Hi everyone,
Today I'm spreading a little moonlight.
A mysterious looking, silvery orb, hanging in the night sky, which influences our lives so much. We’ve pursued and succeeded in sending men there. Wallace and Grommit, (the cartoon characters), landed there, ate cheese and made a new friend in their first ever adventure. The moon influences our tides and provides us with the lunar calendar. Even mental health has been associated with it and is why lunacy is so called.
We associate it with romance and write poems and sing songs about it.
It’s also significant in many faiths, usually as part of a never-failing calendar of events.
The new moon marks the end of fasting in Islam and begins the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. In Christianity it sets the date of Easter, and today, on the fifth full moon of this year, we Buddhists are celebrating Vesak (or Wesak), the traditionally observed day of Buddha’s birth, death and enlightenment.
Each of the year’s full moons is given a different name in native American culture. The full moon which occurs tonight is the last super moon of 2020 and is known as the Flower Moon.
In contrast to the brash sun, which we all enjoy so much for its colour and warmth, the moon is much more secretive.
In honour of the moon’s mystery, I offer the quotation, pictured above, which comes from author J M Wonderland.
"The sun watches what I do, but only the moon knows my secrets".
The moon remains silent and shines its gentle light on all of us. I do believe I can safely share my secrets with it!
Wishing everyone a very happy day and wish all fellow Buddhists a happy Vesak!
Background photo courtesy of Jesse Adair (Unsplash.com)
Quotation for Sunday 3rd May 2020