‘Tis Old Farmer’s Day on 12 Oct. Without the colloquial wisdom of our agricultural godfathers we’d be flummoxed and bewildered by natures seasonal ebb and flow. The introduction of ‘calendars’ first noted the helical rising of Sirius perpetual habits and cue to specific time of year, when the Nile Flooded. Prior to Solar calendars the lunar lady was the favoured chronicle. Moon has always commanded attention in the night skies, yet the lingering mystery of planting by the Zodiac signs and moon phase may well perplex those who doubt — but for those who believe, they receive. No matter your country of origin, every culture observed moon’s modes and practiced her wise ways unlocking a fortnight of fecund planting days in every month. The Farmer’s Almanac is an agriculturalist bible.
Read more17th Solar term : Cold Dew 2023
Golden season. Image by ck_ck.
A week has past since the full Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) that followed the Equinox. The 17th Solar Term of Cold Dew (Hanlu 寒露) gets under ways on 8 Oct., as does a New zodiacial month - Yang Water Dog month. Followed by the New Chinese lunar month, kick starting the 9th or Chrysanthemum month; as it was known to the Ancients.
Read moreQing ming - 5th Solar Term Clear + Bright
Section of Qing Ming scroll,: detailing Spring Ploughing on first day of Qing Ming © National Palace Museum.
The Vernal Equinox was but a fortnight ago. The 5th solar term commences on April 5th 2022 and we usher in the month of Chinese Wood Dragon. This Solar term is the only term whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, known as Qing Ming.
Read moreWorship the Moon / Mid-Autumn Festival
Moon ink painting with reeds. japanese-showa-era-nihonga-scroll
Most lunar months in the Chinese calendar denote a Double Festival - like the Double fifth or ninth but the there’s no Double Eight FESTIVAL. Surprising, given the number eight is such a significant number in Asian communities. On a smaller scale, veneration of the Eight Immortals takes place, specifically the female Immortal, He Xiangu. During Osmanthus month( an ancient name for the month) the Mid Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival is primarily celebration. Since the moon is central to its namesake festival; Luna would be full bloom on the eighth day of the 8th of the 8th lunar month. This year (2023) the Moon Festival falls on 29 Sept. in the Gregorian calendar, and celebrates the Full Moon which occurs at 7:57pm in Sydney*(more Full moon times below).
Read more2023 FENG SHUI PREDICTIONS - Pt 2
This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2023 – Universal Media, Australia
2023 FENG SHUI - The Year of the Yin Water Rabbit 癸卯
Intriguing as Feng Shui sounds, it’s essentially about timing and orientation. A big elemental shift is but a year away. Knowing when and where the right place to position oneself will greatly influence your Feng Shui luck.
Read more2023 ASTROLOGY PREDICTIONS
Image via Pinterest
This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2023 – Universal Media, Australia
2023 The Year of the Yin Water Rabbit
We enter burrowed time, at the dawn of a new Frontier. Rabbit gives us a master class on networking and the art of foresight. Tiger is officially relieved of his solar mantel on 4 February 2023 — when the diplomatic Bunny steps up. The paradigm shifts from predator to prey. Tiger brought Change; Rabbit detests it.
Read moreSpring Equinox - 4th Solar Term
Crow cherry blossom and moon. Ohara Koson 小原古邨 (1877-1945) Robert O. Muller Collection’.
For most folks the March (Vernal*) Equinox, has singular astronomical phenomenon; when the length of a day and night are said to be equal. To devotees of the Pagan Calendar, the equinoxes represent Mabon or Ostara festivals, held over a few days. And to the Ancient Asian forefathers of Chinese calendrical calculations, it also signaled more than a given day; it was the beginning of the fortnight long 4th Solar term commencing on 21 Mar 2023 @ 05:35am, Beijing.
And a New moon follows just hours afterward on 22 March @1:23am. And this lunation see the inserting of an intercalary (leap) month and an extended Rabbit month. The sun also enters a new astrological sign, kicking off the Aries season, the beginning of the Western Astrological Year.
Read moreMABON + OSTARA
Ceres, Roman Goddess of agriculture, fertility, grains, the harvest, motherhood, the earth, and cultivated crops. illustration by Thalia Took .
No matter where you’re living on the globe, a cyclical change is occurring. Sept./Mar 21st/22nd every year marks the annual Equinox pairs; one marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – from North to South and vice versa at the time of the opposing. To devotees of the Pagan Calendar, it represents Mabon or Ostara, a time of year - not a singular date - on the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
Read more2023 Autumn Equinox (Qiu Fen) 16th Solar Term
16th solar term of ‘The Autumn Equinox’ (Qiu Fen). Image by #unknown
The Equinoxes work in pairs; marking the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – from North to South and vice versa at the time of the opposition. If you’re unfamiliar with Asian Solar Terms, then the word ‘Equinox’, may only hold a singular astrological date and meaning that’s done and dusted on one day. However, to devotees of Solar Terms, Qiu Fen 秋分 (Autumn Equinox), represents a two week long occurrence beginning on 23 Sept 14:52 Beijing and ends 7 Oct. The same period in the Pagan Calendar, represents ‘Mabon’ on the Celtic Wheel of the Year. While we remain in Rooster Month; in Western astrology the Sun enters the astrological sign of balance and checks, kicking off Libra season.
Read moreAugust Blue Moon + Ghost Festival
Kawanabe Kyosai (Japanese, 1831-1889)
This month’s Full moon lunation goes by many names*, depending on your domicile and cultural preference. Named the Sturgeon Moon by Indigenous Americans due to sturgeon (a type of fish, famous for Beluga caviar) which is more readily caught in August and early September. Most moon ‘names’ have seasonal references. Chinese and English folk refer to this lunation as Harvest Moon, as it’s the beginning of harvest season in Northern Hemisphere. This year you’ll also hear of a Super Blue moon; the adage ‘once in a blue moon’ offers a clue, simply put it’s two full moons in a Georgian calendar month and the Super bit, occurs when Moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth and it’s slightly brighter and larger than a typical full moon. This lunation is in Pisces (times below).
Read moreLughnasa + God of Light Lugh
It's time to celebrate the Polarity of Seasons again. Phenologists will appreciate, when the dog days of summer bring balmy humidity, I know my internal barometer is in sync with seasons! The dog days of Summer coupled with the end July (or Jan in S.H), are both calendar and celestial indicators; a midpoint point between Solstice and the next Equinox and the heliacal rising of Sirius the Dog star. This crucial time on the Celtic Wheel of the Year is a time of Harvesting nature’s bounty, known as Lughnasadh, an Autumnal festival marker.
Read moreOld Farmer's Day
‘Tis Old Farmer’s Day on 12 Oct. Without the wisdom of our agricultural godfathers we would be flummoxed and bewildered by the ways of the lunar lady and ne'er a Farmer’s Almanac would exist. Moon has always commanded attention in the night skies, yet the lingering mystery of planting by the Zodiac signs and moon phase may well perplex those who doubt - but for those who believe — they receive. No matter your country of origin, every culture observed moon’s modes and practiced her wise ways unlocking a fortnight of fecund planting days in every month.
Read moreQiXi Festival - Chinese Valentine's Day
Star crossed lovers?
Happy Chinese Valentine’s Day!
Unlike the Western lovers day which follows a set annual date, the Chinese celebration fluctuates according to the 7th day of the 7th lunar Month, known as the Qixi (Double Seventh) Festival. This year (2020) in the Gregorian calendar it falls on month of August 14th.
Read moreMoon Musings
Image via Moon Whooz_Queen on flikr
National Moon Day
On July 20th 1969 man took his first step on the moon - 52 years ago. Since 1971 it’s been commemorated as National Moon Landing Day. The two main luminaries in the sky - Sun and Moon, have preoccupied mankind since the dawn of time. With Moon lending its name in part to Monday, derived from Middle English Monenday, originally a translation of Latin, meaning "day of the Moon". In addition to being cognate with month and moon.
Read moreDOUBLE THIRD FESTIVAL
‘Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion’ is the most famous Chinese calligraphy work of Wang Xizhi.
Like every lunar month, when the numerical day and month match, it marks a festival or ritual of sorts. Today is the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month (3rd April 2022) known as the Spring Purification Festival; the Double Third Festival or ‘Shangsi’ Festival. The festival was famed for composing poems and the legendary Yellow Emperor’s birthday is also celebrated - he was reputed to be the sage creator of the Chinese Calendar, but where was the wisdom attained?
Read moreEclipses in Chinese Cosmology
Embroidered Cory robes. Four legged Dragon eating the Sun. image via Met Museum
Sun’s allure has captivated cultures since the dawn of time. So too has the mystical obscuring of it’s illumination when Luna veils its view from those of us on Earth. The phenomenon of eclipses must have been scary when playing out in our skies and ordinary folk believed it foretold of ominous occurrences and impending doom.
Chinese mythology and lore associated with eclipses stretches back thousands of years. Like many cultures, Asian countries looked to astronomy and astrology to predict the future. The cosmic skies above were viewed as a scene from Heaven and thus reflected how a nation should be arranged on Earth - as above, and so below.
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