Oak Moon

Apologies for not getting this one out before full moon, but we can still learn about the full moon on Wednesday night.

This full moon is called the Oak Moon, the Earth Mother, the Cold Moon or the Longest night Moon.  The last name as this full moon does happen around the winter solstice the longest night of the year.

 The name the Oak Moon comes from old European traditions, with the name tying back to the old druid traditions of harvesting mistletoe from oak trees.

As mentioned before, this moon typical falls around the winter solstice, and would be included in a three day solstice celebration.

As this moon is linked to both the Oak God and the Solstice, this is a moon of self-reflection and contemplation. Time itself has frozen, Mother Earth has gone quiet, taking her long nap before the coming spring.

This is the time to take a moment, pause and think. It is a time to listen to the voice inside, and it is also a time to let go of all that has come before, and make room for the seeds you are about to plant for the coming year.

Yes the new year, the winter solstice marks the end of one cycle, and the beginning of a new cycle, or the end of the year, and the new year is about to begin.

Think about the Northern Hemisphere the Winter solstice and this moon falls during Christmas, and Christmas is at the end of the year, but as the seasons are the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere it falls for us at the end of June, and mid year.

However if we where following the old Pagan calender's, this would be the end of the year for us in the Southern Hemisphere, so this moon is all about the ending of one cycle as planting the seeds for the new.