A Prayer for the New Year of the Trees on this Wolf Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

Two sycamores at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura; the area was hit hard by the Thomas Fire but these trees are recovering.

Tonight there’s a lunar eclipse that will be seen over most of North America — and it’s not in the middle of the night! Unfortunately it’s in the middle of winter with much of the US covered by clouds and a major winter storm with some of the coldest day of the season with temps below zero.

Here on the west coast where we live in Ventura, it’s hazy. While we had a stunning sunset and moonrise, I wonder if we will be able to see anything during the eclipse…

The full moon began rising about 5pm, the sun set tonight in southern California at 5:15pm, and it’s gonna be dark soon dark at 6:10pm setting the stage for the lunar eclipse to begin at 6:35pm (9:35pm on the east coast). The eclipse will be total at 8:41p, on the west and 11:41 on the east coast and the maximum eclipse will be 20 minutes later.

Moonrise: 456pm PT
Sunset: 5:12pm PT
Dark: 6:10pm PT
Eclipse begins: 6:35pm PT/ 935 ET
Total Eclipse: 8:41p PT/ 11:41 ET
Max Eclipse: 9pm PT/midnight ET

Today is also the eve of Martin Luther King Day and the Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu BiShat, which is considered the Jewish Earth Day or Arbor Day, and, like MLK Day, is traditionally marked with community service, as well as tree planting and vegetarian foods.

It’s the perfect time to plant that poinsettia for monarch butterflies! 

Here’s a prayer for the total lunar eclipse on Tu BiShvat from Rabbi David Seidenberg:

“As we receive the light of the sun reflected in the face of the moon, may we receive wisdom to guide our future. May we reflect hope, so that we give strength to each other. We are a part of the Earth’s shadow, and a part of the Earth’s atmosphere, which bends the red light of the sun to illuminate the moon. When we cast our own shadow, may we still shine a gentle light to illuminate the world around us. May we be awakened by the grandeur and awe of Your works, so that may we may be filled with courage to heal the Earth from human destruction. May salvation arise for the heavens, and may this full moon of Shevat bring blessing to the fruit trees and to all Life. May we strengthen the Tree of Life with all our actions, so that the sun may shine for blessing, for us and for all life.”

In keeping with the Jewish holiday, this is the perfect time also to plant fruit trees, prune, and fertilize.

And it’s a great time to sample a wine from Israel! Learn more about the wine from Yarden from Israel pictured above on Wine Predator here.

According to Astrology King, this Lunar Eclipse brings with it change and opportunity:

Patience, self-control, adaptability and an open mind will help you and take advantage of the new opportunities that arise from the changing conditions ahead.

Lunar Eclipse January 2019 … signals unexpected events and news that are likely to cause anxiety and uncertainty about the future. So keeping an open mind and staying calm and patient is key to dealing with this erratic and unpredictable energy. Otherwise, impulsive reactions, rapid mood swing and miscommunication could cause panic and chaos.

Self-control and patience will counter a tendency to overreact and argue when faced with stressful situations. So take small steps and be adaptable.