Despite being 238,900 miles from Earth, the Moon affects us and our planet in many ways. Tides, for example, are known to be affected by the gravitational pull of the Moon. Water that faces the Moon is pulled towards it strongly; water which faces away from the Moon is pulled significantly less. Even the water beneath the Earth’s surface (groundwater that constitutes the water table) as well as water in plants and trees is affected by its position on Earth relative to the Moon.

Humans are three-quarters water. And like oceans and plants, we are affected by Lunar cycles. In addition to being watery, we are energetic beings. And since Full Moons are thought to be times of great energy, our vital energy (what is referred to as prana, or life force, in Yoga) is especially strong.

Full Moon is a time of upward movement, of feeling energetic, headstrong and even invincible. In contrast, apanic energy (the downward, grounding energy within the body) dominates at the other end of the Lunar cycle. As such, we feel more connected to the Earth during a New Moon. We’re more grounded, passive, and even lethargic.

Traditional asana sequences in Hatha Yoga are designed to balance apanic and pranic forces/movements within our bodies. In fact, each individual pose seeks similar balance by containing different degrees opposition — inward and outward rotation; inhalation and exhalation; grounding and reaching. During Full and New moons, however, prana and apana dominate respectively and can throw off such carefully crafted balances. Many yogis say, the more we practice and become sensitive to the energy within and around our bodies, the more important observing these cycles becomes. End the struggle and enjoy freedom

"The most difficult thing for spiritual seekers to do is to stop struggling, striving, seeking and searching. Why? Because in the absence of struggle you don't know who you are: you lose your boundaries; you lose your separateness; you lose your specialness; you lose the dream you have lived all your life. Eventually you lose everything that your mind has created and awaken to who you truly are: the fullness of freedom, unbound by any identifications, identities, or boundaries. It is this locationless freedom of being that spiritual people are seeking, and at the same time are running away from because its faceless nature gives no fixed reference point for the personality to hold onto or to seek security in. As long as you remain identified with the personality, you will always be seeking security to the exclusion of the Truth, and will remain in a constant state of struggle. It is only when your love and desire for Truth outweighs the personality's compulsive need for security, that you can begin to stop struggling and be swept up into the arms of an ever unfolding revelation of the Truth and Freedom of Being."

~ Adyashanti Copyright ©1998 by Adyashanti. All rights reserved.