The eating of the moon
The lunar eclipse tonight was particularly good from where I was: despite rain earlier in the day, the sky was clear, and the moon is one of the handful of celestial objects bright enough to be visible over London’s absurd light pollution.
I love eclipses for how explicitly they demonstrate the physics of the solar system. They make tangible abstract concepts that rarely cross my mind in daily life. Staring up into the dark sky, seeing this planet’s shadow cast across that distinct lump of rock, I realise that I’m perched precariously on the surface of a spinning, orbiting, precessing ball, travelling through an awful lot of not very much.
The other thing I like about eclipses is the Japanese word for them: ?? gesshoku means approximately ‘eating of the moon’. I find that quite poetic.
2007-03-04 01:03 UTC. Comments: 1.
Stellar Astrologer
Wrote at 2007-03-22 20:40 UTC using Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP:
I am pleasantly surprised to find this bit of symolism—a lunar eclipse being named in Japanese “eating of the Moon”. As an astrologer (and former psychotherapist) I was searching the Internet for “Eating with the Moon” because I’m working on a project that will try to reconnect people who are attempting to change their eating habits with their bodies. In astrology, the Moon (we capitalize the names of planets and the Moon and Sun) represents the emotions (constantly changing as the Moon itself), our bodies, habits, the unconscious, mother & sometimes women in general, etc.I am concerned that people don’t “listen to their bodies” but declare war when they want to lose weight or get into shape. What if they could make peace with their bodies and feel that they are nurturing self as they make decisions about what and when to eat? I feel eating could be a very positive and creative focus of our energies rather than a struggle.
I realize I’m not commenting directly on your posting about watching the recent eclipse, but am thrilled to know that you pay attention. Astrologers observe that eclipses effect us all profoundly, whether we are aware of them or not.
You might be interested in reading about the astrological meaning of the recent eclipse and a simple search for “Astrology + March 3 lunar eclipse” should do it. Astrology is really quite a spiritual discipline, using it’s mathmatical expertise to show us the path of life—as individuals and as a culture. An astrologer could tell you the more precise guidance and effects of this recent lunar eclipse if you could provide birth time and place.
Well, I wander and could go on and on. All I really wanted to say was that I’m glad someone is paying attention to the Moon, and to thank you for “eating of the Moon”.
Carolyn Perkins, MA
Indianapolis, Indiana USA