, and absorb it into the chakras of the body.

This can be a way of cleansing the spirit and letting go of negative energy, and also of replenishing the body and soul with fresh resources. If you are interested in finding out more about crystals for the moon, please visit our website today.