15 May 2014
THE SHORT ANSWER (TSA)
Generally, “the dark of the moon” is a term referring to the period
of three days before the new moon. Is this the “definitive”
definition? Well, I don’t know that there is one. But “the dark of
the moon” is not an astronomical event. Rather, in folklore, “the dark
of the moon” is a period that is often considered unfortunate or
difficult. Historically, the dark of the moon has had many meanings to
many people, but there are certain consistent features that are worth
outlining.
First, many confuse the term, black moon, with “the dark of the
moon.” A black moon is just another term for the new moon. The new moon
is that point in the lunar cycle when the sun and moon are in roughly
the same location in the sky. At the time of the new moon, viewed from
the earth, the moon can’t be seen in the night sky.
Then, as the moon moves farther and farther away from the sun, we see
a crescent moon at night. What we will continue to see is the moon
reflecting more and more of the sun’s light as the moon moves farther
and father away from the sun. Finally, the moon grows to full – a time
when the moon is opposite the sun’s position in the sky. At full, as
seen from the earth, the moon fully reflects the sun’s light. After
that, the bright area of the moon begins to shrink again until even the
crescent disappears.
For the three days before the next new moon, there is no moon
to be seen in the sky. Again, this is “the dark of the moon.”
Since before the dawn of recorded history, it was believed that
things begun, when the moon is growing (“waxing”) from new to full, will
“increase.” Similarly, things begun, when the moon’s light is shrinking
(“waning”) from full to new, will tend to “decrease” or disappear. This
traditional belief lives on in agriculture, with almanacs carefully
listing lunar phases so that crops can be planted during the growing, or
waxing, moon.
To keep it simple, let’s say that the period of the shrinking (or
waning) moon is believed to be less “fortunate” than the period of the
growing (or waxing) moon. But don’t take this strictly. Some people
begin weight-loss diets during the decreasing, or waning, moon because
the dieter wants their appetite to decrease rather than increase.
Sometimes, it all gets a bit confusing.
But if the shrinking, or waning, moon is a time of decrease, then the
last few days of the decrease – a time when the moon has completely
disappeared from the sky – can’t be too good.
I can’t find a single clear description of the effects of “the dark
of the moon,” but the lore goes something like this. In days gone by,
the disappearance of the moon was considered quite “unfortunate.” When
the moon was visible, the world remained, more or less, in order. But
the times when the moon wasn’t visible, during (1) an eclipse or (2) the
dark of the moon or (3) even when the moon was only covered by clouds
in an overcast sky, were associated chaos and disorder.
But what do we mean by a time of chaos? Well, a time when
anything
could happen, no matter what precautions you might take. You may have
heard the saying, “life isn’t fair.” Well, let’s just say, during the
dark of the moon, the world around us might grab that “unfairness” ball
and run with it. The dark of the moon was thought to be time when even
the best plans were likely to fail and the greatest precautions might
not offer protection.
Chaos is not generally considered a good thing but, if you could have
bad luck, you’d think you could also have good luck during such times.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Historically, the dark of the moon
was considered, at least, a treacherous period and never a time of
pleasant events.
On the other hand, the dark of the moon has a familiar and, somehow,
appropriate set of associations. Being the very end of the period of the
waning moon, it was not considered a good time to begin projects or
enterprises. Also, it was, understandably, associated with death. The
light of the moon diminishes until the “old moon” dies. Another term for
“the dark of the moon” is the “dead moon.”
But, then again, death is associated with renewal. So the dark of the
moon is the final period of break-down and clean-up before the birth of
a new moon. Actually the dark of the moon is considered, by some, to
be a good period for rest and reflection — but, still, not a good period
for action.
M Grossmann of Hazelwood, Missouri
(& Belleville, Illinois)
About the Author
15 May 2014
