More people go mad on full moon day…..
photo copyright Suresh Gundappa 2006
We know that the ocean is influenced by the moon, but we have not taken into consideration the fact that the same relative proportion of water and salt that occurs in the ocean occurs also in the human body — the same proportion. Forty-five percent of the human body consists of water, and the proportion of salt contained in that water is the same as is contained in thousands of bays. If the water in the ocean is affected by the moon, then how could the water inside the human body remain unaffected?
Now, in this connection, two or three facts emerging from recent investigations must be kept in mind. For example, as the day of the full moon approaches, the amount of madness in the world increases. And on the last day of the darker fourteen days, the least number of people go mad. As the moon grows brighter the proportion of madmen also begins to increase. On the day of the full moon, the greatest number of people enter madhouses; and on the last day of the moon’s waning period, the greatest number of people are discharged from madhouses. Statistics are now available….
In English there is the word lunatic; in Hindi there is the word chaandmara. Chaand refers to the moon, just as lunar does in English. Chaandmara is a very ancient term, and the word lunatic also is some three thousand years old. Some three thousand years ago, the thought came to men that the moon does something to the insane. But if it does something to the insane, then how can it avoid affecting the sane?
In the final analysis, the construction of the brain and the internal composition of the body are the same for all. Yes, it may be that the moon affects madmen to a greater extent, and the sane to a lesser extent. This is simply a quantitative difference. But it is impossible that the sane remain completely unaffected by the moon. If that was true, then nobody could go mad — because everyone who goes mad was once sane. The moon must first do something to those who are sane.
As I have told you, the water of the ocean is subject to certain influences. But all life is created out of water; without water, no life is possible. So in ancient Greece, seers used to say that only from water is life born, that water is life. Ancient Indian, Chinese and other mythologies also say this. Today scientists who believe in evolution also say that life was born in water, that perhaps the first life on the planet lived in the water. This was the first form of life, and then out of this, man eventually evolved.
Water is the most mysterious element of all.
Whatever influences from the stars reach man from the universe, from space, reach him through the medium of water. Having once affected the water in a man’s body, any radiation can gain entrance into him. Much work is being done with water, and many mysteries concerning water are coming to man’s attention.
The biggest mystery about water which has come to the attention of scientists in the last ten years is that water possesses a lot of sensitivity. Whatever influences are active from any direction in life are first felt by water. The water in us is the first thing to be affected. Once the water in us is influenced, then it will be very difficult for us to avoid being influenced.
You will be surprised to learn that when the child swims in the mother’s womb, he swims just as if he were in the ocean. The water in which the child swims in the mother’s womb possesses the same proportion of salt as is present in the ocean. Whatever influences reach the child from the mother’s body do not reach him directly; between the mother and the child growing in her womb there is no direct connection. Water is the mediator. Whatever influences reach the child from the mother do so through the medium of water; there is no direct relationship. Then throughout our lives the water in our bodies behaves just as the water in the sea.
Meditate during full moon days, It’s a great opportunity to bring your awareness to focus. Try and watch full moon for hours , you will be amazed at the range of emotions which will surface. Some of you may cry, may get depressed or just throw up. Some of you may also dance, write poetry or just sing. Full moon day is great opportunity to reinvent yourself. try it , Just experiment on next full moon day and you will be amazed at the results.
PS: this experiment of watching moon can cause uncontrollable emotions especially in women. I recommend to do it in group rather than alone.
Cheers
Los of love
Suresh
Suresh–Fantastic photo and post. thank you for sharing. I had no idea!
This is something I’ve often wondered about myself. I know that US crime is up on full moons. Where did you get your other data for this article? It is really interesting. Thanks.
Thank you Suresh for sharing your interesting observations In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions it is customary in some parts to hold religious and prayer meetings on full moon days for peace and enlightenment
Love and best wishes
Beatiful Post.
I shall add:
Be more careful on full moons, much more traffic accidents are happening in these days.
Lovely, Suresh! What a wealth of information in this thought provoking post. I’ve read the number of women that go into labor increase drastically during a full moon.
This has always been something that’s fascinated me so thanks for the great post and words of wisdom, as always.
That’s an typical Indian photo, like it.
I heard about this sometimes before, but after reading this post, I really knew more.
I have added your blog in my “om shanti om” category
Thanks Dave for allowing me to be part of your Interest.
suresh, It’s amazing you write about full moon so brilliantly. Three years back My brother was admitted to madhouse on full moon day. He suffered from war injuries and never recovered mentally. Somehow full moon days had terrible negative impact on him. I never could understand why.
Can I write to you or call you to know more about Fullmoon meditation. I know this may sound stupid but I just want to take every chance to help my brother.
thank you
Cathy , I have your Email ID thru wordpress, Let me reach out to you. Let’s connect and see what can be done.
Love
Suresh
G’day Suresh (sounds-like: sure-as), Just wanted to acknowledge your recent visit and commentary to my blog. namste.
Regarding my visit to your sharings here, fantastic photos, you live in a context where there is still so much diversity, uniqueness and environmental enrichment… a fortunate context for you existence. Your words and sharing also sound extremely mature and insightful, in the main. Impressive.
Just a short note on the Moon –>> lunatic connection, in another esoteric teaching that I am familiar with (and adhere to), the “teacher”/author says, excerpt:
“The moon is more than just a pale satellite of interest to poets and astronomers. Its influence goes beyond merely creating ocean tides or driving biological cycles. More importantly, the moon exerts a significant influence upon the mechanical, emotional, and psychological states in man. The werewolf myth and superstition concerning full moon lunacy are not far from the truth. Certain lunar phases heighten the possibility for emotionally draining situations and stimulate reactivity and sensitivity in vulnerable individuals. … The moon is by no means the only cyclical factor pulling our strings. There are numerous other cycles from personal to national to global and cosmic. Most of these have biological or astrological origins. While the astrological ones are important to consider, particularly certain planetary aspects, I consider the lunar influence to be the strongest and most observable.” … Georges Gurdjieff, frequently admonished the thoughtless mechanical behaviour of humanity and was fond of saying that we are “food for the moon.” … “According to Ouspensky, the moon acts as a giant electromagnet pulling upon all organic life on earth and sucking into itself the soul essence of dying creatures. The moon is an embryonic planet receiving its nutrition from organic life on earth through an etheric umbilical cord, an energy conduit between earth and moon.” … “Ouspensky warned, however, that if lunar influences trespassed into one’s emotional and mental aspects, then emotional and mental imbalances would occur.” … “Mouravieff and Ouspensky emphasized that despite the soporific nature of the moon and the urgent necessity for individuals to overcome its influence, there is still an important cosmological reason for this arrangement. If nothing else, the moon makes physical life possible by driving the earth’s rotation.” … The complete article can be read here http://montalk.net/matrix/114/food-for-the-moon
Didn’t mean to make such a lengthy comment, however, “Moon Worship” is such an interesting phenomena that many POVs should be considered.
Have an excellent day, and I reckon I’ll be adding your Blog to my roll links. TC$N, Djubba
PS: Oops, I should have corrected my typos!
Brilliant and million thanks to you Djubba, thanks for your time and beautiful Insight. Incidentally both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky who visited India during their life time spent considerable time with Monasteries who practice “Way of the white clouds” meditation. Both being incredible personalities of our era, their Insights are obviously through experience.
I couldn’t agree with you more on your observations.
Lots of Love
Lovely Suresh!
I didn’t know that percantage of salt is the same in mothers womb and in the ocean. That’s incredible.
Water is really most mysterious element in the Universe! Usually atoms in molecule are symetric, but hydrogen atoms in water molecule are not symetrical. If molecule of water would be symetrical, then water’s boiling point would be at about minus 40 degrees Celsius (232 Kelvin) and of course life would not be possible!
I can’t wait ful moon!
B5
Luna was formed by the most violent impact in our planet’s history. A planetoid about Mars sized struck the proto-Earth twice. It’s remarkable to me that such a violent impact created the Moon that we all gaze up at. Like the volcanoe or the flood, that impact remade the Earth into the cradle of humanity. Very nice post.
Another very interesting post - bringing what the English call *old wives tales* up todate - or is it science proving what we have always suspected.
Stunning photograph to accompany it as well.
Thanks. The photo portraits a man, who would look a foreigner in my Lithuania, but this man shines the Spirit of love and his eyes are like a mirror where I recognize as myself so lots of people who prefer love to talks about the love.
I’m sorry just for one. I dont know what moon stands at the moment.
Fantastic photo.
Hello Suresh,
Thank you for the post. I am teaching earth science and would love to show statistics to my students for a ‘pure science’ perspective. Can you link me on to any those statistics you mentioned?
Thank you again.
Tremendous photograph. Great post too, but your photograph is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
The effect of moon on mind is something that I had always believed in.
Indian astrology has a concept called “Chandrashtama” (Chandra - moon; ashtama - eighth) meaning moon in the eighth house. The moon travels from one zodiac sign to another and stays there for approximately 2 and a half days. When the moon is in the eighth sign from one’s own sign, then he/she experiences Chandrashtama. This is a time when the mind becomes disturbed and emotional than usual. I have had bad experiences on Chandrashtama days, in the sense, I may have been more quarrelsome or sensitive to people’s comments.
Btw we can use Google calendar for moon phases to keep track of full moon days
This is a great photo. Are you in India? These landscapes are gorgeous. I`ve always wanted to visit it, but money is tight in this end of the world. I like it when people post their countries in photos, be it as people, in this one, or landscapes, in so many others you show here. Great work.
The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him. “You have come a long way to visit me,” he told the prowler, “and you should not return empty handed.
Please take my clothes as a gift.”
The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.
The Master sat naked, watching the moon. “Poor fellow,” he mused, ” I wish
I could give him this beautiful moon.”
~ Zen stories to tell your neighbours
The upcoming full moon night on May 2nd happens to be special - it is Buddha Poornima - the night of Buddha’s enlightenment.
All these years I’d never been concerned about it (except if it was a public holiday) only recently someone told me so I came to know. But actually, after I posted the above, I got a doubt wondering whether it was that or was it his birthday. Googled and found that “this day the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and attained Nirvana when he died” Turns out to be 3 in one!
I very much enjoyed what you have said about the moon and it’s influence on the tides of the sea and our bodies. It’s a full moon now. I feel connected to it, and all else. Effected? maybe, if I so choose. Inspired yes. I like the way it lights up the apple tree outside my bedroom window. Also, I can see the bears who come down to delight in the ripe apples. I feel the tides of my heart and body are effected by all of this, but no less, the moon.
-Zencat
9,000 Sacred Texts on CD
This information that u have gave is really interesting and i am affected by the full moon and so are a few people i know so we all know how it feels to be affected. You have uped my knowledge and i will now be alot more aware of the affects of it and if i am having a mood swing at a certain time i can now blame this on the moon and i will know that it wont last forever but it will always come and go. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us much appreciated.
Oh, and did not know about it. Thanks for the information …
My son has always been lunar active. However, 6 years ago he had brain tumour surgery and since then has been very affected by the full moon. I wish there were more information or studies on this phenomenon.
I have said for the past at least 12 years that my son is affected by the full moon and many people and drs think I am crazy - I am looking for some more information about how to control and help him (my son) understand how he can get more self control during the day prior and often time depending on the intensity of the moon even after - it is a guaranteed 5-7 days before the full moon and a 3-5 days after that his behavior is elevated and there are issues to deal with at school, etc. Otherwise for the remainder of teh 20 or so days of the month he is fine. Meditation sounds great but how do I start and what do I do?
Thanks