Does anybody have advice , opinions ,or can point me in the direction of references as to an appropriate practise on full moon days ?
I know that ashtanga vinyasa Mysore style , advise rest at such times and in
Buddhism , the full moon is symbol of enlightenment , shining light into dark corners , auspicious time to meditate and reflect.
Have you come across any writings on this topic ?
Yes I have…don’t know where it is (Buddhist) I’ll try to find. I find it a very very powerful aid in deep meditation…also an aid on the Ajna Chakra…and will be doing the gzpf experiment at that time, especially.(see…thread :Ajna and perception v Unicorns and Fairies)
Also 20 mins before ish and as the sun is setting. is excellent for Very deep meditations.to reach the inner gurus seat.
I find the full moon a deep influence on spiritual awareness.
Hope this helps…Ill look for it in books…loads…I vaguely remember a reference to meditating by direct staring at the moon somewhere but there was more in another book.
Interesting that the ashtanga vinyasa mysore style says to rest.?
ps…just curious…did you find a perception of the full moon recently an influence? in that you were in some way drawn to it…hence the post?
I often sense the energy of the full moon , I was particuarly struck by the moon last night although think it was waning ,it was really red and seemed to be huge over penzance where i live.
However thats not why , I have planned to run a workshop and i noticed it falls on a full moon so would like to be appropraite given that energies can be somewhat stimulated was wondering if folk had come across advice from teachers , gurus or books. I notice often when I teach around full moon that the classes are more excitable than normal.
In the past I have , in the company of others meditated all night long on full moon nights , quite trippy !
Given that the ashtanga vinyasa practise is supposed to be done rigidly six times a week
they do need to rest ,its said one is more likely to be injured full moon times. I wondered whether if in India it would be a time to go perform Puja as in Buddhism , so not a day for ones regular practise . But have not come across much information or opinion around this subject.
Reason I asked about this particular moon…for some reason, unknown to me it was particularly powerful when full.
Thanks for info. x will keep looking for info
Lovely place penzance x
To Buddhists, there is a special religious significance especially on full day because certain important and outstanding events connected with the life of Lord Buddha took place on full moon days. The Buddha was born on a full moon day. His renunciation took place on a full moon day. His Enlightenment, the delivery of His first sermon, His passing away into Nibbana and many other important events associated with His life-span of eighty years, occurred on full moon days. just found this
In Google type … influence of full moon in Buddhism …open top one x
thanks interesting article ,someone told me the other day that womens cycles should revolve around the full moon , how would that be if all women had the same cycle ?
[QUOTE=charliedharma;40819]thanks interesting article ,someone told me the other day that womens cycles should revolve around the full moon , how would that be if all women had the same cycle ?[/QUOTE]
Predictable. Lots of men would be taking “business trips” or going fishing that week I suspect. 
Ha yes …we would have menstrual parties…great gatherings of women all bitching together…xx
[QUOTE=charliedharma;40802]Does anybody have advice , opinions ,or can point me in the direction of references as to an appropriate practise on full moon days ?
I know that ashtanga vinyasa Mysore style , advise rest at such times and in
Buddhism , the full moon is symbol of enlightenment , shining light into dark corners , auspicious time to meditate and reflect.
Have you come across any writings on this topic ?[/QUOTE]
Here are some articles on this:
thanks interesting article ,someone told me the other day that womens cycles should revolve around the full moon , how would that be if all women had the same cycle ?
Women who live together or work together closely will often have their cycles begin to coincide. I have found this happening many times in my experience.
It certainly helps to have someone to commiserate with and help you keep yourself in line when they and you realize why you are both so edgy! lol
Yes Joanna63…its true what youve said…although I never get any symptoms of edgy or anything else…im lucky I suppose or at least thats what friends have always said…
Given that Buddha had his most profound events happen on a full moon, why does ashtanga vinyasa Mysore style say to rest???
The information that I have is that Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga used to say that doing asanas on full moon days was dangerous and yogis was more prone to injuries.
Perhaps the full moon is for ‘mind’ based events and not physical ones Bliss?
Ashtanga practitioners (Jois) practice neither on the new or the full moon. Has to do with nature cycles and energy.
@ Charlie
Are you looking for a specific practice as far as asana? If so, let me know and I’ll share the 3 sequences I teach when there is a full moon. It’s quite nice. Very relaxing.
oh yes Lotusgirl, of course…hang on …no I still dont get it…I mean that isnt the energy less on waning moon and more on a new moon or full moon?..hmmmm still trying to think…not easy
One of the reasons given is that as we are mostly water, the full moon having strong effects on tides has an equally strong effect on our inner tides and apparently leading to risk of injury as Bliss mentioned. So maybe time to meditate do puja.
yes thats it…all i know is that the moon is for the mind
You may be familiar with the caution “Avoid practicing yoga on the full or new moon!” This tradition of observing “moon days” stems from the belief in the Ashtanga system that practicing at either extreme of the lunar cycle leaves you vulnerable to injury. One theory is that because the body consists mainly of water, you are affected, like the ocean’s tides, by the moon:
Hey Charlie. Here is what I teach during the full moon. Let me know if you need any clarification.
First, I set the mood by lighting candles and turning off most of the lights. We all form a circle with the candles in the center.
I begin by sharing some folk lore about the full moon for that month. I share native american names (others as well) and why they named it. I play no music. There is complete silence.
We all stand in Tadasana with hands in namaste. I begin the sequence by saying: Relax, Become aware of Bhrumadhya. Visualize the full (place name here) moon shining brightly onto the waves of the ocean. Cool shades of moonlight catching the tops of the waves as they dance. Let us begin.
Sequence I
Tadasana, hands in namaste
Swaying palm to R
Swaying palm to L
Goddess Squats (we do 6)
Star
Triangle R
Pyramid (or intense leg stretch) R
Lunge R
Walk hands around to other side
Lunge L
Pyramid L
Triangle L
Star
Goddess Squats (6)
Swaying palm L
Swaying Palm R
Tadasana, hands in namaste.
Repeat 2 more times.
Sequence II
Tadasana, hands in namaste
Bring hands in namaste above head
Uttanasana
R foot lunge
Down Dog
Childs pose
Shashankasana (pose of the moon)
Down Dog
R foot lunge
Crescent Lunge
Lunge
Uttanasana
Hands over head in namaste
Tadasana
Repeat on left and then whole sequence 2 more times.
Sequence III
Tadasana
Swaying Palm R
Swaying Palm L
Come back to center and come to a mild backbend
Goddess Squats (6)
Triangle R
Balancing 1/2 Moon
Goddess Squats (6)
Triangle L
Balancing 1/2 Moon L
Star
Goddess Squats (6)
Jump feet together, hand above head namaste with backbend
Tadasana
Sequence 2 and 3 I developed. If you have any questions regarding the poses, let me know.
There is also a meditation on the moon salutation by Laura Cornell that is quite nice. I’ve read this, not participating in the sequence, to my students while performing chandra namaskar. If I do this, there are slight modifications in the sequence. But there is no need to instruct as the meditation guides you what to do. It is very nice and calming.
Hope you can use this and that you enjoy it! My students look forward to this each month.