You Won’t Want to Miss the Strawberry Moon this Weekend

The strawberry moon is the first full moon of the summer, and it will take place this year on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

For centuries, civilizations across the globe have used the recurring spectacle of the full moon to track the ebb and flow of seasons for hunting, planting, and harvesting. A full moon occurs when the moon is directly across the Earth from the sun.

A strawberry moon occurs once a year, and some say the strawberry moon is a conduit for luck, love, and prosperity. Others believe that the strawberry moon amplifies our intuition and intensifies our sensitivity, creating a timely moment for spiritual practices, exploring our emotions, and facilitating the healing process.

What Is a Strawberry Moon?

The name “strawberry moon” comes from Native American tribes, including the Algonquin, Lakota, and Ojibwe, as a name for the moon in June. Among the Oneida people, this full moon serves as a reminder that wild strawberries are ripe for picking. The Farmer’s Almanac also identifies the strawberry moon as a time when strawberry plants typically bloom. 

The term “strawberry moon” signifies the harmony between the moon’s phases and the natural environment. Other names for the strawberry moon include honey moon, rose moon, flower moon, hot moon, hoe moon, planting moon, Vat Purnima, and Poson Poya.

How to See the Strawberry Moon

The strawberry moon is the first full moon of the summer. It will be nearly full on June 2 and June 4, but it will be at its fullest on Saturday, June 3. The strawberry moon will shine brightly all night on Saturday but will reach peak illumination just before midnight in the eastern U.S. around 11:42 p.m. EST. 

Is the Strawberry Moon Red?

Despite its name, the strawberry moon isn’t red or pink. Red moons usually only occur as part of a lunar eclipse or on a particularly cloudy day. However, the strawberry moon will be quite low in the sky, which increases the chances that the moon will turn an unusual color. The next partial lunar eclipse is in October 2023.

A strawberry moon is not to be confused with a blood moon, which is a full moon that coincides with a total lunar eclipse, turning the moon red. The blood moon is thought to have spiritual significance, suggesting an ending or a new beginning. The next blood moon is not predicted to occur until 2025.

Will you stay up late on Saturday to view the strawberry moon? Tell us in the comments.

Source: https://outdoors.com/what-is-a-strawberry-moon/