Today marks the third and final supermoon of 2025. In case you weren’t aware that there had been any supermoons, nevermind one, we had a Harvest Moon on 7 October, a Beaver Moon on 5 November and now, a Cold Moon on 4 December. The reason they were dubbed supermoons is because of the moon’s orbit around earth, making the moon appear bigger, brighter and higher in the sky than normal when the moon is at its perigee (closest to the earth in its elliptical orbit).
I really ought to know more about the moon and its phases than I do. It’s an important celestial body that affects everything from our tides to the axial tilt of our planet. I have tried to memorise the moon phases, but I don’t seem to have a brain for the information – retaining it, at least. Maybe I’ll treat myself to a moon phases notebook for my Yule present to myself.
Yes, the winter solstice is fast approaching. Personally, I’m looking forward to celebrating the return of light and longer days to the world. Same as most people, the longer nights affect my moods, and I find myself sleeping earlier and for longer in winter. I could honestly do with hibernating from the world like a bear at this time of year; but alas, capitalism means that society is expected to operate at exactly the same capacity in winter as it does in summer. Makes no sense to keep up the whole full-time work thing in winter, if you ask me. There are natural fluctuations in the human cycle, and when the trees and other animals sleep, so should we humans be allowed to rest.
Granted, I have done enough resting this week, as I have been off work on sickness absence. My body has succumbed to the seasonal illnesses going around at this time of year. Amazingly I have been too feverish to even get any writing done. Usually fevers are good for the imagination, not bad. I think my overheated brain needed to press pause, and so I have spent a lot of time reading horror stories, both my eBooks and paperbacks, and watching all of the new horror movies out on Netflix. It’s time well spent. Ideas are always swirling. I’ll get back to my WIPs when I’m better.
As for social media, while convalescing; schedule send works wonders. Books don’t sell themselves, and the run-up to Christmas is my biggest selling period. I tend to record audio in bulk, which can then be edited into comprehensible videos later; thank goodness, as this week my sore throat has meant I have had barely any voice. Laryngitis means soup, rest, and horror movie marathons. At least, for me it does.
What can I say; life is full of non-stop phases. Good things come, bad things pass. We are well and we are sick. My writing is prolific and then it stops. The moon has wisdom for us all, and a reminder that, like the tides, we too ebb and flow.
Happy full moon, folks!
Leilanie Stewart 