Saturday, October 07, 2006

Full Moon

Does it affect behavior? In my mind, there is no doubt: more people come to the door, teenagers are noisier at night, and so on. Two months ago, a group congregated in front of the church and threw rocks at cars (aside from night of a full moon, this is extremely unusual on our corner). Last night, I was awakened at aboiut 11:00 p.m. by an incredibly loud group of junior high girls walking and screaming their way through the alley south of the monastery. I got up to make sure nothing was wrong. We have noisy people walk by at night all the time, but this group was really wild. But, having seen this before, I began to ask myself, "I wonder if it isn't a full moon?" We had had lots of people ring the bell earlier in the day. I had hardly finished asking myself the questions when I realized I was standing in the eery light of the moon, about as full as can be.

So I've added the full moon to my electronic personal organizer, to be prepared from now on.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Prior Peter,
I am excited to have stumbled across the monastery website, and your blog. I really love what I have seen and read so far.

I used to work in the mental health field, and when I first started there I was told by my peers of this full moon phenomenon. I didn't believe it. But it really proved itself out. There was invariable a marked increase in patient diorders and difficulties at the full moon. I am a believer! :)

I will be back to read more. Thank you for blogging and giving us a window into your monastic life in the heart of the city.

Peace

Imprimatur

This blog is published with ecclesiastical approval.


If I, who seem to be your right hand and am called Presbyter and seem to
preach the Word of God, If I do something against the discipline of the Church
and the Rule of the Gospel so that I become a scandal to you, The Church, then
may the whole Church, in unanimous resolve, cut me, its right hand, off, and
throw me away.


Origen of Alexandria
Locations of visitors to this page