Bex Hall

Bex Hall > full moon walk

full moon walk

Why walk when the moon is full?

Here are some good reasons.

March Walk When The Moon is Full

March’s walk (when the moon is full) included my granddaughter, her friend and a trek on a dark, rural road. The moonlight was exceptionally bright on this journey, the air crisp and cool in the low 60s (F).

As we walked, the girls became journalists and reported the event in real time speaking into their flashlight microphones. 

Then they were animal trackers as we spotted a bunny’s glowing eyes in the brush and they identified its footprints in the soft earth.

Then detectives, investigating the case of the missing rabbit. They sleuthed and deduced.

Inspectors

They became inspectors as they examined a ditch pond for frog eggs.

Then scientists as we discussed tadpoles and how they turn into frogs.

They practiced comforting skills when noises came from the woods and the unknown became scary.

Detectives

And they experienced how the power of singing can alleviate fear. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Mary Poppins ushered us home into the safe circle of porch lights.

Some have asked why walk when the moon is full.

This is why.

The full worm moon

Walk When the Moon is Full

February’s Snow Moon marks our first adventure

Full Snow Moon

About 29 years ago when my daughters were 8 and 2 years old, we camped at Cave Run Lake in Kentucky. There was a visitor center where I found a book called Walk When the Moon is Full.   The author describes thirteen moonlight walks with her children and the nature observations they made. I fell in love with the idea and initiated the practice that year.

Out of print book Walk When the Moon is Full

I don’t know why I didn’t document the expeditions. Life got in the way. Priorities shifted. Years passed, the girls grew up and moved away, and the book got lost in the shuffle.

Enter my curious 7-year-old granddaughter, Ellie. 

I located a copy of the now out of print book to revisit ideas and Ellie, Pawpaw, and I walked Saturday night under the full February Snow Moon. 

February Walk

We didn’t see any wildlife, it was extremely muddy, there was a light rain and lots of cloud cover. Ellie nearly lost a boot in the mud crossing the creek. The dog ran off, our two cats stalked us like panthers, and Ellie talked herself right into being afraid of the dark. She was eager to get back to the house.

Boot eating creek

But here’s the thing—we had fun. She spent the day beforehand getting ready for the journey. Flashlight, boots, rain coat. The anticipation was delightful. The preparation. 

We saw the little pond at dark. We heard strange noises and tried to identify them. We heard the blue Heron squawk as he flew away from the nearby cove. We waded into the swamp a little way. We made scary faces in the flashlight glow. Took some photos.

Nothing major, really, but it was an adventure. One we will refine and repeat. Next month is the Full Worm Moon on March 28th and we will walk again.

When the moon is full.