Strawberry Moon

June's Full Moon's name is the Full Strawberry Moon. The Algonquin tribes named June's moon such as they knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit.

In Europe, where strawberries are not native, it is called the Full Rose Moon.

This year the Full Strawberry Moon falls on Friday the 13th. The first time we will have seen a full moon on Friday the 13th since October 2000 and the last one we will see until August 2049 (Damn! I'll be 80 !! O.o ). Having just learned that this is an unusual occurrence I had to do some research, me being me after all ;). I read an interesting Astrological forecast by Matthew Currie paired with a song, "Drop Kick Me Jesus" (not kidding), a few other web pages and a news article from New Zealand (where it is closing in on winter as we approach our Summer Solstice).

When I saw the post on facebook regarding the full moon this Friday the 13th my first reaction was excitement, my second was skepticism. (I am a skeptic of all things on the Internet, ESPECIALLY facebook, which claim to be "rare"). Once I was able to confirm the rarity of this month's full moon I quickly resumed my excitement. Friday the 13th and a Full Moon !!! In my eyes that is the epitome of wonder, fate and a rare opportunity to really and truly connect with nature, the Goddess and my inner Warrior. Not once during my musing of this significant day did it occur to me to remember that many people consider Friday the 13th as unlucky, and combined with a full moon, the unluckiest of unlucky Friday the 13th's. Crazy, right? (Them or me? Debatable ;) ) Only on reading the news article from stuff.co.nz did I finally take note that some may not be happy about this coming week and the way it comes to an end. Personally, I don't believe in luck, as in things that happen by chance, I do however, believe in creating my own luck, good or bad it is my attitude and thoughts that control this aspect of my life.

As mentioned in the news article, considering Friday the 13th as an unlucky day in general tends to create the possibility of exactly that, initiating the "bad luck" via superstition and fear. Who needs that kind of stress?? I worry enough and obsess enough and over think enough as it is without choosing a specific date to exasperate my stress issues!! In the article the writer quoted Victoria University professor and paranormal researcher, Marc Wilson, "The people who are most likely to be susceptible to bad luck are those who worry about it, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because that person has been tense and anxious." Fear begets fear, essentially, we are the creators of our environment simply by thinking one way or the other. It's not easy some days, but I do my best to think positively.

For myself Friday the 13th has always been a "good luck" day; a day to encourage positivity, growth and discovery, to find my own good fortune. The event of Friday the 13th concurring with the full moon fills me with excitement of the possibilities of what this special day could bring. Considering all that is happening this week thinking confidently is a must or I will go down like a rock. We have a lot going on in our world; I am at our acreage alone, spending the entire week packing up my old home in the country. My hubby is working his @ss off (as usual) driving half of the province basically. Our 14-year-old daughter "graduates" grade 9 today and turns 15 this Wednesday. On Friday the 13th, a realtor friend is coming to assess the value of our mobile home so we can put it on the market (can't say as I'm looking forward to how much the value has depreciated). Saturday the 14th the hauling company arrives to tow the place I've called home for nearly 7 years to it's temporary location until it is sold. A week of challenges, potential frustrations and set backs, but with the coming together of the full moon and my favourite "date" I am consciously choosing to think of this week as blessed and filled with opportunity of what comes ahead for us. I can conquer anything this week throws my way! Go Durga !!

Do you have any special feelings, thoughts or plans for the coming week, the full moon and Friday the 13th?

Love & light,

~Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

Ps. It's been over a year since I posted in my other blog and I have decided to migrate to using this one exclusively, I like the title better (for now anyway). If you're interested in some insomnia fodder the link to my older posts is Well isn't that Just Ducky !!