Bella Luna! Grazie!

In the film Moonstruck, the grandfather takes his dogs on a walk at night. He encourages them to howl at the big, bright, beautiful moon hanging over Manhattan. Because of that film I’ve taken to shouting at the moon when I see it looking particularly gorgeous “Bella! Luna bella! Grazie Luna! Bella! Grazie!”

Tonight, many of us will be celebrating the full moon. Some of us may have caught a glimpse of the lunar eclipse this morning, and said a word of thanks for the beauty of the moon in her rust-red gown. One quarter of the Earth’s diameter, the fifth largest satellite in our solar system, the moon has worked on our tides and imaginations for thousands of years. Though we’ve walked on her surface, we still have not won all her secrets. Was she the result of an impact with another planet? Did she come floating by and the earth merely drew her into orbit? Why are the isotopic compositions between the earth and moon so similar when that seems so unlikely?

I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon
among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

May your lunar celebrations tonight be bright, beautiful and as full of Mystery as the Moon Herself!