A Blue Moon Doesn’t Exist: The Mysteries of Calendars

The term ‘blue moon’ often captivates, evoking images of rare celestial events. Commonly, it’s thought of as the second full moon in a single calendar month. However, this concept of a ‘blue moon’ doesn’t hold in ancient or spiritual calendar systems like the 13 Moon Calendar and the Maya Tzolk’in Calendar, also known as the Dreamspell Calendar. This article will explore why ‘blue moons’ are a construct of the Gregorian calendar, discuss the occurrence of four full moons in one season, and contrast different calendar systems.

The Origin of the ‘Blue Moon’

The term ‘blue moon’ was popularized in 1946 by James Hugh Pruett in an article for ‘Sky & Telescope’ magazine. Pruett mistakenly defined a ‘blue moon’ as the second full moon in a calendar month. However, an older definition of a ‘blue moon’ refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.

Four Full Moons in a Season

The phenomenon of four full moons in a single season is the other way the term ‘blue moon’ is used. Normally, each season (spring, summer, fall, winter) has three full moons. However, about once every 2.7 years, a season will have four full moons. According to the older definition, the third of these four full moons is called a ‘blue moon’. This usage comes from the need to maintain the alignment of the ecclesiastical calendar, particularly concerning the timing of Easter, with the phases of the Moon.

Even this definition of a ‘blue moon’ is tied exclusively to the Gregorian calendar, which divides the year into seasons and months disconnected from the Moon’s natural cycles.

Introducing the Gregorian Calendar

The ‘blue moon’ concept was further ingrained in popular culture, giving rise to the belief that ‘blue moons’ are rare and magical. This phenomenon is a product of the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to reform the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, organizing time into 12 months of varying lengths to approximate the 365.24-day solar year. Due to these varying lengths, it’s possible for two full moons to occur in a single month or for a season to contain four full moons instead of the usual three.

Distraction from the Natural Cycles

The big commotion about ‘blue moons’ is meant to distract from the true meaning and blessings of the powerful lunar phases. ‘Blue moons’ only exist in the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced by humans. They do not exist in the 13 Moon natural time or the Maya Tzolk’in Calendar, which follows the cycles of nature and thus the thirteen moons in one solar cycle.

Humanity once lived in harmony with celestial cycles. Following these natural rhythms deeply connected people with the Earth and the cosmos, keeping them grounded in the present moment. The Gregorian calendar, by contrast, causes a disconnection from nature, causing us to dwell on the past and worry about the future. Aligning with the Moon and other celestial cycles can help reconnect you to the most intelligent force in the Universe.

The 13 Moon Calendar and the Witch’s Connection

The 13 Moon Calendar, also known as the Dreamspell Calendar, is a modern adaptation of ancient timekeeping systems that follow the Moon’s natural rhythms. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is uneven and disconnected from natural cycles, the 13 Moon Calendar is organized into 13 equal months, each containing 28 days, making a total of 364 days. The 365th day is considered a ‘Day Out of Time’, dedicated to reflection and celebration.

This calendar is significant in various spiritual practices, including those of witches who align their rituals with lunar cycles. In the Witch’s community, the moon holds immense power, and the cycles of waxing, full, waning, and new moons are used to time spells and rituals. The 13 Moon Calendar aligns more closely with natural cycles, providing a harmonious framework for spiritual practices.

For those following the 13 Moon Calendar, the concept of a ‘blue moon’—whether it’s the second full moon in a month or the third full moon in a season with four full moons—does not exist. Each month has the same number of days, and there are exactly 13 full moons in a year, so irregularities like those in the Gregorian calendar do not occur.

The Maya Tzolk’in Calendar

The Maya Tzolk’in Calendar, also called the Dreamspell Calendar, is another ancient system where the concept of a ‘blue moon’ is absent. The Tzolk’in is a 260-day cycle composed of 20 periods of 13 days each, used primarily for ritual and ceremonial purposes. This calendar is deeply spiritual, with each day having its own unique energy and significance.

The Tzolk’in is not tied to the lunar phases or the solar year; instead, it follows a sacred cycle integral to Maya cosmology. In this calendar, the Moon’s phases are not used to measure time, making the idea of a ‘blue moon’ irrelevant.

The Maya also used the Haab’ calendar, which consists of 18 months of 20 days each, plus a short month of 5 days, making 365 days in total. Even with this solar calendar, the Maya did not conceive of a ‘blue moon’, as their understanding of time was cyclical, not linear like the Gregorian system.

Shamanic Perspectives and the Natural World

Shamans, who work closely with natural cycles and the energies of the Earth and cosmos, also reject the concept of a ‘blue moon’. In shamanic traditions, time is measured by natural rhythms rather than arbitrary divisions of human-made calendars. The focus is on the quality of time, not its quantity, making the notion of a ‘blue moon’ irrelevant.

For shamans, every full moon holds power, and its significance depends on the energies. They’re dedicated on events occurring in the natural world, rather than the structure of the Gregorian calendar.

Honoring Natural Time

The concept of a ‘blue moon’ is a product of the Gregorian calendar, an artificial system that doesn’t align with natural cycles. For those who follow spiritual paths that honor the rhythms of the Earth and the cosmos, ‘blue moons’ simply don’t exist. This includes witches, shamans, and those attuned to the 13 Moon Calendar or the Maya Tzolk’in Calendar. Instead of focusing on rare and arbitrary events like the ‘blue moon’, these traditions encourage a deeper connection with the natural world and its cycles. By doing so, we can attune ourselves to a more harmonious and spiritually fulfilling way of experiencing time.

Through this words, I hope you feel inspired to connect with the natural and cosmic cycles.

Blessed be.

xx Preshanna ?