Celtic Symbolism: The Belief on Natal Lunar Fertile Phases

As I have already discussed on my previous post, celts had a strong belief on the influence of the moon on births, germinations, and blossoms.

Mother Earth and Mother Goddess are female conceptions, deities of "motherhood, fertility, creation", with correspondig Moon Goddesses like Rhiannon, Arianrhod, and even Ceridwenn.

This welsh goddess, owner of the cauldron of inspiration and rebirth, is one of the goddesses most often found in neo-pagan rituals. Although the myth can found three female archetypes (maiden, mother and crone) is related mainly to the "witch", which represents the Waning Moon in the lunar cycle.
Among the elements commonly associated with their representations is the cauldron and a big sow or white javelin. The cauldron is a symbol of the feminine principle, as the chalice or the cave and is commonly associated with the uterus, as well as processes of transformation and rebirth. The pig is a symbol of fertility and sensuality. It is considered a patron goddess of the cycles of life, death and rebirth, as well as inspiration, creativity and divination.

Let us just recall the Sheela-Na-Gig character, modern scholars believe these statues and images to be related to fertility rites sacred to men and women.

Thousands of years ago,women were revered for their life-giving powers-their vagina being "the portal through which a child enters the world" (E.O. James, religious historian, The Chalice and the Blade). It was believed that once a person dies they can return to life by being reborn through the vagina.

Blood was a symbol of life, therefore the female's menstrual cycle was mysterious and sacred. Arcaeologists have discovered ancient Cro-Magnon burial sites in France, where, around the skeletal remains, are cowrie shells covered in red ocher, a symbol of the vagina and menstral blood, so the deceased could be revitialized by the woman's life giving blood.

"The information about menstruation among the Celts is very scarce. An image of the mythic tale "The Tain" shows the goddess Medbh creating lakes and ponds with their body fluids. I tend to believe that menstrual blood was used, as later medical texts establish a correspondence between the water of the cosmos and human blood. Anyway, this is not corroborated. (See two books by Bruce Lincoln, "Myth, Cosmos, and Society" and "Death, War, and Sacrifice"). "
(Quote from the Museum of Menstruation: http://www.mum.org/religcel.htm)

Nightlighting and the moon

The word "menstruation" is etymologically related to "moon". The terms "menstruation" and "menses" are derived from the Latin mensis (month), which in turn relates to the Greek "mene" (moon) and to the roots of the English words "month" and "moon".

Some authors believe women in traditional societies without nightlighting ovulated with the full moon and menstruated with the new moon, and one author documents the controversial attempts to use the association to improve the Rhythm Method of regulating conception.

A few studies in both humans and other animals have found that artificial light at night does influence the menstrual cycle in humans and the estrus cycle in mice (cycles are more regular in the absence of artificial light at night). It has also been suggested that bright light exposure in the morning promotes more regular cycles. One author has suggested that sensitivity of women's cycles to nightlighting is caused by nutritional deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals.

Natal Lunar Fertile Phases

What does this phenomena mean? ...Simply as this, moon can trigger ovulation and bring on fertililty at any time during the menstrual cycle - including before, during and just after your period.

The natal lunar fertile phase was re-discovered by Czech psychiatrist Dr Eugene Jonas in the 1950's. His interests in astrology led him to ancient writings which stated that "women are fertile during a certain phase of the moon"... But which phase of the moon?

Through further research, study and calculation he discovered that the lunar phase at which a woman was fertile depended on the relationship between the sun and the moon at the moment she was born.

You are fertile at that time of your cycle when the moon is at the same lunar phase as when you were born.

How is your Lunar Phase calculated?

The term Lunar Phase refers to the angle between the sun and the moon. When the sun and moon are conjunct or at 0 degrees this is a New Moon. when they are opposing each other or 180 degrees this is a Full moon and all other positions in between as shown in the diagram below.

Each individual is born under a particular moon or lunar Phase.

Each month when the moon returns to this same position (as it was at your birth) it can trigger your body to spontaneously ovulate even if this time occurs outside your normal midcycle fertile time.

Now it may not always do this, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE.

In order to know on which Luna Phase you were born, there are a few tools around on the web that will give you some idea of your lunar phase, for example this site has a lunar phase calculator.

Related Sources:

http://mythmaiden.com/celtic.htm
http://philosophytree-breanne.blogspot.com/search?q=fertility
http://www.menstruation.com.au/menstrualproducts/basiclunar.html