Thursday, 25 February 2016

Madness or Moonshine




The recent full moon was the Lenten Moon or the Snow Moon as the Americans call it and, true to form, there were a few flakes drifting down this morning but they soon vanished with the sunshine. The cold bright sunlight has brightened the post winter gloom and Spring does seem on its way. 
The aconites, snowdrops and crocuses are out as are the hellebores.
The Christmas Rose (helleborus niger), the earliest of its kind is past now but the Lenten Rose (helleborus orientalis) is in full flower.


Poisonous, its name means "harmful to eat", it has many legends surrounding it. In witchcraft, it is used to summon demons. In Greek mythology it was used to save the daughters of the king of Argos from madness and was supposed to have been used to poison Alexander the Great. That such a delicate flower could be so toxic and yet so appealing makes one reflect on the nature of things.






Full moons are supposed to induce madness or lunacy though scientific evidence seems to suggest that this is all moonshine... unless you are a werewolf!
 There is still something bewitching... there's that magic word again...about full moons.

The next full moons will be the Egg Moon in April, the Milk Moon in May and the Flower Moon in June......and in May there will be a Blue Moon but that's another story.
As Lent approaches, what will I give up?
 Not moon-watching anyway.



No comments:

Post a Comment