23 replies to this topic

[TikiPrincess]

So we're pretty sure that the whole werewolf thing isn't real, but does the moon influence us in other more subtle ways? The words "lunacy" and "lunatic" are derived from the Latin word for moon, "luna." It was believed that people who acted strangely were under the influence of the moon. In the olden days, women's cycles were set to the rise and fall of the moon. In fact women's cycles are 28 days as is the lunar month rather than the Roman calendar months.

Here's my postulation:
We know that the moon does have influence over tides and water since waves are higher during a full moon. Since our bodies are mostly made of water, can the moon have the same type of influence over us. Are we more likely to act strange? Does our blood rise in our bodies like the tides in the ocean?

What do you think?

Please read my new postulation and theory of the moon's influence.

Edited by TikiPrincess, 27 June 2007 - 09:10 PM.

[cangor]

I dunno... I think that's kinda a crazy idea... I mean... things just cycle... I don't think the moon has a huge effect on us as humans, or if it did smart people would have already figured it out. So, uh, I don't really think so.

[sheepdog]

Yes, I think the moon does effect us. Some studies have been done, and in insane aslyums they have shown that residents are more vocal and act up more during the full moon. I believe there are more traffic accidents, and other mayhem that also occurs.

[Saint_Michael]

I agree with sheep, a few months ago I read article that some scientists based the full moon on people who commit more crimes then when there isn't a full moon. Now how they explain it I can't remember and if they did I would consider it far fetch to think the moon has some sort of influence like that. Of course if we go back oh say 2000-4000 years ago especially with the druids of ancient england and even stone henge, the moon had to be a very big influence because of how druids/wiccans commune with nature and all that good stuff.

Interestingly enough on Tuesday on the history channel they will be talking about the moon and I would recommend watching it as I have been watching this series from the beginning; they covered the sun, mars and of course the impending doom of planet earth. It is an awesome series and you don't have to be a science nerd to enjoy this, because this series has some good info and of course would make for some interesting conversation .

[master_bacarra]

TikiPrincess, on Jun 24 2007, 11:51 AM, said:

So we're pretty sure that the whole werewolf thing isn't real, but does the moon influence us in other more subtle ways? The words "lunacy" and "lunatic" are derived from the Latin word for moon, "luna." It was believed that people who acted strangely were under the influence of the moon. In the olden days, women's cycles were set to the rise and fall of the moon. In fact women's cycles are 28 days as is the lunar month rather than the Roman calendar months.

Here's my postulation:
We know that the moon does have influence over tides and water since waves are higher during a full moon. Since our bodies are mostly made of water, can the moon have the same type of influence over us. Are we more likely to act strange? Does our blood rise in our bodies like the tides in the ocean?

yes, i totally agree with you. i think one of my marine science professor actually told us about this (almost everything you said). she mentioned that the more your body gets in tune with nature, the more you relate to it; thus, like what you said, the woman's cycle follows the cycle of the moon. in wicca, the phases of the moon have a meaning and different rituals are associated with each phase.

although i agree with your postulation about the blood rising, i think the pull of the moon isn't as great with our blood (or with our body, for that matter) as that of the pull on the ocean water.

[salamangkero]

TikiPrincess, on Jun 24 2007, 11:51 AM, said:

Since our bodies are mostly made of water, can the moon have the same type of influence over us. Are we more likely to act strange? Does our blood rise in our bodies like the tides in the ocean?

There is, unfortunately, a big difference between oceans and blood. The seas and oceans rising up on a high tide is actually water from elsewhere. In other words, the moon affects the entire planet or at least, the whole hydrosphere. We, humans, on the other hand, are isolated systems of fluids that we can, for tidal purposes, be no more than buckets of water.

Say it were high tide in Egypt, Turkey, Greece and, on the antipode, Hawaii. The "excess" water here would be drawn from Brazil, Chile, Hongkong and Singapore. The center of gravity of all that water almost coincides with the center of the Earth's gravitational field. We, humans, however, cannot really draw that much water from other parts of our body. If we had a full moon overhead, we can't really say our arms shrink so our head and feet can bulge a bit. Our center of gravity is quite far from the center of the Earth's gravitational field.

Anyway, I also, however, believe that the moon exerts influence over our lives. The prices of certain fish in some markets rise during the full moon. Every artist out there has, at one point or another, drawn inspiration from the moon. Their resulting works can be viewed, read or experienced by a larger audience, thereby spreading the effects of the moon, albeit quite thinly, though.

Really, though, werewolves? We all know it's not real. Vampires, on the other hand...

[TikiPrincess]

sigh... I wish I had cable, that sounds really interesting SM. Unfortunately, it's not a luxury that I'm willing to pay for and I can't hack into anyone else's around here without someone noticing. I guess I can ask someone to TiVo it for me.
Seriously though, I was just trying to be a little poetic when I talked about the blood rising. Obviously our blood will continue to flow as normal in spite of the lunar cycles. More like a form of expression, like "He could feel his blood rising as she continued to babble on nonsensically."

If I may rephrase, then, do you think there's a possibility that the moon could trigger some hormone in our bodies that would cause people to act or think differently?

A woman's cycle is regulated by two different hormones. For simplicity's sake, we'll just say that one is an estrogen and one is a testoterone. (Yes, women have both and so do men.) If that cycle coincides with the lunar cycle, can it be theorized that the moon has some influence over those hormones? sheepdog mentioned a higher rate of traffic accidents during the full moon, so could that be linked to a higher level of testosterone in men, causing them to act more aggressively than normal?

[dre]

Studies have been done to try and find any correlation, however, none have been found between these two things. However, this is very much a popular belief.

[Mermaid711]

You know, I never realized it, but you're right about the 28 day thing.

I don't know about my actions, but my thoughts can be affected by a full moon. For some reason, im a little bit happier when it is a full moon out.

[Tetraca]

If you are superstitious, crazy, or work on a marine setting then yes there is some influence on YOU. For us as a whole, the only seen influences are on the tide.