The Harvest Moon

This is a time for Gathering.

In the calendar system we have provided as an example, this moon is frequently known as the the Harvest Moon. This name refers to the harvest time in both our physical gardens and in our personal perspectives. This is represented in both the physical harvests of energy that was expended in growth and spiritual harvests of the insights and in the meditations which will sustain both the body and the spirit during the coming winter months.

In many other belief systems there are already time-honored traditions for the establishment of a calendar. We have encluded a few examples here for you to consider.

In the Celtic Tree Calendar the name of this moon is Coll (Hazel) which runs from August 5th through September 1st.

The Runic Calendar of Nordic traditions, (which is governed by half months rather than full months), divides this moon of the year by Ur (Primal Strength) from July 14th through July 28th, and Thorn (Defense) from July 29th through August 12th.

The Goddess Calendar names this moon of the year after Kerea and runs from July 11th through August 8th.

The American Backwoods Calendar refers to this moon of the year as the Sturgeon Moon or the Corn Moon and is determined by whichever full moon falls in August.

This moon is often known as the Meadow Moon, the Hay Moon, or the Harvest Moon and refers to the harvest which will bring energy for achieving future fullness and success. The preservation of the fruits of this harvest is mirrored in dream work, meditation, divination, which may be viewed as a similar preparation for the harvest of the spirit which will sustain life through the inevitable cold days to come.

During this moon Odin is said to have found release from the world tree "Yggdrasil" where he hung for nine days and nights attaining sacred knowlege of the runes. Today Runestones are a reminder of the blessings of the sacred union of knowledge and the cost for obtaining it.

This moon is host to Lammas, (the Feast of Bread), a cross quarter day celebrating the first harvest. It is at this time that King Harvest arrives in the fields to fell the first sheaves which will be preserved to ensure the survival of the hearth, home and clan. It is traditional at this time to bake a loaf in the shape of the goddess and offer it in thanks for a successful harvest.

In Greco/Roman mythology this is also the time when Hades kidnaps Persephone to his underworld kingdom. This causes Persephone's mother Demeter (or Ceres) who is the goddess of grain (Ceres = Cereal), to abandon the world above to seek her daughter in the world below. This explains the yearly and inevitable decline of the orchards, meadows and fields.

So, with all this information to guide you, it may be that you can view this first of three moons that focus on matters of harvest as an opportunity to focus on matters that you too should be harvesting in your life. Whatever personal "seeds" you planted for this year should be assessed now to see if they are "ripe" enough to harvest.

If you select a personal name for this moon, you will do well to allow it to reflect the blessings of the many harvests in your experience.

If you wish to review a completed lunar calendar for this year, please select the icon image to your left labeled "Lunar Calendar".

If you wish to go directly to instructions for creating a lunar calendar of your own using our lunar calendar system, please select the link to your left labeled "Lunar Calendar System".

If you wish to learn more about the individual thirteen moons of a lunar calendar, please use the image links to your left.