Somebody asked me if I thought the moon had any effect on us. It was a great question, it made me smile, and got me thinking. My conclusion from the logical side of my brain is, why wouldn’t it. Look at what it does to the ocean twice a day, and we are mostly composed of water. My conclusion from the creative, intuitive side is, of course, can’t you feel her tugging at your heart and slipping through all the cracks in your skin.
I slipped out last night, just to take a look at her in her full glory, after reading this post. She was rolling playfully along the top of a cloud bank, wreathing herself in misty wisps. I took a few photos, and then, just like that, she was gone.
Mistress of change, she is never the same from one day to the next. It’s great lesson to remember about ourselves. We live with the illusion that we are something fixed and certain, the same from one day to the next. Yet in truth we are in constant change, as we grow and experience life. If I look back and think about myself as I was 5 or even 10 years ago, I have to agree that I’ve changed. Because it usually happens slowly, and I’m there in myself every day, I just don’t notice.
I find this idea of a steady rhythm of change soothing. It means everything will pass, so when I’m in the middle of something difficult I needn’t worry about feeling stuck. Soon I will have moved on to worry about something different. It also means I don’t need to cling too tightly to all the things I love. They will be shifting and changing too, and I just need to trust that we will be doing something else wonderful together soon. I find trust in the midst of change is vital, but sometimes difficult to feel.
Every phase of the moon is beautiful, even this harsh Ice Moon of hunger. Everything has its place and rhythm, and will pass. Our lives can be reflections of the beauty of change and growth, if we will only allow it.
I slipped out across the frozen grass
Tiny shards of crystal ice were dancing to her call
And I too had come
The same face every night, and yet different
On a stage so vast an empire might be missed
Yet she holds her audience from within
Her veil slipping or lifting as she feels
Thinner or thicker slivers tempting my imagination
Dreams and illusions woven in silver dust fill me up
Hypnotising and soothing she lulls us to sleep
Even as she stirs our waters
She is not what she seems
A face as back as coal, which shimmers white
Soft light which pulls whole oceans across the earths body
Light so weak it’s quenched by a cloud, yet it holds the creative power of our future
I can pretend not to see her
Yet she is
The hidden power of the night where all that makes us rests
She navigates an ocean of stars undaunted by its vastness
She gives me a knowing look then sweeps her milky arms through the starry water
And swims on
See you tomorrow, depending on the clouds.
breathofgreenair 
Miss MacKenzie,
The following are four pictures of the ocean taken this morning by Richard Honan, the other I’m wearing a Western Hat with a Texas Ranger Badge
Wishing you and u’re family a fruitful weekend 🙂
Anthony
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2014/02/flooding-in-southwest-england/100677/
Focus: Just received this…sending it along.. beautiful animal..’
aje
Miss MacKenzie,
Happy u enjoyed the article.
I’m sending a pic. of myself and my horse…your photo of the pony(?)…what a beautiful animal. what type is it ( May be a Welch Pony)?
Have a happy day on you’re side and stay well,
Anthony
It’s a Highland Pony….native to Scotland 🙂
I added some links at the bottom of the post if you’re interested.
Hi From This side of the ocean.. weather very bad (SNOW) storm.
One question for you? following u’re Blog with beautiful photos.. do you travel to these areas that are planed beforehand 🙂
Anthony
Thank you for responding to my Blog on Suicide. !
Thank you Anthony, I hope the snow storm isn’t too unkind to you.
Mostly I take my camera out with me whenever I’m walking the dogs, and just snap what I find. These shots though were taken on a short holiday to Northumberland back in July, as we were driving home I spotted this stone, and made my poor husband pull over so I could take a closer look and snap some shots. I love exploring and mostly my photos are happy unplanned discoveries!
Beautiful photo and post. Loved the poem. I remember my mother telling me the story of when my parents were dating, my father called her and told her to go out and look at the moon. Even though they were hundreds of miles apart, he told her they could both see the same moon. I love that and think of that often when I gaze into her beauty.
That’s such a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it here. It is amazing to think of the moon shining down on all of us, as she swims on through the ocean of stars…..
Love the poem!
Thanks for another lovely comment 🙂
The moon is a great muse.
That is a fabulous shot!
Thanks, it took me a while and lots of attempts adjusting almost every setting I could find on the camera!
I don’t spend much time looking at the moon I have to admit. I’ve noticed a few posts about the moon recently. You called it the “ice moon”, another (Native American) called it the “wolf moon”. It makes me wonder if we have names for the moon in Australia.
Beautiful concepts – place, rhythm, change, and growth.
Yes, there is. You’ve opened up a whole new area of investigation for me – Aboriginal astronomy!
Wonderful, that sounds so interesting, and I’m delighted the moon has found you 🙂
I love the old names for each of the full moons, they add to the sense of season and energy.
I suppose there will be no snow or ice moons in Australia though!
A beautiful post, through and through. I appreciate how you dig into the cycles our attachments can take, too. You remind me of one of my first posts. I won’t bother to share the original post but here’s an excerpt, on change and cycles:
“The bodily vicissitudes are not random but often follow cycles. Of time, weather, season. For the person is a microcosmic embodiment of the universe. There is the planetary orbit. The revolutions. And we are governed by a circadian rhythm. Whether or not we choose to rise and set with the sun, our organ systems each heed their own clock of peak functioning in keeping with the tide of day and night. The woman’s body is a candid avatar of the Cycle.”
a worthy topic few have the authority to speak on…you among them 🙂
Warm Greetings from cold and snowy Poland.
http://marciento.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/virtual-exhibition-of-photography/
Beautifully and lyrically expressed.
The effect physical, mental and spiritual is undoubtedly there.
I became curious! Did you get out of bed, to look at the moon? No, on second reading, I can see that you’re up 🙂 I read on to the chapter that begins with: “I find this idea of a steady rhythm of change soothing”
I find that chapter very comforting, Seonaid. Excellent written ♡
All the best,
Hanna
It’s funny, I’ve often wondered what the moon does to us as well and never stopped to think about the water aspect of it all. It changes tides and currants, so why wouldn’t it change or alter something in us? Thanks for a new perspective on an old question today 🙂
really beautiful pic dear,..:)
What a lovely post. You touch the place where continuity and impermanence meet, that magical point where all is as it must be. Thank you.
Sleep inducing lullaby of words Seonaid …. beautiful imagery here .
Nicely written, well done!
Clearly you were filled with the essence of the goddess when you wrote this Seonaid.
http://merisspa.wordpress.com/
moon
This was beautifully written, like the moon herself.
Luna has you under her spell 🙂 Sometimes I look up at her and wonder at all the people before us who have done the same, since the beginning of humankind. What stories did they tell themselves and each other about her…were they connected to moon energy in a different way than we are today (having lost so many of our original senses by now). Apart from the oceans, even plants and their seeds respond to the moon and her cycles. Luna is even more mysterious than the sun.
Beautiful meditation, Seonaid.
The moon is an enchantment.
I loved this post. There are illusions and there is change and yet, consistency. This “Ice Moon of hunger” has much to teach us. There is cyclical (don’t you love this word?) comfort. And there is that constant change. Thought-provoking post, Seonaid… see you tomorrow. 🙂
I agree entirely … apart from the possibility of total control, as in lunacy, that is … and your argument about lunar control of the tides is a good one. It reminds me of a story concerning my kids, when they were small. A neighbor told them to cover up while out at night, especially when the moon was full, for they wanted, at all cost, to avoid what he called Moon Burn. They believed him … for may years it turns out! What is it about that reflected solar radiance that is so haunting? For we all find it so? Is it some atavistic fear which resides deep within us. Perhaps it is in our genes to fear the bright light of the full moon for predators far larger than ourselves might be out-and-about looking (more effectively in the light) for an easy snack? Next time you’re out at night Seonaid … please take a flashlight! D
Bravo, well written!
I like the phrase “steady rhythm of change.” Thanks for sharing your thoughts and beautiful photo today.