This is the Moonwise newsletter for Birch Moon 2023/24
View this email in your browser
Moonwise newsletter for Birch Moon 2023/24
Solstice blessings!
Moonwise Calendar and Diary 2024
Thank you to all of you who've bought the calendar and the diary so far. As I write on 12 December, there is still time to order before the solstice and Christmas, and we're still offering a 10% discount if you buy any two (such as two calendars, or a calendar and a diary).

The calendar has Jane Bottomley's lovely paintings and all the other features you love: moon phase for each night, festivals from all round the world, hints for gardening by the moon, and of course the gorgeous night sky map and notes. The calendar sold out last year; we had some more printed this time, but to be sure of your order, don't delay.

The diary has daily times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon for places in Britain, Ireland and Brittany, as well as sign entries and aspects of the day. The diary is A5 in size, with largely blank right-hand pages. The diary may run out, too, but we can re-order if need be, as it's print-on-demand.

As ever, as postal deadlines come up, we'll start sending orders by first class post (no matter what it says on the order form!).
It's easiest for us if you order on-line, using the link above, but you can also ring on 07393 393436. I'd probably need to ring you back, so do leave a message, or send a text to ask for a call back.

If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, it's best to e-mail us at sales@edgeoftime.co.uk to request our bank details.
I'm sending this out at Yew Dark Moon, the day before the start of Birch Moon.

Here in our northern lands, even before the solstice, the evenings are just about to start drawing out again, ever so gradually to begin with. The mornings continue to get slightly darker until early January. The solstice is in the early morning of 22 December for those of us in Europe. This is the moment the sun is at its southernmost in the sky, and turns once more northward. The night of 21-22 December is the longest night, and this year 22 December is (just) the shortest day. If you can, and especially if the sky is reasonably clear, try to see in the solstice dawn on the 22nd.

Jupiter still shines brightly in our southern evening sky (for those of us in a northern land), and Venus is still bright before the dawn, though gradually moving towards the twilight over the next few months. Mercury makes an appearance in the morning sky below Venus in early January. On the morning of 9 January, look out Mercury and Venus along with the old crescent moon, and if you have very clear skies to the eastern horizon, you may be able to spot Mars below Mercury, at last making its way back from behind the sun.
 

Birch, the first tree of the Irish tree alphabet, is a tree of beginnings and boundaries, and the first of the native trees to come into leaf. In the Moonwise Calendar it is the tree of the winter solstice month. Make a besom broom from its twigs: tie them tightly in a bundle with wire, and push a sharpened hazel stick down the middle as a handle. Its twigs are used to drive out the spirit of the old year, and for beating the bounds. The young birch tree in our garden has grown strongly over this last year. Its leaves have now fallen, and already the signs of the new buds are there.

mostly from the 1998 calendar

May you have a very happy solstice, Christmas and New Year. If you have health issues, I wish you good respite, so you can enjoy yourself properly!

Moonwise links

Home page
Order form
Live calendar page
Live diary page
Night sky page
Facebook page

Please do make comments on our Facebook page, and share what you think of the calendar and diary on social media. The more people who buy them, the longer these calendars and diaries can go on.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*