Sunday, June 7, 2009

that old devil moon


We've all heard the phrase, "it must be a full moon out there", to
describe strange or unfortunate happenings. There is still the
prevalent superstition that the full moon has an effect on humans,
causing erratic behaviors, and such disturbances as emergency room
calls and traffic accidents. Belief in the “lunar lunacy effect,” or
“Transylvania effect,” as it is sometimes called, persisted in Europe
through the Middle Ages, when humans were widely reputed to
transmogrify into werewolves or vampires during a full moon.
(Heh-heh, just call me "Villow". I've come to vipe your vindows.)

One theory is that the full moon’s ­supposed effects on behavior arise
from its influence on water. The moon's gravitational pull does effect
the tides. The human body is about 80 percent water, so perhaps the
moon works its mischievous magic by somehow disrupting the
alignment of water molecules in the nervous system. I don't know.

Extensive studies over the years have proven there to be no
correlation between the moon and mental disturbance. So, why
then, is the belief in the "lunar effect" still prevalent today? After
all, isn't this where we get the words lunar, loony and lunatic?
I'm sure folklore and Hollywood have a lot to do with it. Scary
things tend to happen in movies, with that big full moon inducing
madness and mayhem.

Personally, I happen to know someone whose behavior does become
rather erratic around the full moon. There are also many sensible
people, including police officers and emergency room staff, who see a
lot of full moon CCFCCP, and continue to believe that old devil moon
certainly can stir up his share of pesky trouble.



45 comments:

  1. It's all because of the "cheese factor". Most cheeseologists know that NASA is hiding the truth from the wine and cracker crowd.

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  2. One of my best friends is a labor and delivery nurse. She says every full moon they have a crazy night with more babies born and crazy behavior to go with it!

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  3. This is so crazy. I shot a ton of moon pictures (no, I didn't shoot the moon)(never have, never will), but moon pictures on the lake. I can't wait to post them, but guess I'll have to wait!

    I sang the old song to my little 2- and 4-year old grandsons, "I see the moon...the moon sees me...down from the leaves of the old oak tree...please let the moon that shines above...shine on the one I love...." They love that song.

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  4. based on my day, i knew it before i looked into the sky...full moon tonight. wacky, wacky day. or maybe just a wacky world. maybe the moon gives the excuse to let loose? or maybe it is the water?

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  5. I never under estimate the power of the full moon, whether it be a negative or positive influence. It actually depends on what astrological sign that the moon is in, at the time, and the natal chart of the individual. Tonight's full moon is in Sagittarius, so people with their Sun, Rising Sign, Moon, or Mars in Sagittarius will more likely feel it's effects than other signs.

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  6. Must be the pull of gravity that affects some people. For me personally, I always feel very good at full moon, lots of energy.

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  7. Just my theory, nothing scientific- in the dark ages, I imagine that the illumination of a full moon allowed for nightime activities that would have otherwise been impossible, and I think that humans are not a naturally nocturnal creature, thus anytime there is more light, humans are more active, but it could be the water thing too lol!!

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  8. how did I find your blog? I don't know, but glad I did. Always always nice to meet a booklover!

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  9. sometimes i have trouble sleeping only to find out the next day that it had been a full moon. the moon is quite lovely tonight; hopefully i'll sleep. hee hee

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  10. "There are also many sensible
    people, including police officers and emergency room staff, who see a
    lot of full moon CCFCCP, and continue to believe that old devil moon
    certainly can stir up his share of pesky trouble."

    You can add paramedics to that list. There were nights when I worked in Bed-Stuy, during a full moon that just made you wonder, "What the hell is happening tonight?"

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  11. I think otin is right. In the country, away from city lights, one can go walking out in the fields by the moonlight alone. Also, I think it's a primal thing; something in our brain passed down from long ago.

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  12. I still think that the full moon makes people crazy, no matter what the science shows. As a customer service rep, I can nearly guarantee it! LOL

    blessings

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  13. Personally, I never sleep well when the moon is showing its face. I am one of those weirdos that have to have total darkness to sleep well...can't even stand the light from the alarm clock or TV. So, when it is FULL I am in bad shape. Maybe that has something to do with it: mabye people don't sleep as well, which makes them cranky, which makes them erratic, which equates to LOONEY. I just had an argument with my husband. Does that qualify?

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  14. Hi Willow

    and the menstrual cycle is lunar based too!!!

    Happy Days

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  15. Hi Villow..er Willow! Does "research" show anything about a full red mooon? Or blue? Or what about a lunar eclipse? Seen all of these and not wanting to go CCFCCP( very nice, btw )!

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  16. A friend of mine recently told me about "the Lunar Society" who would meet every full moon, making the night time journey home easier and safer. It is easy to forget that street lighting is a relatively new invention. Maybe more mischief happened on full moon nights because the extra lighting allowed for more activity?

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  17. Hello Willow,

    I love to see a large moon and the amount of light it gives can be incredible but I don't think I act differently. However, I, too, know someone who does think they are affected!

    You Tube seems to be playing up today (unless it's just my connection) so I've delayed my planned posting!

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  18. I agree with Margurite but think it goes even further than that.

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  19. I've worked in several offices where the full moon always seemed to produce a lot of craziness: phone ringing off the hook, staff blowups, etc.

    I mean, more of that sort of thing than usual.

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  20. i definitely think it does
    'something'.
    i have noticed that rather high strung individuals are particularly sensitive !
    ..........to anything !

    ha ha
    xx

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  21. When he was working with the horses, my husband swore that the full moon meant lots of births. And it always seemed to be true.

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  22. I agree with Otin and the others about the extra illumination making it easier for folks to get up to more mischief. Whenever there's a full moon, our dogs (who sleep in our bedroom and normally sleep through the night)whine and carry on and generally let us know that they must go OUT NOW. And they disappear into the moonlight, running up the mountain only to return in the morning, utterly exhausted and utterly happy.

    I wish I could go with them.

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  23. I used to work in a sheltered workshop for the disabled, and I'm convinced SOMETHING happens around a full moon--I don't know how, or why, but I think it really does! I was also told that the moon may have influenced when my son was born, as he came earlier than anticipated, and I believe there may have been something to that. The nurses seemed to think so! Who knows! It's fun to speculate.

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  24. There may not be any scientific explanation, yet, whe there is a full moon the sky is unusually bright and people can't sleep well.

    Of course, most scientific studies are conducted in the cities where nobody sleeps well anyway.

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  25. count me in as a believer in the full moon loonies - my husband worked in law enforcement for years and the full moon always produced a very busy night!

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  26. First of all, you cracked me up with that 'Stay Calm and Carry On' sign. It was discussed int he papers recently.

    Secondly, I am one of those people over whom the moon has a special, mesmerising effect. I've no idea why but I love watching it when it's so fat and luminous.

    And that track is the business. I haven't heard Milly Scott in agessssssss!

    Many thanks for such a fantastic and fun post.

    Greetings from London.

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  27. Great Sunday morning listening with Milly Scott there. THANKS! And I'm still leanin' towards the moon affect though I'm sure it can't take credit for ALL the raving lunacy in my family!

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  28. The full moon is such a powerful image. These comments are brilliant!

    In our family the 'moon song' is a bit different:

    I see the moon
    the moon sees me
    the moon sees the one
    i long to see

    so god bless the moon
    and god bless me
    and god bless the one
    i long to see

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  29. I know for a fact that the fool moon has you in it's grip if you're doing windows, LOL.

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  30. I've never heard the theory about the water in the human body reacting to the moon before...very interesting! Whatever it is, there is definitely something beautiful and mysterious about it. I guess I'll just blame it on the moonlight! ~Lori

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  31. love think about us all under the same moon;willow when do you come to France?

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  32. hey willow, i know when my class comes in on a full moon with a wild wind blowing from whichever direction and they've all been home for the weekend doing whatever they wish, that i have to eat lots of chocolate bars that morning so i can meet my class up on the ceiling. for that is where they shall be!!!
    so very cool to see and hear milly scott - she'd slipped right out of my thoughts . . . . . steven

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  33. All of the teachers and administrators in my school can always tell a difference in the behavior of our students when the moon is full! Seriously, we can! There is a total sense of impending ... uh .....er....trouble!

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  34. Talk to any doctor who works in an emergency room. Studies or no studies, they know that when the moon fills up, it's trouble.

    I see it in the treatment room as well. The moon has a huge impact on the tides, but we believe we are impervious? Human hubris knows no shame!

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  35. I like this. I'm sun lover, but a mooner by first and foremost...an old myth from the way-back parts of my maternal grandmas "Don't cut your hair when there's a full moon." Don't ask me why. I think my great Auntie still lives by that...

    insightful post!

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  36. I like this. I'm sun lover, but a mooner by first and foremost...an old myth from the way-back parts of my maternal grandmas "Don't cut your hair when there's a full moon." Don't ask me why. I think my great Auntie still lives by that...

    insightful post!

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  37. I have heard that the gravitational pull effects money too (or the human psych on money)...

    You are supposed to open a new bank account (or start putting money into a piggy bank) with the waxing of the moon. If you start this with the waning of the moon your account will not grow....

    I obviously haven't been doing this right since my bank account has not been growing! LOL

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  38. Yes, try telling hospital staff that there is no lunar effect on behavior. They won't believe a word.

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  39. It seems to me my beard grows faster and covers a larger area during a full moon.

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  40. Great post 'Villow'! I for one think the moon has an effect on me & my sleep.

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  41. Great nostalgia with the video, and as for the effect of the moon: there are tides, how plants grow, and yes events in life speed up at the time of full moon.

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  42. I have to be counted among the believers of full moon madness. I worked for years as a nurse and things were always crazier when the moon was full. Every policeman I've known swears the same thing. I do love a lush full moon. We've just had one in Sydney and it was lovely.

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  43. How is it possible I get so far behind when it seems as though the computer is an extension of myself?

    I like your bookish av, but the snake freaks me out!

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  44. Hi!Willow,
    That picture of the "Full"
    moon is simply "beautiful!"
    and accompany post very interesting!...Thanks, for sharing!
    DeeDee ;-D

    "Heh-heh, just call me "Villow". I've come to vipe your vindows."
    LOL!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)