The Harvest Moon and Other Full Moons

Many people felt the effects of this month's full moon, and not necessarily in a good way! Each year as summer in the Northern Hemisphere slowly slips into autumn, we have the September and October full moons to shine their luminous light on the change of seasons. When the September full moon occurs closer to the autumnal equinox, which fell on September 22 this year, it’s called the Harvest Moon. But if the October full moon is closer to the date (this year 5 October), she takes the title. It is well known that the Moon’s gravitational pull on the Earth’s surface has an effect on tides and that its phases coincide with many biological rhythms in animal, plant and human life. All full moons are special, but the Harvest Moon has some unique features. 1. Next year, we'll be back to the more usual schedule, with the Harvest Moon occurring on September 24, a mere two days after the 2018 autumnal equinox. 2. Harvest moons can happen as early as September 8 or as late as October 7, making this year’s relatively late. 3. Sometimes the full moon happens on the equinox itself, the Harvest Moon last perfectly coincided with the autumnal equinox in 2010, and will do so again in 2029. 4. According to early Native American tradition, the calendar was marked by cycles of the moon and thus, each one has a seasonal significance and name. The October moon has been variously known as the Full Hunter's Moon, the Travel Moon, and the Dying Moon. Aside from these interesting aspects of the last full moon, modern day analytical research has shown that physically and psychologically we are affected by both the full and new moon. This is because the gravitational pull between the Sun and Moon are strongest when they are sitting together (conjunct) at a new moon or exactly opposite (in opposition) at the full moon. So if you have been feeling slightly out of sorts, or even out of control, don't sweat it: you are not alone.

Top tips for navigating a full moon:

Be mindful of the moon's cycles using a lunar calendar or simply a site such as this one.
Observe the affects on yourself, and educate yourself in what your particular needs are around full moons. 
Try not to plan too much around a full moon, particularly if you find you are sensitive to its effects.