The Importance of the Full Moon in Yoga
Yoga states, the magnetic pull of the moon on a full moon night is higher. There is a natural upward pull of energy on this night, and if our spine is straight our pranas or energies rise.
Buddha and the full moon
In Zen monasteries around the globe, on full moon nights people sit under the trees and meditate in remembrance of Gautama Buddha. It was on a full moon night some 2500 years ago, that he achieved enlightenment after eight years of intense practice. He was born on that same full moon night years before as prince Gautama Siddhartha, and died on the same full moon night years later as Buddha.
The full moon and energy
Yoga states, the magnetic pull of the moon on a full moon night is higher. There is a natural upward pull of energy on this night, and if our spine is straight (sitting or standing) our pranas or energies rise.
For spiritual seekers, the full moon is a great tool to achieve higher awareness, because of the rising energy. This is one of the reasons spiritual practitioners abstain from having sexual relations during full moon nights. This upward flow of energies, enhances our qualities and often triggers the expression of our repressed emotions. If we are meditative, we become more meditative, if we are aggressive we may display a heightened disposition to anger or even violence on the nights before, during and after the full moon.
The correlation between violence and the full moon is a theory, which has been discussed and debated for centuries. In 1998, a psychological study which analysed the behaviour of 1200 inmates at the Armley Jail in Leeds discovered a rise in aggressive confrontations during full moons. In 2007, the local police at the city of Brighton linked full moons to a rise in aggressive behaviour amongst drinkers.
The full moon and sleep:
Many of us may experience sleepless nights, or being more emotional on these days. This is often related to higher energy around ajna chakra, which makes us overthink. In 2013, a study led by the Psychiatric hospital of the University of Basel, found that adults slept on average 20 minutes less, took 5 minutes longer to fall asleep, and took longer to achieve REM sleep on full moon nights. On sleepless nights due to overactivity at Ajna Chakra, it is wise to practice Bhramari Pranayama.
