The phone buzzed on the dark night of Wednesday, Feb. 25. It brought a message from Andrew that resulted in a search from window to window and then out the front door to the deck to find the moon. Not a full moon or a new moon, but earth’s moon bordered by Jupiter, the bright star Capella and all surrounded by a “moon halo.”
Andrew was searching for an explanation for the large white circle. If you did or did not see this, you have lived for a given number of years and know things. What thoughts come to mind: light from the moon, Wednesday temperatures, Thursday weather forecast, clouds, moisture in the atmosphere, low- and high-pressure systems, can a picture capture this, where are explanations available, Moon Halo song lyrics. After bouncing the discovered information back to Andrew, it’s too late to think more and let’s sleep on it.
Morning brings new perspectives. The week goes on and the sciences of astronomy, meteorology, ice crystals, light etc. give explanations. It’s the last week of February in winter, and March will bring a turn toward spring. Not only will weather continue it’s changes, but other occurrences come to mind.
Before morning light, 6:30 a.m. dog walks provide only the intermittent sound of raven calls. They talk and announce their presence as they enter the beginning of nesting. Unheard and unseen in the night, snowshoe hares travel about over the snow cover in their nocturnal search for food, but also mating to bear 2026 offspring in April. While other wildlife go through winter transitions, great horned owls have already hatched young and must find prey to provide for their young.
The moon halo seems an indicator of changes that result in its appearance and the connection to the moon aligns with thoughts of all the other changes occurring at this time of year. Like the predictable phenological changes that coincide with the moons of the Anishinaabeg and other cultures, change is appreciated as the “Bear Moon” of February passes to the “Snow Crust” Moon of March.
Life over our years builds a history of changes we each experience. Although not always a comfortable thought, it has been said that “the only constant is change.” The weather changed from Wednesday to Thursday after being foretold by the moon halo.
The deck gets shoveled again Thursday morning.
Bird feeders are refilled for the winter birds. Wonder increases about when their final visit will be before they return to breeding areas farther north. Time will arrive when feeding winter birds ends to avoid spring appearance bears, raccoons, woodchucks, ground squirrels, chipmunks etc. Some changes are predictable.
The timing of this week’s “moon halo” acted as a sign and reminder. Change will happen. After putting on a long-sleeved black shirt that illustrated the Fibonacci sequence, change and what change leads to, becomes the focus. Changes lead to potential, challenges, positive outcomes, status quo or negative outcomes.
All of these receive value in the minds of the beholders.
Everything created becomes a history that will evolve and impact. Through action or inaction, the future will be written.
This week’s moon halo came in the midst of reviews of candidates and selection of a new director for a local organization to be announced shortly. Virtual visits and responses regarding candidates for the presidency of our local college.
Township supervisor election, new board chairperson placement, congressional candidate campaigns, and a multitude of other considerations, plans, and decisions allow people to contribute to inevitable change, resist change, or evaluate need for changes.
What can be seen in the past that gives some similar insight to its cause and the future as a moon halo or raven call?
