August 15 brings a Full Moon. This Full Moon is called the “Sturgeon Moon,” because of the great number of this huge freshwater fish that could once be found in lakes and rivers in North America. Other names for this Full Moon include: “Green Corn Moon,” “Grain Moon,” “Fruit Moon,” and “Barley Moon,” all inspired by various crops that can be harvested in August.
August Full Moon – Lunar Phases
Many of the Moon’s nicknames have come to us from Native American culture. Their way of life has them believing that their cycles of the lunar phases of the Full Moon, are as important a method of timekeeping as the longer solar cycle of the year. This is defined by the motion of the sun, from which the modern Gregorian calendar is derived. The number of Moon names differs slightly from tribe to tribe.
August Full Moon – Native American Tribes
This Moon phase will rise later each day, becoming prominent later in the night. Within a few days, it will only be visible in the pre-dawn and early-morning sky. Some Native American tribes called the August Moon the “Sturgeon Moon” because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this Full Moon.
Take the advice of Native Americans and connect with what brings you joy and share that with others. Don’t overthink; just find pleasure in your ability to be you. Your focus will be to balance your mind and body through creativity, through play, and through movement.
August Full Moon – Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon
The August Full Moon has many nicknames — “Green Corn Moon” and “Grain Moon.” They can be traced to the Native American harvesting ceremonies that began at the end of summer.
The Green Corn Ceremony was typically held in late June or early July, and the Mature Green Corn Ceremony would take place 45 days later, according to Cherokee.org.
August Full Moon – Full Fruit Moon
Europeans called this Full Moon the “Full Fruit Moon,” as a number of fruits ripen as the end of Summer approaches, and the “Barley Moon,” for the harvesting and threshing of the barley.
This Moon is also known as the Fruit Moon because this is the time of year when the apples, plums, peaches, grapes and berries are at their ripest and heavy with juice. Just as the fruit turns to it’s most saturated hue so will the sky begin to arrest us with displays of opulent color, signaling the days turning shorter. Even as we enjoy nature’s visual display coupled with a perfectly ripe piece of fruit in the warm summer night, other perfectly ripe fruit is falling onto the ground uneaten and beginning to decay, representing the many stages of life.
During this Full Fruit Moon, you might want to gather your fruits, vegetable and other staples, honor your ancestors, keep in touch with your siblings, ask for forgiveness, and let go of those old grudges.
August Full Moon – Evening Twilight
The Full Moon represents our emotional body and subconscious. The part of us that we typically keep hidden or buried under our social personality. During the time of a Full Moon, all of that comes to the surface, asking to be seen. This is why we feel extra emotional, or as some say, the crazy comes out. It’s not that we are crazy, but it can be uncomfortable to feel all the feels.
By the evening of the Full Moon, as evening twilight ends, Venus will be near its brightest but will be setting in the west-southwest, Jupiter will have regained its customary position as the second brightest planet in the sky, appearing in the southwest about 12 degrees above the horizon.
Energy of the Full Moon
The energy of the Full Moon is heightened at this time, and emotions, feelings, mental processes, dreams etc. are all amplified. When the Sun and Moon oppose each other during a Full Moon, it can cause tension and awkward friction, but at the same time, bring a greater expansion of visions and potential possibilities. This is a compelling time of gratitude, gracefully acknowledging the beauty of life itself, and all you have brought into existence.
Once you start looking up and observing the Full Moon, you’ll want to get outside more and more to get a better view. This is a wonderful time to enjoy the fresh air and gain perspective. Remember how tiny you are—how your small, significant life is connected to all others. Recite the words to that ancient lullaby: “I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me.”
The Full Moon and Nature
“The Moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The Moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.” ― Deng Ming-Dao, Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony.
The Full Moon of August
“There were nights for instance, especially in August, where the view of the Full Moon from the top of the Acropolis hill or from a high terrace could steal your breath away. The Moon would slide over the clouds like a seducing princess dressed in her finest silvery silk. And the sky would be full of stars that trembled feebly, like servants that bowed before her. During those nights under the light of the August Full Moon, the city of Athens would become an enchanted kingdom that slept lazily under the sweet light of its ethereal mistress.” ― Effrosyni Moschoudi, The Necklace of Goddess Athena.
There are two Equinox points each year (spring and autumn) and two Solstice points (summer and winter). During the Summer Solstice, the Sun will appear to stop and then begin declining in the slightest way each day in a southward direction. The date of the Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year because at that point the Sun stops right over the Tropic of Cancer which is the northernmost point.
At the Summer Solstice, Earth is positioned in its orbit so that our world’s North Pole is leaning most toward the Sun. As seen from Earth, the Sun is directly overhead at noon 23 1/2 degrees north of the equator, at an imaginary line encircling the globe known as the Tropic of Cancer – named after the constellation Cancer the Crab.
Since Cancer is associated with the ocean, this can be likened to our depth of creativity. The ocean waves are like the heartbeats of the earth – their motion is constant. They unconsciously remind us that we are part of something larger – part of a natural rhythm that needs no effort on our part to continue. By getting in touch with that rhythm, we are better able to get in touch with ourselves.
The Summer Solstice is a celebration of the return to light, and it so powerfully reminds us of the Light within each of us. It is about awakening, or reaching Enlightenment, as an omnipotent symbol of ascension and the ultimate triumph of Light over Darkness.
Celebrations have been held in conjunction with the Solstice in cultures around the world for hundreds of years. Among these is Sankthans, or “Midsummer,” which is celebrated on June 24 in Scandinavian countries. In 2016, the people of Ålesund, Norway, set a world record for the tallest bonfire with their 155.5-foot celebratory bonfire.
June is the month where strawberries are finally ripe enough to be picked, according to Farmer’s Almanac. Starting as light green and tasteless, they, over time, form plump, juicy, sweet, and reddened berries that are just begging to be eaten. Could there possibly be anything that gets us more excited for the month of June than the idea of eating fresh strawberries!
If the name “Strawberry Moon,” wasn’t sweet enough already, there are even more names associated with the June Full Moon. Because not all regions grow strawberries during this time of the year, it’s additionally known as the “Rose Moon” and the “Hot Moon” in certain places.
June, the month that marks the culmination of spring and the launch of summer, is when roses are finally able to bloom in their fullest glory, spreading their velvety and perfumed petals wide open for the admiring. Since this is also the month in which the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year takes place, it makes perfect sense that it would also be known as the Hot Moon.
There’s no denying that each month, the Full Moon comes crashing in with a wave of energy. But you don’t have to get swamped by it — ride it! Grounded, stable, and hard working are key words for this June Full Moon. In fact during this Full Moon, everything will be magnified, both good and bad. Therefore, this Full Moon should be viewed both as a time of crisis as well as a time of opportunity. It depends on our overall state and activity during the Full Moon day to cultivate its positive and negative effects. Many insights can come at this time! If you can’t sleep, use the time to dance, journal, or do something creative. Creative energies are heightened at the Full Moon.
This unique Full Moon brings unusual vibrations. The time is right under this Moon for change and new opportunities in your life. This Moon stage represents a wave of new possibilities and time for change, so, like a New Year’s resolution, it’s the time to jump into new experiences and take chances. Stay calm and relax the mind during this Full Moon day to avoid possible emotional and mental fluctuations.
Another way to take advantage of the strong vibrations of a Full Moon is to cleanse and relax your mind. Relaxing the mind can be done with affirmations. It is appropriate to use positive affirmations during the Full Moon. Repeat your favorite affirmation for at least three minutes, preferably outside under this Full Moon.
The energy of a Full Moon can be good for you if you use it right. It can increase the level of your positive energy and it can definitely stir your emotions. The best way to embrace this energy is to stay calm. During the Full Moon, emotions are magnified. The time of the Full Moon is a powerful energy healing opportunity, an optimum time for meditating, recharging your energy field, and clearing your Chakras.
The Full Moon in June is a powerful time in the lunar cycle when the Moon pours down a tremendous amount of energy. Full Moons stir up our emotions and amplify mystical powers connected to the human spirit. Read about how this month’s Full Moon can yield incredible healing results, both physically and mentally. Full Moons bathe your skin in a soft light, while also illuminating the often overlooked crevices of your subconscious—giving you insights into your spirit and soul.
June 17 – Full Moon in Sagittarius. This Moon is also called the Strawberry Moon
The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension and will be visible in this morning’s sky. Saturn, the planet of Karma and responsibility, will fully manifest for the first time in 29 years, being home in Capricorn, the sign which it governs! Karma is the age-old theory of getting what we deserve based on our thoughts and actions. Practice kindness and compassion. Never underestimate the power of good Karma!
June 21 – Summer Solstice and Cancer, the Season of the Crab, begins 
June 25 – The Moon is at Last Quarter
To people who live in Earth’s northern hemisphere, this astronomical event signals the arrival of spring, winter’s end, and the increasingly warm and brighter days that come with the pending arrival of summer.
Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature. Watch the sunrise and/or sunset, go for a walk in the park, take a bike ride, lay in the grass, or take a hike. As you do so, observe all the new life beginning around you.
It is the perfect time to bring acceptance to your life no matter the circumstances or the judgments over what is good and what is bad, and to instead honor the journey.
When Mercury is retrograde, we tend to notice more issues in the areas of communication, in the way we interact with others and in our surroundings and neighborhood. It may also show up in our travel, the way we get around and in our interaction with our siblings.
The March Equinox also brings a distinct shift in energy. In the northern hemisphere, the energy shifts from winter to spring or from an internal state to an external state. In the southern hemisphere, the energy moves from summer to autumn, or from an external state to an internal state. This energetic shift is best seen through examples in nature. In the northern hemisphere the buds begin to bloom, the daylight hours are longer, and many animals have the instinct to mate.
