moon gazing

It's midnight and time to go outside again and look at the moon. The full moon in July is called the Full Thunder Moon - because of the frequency of thunderstorms in July. The moon names come from the Native American cultures - especially tribes in the northeast United States. July's full moon is also called the Buck Moon because July is when the new antlers of buck deer push out. Some call it the Full Hay Moon.

Did you notice how extra bright the moon was? I had to shade my eyes and only look for a few moments at a time. These photos were taken by Scott on Monday night - I think it was brightest that night. The moon is actually waning tonight - four nights later.

I love that word waning. When referring to the moon, I have to pause and think about the meanings of waxing and waning.

Scott went to medical school in New York City. He remembers that the the emergency rooms there were much busier on the nights when there was a full moon. From Live Science website: "The moon holds a mystical place in the history of human culture, so it's no wonder that many myths — from werewolves to induced lunacy to epileptic seizures to increased births — have built up regarding its supposed effects on us.

"It must be a full moon," is a phrase heard whenever crazy things happen and is said by researchers to be muttered commonly by late-night cops, psychiatry staff and emergency room personnel. (Statistical studies have debunked the myth.)

. . . . .

"Tell me what you feel

when the full moon is shining upon you

and your lamp is dying out,

and I will tell you how old you are,

and I shall know if you are happy."

Henri Frederic Amiel