the moon we share
I captured this image of the full moon last night.
This was taken at the bottom of my back garden, and I didn’t have a tripod, so it was the best not-too-blurry picture I could get while trying not to shiver from the cold (as was typical I decided to just ‘nip out quickly’ and wasn’t dressed for the frosty weather).
I like the somewhat eerie atmosphere of this shot.
Whenever I see a stunning full moon in a clear sky shot through with stars, I think of my friends and loved ones, far away, who are looking up at the very same moon, and that gives me a sense of connection. We all see the same moon no matter where we live.
It’s weird, because I don’t think of this when I regard the ebullient sun in a blue sky. Then, I usually feel gratitude that I’m getting any sunshine!
There is something about the full moon shining in the darkness that brings with it a deeper contemplation. It is the beacon in the night, a waypoint through introspection.
While the sun sustains us in an overt, charismatic fashion, the moon’s changing face continues to hint of mystery and magic.
When it powers up to full, and rings its clarion bell in the black night, our bones resonate.
4 Comments
K. A. Laity
“It’s in the trees! It’s coming!”
Maura McHugh
😀
Lynda
I do that too with the moon and thinking of others. I suppose it also has a bit to do with being able to observe its various phases together (while the sun doesn’t noticeably change to the naked eye) and the fact that as long as it’s clear, I can be sure others are seeing it too… but it’s so true, I’ve never once said to myself, “That’s the same sun that so-and-so is looking at!”
Maura McHugh
Yes, I think the changeable nature of the moon makes it more poetic. The sun almost always has one aspect.
And at night time we tend to be introspective, while during the day we tend towards being more outward-looking.
When you think about it the changeable moon is the complex anti-heroine (sometimes nice, often moody) compared to the forthright, outspoken solar heroine.