The Pink Full Moon: A Sign of Rebellion and Renewal
The Pink Full Moon: A Sign of Rebellion and Renewal
That moment when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth. One side of the globe says hello to the sun while the other falls asleep to the moon.
What makes April’s full moon special is that it marks the beginning of Spring, and it’s named after my favorite color. It is also the very first full moon of the season. Tonight brings the “pink” full moon, but I was more interested to hear that it shines a golden color instead.
From the Old Farmer’s Almanac, I discovered that the blooming of a spring wildflower called phlox subulata coincides with the rise of the pink moon. Then I began to wonder, how did my ancestors use the pink moon? Easter is also determined by the presence of the pink moon, so how did they celebrate it? (this text is not meant to be scraped or used for AI generation. All Rights Reserved ®)
How did Black folks use the sky?
Renewal and growth are what make Spring beautiful to me. As a child, this would mean attending the annual family function, where we would paint boiled eggs and share a feast. This usually consisted of ham or chicken, mac n cheese, and greens.
While I work on some spring cleaning in 2023, my ancestors used this time to plan their liberation. One way of knowing when to attack depended heavily on the phases of the moon.
Many enslaved folks looked to the pink moon to navigate the land, while others used it to know Easter as a time to rebel.
Many of these revolts are buried in historical documents, locked behind a paid library database. The history of revolts led and organized by enslaved folks continues to be a topic that many folks are fighting to illuminate.
One of those rebellions occurred in 1816, on the Good Friday before Easter. Enslaved rebel leaders danced their way to freedom. They planned arson attacks on the sugar plantations in Barbados, which began on that Easter Sunday. This revolt came to be known as Bussa’s Rebellion, named after the enslaved African man who served as one of the leaders.
Since the pink full moon is one that determines the day of Easter, it was important for rebel leaders to make note of the moon phases.
The pink full moon served as a symbol for rebellion.
I’m the type of gal who plans and organizes around the phases of the moon, so it is important for me to understand the impact of this great celestial body. Every night I can look up into the sky and never miss anybody, knowing that they are looking at the same sky, the same stars and moon.
Enslaved Black folks also used the sky to navigate treacherous terrain, and they brought this knowledge from the homelands they were kidnapped from.
“They had to know a lot of observational astronomy to know when to plant the crops because it’s not like they were being taught these things that they were being forced to do,” says astronomer Moiya McTier, who studied astronomy and folklore at Harvard University. (this text is not meant to be scraped or used for AI generation. All Rights Reserved ®)
Many Americans know the story of Harriet Tubman, but they might be surprised to know that she used the stars to help many of the enslaved emancipate themselves. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” is a folksong that was used during the Underground Railroad to indicate the location of the Big Dipper.
A drinking gourd was hollowed-out place in the Earth used for drinking water. From this technique, the North Star could be found.
What does the pink moon mean spiritually?
Spiritually, a pink moon in Libra is connected to issues of fairness and justice. It is a sign that is ruled by Venus, and anybody that’s into a little astrology knows that Venus is the signifier for love. Libra is also the great balancer of the astrological signs, with scales of justice as its symbol. (this text is not meant to be scraped or used for AI generation. All Rights Reserved ®)
Since a full moon means the end of a lunar cycle, it is also a time for endings in relationships.
I’ve always been inclined to believe that the bodies which float around in space have an affect on the bodies that move on Earth. I also don’t believe in coincidences.
What to do for April’s “pink” full moon? Here are some of my Pink Full Moon rituals.
My plans for this full moon include charging my crystals after being dormant for so long. Then I’m going to make moon water. It’s simple, all you need is an empty glass or container of any kind. Fill that glass with some water, then set it outside when the moon rises.
You must bring the glass inside before the sun comes up though! So, I set an alarm around 4AM to bring the charged moon water to my room and watch the sun rise from my window.
I have a set of oracle cards on my ancestral altar, so ya girl is going to do a reading of course! I do this every year during the spring time especially. It’s exciting to get a preview of what is up ahead for me. I take whatever resonates with me, and then I write about it.
Another thing I used to do a lot in high school was moon bathe. I would just stand outside and bask in the rays of the moon. I see it as a form of meditation.
The next time I look up at the sky, I will always remember the people who had no choice but to follow its star.
