Dates for the Lunar Tree Months

byLinda Kerr

So, when do we begin the next lunar year? Well, obviously it's going to be shortly after the Winter Solstice. I'll give you a hint that pretty much takes care of the guess work. February 2, or Imbolc, always falls with Rowan moon, the 2nd lunation. So find February 2, and follow the lunar cycle back to the new moon. That is the beginning of Rowan moon. It then follows that the day before that new moon was the last day of Birch. Now, follow that lunation backwards. If you get to the new moon before you get to December 21, then you have an entire lunation for Birch, and the days between Winter Solstice and that new moon are the Days Apart. If you get to December 21 before you get to the new moon (working backwards, remember), then you've just got a short lunation for Birch, which starts the day after the Winter Solstice. You'll probably have to find a calendar that lists the moon phases for this to really make sense, which is a great reason to buy the Lunar Calendar: Dedicated to the Goddess in Her Many Guises!

For 2004-2005, Elder moon ends on December 21, after not having a full moon. Birch begins immediately after, on December 22, and Birch's full moon is December 26.

For 2005-2006, Elder moon ends on December 21, after having a full moon on December 15. The next few days, December 22-29, are the days apart. Birch begins on December 30 with the new moon.

For 2006-2007, Elder moon ends on December 22, after having just started with the new moon on December 20. I haven't calculated this yet, but most likely Birch will begin the day after the Solstice, on December 23, and run till the end of that moon cycle.

Points to remember:

• The lunar year ends with the Winter Solstice.
• The 13th lunar precedes the Winter Solstice, and the 1st lunar follows it. The 13th lunar will NEVER run past the Winter Solstice!
• The 13th lunar and/or the 1st lunar may or may not have the full number of days in a lunation, and one of them may miss having a full moon.
• The Winter Solstice is not counted as part of either moon, but is a day by itself, and sometimes the Day Apart.
• The variables which determine the start of the new lunar year (first lunar) depend on how many days are 'left over' from the thirteenth lunar after the Winter Solstice intercepts it.
• If one of the moons (either the 13th or the 1st) doesn't have a full moon in it, you may celebrate the lunar on the day closest to the Winter Solstice.
• If all else fails, remember that Imbolc, February 2, always falls in the Rowan moon (the 2nd moon). You can look backwards from that date to see exactly when the Birch moon should have started, or at least which moon you're in this time.