"Dance of the Orange Blue Supermoon"

Manoominike-giizis (Ricing Moon) (August 30, 2023)

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Watching the Celestial Beings Dance, painting by Zhaawano Giizhik

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"Like the Moon, the nurturing heart of the Universe is always present, though it is often hidden from us."

- R.M. Rilke

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Boozhoo, aaniin!

Welcome to part 34 of a blog series titled "Star Stories," in which I connect my and kindred artists' storytelling art – in the form of rings, jewelry, and graphic art – with anang akiiwan (the star world) as perceived by our Peoples who since time immemorial inhabit the northern regions of Turtle Island – nowadays called Canada and the United States.

Today's story is about a rare convergence of two celestial beings that will occur tonight, between Gookomisinaan Dibikigiizis, Our Grandmother the Moon, and Gitigaane Aki, the ringed gas giant that is one of the largest planets in our Solar system.
The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg calendar - which is a lunar calendar - has a full moon, which in our language, would be called Ozhaawashko-dibikigiizis ("Blue Moon"). A "common" full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, a position it reaches about every 29.5 days. A "Blue Moon" however, refers to one of two things: A second Full Moon in a month (which makes it a solar-calendrical Blue Moon) or a third Full Moon in a season that has four Full Moons (which means it is a seasonal Blue Moon). A season is the period between solstices and equinoxes. Ordinarily one would expect three Full Moons in a season, but occasionally we see four. This year there are still three Full Moons between June 21 and Sept. 23, but we get two Full Moons in August because the month has 31 days. Which means that this August, Blue Moon is a solar-calendrical one, not a seasonal one.

BLUE OR ORANGE MOON?

Why is an Ozhaawashko-dibikigiizis called so, by the way? Why blue? Has it always been our way to call it so? No it hasn't. "Ozhaawashko-dibikigiizis" is one of many words in our language that is, what you could call, an oshki-ikidowin, or "neologism": In this case, a new word, which is a literal translation of a word taken from a foreign language. There is, however, nothing "ozhaawashk" about an Ozhaawashko-dibikigiizis; she will actually appear "ozaawi" (orange) in color (see the image). The term blue moon originated from the 16th-century expression “the Moon is blue,” meaning something that was impossible. For two years following the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia in 1883, people around the world reported seeing magically colored sunsets and a Moon that appeared blue. With this possible, but uncommon, occurrence, “once in a blue moon” came to mean "impossible or at least very rarely."
Ozaawi-dibikigiizisoog - let's call the phenomenon of a blue moon this from now on: Ozaawi-dibikiiigiizis, "Orange Moon" - occur relatively frequently, and happen, astronomically speaking, once every two to three years. The last Ozaawi-dibikiiigiizis rose in August 2021, and the next is expected to rise in August 2024.

This month's Full Moon (the third and final Full Moon of summer in the northern hemisphere) will rise on the night on the 30th day of the month of August - which is called Manoominike-giizis (Ricing Moon) by some of our People, and Miini-giizis (Berry Moon) by others - depending on the region where they live. Tonight, look to the east just after sunset to find it. It will look its best at moonrise on two successive evenings, Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31. It is the second Full Moon this month after the Full Moon that we call Odatagaagomini-giizis (Blackberry Moon), which rose on Aug. 1.

SUPERMOON

This month's second full moon is notable for a few reasons: For one, not only is it a full moon, but it's also an Ozaawi-dibikiiigiizis, which, in this case, means it's the third Full Moon in a season that has four Full Moons. Secondly, this Ozaawi-dibikiiigiizis is also a GICHI-DIBIKIGIIZIS or SUPERMOON, meaning it coincides with perigee, the point in Grandmother Moon's orbit when she is closest to Earth. Why, then, is this moon termed "gichi", or “super”? This refers to the moon’s closeness to Earth during its full phase, making it appear more substantial and brighter. However, with the unaided eye, this size difference probably won't be noticeable.

THE ORANGE SUPERMOON MEETS THE GARDEN PLANET

Tonight, on August 30th, we will experience a rare convergence of Grandmother Moon and one of the largest akiwag (planets) in our Solar system. As the Earth-based longitude shows the moon in perfect opposition to the Sun, Grandmother will light up the night with an orange glow at 9:36 PM EDT and dance in conjunction with Gitigaane or "Garden," the planet known as Saturn in Western Astronomy. This gas giant will be just a few days past opposition, the point at which it lies directly opposite Grandfather Sun as seen from Earth, making it especially bright in the night sky.
As viewed from Turtle Island, Gitigaane (which, by the way, is another example of an oshki-ikidowin, as it is a direct reference to the Roman god Saturnus, the god of agriculture and the harvest) will be in the constellation known as Aquarius in Western astrology - a star constellation along the zodiac,* above and to the right of the moon. Gitigaane orbits in a position opposite Grandfather Sun, resulting in the Sun, Earth, and Gitigaane aligned in the same line with the Earth in the middle. Throughout the night until dawn, if the sky is clear, Gitigaane can be clearly seen with the naked eye.

Gitigaane will appear above and to the right of the moon as it rises. The closest approach between the moon and Gitigaane will occur at 2:07 p.m. Eastern, so it won't be visible from Turtle Island and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. Observers in central Europe, however, are well placed to catch the moment when Grandmother Moon and Gitigaane dance together – sharing the same celestial longitude – and when they make their close approach. In the Southern Hemisphere, the position of the two sky dancers will be seen differently – Saturn will appear below the moon, since the sky looks "upside down" from there.

When Gookomisinaan Dibik-giizis, our Grandmother Moon, and Grandfather Gitigaane dance together a special energy radiates through space that will be felt by all those who are open to it. This celestial dance, which will last for two days, will thin the veil between our world and the Spirit World...may their presence be felt by every living being that lives on and beneath the earth and her waters...________________________________________________________ Note:

*Zodiac is a term used in Western astrology.: The zodiac, the 12 signs listed in a horoscope, is closely tied to how the Earth moves through the sky. According to Western Astrology, a belt on either side of the Sun's path over the course of a year, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and most familiar planets. It is divided into twelve equal divisions or signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.

The English word zodiac derives from the Latinized form of the ancient Greek zōdiakòs kýklos, meaning "cycle or circle of little animals." Zōdion (ζῴδιον) is the diminutive of zōon (ζῷον,"animal"). The name reflects the prominence of animals and mythological hybrids among the twelve signs through which, as was believed, the Sun travels his path.

> Read the episodes of the "Star Stories" series published so far:

Star Stories: Fisher Star in the Sun

Star Stories: The Power of Dreaming

Star Stories: A Revolving Sky Above Nibaad Misaabe

Star Stories: The Amazing Legend of Yellow Star and the Sleeping Giant

Star Stories: A Vision of Love

Star Stories: Parallel Paths

Star Stories: A Gentle Rumble Across the Universe

Star Stories: Our Clans Among the Stars, chapter 1

Star Stories: Our Clans Among the Stars, chapter 2

Star stories: Ojibwe Star Map: An Artistic Rendering

Star Stories: The Moose on Earth and in the Sky