Thursday, December 31, 2009

Ending the Year with a Blue Moon

Tonight is a Blue Moon. There actually are several different definitions of a blue moon, but the one that is most often used, is that a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. So, this month there was a full moon on December 2, and then again tonight on the 31st, New Year's Eve. The next time there is a full moon again in December is in 2028--wow!--nineteen years from now! The next blue moon in any month, will be August of 2012.

There is a certain mysticism around a full and a blue moon, I think. I read a quote in the newspaper from an astrologer--she said that full moons call us to release what is no longer serving our growth. I thought that was especially apropos for tonight and the end of 2009.

I have a memory of a blue moon in June one year. Dave and I were in Boulder with our friends, Warren and Jelene. It was evening and we must have gone out to eat. We were walking along the creek by the Boulder Public Library and went on the bridge to look over the water, and talked about it was a blue moon. That memory has stayed with me for probably eight or ten years.

Of course, the best place to celebrate a blue moon is in Kentucky, as per Bill Monroe.

Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
It was on one moonlight night
Stars shining bright
Whisper on high
Love said goodbye
Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

1 comment:

Tanglefoot said...

It sure was incredible to look at! It almost looked blue. Happy New Year!