There is going to be a Strawberry full Moon on The Summer Solstice AKA Midsummer Night. Beware of faeries!
(Attached image by Brian Fraud for the alternate / back cover for the book Good Faeries / Bad Faeries.)
You may wonder why it's called Midsummer Night when it's the first day of summer / longest day of the year and shortest night of the year.
Well, in Ancient Greece (before the seasons were divided up into fourths) there were just the two seasons. Summer and Winter. Each starting at an equinox. So halfway through the "Summer" half of the year (which started at the spring equinox) is the summer solstice. Today it's the end of spring and start of summer but this was the half-way point through summer in early Greek culture.
This is also the holiday known by some Neo Pagans and Wiccans as Litha.
It would be an excellent night for making moon water and charging crystals.
Cycle Of The Werewolf - December Plate by Bernie Wrightson
The original Wolfman poem was: "Even a man who is pure in heart And says his prayers by Night May become a wolf When the wolfbane blooms And the autumn moon is bright." However in Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman and in Dark Shadows the poem is changed to: Even a man who is pure in heart And says his prayers by night May become a wolf When the wolfbane blooms And the full moon is bright."
Happy Walpurgisnacht everyone!
April 30th is Walpurgisnacht, the halfway point to Halloween. It’s the eve before Beltane and in German tradition it is essentially a second Halloween. In medieval Germany it was believed to be the night where witches and faeries have secret festivals in forests to sell their potions, charms, and spells, to dance, tell stories, and cavort with fae and goblin alike. It is a night of powerful magick and when the veil between worlds becomes thin (Much like on Halloween itself).
Goblins, imps, trolls, ghosts, and demons are supposed to roam loose on Walpurgisnacht, along with hungry vampires, and dark faeries.
(Artwork by Brian Froud)
Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker is set during Walpurgisnacht and there are two pivotal scenes in Goethe’s Faust (parts 1 and 2) at Walpurgisnacht celebrations.
This year’s Walpurgisnacht comes with a full moon (Moon reaches its peak on the 29th).
Once Upon a Time fans will also recognize Beltane as also being the night Baelfire was born (as he was named for the bonfires of Beltane).
The Hunter’s Moon
Last night was The Hunter's Moon, the October Moon. It was also a Super Moon where the moon is closest to the Earth and looks larger and therefor the night is brighter. This moon has been called things like the Dying Grass Moon (like in American Horror Story). It is also a sort of blood moon because the light will seem almost orange. Not quite as red as during a lunar eclipse. That is a true blood moon. But this is a kind of Hunter's blood moon. If you missed the beauty of the October full moon don't fret. It's a multiple night event. You'll have another chance to see it tonight. The moon also rises earlier this time of year.
Happy Solstice!
Happy Solstice, everyone to those who celebrate it. It's the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year / Shortest night of the year. It's also the full moon tonight. The full Strawberry Moon. The first full moon of summer.
Today might be the longest day of the year but soon night will start to grow longer and longer until September when the equinox balances things out. Then night shall once again over power day.
Also happy belated Saint John's Day / Midsummer festival for those who Celebrate it.
