The Harvest Moon is the full moon that happens closest to the autumnal equinox, or the official start of fall. For several nights in a row, a large full moon rises shortly after sunset. The peak of this full moon will be in the early hours of September 29th, but the Harvest Moon will still look full for a few days.

Long before electricity, farmers would take advantage of this bright moonlight when it was time to harvest. The extra light extended the evening working hours, which is why it's called a Harvest Moon.

If you catch a glimpse, you'll notice that this full moon looks particularly beautiful. Compared to the average full moon, it can appear bigger, brighter, or more orange if you look right after sunset when it's close to the horizon. The larger appearance is a visual trick called “the moon illusion.”

From a spiritual perspective, you can think of the Harvest Moon as a time to "harvest" the things you've been working toward since the spring. This moon represents the end of a six-month cycle and the start of a new one. To commemorate this powerful time of transition, you may want to create a full moon ritual. In this week's Take 5 Yoga video, I offer a Tai Chi-inspired movement called "Waving at the Moon."

Maybe add a little music to your ritual? My suggestion... "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young.

This time of transition may be inspiring you to begin a new healthy habit. How about Midlife Yoga? You can join me any Wednesday for this beginner-friendly, online class.

Until next time,

~ Rosemary