*Lunar Calendar

Nature’s 8 points of celebration through the year were re-dated according to the Roman calendar, which ignores the fine tuning of Sun, Moon and Earth in synchronisation with each other.

The constantly shifting phases of the moon do not easily fit into a 12-month Gregorian calendar and a 12-month solar year. The 13-month Lunar year is still practised in many cultures around the world for good reason – it synchronises the bio-rhythms of our planet and all the creatures that live instinctively with it.

The loss of this essential wisdom has had a detrimental effect on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of our human family but we can easily reclaim it just by observing it. When our minds are aware of these cycles, the body rhythms follow automatically.

As an example, in 2015 the winter solstice was traditionally on the 21^st of December, with 3 days when the sun ‘stands still’. With the sun at its lowest point on the shortest days we can look to the full moon to light the darkness. A rare full moon in Cancer on 25th December, Christmas Day, was a welcome Light, and so this would be the Lunar Solstice.  

8-Point Lunar Year 2016

1. Imbolc is the real start of Spring, so the new moon in Aquarius starts the lunar light on 8th February
2. Vernal Equinox, equal half day and half night, equates with the waxing half-moon in Gemini on 15th March
3. Beltane fires look best on a dark night. The dark earth is where the seed sleeps until germination, and the dark womb is where conception takes place, so no-moon keeps things in the dark in Taurus on 6th May
4. Summer solstice This year, both the Full Moon and Sun take centre stage at the pinnacle of the year
5. Lammas sees late summer fruits swelling with goodness, and healthful days for the pregnant mother, with the waxing half-moon in Virgo on 10th August
6. Autumn equinox equal half days and half nights again as summer falls away, but has provided a full harvest, a full womb, and a waning half-moon on 23rd September
7. Samhain, All-Haloed-Souls’ Eve with prayers for the incoming and outgoing souls, a mass of candles to light their way and a no-moon in Scorpio on 30th October
8. Winter solstice is the end of the road as the sun dips down to its lowest point, 3days of darkness as it stands still. We give gratitude for the year and our expectations give birth to the new sun, the new-born, the new life to come, with the new moon in Capricorn on 29th Dec