Thinking about the phases of the moon, I realise that I’m a little confused about the distinction between the dark and new moon.
In their book Guided by the Moon, Paungger and Poppe explain that the moon takes around 28 days to orbit the sun, and that at all times only one of its faces is turned to the earth. When the moon lies directly between the sun and the earth, this face is in darkness.
Paungger and Poppe call this time – when the light of the sun does not illuminate the moon as we see it from the earth – the new moon. In olden times, they say, it was known as the dead moon, and a ’short period prevails’ of special influence on people, plants and animals. ‘The earth begins to breathe in’. The detoxifying power of the body peaks, making it a good time to fast.
Just a few short hours after the new moon, say Paungger and Poppe, ‘a graceful sickle appears’ and we enter the phase known as the waxing moon.
It seems pretty straightforward so far. However, other commentators refer to the time when the moon is in shadow the dark moon, and the first sliver of visible moon the new moon. During the dark moon, it is said, it’s beneficial to rest and meditate. The dark moon is not considered a good time to make big changes or initiate negotiation.
I’m in two minds about the whole thing. In fact I’m not even sure if I’m overthinking it. Inventing a distinction that doesn’t even exist.
To clarify my own approach, though – when I speak of the dark moon I am referring to the time when the face of the moon is in shadow; and the new moon as the first sliver of the waxing moon.
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