The Yuga cycles mirror the Greek Great Year described by Plato. Today astronomers understand this period known as the precession of the equinoxes.

Precession is a 25 920 year cycle that measures the slow rotation of the background stars relative to rising sun on the vernal equinox. Originally described in the Vedas, the oldest known written texts on planet earth, the Yuga cycles describe this slow rotation of the zodiac constellations.  

Each period describe ascending and descending periods of life on earth.

Today it’s most widely believed that we are in the Kali Yuga, but some Hindu scholars discuss whether this is true or not. 

In this article we’ll get to know the foundations of the Yuga Cycles.

The Yugas and Long-Count Calendar

To understand the Yuga cycles, we must see that them as a measure of time.  

Yogic astronomy divides the orbit of the Earth around the Sun into 27 segments, called  nakshatras.  

• Each nakshatra is further divided into four equal sectors called padas or steps. Multiply 4 by 27 and it equals 108.  

• These 108 units mark the 108 steps that the Earth takes through space.  

• Each nakshatra equals one half of the moon cycle around the Earth. The cycles within the human body respond and correspond to that. 

The nakshatras describe in detail the motion of the earth, sun and moon.  

The Yuga cycles are a way to divide the motion of the earth, sun, and other astronomical figures. 

It’s based on the notion that the sun has a third motion as it revolves around its partner star somewhere in the cosmos.  

Today binary star systems are known to be far more common than single star systems.  

What are the 4 Yuga Cycles?

The Yugas are a cycle that spans over a period of roughly 25,920 years and is associated with the precession of the equinoxes, or the ‘Great Year’. 

It is broken up into four eras known as “Yugas”. They each correspond to a period in relation to humanity’s level of perception of the non-material or spiritual universe.  

Image: The Yuga Cycles are broken into Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali Yugas.

Each of the four Yugas is assigned to specific amounts of time throughout the cycle. These are generally have the ratio of 4:3:2:1, with the smallest denomination of this ratio roughly 1296 years. 

Today the lengths of each period is disputed, above is the most widely accepted version. However, we will explore the different interpretations in future articles.  

As the entire cycle is roughly 25,920 years long, the Kali Yuga, or Iron Age, lasts for 2,592 years. The Satya Yuga or Golden Age has a longer length of 10,368 years.  

When estimating these times we must take into account the elliptical orbit the sun makes with its supposed binary twin.  

As it approaches its twin and encounters a greater gravitational pull, the sun behaves similar to a car approaching a sharp corner on a road.  

Its velocity decreases as it makes a close orbit around its twin, before it is slingshot back out into space once more. 

As it approaches, there would be such a gravitational pull on our sun that we would stay in that area of the universe for longer than we would be away from it.  

Our sun would be drawn with such gravity towards its twin before being slung back out into space once more. 

What are the 4 ‘Yugas’?

1. Satya Yuga
2. Treta Yuga
3. Dwapara Yuga
4. Kali Yuga

 1) Satya Yuga or the Golden Age 

The Golden Age marks the time of humanity’s purest era, where truth and love is valued over all else and balance reigns on the planet. It is believed that spiritual senses are at their peak too, with mankind’s ability to perceive the non-material at an all time high. 

As humanity is currently in the depths of the Kali Yuga, we are the lowest point of the descending cycle, about to begin the long journey back up. It won’t be for roughly another 12,000 years, or half-cycle, that we will return to the top of the Satya Yuga or Golden Age. 

2) Treta Yuga or the Silver Age

As we enter the third quarter of the Yuga cycle, humanity is thought to be able to comprehend the subtle energies at play throughout the universe. Things that seem unimaginable in modern times start to become perceived.

These include sensing natural electromagnetics and other subtle energies like electricity in the air, as well as refined awareness of seemingly paranormal phenomenon like synesthesia and telepathy. 

3) Dwapara Yuga or Bronze Age

The second quarter of the cycle is linked to mental virtue. It is believed that, during this period, we will begin to comprehend spiritual ideas and begin adopting them worldwide.  

4) Kali Yoga

The Kali Yuga  is the fourth and present age of the world cycle of Yugas, or “ages.” It’s also the end of the four ages that comprise a cycle and is often referred to as the dark age. In Hindu belief, the Kali Yuga leads to destruction of the world and then the creation of a new cycle of the four yugas. 

 It is filled with war and conflict. Spiritually, civilization degenerates throughout the yuga, as people drift farther and farther from the Divine. At the end of the Kali Yuga, Hindus believe that Lord Shiva will come in the form of Lord Kalki to punish and cleanse the world, which will have devolved to the point of being incapable of enlightenment. The resulting transformation and re-creation of the universe is the start of a new cycle of yugas. 

Which Yuga are we currently in?

In his 1894 book The Holy Science, Yukteswar Giri explains the link between the Yuga cycles and human behavior. Kali Yuga, or the Iron Age, is where we currently reside.  

Being the first quarter, it is the lowest point in the cycle, and we are only just beginning the ascending stage. It is at this time that humanity can barely perceive anything outside gross materialism. In other words, it can’t get much worse than this! 

The number of years the Yuga Cycle and Great Year takes to complete varies quite dramatically depending on which source you consult, but the most common number of 25,920 years has been adopted not only by modern researchers, but also by much of the ancient world.

This number was so important in fact, that many ancient cultures understood this phenomenon and based their systems of measurement on factors of the length of the Great Year, and included these precessional numbers in many ancient structures found all over the world. 

From sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, all the way to the great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt,  multiples of these numbers in some form appear again and again, highlighting the importance they held over civilizations from a bygone era. 

Although it may appear to be an ancient idea, we still incorporate these numbers into modern day life. 60 second minutes, 60-minute hours, as well as 24-hour days, are all factors of the widely accepted Yuga Cycle length of 25,920. 

While they are the same length, the Yuga Cycle is slightly different to the precession of the equinoxes or great year in that it measures eras of time in relation to humanity’s perception of the universe. As the cycle flows, there are ascending and descending periods of time that are thought to tie to mankind’s spiritual awareness.  

Throughout the cycle, it is understood that the human race goes through times of greater connection with the spiritual world, as well as periods of time based on materialism and non-spirituality. As a result of this, there are certain stages of the Yuga Cycle that are thought to have physical effects on planet earth. 

It is written by many ancient sources that this phenomenon is not something of science fiction, but the astronomical cycle of sun’s grand wider with its binary twin.  

How Does the Yuga Cycle Work?

Imagine the heavens as a grand clock with certain constellations relating to numbers on that clock’s face. Throughout the Yuga Cycle, these constellations move throughout the sky, and depending on where they appear, they help us calculate the current point within the cycle.  

The constellations are each represented by a sign of the zodiac, and depending on which sign is visible on sunrise on the autumnal equinox determines where we sit within the Great Year. As there are 12 signs of the zodiac, so too are there 12 months of the Great Year. 

Because the cycle itself is so long, the slow movements of stars are barely perceptible to us. In fact, it takes roughly a human lifetime–72 years–for a star to move just one degree through the sky. Remember, it isn’t until a full 360 degrees has been completed that a Great Year or Yuga Cycle restarts. 

To get an idea of perspective, you can try to measure this yourself. Next time there is a full moon and you are able to see it on a clear night, imagine it as being half a degree of the entire Yuga Cycle. Double its diameter and you are envisioning a full degree of the Cycle. 

To understand this slow motion of the heavens would have required extreme patience and information acquired over thousands and thousands of years. 

What Causes the Yuga Cycles?

As planet Earth moves throughout the cosmos, the Yuga Cycle continually ticks like a master clock. But what causes this slow spin? 

While the background of stars is constantly moving as time goes by, there is one star that appears not to move at all; Sirius. What is interesting about the Sirius star is the fact that it appears to be the sibling star to our sun.  

 That is, it seems logical that our sun is in a binary relationship with it, causing it to appear still against a moving background of stars. 

 This idea might seem strange for us, but it was completely accepted by many ancient cultures from around the world. It has long been discussed by ancient cultures that the sun is not a lone ranger in the cosmos, but instead paired with a binary partner. This is most apparent in Hindu cosmology, with many references to this idea. 

Conclusion

It is still a mystery as to how the Ancients came to understand the Yuga Cycles. For such a long period of time, a comprehensive picture would have needed insanely long observations passed down over many generations.  

Just the sheer amount of time the Yuga Cycles span is hard to comprehend. For the entire cycle to be observed by a culture, it would require 360 lots of 72 years. If we say 72 years is more or less the lifespan of just one individual, that is a whole lot of lifetimes to spend observing the skies.  

How do you think the ancients came to understand the Yuga cycles? 

Further Reading:

The Holy Science by Yukteswar Giri 

Seeking the Primordial by Laird Scranton 

The post The Yuga Cycles & Yogic Astronomy. What are the Four Yugas? appeared first on .

Today modern astronomers have revealed why the Sirius Star appears as it does. As a binary star system, it consists of one star, 25x the size our sun, and a smaller white-dwarf star 92 000 times its density.  

Reference the Sirius star fills prehistory and mythology. Native English speakers may refer to the term ‘dog-days’ which could be a reference to its rising and ancient calendar systems.   

An extensive look at its roots reveals a rich and fascinating story — one that is closely tied to a mysterious binary star called Sirius. 

Quick Facts on the Sirius Star 

• Name: Alpha canis majoris or the Dog Star

• Location: Canis Major (Big Dog) 

• Distance from earth: 8.611 light years  

• Color: Blue-white (variable)  

• Surface temperature: 10,000 degrees Celsius (or 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit 

• Luminosity: – 25.4 (25x our sun)  

• Magnitude: -1.46 ( Brightest star in the sky)  

The Astronomy of the Sirius Star System 

Now that we’ve examined its place in numerous cultures, let’s take a look at the known physical characteristics of the binary star itself. 

Located behind the Sun when viewed from our planet during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, Sirius rises in the east, before the Sun begins to rise.  

It was this pre-dawn path that led the astronomers of early civilizations to assume that the star somehow brought about the intense heat and droughts that were common in the middle of summer. 

In addition to this, Sirius goes by a different name: Alpha Canis Majoris, or the Dog Star. Sirius earned its canine-inspired moniker due to its position on the Canis Major constellation, otherwise known as the Big Dog. It actually traces its name back to its Greek roots — “Seirios,” which means “sparking” or “scorching.”  

According to modern-day estimates, the Sirius star system is approximately 8.6 light years away from Earth. Despite being so far away, astronomers are still able to gauge just how bright Sirius is, thanks to its stellar magnitude. 

The stellar magnitude system used by astronomers is simple: the lower the number, the brighter the star is. In the case of the Sirius star system, its visual magnitude clocks in at -1.44, which means that when viewed from our vantage point in the cosmos, it is brighter than any other visible star.  

• Note: this does not mean that Sirius is the brightest star in the entire galaxy. Sirius does not produce the most amount of energy, nor does it radiate the most intense light; however, other stars are farther away from Earth, and thus don’t shine as brightly as Sirius does. One doesn’t even need to use a telescope just to see Sirius. 

There are only six celestial bodies within the Solar System that outshine Sirius: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury (which isn’t even the case most of the time), Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.  

Binary Star Sirius A & B  

Why is Sirius so bright despite its massive distance from our planet? 

Sirius is a binary star system. In addition to the main sequence star (known as Sirius A), the system also features a smaller companion star (Sirius B).  

Sirius A is twice the mass is twice that of Sirius B, which in turn is almost the same as our Sun’s. 

• Sirius A 

Diameter of roughly 2.4 million kilometers (or 1.5 million miles). Sirius A is close to twice as large as our Sun.  

It is a main-sequence star (spectral type A1V). That means Sirius A’s energy is a direct result of the fusion of hydrogen atoms deep within its core. This gives Sirius A a luminosity that is easily 25 times that of our Sun, as well as a surface temperature of around 10,000 degrees Celsius (or 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit). 

• Sirius B 

A diameter of approximately 11,800 km (7,300 miles). As a white dwarf star, Sirius B has a density 92 000 times our own sun.  

One cubic inch of material at that density would weigh over two tons at the surface of the Earth. It has a gravitational force that is about 350,000 times stronger than Earth’s.  

Meanwhile, Sirius B travels around Sirius A following a highly elliptical orbit. Its luminosity is roughly 3% that of the Sun. However, it’s easily five times as hot as the sun, registering surface temperatures of close to 25,000 degrees Celsius (45,000 degrees Fahrenheit).  

Relative to Earth, Sirius B is the closest known white dwarf star. That is a star that is so old that it has completely depleted its energy source and lost its outer layers.  

How to Observe Sirius in the Sky 

At what time of the year does Sirius normally start to show up? The rise of Sirius has influenced the belief systems of many early civilizations. 

It is usually around February when people living in the Northern Hemisphere begin to notice Sirius appearing in the sky.  

Being the brightest star in the sky, it isn’t hard to find Sirius. In fact, one can look at Orion’s Belt and draw a line through it to spot this star. (In a way, it’s similar to Orion fitting a leash around his dog’s neck and taking him for a walk!) 

Sirius Star Color 

Spectators have witnessed its many color shifts, which have earned it the nickname “rainbow star.” On some occasions, the star’s apparent color-changing has even led some overly eager stargazers to report it as an alien sighting. However, most experts recognize that it is typically either white, blue-white, or white and yellow in color. 

The science behind this color-swapping, though, is the same reason why we have sunsets of varying degrees of redness: Rayleigh scattering, or the scattering of light in a medium (in this case, Earth’s atmosphere) without any disruptions in wavelength.  

Given the differences in temperature and density across different parts of our planet’s atmosphere, the light that shines from Sirius varies depending on the quality of the air in the beholder’s location.  

This effect is actually observable in other stars as well; it’s noticeable with Sirius because of its sheer brightness. 

A third star: Is there a Sirius C? 

Ever since Sirius’ discovery approximately 150 years ago, it has been identified as a two-star system. However, in 1995, a pair of astronomers published a paper that reported that there may actually be a third star — which they aptly named Sirius C — in the system. 

According to D. Benest and J.L. Duvent, a third “tiny star” in the Sirius star system was observed almost two dozen times over the course of a decade, from 1920 to 1930. While the possibility exists that it was merely a phantom or reflection, it could also be an actual star with its own orbit. 

There’s also the African Dogon Tribe who, according to some researchers possessed remarkable knowledge about the Sirius Star. Without access to telescopes they identified that there was a Sirius B, within their teachings.  

Not only that, they reference a third star in the Sirius star system. Located in Mali in West Africa, the Dogon were allegedly contacted by Marcel Griaule, a French anthropologist who was well-known for his published works on the tribe.  

Some suggest the Dogon learned what they know about the Sirius star system from Griaule himself. 

Today, extensive studies of existing literature provide no solid proof that a third star indeed exists. On the other hand, the two scientists based their observations and results on meticulous calculations.  

Up to this day, there is still no definite and conclusive answer as to whether the enigmatic Sirius C exists or not. As a result, many modern astronomers strongly reject the idea. 

The Sirius star & Egyptian Mythology 

Interestingly, the name Sirius manifests in various myths and ancient cultures all over the world. After all, the history of human civilization has shown that astronomy and mythology are greatly intertwined — and this two-star system is certainly no exception. 

The Ancient Egyptians, for one, had their own take on Sirius. The Egyptian gods Osiris and Sopdet were both deeply associated with Sirius. The former was known as the god of life, fertility, death and rebirth; meanwhile, the latter was a god of agriculture who was strongly connected to the Nile river.  

Due to the Sirius star’s mysterious nature and extraordinary brightness — as well as the fact that early stargazers noticed a pattern that seemed to exist concerning Sirius’s appearances in the sky and the annual flooding of the Nile river — the people operated under the belief that this supposedly powerful entity was watching over them and their regular harvests.  

The Egyptians based their calendar on 30-day lunar cycles, as well as Sirius’ helical rising. They even celebrated this cycle by starting their new year with a festival known as the Coming of Sopdet. 

The Sirius Star in Greek Mythology

Sirius also shared a strong connection with many of their mythology’s prominent and significant characters and stories. For instance, the name Sirius was attributed to the daughter of the Titan Atlas, known as Maira (or Maera). Maira was the wife of the founder of Tegea, King Tegeates.  

There was another Maira in Greek mythology, though: the dog of the hero Ikarios (or Icarus), a man blessed with winemaking expertise by the god Dionysus.  

Meanwhile, the name Sirius could be found in other myths as well: it was the name of the dog of Orion (called Lailaps or Laelaps), the golden-hound of Zeus (known as Kyon Khrseos), and the hound of the giant Geryon, Orthros (whose name means “morning twilight”).  

The star itself, however, was connected with Hekate, the daughter of Perses and Asteria, who was quite fond of dogs. 

The Sirius Star in Indian Mythology 

Indian mythology also had a place for Sirius. There, the dog is known as Svana. As the story goes, Svana was the faithful pet and companion of Prince Yudhistira from the Hindu epic called Mahabharata. Prince Yudhistira and Svana went out into the world on a long journey with his brothers to find the secret way to heaven.  

Svana’s loyalty to Prince Yudhistira was proven when, instead of abandoning the prince to pursue his quest alone (much like what his brothers did), the canine remained by his master’s side as they both journeyed on. The pair succeeded in reaching heaven’s gate, but were met by Indra himself, who demanded that Svana be left behind.  

Appalled by this restriction, Prince Yudhistira attested to the immeasurable joy and value that the faithful Svana brought to his life, and insisted that he would not enter heaven without his dog. Moved by the pair’s incredible bond, the king of heaven revealed that it was only a test, and allowed both Prince Yudhistira and Svana to walk through heaven’s gates at last. 

 The Sirius Star Constellation & Astrology of Sirius 

Image: Ancient Sirius astrology depicts it as one of fifteen fixed star systems.

As one of the Behenian fixed stars, Sirius is typically depicted as either a virgin or canine.  

Behenian fixed stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for applications in the medieval astrology of Europe and the Arab world. 

Associated with dogs, Sirius is regarded in astrology as a symbol of honor, renown, wealth, ardor, faithfulness, devotion, passion, and resentment. 

People who seek fame and wealth, as well as lawyers, politicians, and military personnel, look to Sirius for guidance and inspiration, as it is believed to give the dead a lasting legacy. Its position relative to Mars and Jupiter gives it a remarkably strong association with riches, influence, and good luck.  

Sirius is also both a source of inspiration and a warning for creatives, as it reinforces the existence of potential within while warning against having more power than one can handle. 

This star is not without its own negative connotations, though. Among other things, it serves as a cautionary measure or warning against dog attacks. 

Conclusion  

Sirius has shaped the beliefs, attitudes, and way of life of civilizations from centuries ago, and will no doubt continue to inspire and influence human progress in the years to come. 

In what ways it will do so, however, remain to be seen. And when that day comes, it certainly won’t be a dog day for humanity. 

Do you think it’s possible that the Sirius star system is in fact a triple binary? Is there a Sirius C star?  

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Further Reading:

• https://www.solarsystemquick.com/universe/sirius-star.htm  
• https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/sirius-the-brightest-star  
• Benest, Daniel, and J. L. Duvent. “Is Sirius a triple star?.“ Astronomy and astrophysics 299 (1995): 621. 
• https://www.amazon.com/Sirius-Matters-Astrophysics-Science-Library/dp/1402083181 
• https://earthsky.org/tonight/good-sky-trick-orions-belt-points-to-starsirius 

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After the sun, the moon is the next most influential body on our planet. It affects the earth’s daily rhythms, from the seasons to the oceans, to reproductive systems. All elements on our planet move with moon cycles.

Are humans affected too? New evidence suggests the body and brain, like any living creature, are affected by the moon phases. It may be why so many ancient societies used the Lunar Calendar to live with the moon phases.

In this article, we’ll explore the science of how moon cycles affect us.

How moon cycles affect tides

71% of planet earth is covered in water. That’s an estimated 1.386 billion km³ (333 million cubic miles) of water. Separated into 20 seas and four oceans, with a combined weight of 1,450,000,000,000,000 short tones. (1 short ton = 2 000 lbs).

Think of how much energy it takes to move such a volume of water.

With a mass of 81 quintillion tonnes, the moon is 1/6 of earth’s total mass. The moon’s gravity is hence responsible for 56% of earth’s ocean tidal energy. It moves those vast bodies of water as it orbits and influences our planet.

The moon pulls upward on earth’s oceans while the earth’s gravity acts downward. These forces, alongside the sun and other bodies create the total tidal changes of the oceans.

All life in the oceans depends on these forces. For example, filter feeders like oysters feast at high tide, with food washing in.

How moon cycles affect animal systems

Moon phases have long been observed to affect the biology of natural systems. Besides gravity, the moon surface reflects light energy at night.

Studies reveal many animals rely on moon cycles.

• Lions time attacks more during the week after a full moon. The darkest times occur during the first hours of the night week following a full moon. They are ready to feed at this time because of the low success during well-lit full moon nights.

• Moonlight acts as a natural flashlight for the Madagascan Aye-Aye. The nocturnal lemur shifts its entire daily schedule based on lunar cycles. During the darkest new moon period, these primates become fully active during the day.

• Doodlebug larvae dig funnel-shaped traps every day into the sand to hide in for insect prey. Funnels are rebuilt every day; around full moon, the pits are large, during a new moon they’re small. It seems the extra energy to dig a deeper trap during full-moon is worth the extra energy.

• The reproduction of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia depends on moon cycles. The release of egg and sperm always occurs near or on a full moon. It can be seen as pink plumes building on the surface of the water.

• Cows more births occur near or during near full and full moon.

How moon cycles affect farming

As our Gregorian calendar is based on the solar year, today we don’t appreciate moon cycles. Ancient societies used lunar calendars for many millennia.

Today, farmers use lunar cycles to maximize the harvest of certain crops.

Biodynamic wine farming uses natural fertilizers with the moon cycle to pick the best days to plant and harvest. The moon phases outline four, three-day periods called flower day, fruit day, root day, and leaf day.

Harvest for white wine, is best in the middle of the fruit day period just a few days before a blood moon lunar eclipse.

Some wine tasters allege to report different character depending on when they are harvested.

Many farming practices use the moon phases, however, let’s move to human physiology.

How moon cycles affect humans

The sun’s role in human physiology has long been known. Vitamin D is produced from the skin when exposed to UV light from the sun. The body has nearly 3000 genes with vitamin D receptors, showing how important sunlight is for human health.

While more subtle, there are now many ways that the moon can influence the human body.

The full moon time affects sleep quality and duration.

Studies indicate that people take longer to fall asleep during the full moon. Source

Studies are beginning to show how the moon cycle affects human sleep.

NREM sleep is the deepest of the stages of sleep. During full moon periods, researchers have found that deep sleep decreases by 30%. Time to fall asleep increases by five minutes and total sleep duration falls twenty minutes.

It’s thought the electromagnetic effect of the moon decreases melatonin levels in the blood. These changes have been measured in animals such as birds and fish.

The moon cycle seems to affect the release of melatonin for sleep. It is in cycle with the sun’s effect on the day-time vitamin D, and the flow of hormone release for the human sleep-wake cycle.

How lunar cycles affect birth

Folklore has long said that moon cycles affect human birth. Recent studies have suggested that there is no predictable influence. They examined birth frequencies, route of delivery, and amongst other measures.

Others have suggested that these results may be invalid due to other variables influencing birth. Prenatal nutrition, social environment, and genetic backgrounds if not accounted for could disguise the moon’s influence.

A study in Japan did find that gravitation shifts of the moon influence births. It was found that when lunar gravity was less than 31.5N births showed a significant increase.

Others suggest the moon phase at the time of conception affect the sex of a child. More research is necessary before we really know.

Does the moon affect fertility?

The female menstrual cycle has the same duration as the lunar cycle. For example, the link between light, melatonin, and menstrual cycles all affect sex hormones. Melatonin released from the pineal gland signals the release of every other hormone in the body.

Evidence that suggests that moon cycles affect menstruation include:

• One study looked at the third quarter waning moon phase. The period of darkness may increase melatonin levels, that influence estrogen for ovulation.

• Studies in 1980and 1986 both found that human menstrual cycles move in sync with the moon’s phases. However, they had conflicting results on what part of the cycle occurred during the new moon phase.

• In 2014, a study of more than 8,000 women found them more likely to ovulate during the new moon.

Around the new moon, there may be lowered libido and energy for sex. Darkness, associated with less moonlight, has a known effect on melatonin levels. The absence of light also can cause seasonal depression.

Estrogen appears to increase during the waxing moon cycle. It may become a time of higher sexual energy. Then progesterone increases during the waning moon cycle preparing the womb for conception.

How moon cycles affect mood

It’s well known that sleep deprivation can link to depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. One study has suggested that episodes of depression and mania in bipolar disorder happen due to changes in the stages of sleep.

Amount of sleep is increases during depression and shortens in mania. Insomnia can be linked to switches between insomnia and manic outbursts.

Researchers looked at how exposure to darkness can prevent the onset of mood disorders like bipolar disorder. They suggested that exposure to darkness could increase melatonin for sleep. It may help prevent or reverse depression and mood swings in bipolar disorder.

Conclusion

The moon cycles have a scientific influence on earth. Its gravity and energy effects affect tides, coral reefs, and all biology across the planet.

However today we are awakening to the influence of the moon phases to human physiology.

Today modern research shows how the moon affects sleep stages, fertility, sex drive, birth, and even mood and the brain.

Quick Tip: Moon cycle hair-cuts

Try using the Lunar calendar to time your hair-cuts. During the waxing lunar phase, a haircut could encourage growth up until the full moon.

A full moon makes your hair grow fast, thick, and long. If you cut your hair on the waning moon cycle, or new moon it removes dead ends and could help keep your hair healthy. Try to use a mix of both, depending on the seasons.

How do you think the Lunar cycles affect your body?

Let us know how you think the moon cycle affects you in the comment section below.

Further reading:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16407788
• https://www.livescience.com/37928-ways-the-moon-affects-animals.html
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831142903.htm
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712431/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956479/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6089884/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23891110

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We observe the moon phases from the earth due to sunlight hitting the moon surface. The relation between the earth moon and sun, create the lunar cycle.

At the same time, the moon revolves around the earth. Each body has a position relative to each other. When the earth faces the sun, it’s day time. Similarly, when we look at the moon, we see the sun’s light on the moon surface.

The full moon cycle completes when the side of the moon we see is entirely lit by sunlight.

For quick reference, here’s a list of names and dates of Full Moons in 2019.

NASA 2019 Full Moon Cycle

How often does a full moon happen?

The full moon happens roughly every 29.53 days.

The full moon cycle as it moves from full, to crescent, gibbous, and to new moon.

Is there a full moon at the end of every month?

Our calendar doesn’t necessarily have a full moon at the end. It falls in varying periods between months.

According to NASA, in 2019, every month has a full moon. However, not all years are like this.

The full moon is when the moon sits on the exact other side of the earth and sun. That means the earth is in between the moon and sun.

How the full moon cycle fits into the months of the Gregorian calendar.

The moon revolves around the earth roughly every 29.53 days. That means once a month, there should be a full moon. As the Gregorian Calendar is a solar calendar, it doesn’t record the moon cycles. That means our months can misalign with the full moon cycle.

It separates months into 30, 31, (and 28 for February) days. These don’t line up to the period of the full moon cycle.

In 2018, full moons were later in the months. In 2019, the full moons will cycle earlier in the months. At the end of the year the full moon happens on the 12^th of December 2019.

Sometimes a month will have no full moons, and others will have two.

What is a month without a full moon called?

Rarely a month falls without a full moon. On the Gregorian Calendar, it can occur only in February. It happens about every 19 years.

A month without a full moon is called a black moon.

How often is there a full moon twice in one month?

When February is without a full moon, the preceding January or December and the following March or April have two full moons.

A month with two moons is called a blue moon.

The blue moon occurs every 2.5 years according to NASA.

What are the names of the full moons?

In Western Culture we have attached specific names to full moons.

Black moon is a month with no moon. Blue moon is a month with two.

However, the Lunar Calendar used in many ancient societies. Many cultures have distinct names to each full moon cycle. The names were applied to the entire month in which the full moon falls.

The Farmer’s Almanac lists several names that are commonly used in the United States.

Here is a list of full moons names used across certain ancient cultures.

Conclusion

The Lunar Calendar has been measured for many years by our ancestors. Today you can follow it by knowing the full moon cycle.

You need to remember that our Gregorian Calendar does not line up with lunar phases.

To get a full understanding read more here.

How do you use the full moon in your every-day life?

Leave your questions and thoughts in the comment section below.

The post 2019 Full Moons & Understanding the Full Moon Cycle appeared first on .

During the lunar cycle, the moon progresses into a crescent moon, half-moon to full moon. It then goes moves into to crescent again and back to the new moon again.

As the moon cycle affects all life on earth including humans, it’s useful to know the new moon lunar cycle.

In this article, we’ll explore the moon phases and how to know when the new moon phase begins.

What is a new moon?

The moon cycle is a record of the moon surface as its view changes from earth. For a short time, the moon is dark and can’t be seen. That’s what we call the ‘new moon.’

It’s considered both the birth of a new moon and the death of the previous full moon cycle.

How long is a lunar cycle?

It takes 29.53 days for the new moon lunar cycle to complete. It begins with a new moon.

Two weeks later, or halfway, is the full moon, and the next new moon restarts again just over four weeks later.

How does the full moon and new moon occur?

Remember that the lunar cycle is due to how we see the light reflected from the sun on the moon’s surface.

The rotation of the moon and its orbital period means the same surface always faces earth. As an observer, we see whether that surface is lit with sunlight, or it’s dark. A new moon is dark, and a full moon is a complete round disk.

The new moon happens when the moon sits between the earth and the sun. That means the surface we see is entirely dark. You can still see the moon in this phase, but it’s much harder than usual.

The full moon is when the earth sits between the sun and the moon. That means we look at the moon with its surface fully lit with sunlight.

When does a new moon happen?

A new moon is born every 29.5 days. During that period
the moon progresses through certain stages or phases.

Each phase is made by a unique moon shape, from a crescent to gibbous (bulbous), and the round, full moon.

The 2019 new moon lunar cycle dates

• January 5

• February 4

• March 6

• April 5

• May 4

• June 3

• July 31

• August 30

• September 28

• October 27

• November 26

• December 25

Conclusion

You can follow the new moon lunar cycle by knowing the date of each new moon.

You can read more about the Lunar Calendar here.

How do you think the new moon makes you feel?

Leave your comments in the section below.

The post The New Moon Lunar Cycle | What is a New Moon? appeared first on .

Why would they do so? Today we don’t appreciate or know how the moon phases affect us.

The Gregorian calendar is the most commonly used around the world. It is a solar calendar that was adapted from an earlier Lunisolar version. Today our months are roughly divided into moon cycles, but it doesn’t record exact moon phases. Hence, it doesn’t sync with the moon’s orbit.

If our daily calendar didn’t sync with the sun, would we use it?

Humans didn’t always live out of harmony with the moon. Evidence of the Lunar Calendar is found all over the world. Some are still in use today. The Islamic calendar is purely based on the moon cycle. The Chinese calendar is a Lunisolar calendar, which tracks both the sun and moon.

The Lunar Calendar may even be more accurate than the purely solar calendar that we use. There may be an argument to change the system we use.

To explore these concepts, we will look at the Lunar Calendar in detail.

In this article, we will look at the history, astronomy, and the eight moon phases.

*To quickly view the full 2019 Lunar calendar, simply scroll to the bottom of the page*

What cultures use the Lunar Calendar?

In our modern lives, we don’t measure moon phases and its cycle. However, the Lunar Calendar has a deep history in human culture all over the world.

Evidence reveals the recording of moon cycles in some of the oldest human records.

The earliest Lunar Calendar ever found dates to 32 000 BC. It is thought to come from the Aurignacian Culture that lived in modern-day France and Germany. The moon cycles were found in bone markings excavated from a cave in the area.

The earliest Lunar Calendars are found as cave art dating to 32 000BC in central Europe. Source

The next is found in Lascaux Caves in France dating to 17 000 years. In Warren Field, Scotland one calendar is dated to roughly 8000 years ago.

Ancient Lunar Calendars found in Warren Field, Scotland. Source

Today, the lunar calendar is used across the world including the Chinese calendar, Islamic Calendar, Native American, pre-historic English, Pagan, Celtic, and Indigenous Australians amongst many others.

Why is there a Lunar Calendar?

All calendars track the astronomy of earth relative to other bodies in the solar system. The moon is the earth’s only satellite, meaning it revolves around our planet. While the Gregorian Calendar measures the solar year (our orbit around the sun), the moon is the next important factor.

The Lunar Calendar marks how the earth, sun, and moon move in relation to each other.

A lunar month lasts 29.53 days.

That’s the period for the moon to complete its orbit around the earth in relation to the sun. (We’ll explain this next).

Today moon cycles affect the sea tides, farming, reproductive cycles, and nearly all systems on earth. It’s apparent that ancient societies had a deep knowledge of these.

What is the effect of the moon on earth?

At 1/6 the size of earth, the moon’s gravity is a powerful influence on the planet. It causes the rise and fall in sea levels known as tides. Tides even occur in lakes, the atmosphere, and within Earth’s crust. High tides are when water bulges upward, and low tides are when water drops down.

Here are some quick facts on the moon. They explain the moon’s influence on planet earth.

Why do we see moon phases?

Earth, Moon and sun relationship determines the moon phases as seen from earth. Source

The Lunar Calendar is broken up into 8 moon phases.

Each moon phase shows how the moon looks from earth. When we look at the moon we will see the sunlight reflecting from it.

One half of the moon is always lit up by the sun. From earth, we only see one surface of the moon all of the time. The different portion of that area illuminated defines the moon phases.

Use the picture above to understand each moon phase.

IMAGE EXERCISE: For each phase, picture yourself standing on earth. You are looking at the moon in its relation to the sun and how the sunlight affects that view. The outside circle is how the view will look.

Now let’s explain why each moon phase look as they do. (We’ll also describe them in-depth later in the article).

New Moon: When the moon sits between the earth and sun we can’t see the lit up surface of the moon. The moon is dark and is called the new moon.

Waxing Crescent: As the moon orbits the earth, the angle between it, the earth, and the sun change. We begin to see a slither of surface lit up by the sun’s light.

First quarter moon: The first quarter moon happens as the moon moves to 90 degrees between the earth and sun. It’s called the waxing moon because it’s growing. Half of the visible side of the moon is now illuminated.

Full Moon: When the moon moves to the other side of the earth from the sun it approaches the full-moon. The full-moon happens when the sun is exactly behind the earth (from the sun). From earth, we see the fully lit surface of the moon.

Waning Third Quarter Moon: From here the moon moves around back towards the sun. A half waning moon (third quarter moon) is seen when it gets back to 90 degrees. Then to a waning crescent moon before the new moon starts the cycle again. It’s simply completed its orbit and sits between the earth and sun again.

What causes phases of the moon?

Many people think that moon phases are caused by seeing the shadow of the earth on the moon. That is not correct. Our view from earth shows the portion of the moon lit up by the sun.

The moon phases change as the angles between the earth, sun, and moon shift.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes through the earth’s shadow. It’s a rare event.

What are the 8 phases of the moon?

The 8 moon phases defined by sunlight in relation to the earth and the moon.

Now let’s look at the names and exact meanings of the 8 moon phases.

Refer to the image above as you read each moon phase.

(1) New Moon – The moon starts as it sits between the sun and earth. Its sunlit surface faces directly away from our view. The surface of the moon we view from earth is in full darkness. In this phase, the moon and sun, rise and set at about the same time.

(2) Waxing Crescent Moon – As the moon orbits the sun begins to light the surface facing earth. It is called the waxing moon phase. It starts with a sliver of light in view shaped like a crescent. During the waxing period, the crescent gradually grows.

(3) First Quarter Moon – One week after the new moon, the Moon has completed a quarter of its orbit around the Earth. At this stage, we can view half of the surface lit by sunlight. Its shape is a perfect half circle, called the first quarter moon phase.

(4) Waxing Gibbous Moon – Over the next week, the sunlit surface of the Moon grows. The period after the first quarter moon is called waxing gibbous. Gibbous means “humped”.

(5) Full Moon – Two weeks after the new moon, the moon reaches halfway of its orbit. The half that is facing the earth is now fully lit by the sun’s light. From earth, it appears as a round disk or full moon. Like the new moon phase, it rises at the time the sun sets. The full moon also sets when the sun rises.

When the moon aligns exactly with the Earth and sun, it is a lunar eclipse. However, its orbit is 5 degrees off so doesn’t happen very often. At this angle sunlight normally flows past the earth to reflect off the moon’s surface.

(6) Waning Gibbous Moon – In the waning moon periods, the sunlit moon surface we can see decreases. The first week after the full moon, it is called waning gibbous.

(7) Last Quarter Moon – Three weeks after the new moon, half of the illuminated part of the moon can be seen. This is usually called last quarter moon or third quarter moon.

(8) Waning Crescent Moon – By the fourth week of the cycle, the Moon is reduced to a thin sliver. It’s sometimes called the waning crescent moon

After the waning crescent phase finishes the new moon begins again.

Now we’ve covered the entire moon cycle.

How many days are between each moon phase?

A lunar month can be defined as the time the moon takes to pass through each of its phases. Starting at new moon to first quarter moon, full moon then the third quarter moon, and returns back to its starting position. A lunar month takes 29.53 days, although this varies slightly, and the number is an average.

As a new moon occurs every 29.53 days. It is called a synodic month. All lunar calendars are based on these months rather than the months you find on a solar calendar.

The moon orbits the Earth at the same time it takes to rotate once. As a result, the moon always shows the same face to the Earth.

That’s why you never see its far side or the dark side of the moon.  (We’ll explain that more in other articles).

Is the Lunar Calendar more accurate?

If you use a Lunar Calendar by itself it will drift with a solar calendar. Today people still use the Islamic Calendar, that purely measures moon phases.

The lunar month lasts 29.53 days. So twelve lunar months accounts to about 354 days. This is short of the 365 days that it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun. So after about 3 years, the lunar months are out of sync with the solar year by about a month. Some calendar systems account for this and it takes 33 years to line back up again.

The solar Gregorian Calendar that we use today has problems. Leap years are used to account for inaccuracies. But it still drifts one day roughly 3216 years.

Lunar calendars can have an error of only about 2 seconds per year. That equates to 1 day in 31,250. On this measure, it is roughly ten times more accurate than today’s Gregorian calendar.

However, they are different because they measure different orbital cycles.

Depending on how you look at it, the Lunar calendar could be considered more accurate than the Gregorian calendar.

The 2019 Lunar Calendar and Moon Phase Cycles

The full 2019 lunar calendar, full moon, and new moon cycle Source

Conclusion:

Many ancient societies used the Lunar Calendar, and some persist today. It tracks the eight moon phases as how they are observed from earth.

Today it may be useful to use a Lunisolar Calendar to understand how the moon affects our daily lives.

To read more about a practicable Lunar Calendar, here is an article on the Islamic Calendar.

Now it’s up to you.

Did you know how the Lunar Calendar worked?

How do you think we can use the moon phases in our daily lives?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

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