All Beliefs are Welcome Here!
The 13 Month Calendar and Moon Phases
What is the 13 month calendar and moon phases? What value does it have in our daily lives? We will explore this further as this essay continues. The history, its relation to aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. Andopawatchigan (An Objiwe word for seek your dreams)! As we all must accomplish in life. I feel that the current calendar system is not serving its purpose for humanity because we have fallen away from the natural ways of living.
Many cultures have followed a 13 month calendar system before the Gregorian calendar that we use now. The Celtic people have their own 13 month calendar and so does the aboriginal people or as it is called the 13 moons. This calendar system was more in harmony with the cycle of nature. For example, in relation to women and their menstrual cycle. The year comprised of 13 lunar months (of 28 days) to make 364 days, plus one day to spare. When Christianity came into being, (diminishing old pagan ways and beliefs) the lunar calendar made way for the Roman Solar calendar which is what most western societies follow now. The months are changeable in length - 28, 29, 30 or 31 days depending on which month it is, and the moon and her phases no longer fit so neatly into the system.
We have been taught to perform like machines instead human beings following the current calendar system. As a follower of nature, especially the moon cycles. Our current system of things doesn’t allow us to relax and take time to appreciate nature. Misiwanachichikewin (A Cree word for Destruction) of our culture as aboriginal and even non-aboriginal people should not be allowed in our society. Koyakihcikehk (A Cree word for value on things) is what is placed here in this essay.
The current world calendar divides the year as if it were a 2-D circle. 360 degrees of a flat circle are portioned into 12 subsections of 30 degrees each, giving us "30" day months. This method of calendrics dates back to ancient Babylon and provides the template for the current 12-month calendar and 12-hour clock (doubling the calculation, we get 24 hours and 60 minutes). The 12-month model for measuring time fails for the 365-day year divided arbitrarily into 30-day months leaves 5 extra days! Now can you see why this does not work according to Nature and her cycles.
The coming new era on our planet has everything to do with a change of timing frequency. The 13 Moon-28-day calendar is a simple tool that helps us to raise our frequency and gives us a new lens to view both our day-to-day and planetary events. This is exciting news for all of us to expand our way of thinking!!
The problem is that the Gregorian Calendar is still locked in those times is still disconnected from the nature. Many are waking up to this realization and reconnecting with Native American or Druid paths and celebrating the Solstices and Equinoxes and connecting to the natural cycle. Yet celebrating these natural holidays, holy days is not supported by the ever shifting Gregorian Calendar. Perhaps the Gregorian Calendar design of Pope Gregory was yet another tool in the effort to suppress indigenous and pagan Earth spirituality?
The Gregorian Calendar is fairly new compared to the 13th or Mayan Calendar system. Which makes more sense to follow? The Gregorian calendar pomewin (A Cree word for discourages) natural cycles which were labeled by the Church as pagan which was meant as Devil worship by the Church itself.
“A day cannot be truly measured in a straight line because it traveled through a circle and within that circle were many other circles throughout the whole day.” A quote from the book called Earth Signs.
If a day can’t be measured as a straight line, why do we measure months this way or time itself for that matter? This doesn’t seem correct.
This reminds me of something I saw in Belleville, Ontario that I found amusing. I seen a gas station that said “Open 25 hours a day” I laughed my head off when I saw that sign! There is a certain playfulness to the 13th month concept that I enjoy. There are too many rules involved in the 12 month calendar.
I find when doing this project that our mother is trying to tell us something about relaxing and taking time in consideration when it involves the planet and our personal relations. In conclusion, I find that the 13th month calendar more simpler to manage and easier to use. Our ancestors lived by the cycles of nature and did very well for themselves. We should learn to live this way as well.