Yule Moon

The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year._farmers almanac

December Moon - Night Fire Moon: Nuupapana

Meditation:

December's great path of the moon is suffering.
Out of suffering comes compassion for people we never noticed before, the ones in a crowd whose eyes we cannot meet. Out of suffering comes appreciation of what ws overlooked before: a sunset, a dawn, a butterfly, the delicate movement of light on a wall. How long does anything last?

What is the nature of your suffering? Illness or accident? Something you did not do right? It is too late for regret. If the stones of suffering are too heavy, drop them. If pain is unbearable, imagine another world of white light. Pink blossoms. A gently flowing stream. Music. The laughter of children. Make yourself live in this imaginary place until the pain moves on.

There is a reason for your suffering. Pain is part of the lesson. Tell it to scour your heart. Pain is a way to acquire new eyes and ears. To be quiet when you have always spoken. To take a journey when you'd rather stay at home. To do with your hands one thing that you are really proud ofl. Pain will make it beautiful. Pain makes reality possible.

The day is a gift. Do not waste a single moment. Hold snow in your hand until it melts. Notice the color of the sky. Listen to the wind. Watch a bird flying south. Smell winter on the wind. Suffering is the transformation of the self into a sharper, clearer world. There, loving kindness begins._wood

dec. full long nights moon
moon clouds

photos: _rRose