It should be pointed out that in former times, people could observe for longer periods of time and under calmer conditions. Observation must even have been of vital importance to them, since survival was more precarious than now. Until recently, no machine, no process of automation came between humans and the object of their work, which probably allowed them to refine their perception to a considerable degree.
A portion of superstition probably added itself, as soon as precise and objective observation gave way to the blind acceptance of traditional maxims. The change from oral to written transmission probably added its share of distortions.
3 Types of Forestry Maxims
For the determination of the “right felling date,” historical records and oral tradition provide 3 types of maxims:
• According to the “phases of the moon,” the synodic lunar rhythm has a period of 29.531 days. It measures the passage of a new moon to a full moon (“waxing” phase), and on to the next new moon (“waning” phase; see Figure 1). On a daily level, this synodic rhythm may be observed in the movement of the tides, the principal period of which is 24.8 hours, but this is rarely mentioned in tradition; the only case presently known to the author concerns the cutting of bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) in Ecuador: in order to determine the times of low tide that are favorable to the conservation of bamboo, the inland farmers cut a certain “water liana,” which, at these particular moments, is apparently devoid of exudation.
Figure 1: Phases of the Moon (corresponding to the synodic rhythm, with a revolution in 29.5 days)
- Lunar orbit arount the Earth, for an observer looking at the Earth-Moon system from a long way above the Earth's North Pole
- New Moon, observed from the Earth
- Waxing crescent
- First quarter
- Full Moon
- Last quarter
- Waning crescent
- The Earth
- Direction of solar rays. Between the first quarter and the full Moon, the phase is called "waxing gibbous;" between the full Moon and the last quarter is "waning gibbous."
• According to the tropical lunar rhythm, the cycle of the “ascending moon” and the “descending moon” is relative to the terrestrial horizon. This rhythm, less obvious to the observer, concerns the height of the lunar trajectory relative to the horizon, which varies systematically. The height of the trajectory increases 13 or 14 times, then decreases over the second half of the tropical month, which lasts exactly 27.32158 days. The tropical and synodic cycles should not be confused, for their cycle length differs by 2.21 days. These 2 rhythms always coincide toward the end of December, with the full moon and the new moon occurring respectively at the highest and lowest points of the tropical trajectory.
• According to the constellations, or signs of the Zodiac, in which the moon is found, there is a third level of influence, frequently mentioned through the ages; some documents, such as the Manichean writings, go back to Persian times.
This is the sidereal lunar rhythm, which has a period very similar to the tropical rhythm, and is based on the constellations of the Zodiac, in front of which the moon passes during its orbit around the Earth. The cycle is completed in 27.32166 days. Error may be caused over the long term by the fact that the astronomical constellations observed at a given date vary infinitesimally because of the slow gyration (precession) of the Earth's axis.
Practices That Remain Very Much Alive
Today still, maxims about felling linked to the moon are applied by certain workers of wood. Here, we will not deal with the multiple “lunar calendars”—very trendy nowadays—covering numerous areas fairly comprehensively without any experimental basis. The examples that follow concern cases known directly to the author, or are taken from scientifically documented sources; their aim is to illustrate the great variety of uses of wood for which the moon factor is considered important for obtaining certain exceptional properties. It should be pointed out that in most cases this factor comes only in second or third position, as the most important factors are the general time of year, with a high value placed on “winter wood,” and growing conditions, with mountain wood from slow-growing natural forest stands being particularly appreciated. Sometimes winds are mentioned, such as the Foehn in the Alps, which could negatively impact certain properties of the wood.
Wood for construction
The principal properties required here are mechanical resistance (to pressure, traction, or flexion) and resistance to fungal and insect attack. A French maxim stipulates, Bois tendre en cours / Bois dur en décours, or “soft wood in a waxing moon, hard wood in a waning moon.”
This is the sidereal lunar rhythm, which has a period very similar to the tropical rhythm, and is based on the constellations of the Zodiac, in front of which the moon passes during its orbit around the Earth. The cycle is completed in 27.32166 days. Error may be caused over the long term by the fact that the astronomical constellations observed at a given date vary infinitesimally because of the slow gyration (precession) of the Earth's axis.
Practices That Remain Very Much Alive
Today still, maxims about felling linked to the moon are applied by certain workers of wood. Here, we will not deal with the multiple “lunar calendars”—very trendy nowadays—covering numerous areas fairly comprehensively without any experimental basis. The examples that follow concern cases known directly to the author, or are taken from scientifically documented sources; their aim is to illustrate the great variety of uses of wood for which the moon factor is considered important for obtaining certain exceptional properties. It should be pointed out that in most cases this factor comes only in second or third position, as the most important factors are the general time of year, with a high value placed on “winter wood,” and growing conditions, with mountain wood from slow-growing natural forest stands being particularly appreciated. Sometimes winds are mentioned, such as the Foehn in the Alps, which could negatively impact certain properties of the wood.
Wood for construction
The principal properties required here are mechanical resistance (to pressure, traction, or flexion) and resistance to fungal and insect attack. A French maxim stipulates, Bois tendre en cours / Bois dur en décours, or “soft wood in a waxing moon, hard wood in a waning moon.”
Wood shingles
These are boards of different dimensions used as tiles for covering roofs and façades, hence are particularly exposed to the weather and rotting. Appropriate types of wood can come only from well-proven species, such as oak (Quercus spp.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) or larch (Larix spp.). There are also spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies spp.), that some shingle-makers fell at particular lunar phases in order to obtain a material that dries rapidly after each shower of rain.
Chimneys
In certain parts of Central Europe, wood was used even in chimney construction, and also used to smoke meat. Even for these uses, there are “lunar” felling maxims that are supposed to provide wood that is not easily inflammable.
Firewood
Still commonly applied in the Jura, for example, the maxim mentioned by Olivier de Serres advises: “the position of the moon is noteworthy: when waxing, cut firewood, when waning, cut wood for building.” In this case, it is clearly combustibility that is sought, rather than hardness or resistance to destructive agents.
Resonance wood
Right up to the most prestigious use, as the “sounding board” in making violins, guitars, or pianos, the date of felling relative to the moon's phases often constitutes one of the secrets of the instrument-maker's art.
Barrels and casks
According to the observations of craftsmen, the most watertight oaken staves cannot be obtained at just any season of the year, nor at just any phase of the moon.
Bamboo
Traditions widespread in South America (Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil), and also in India, take into account the lunar calendar for cutting bamboos (which are in fact giant Gramineae or grasses) capable of resisting insect attacks.
Floating
Several independent traditional sources mention that, not only the properties of wood, but also the way the lumber floats on rivers will vary according to the periods of the moon.
Challenges for Research
In the face of all these traditions and practices stemming from the world of forestry (agriculture could provide similar ones), initially surprising given modern knowledge, the scientific world finds itself questioning. The researcher finds before him or her, the challenge of examining objectively and critically whether there might not be an inkling of truth in this “ancient wisdom,” whether one or several real phenomena or processes might not lie behind this craft lore. The facts must be differentiated from the superstitions, and then quantified; the researcher must be prepared to question and enlarge some of our present theories. If certain phenomena were to be confirmed, even partially, we would find ourselves enriched by a great treasure born of the centuries-long contact of humans with nature, offering us new work hypotheses and development possibilities. The situation is analogous to that of pharmaceutical research, guided by the insights of traditional pharmacopeia, whose specificity and efficacy are often astonishing.
This approach has already been undertaken a number of times in the framework of modern scientific methodology for annual plants; sometimes, researchers found themselves unexpectedly faced with lunar rhythms. The potential for innovation still needs to be communicated to the scientific community and to specific users.
-Ernst Zürcher, PhD
Source:
http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume8/04April/PlantsandtheMoon.html
These are boards of different dimensions used as tiles for covering roofs and façades, hence are particularly exposed to the weather and rotting. Appropriate types of wood can come only from well-proven species, such as oak (Quercus spp.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) or larch (Larix spp.). There are also spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies spp.), that some shingle-makers fell at particular lunar phases in order to obtain a material that dries rapidly after each shower of rain.
Chimneys
In certain parts of Central Europe, wood was used even in chimney construction, and also used to smoke meat. Even for these uses, there are “lunar” felling maxims that are supposed to provide wood that is not easily inflammable.
Firewood
Still commonly applied in the Jura, for example, the maxim mentioned by Olivier de Serres advises: “the position of the moon is noteworthy: when waxing, cut firewood, when waning, cut wood for building.” In this case, it is clearly combustibility that is sought, rather than hardness or resistance to destructive agents.
Resonance wood
Right up to the most prestigious use, as the “sounding board” in making violins, guitars, or pianos, the date of felling relative to the moon's phases often constitutes one of the secrets of the instrument-maker's art.
Barrels and casks
According to the observations of craftsmen, the most watertight oaken staves cannot be obtained at just any season of the year, nor at just any phase of the moon.
Bamboo
Traditions widespread in South America (Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil), and also in India, take into account the lunar calendar for cutting bamboos (which are in fact giant Gramineae or grasses) capable of resisting insect attacks.
Floating
Several independent traditional sources mention that, not only the properties of wood, but also the way the lumber floats on rivers will vary according to the periods of the moon.
Challenges for Research
In the face of all these traditions and practices stemming from the world of forestry (agriculture could provide similar ones), initially surprising given modern knowledge, the scientific world finds itself questioning. The researcher finds before him or her, the challenge of examining objectively and critically whether there might not be an inkling of truth in this “ancient wisdom,” whether one or several real phenomena or processes might not lie behind this craft lore. The facts must be differentiated from the superstitions, and then quantified; the researcher must be prepared to question and enlarge some of our present theories. If certain phenomena were to be confirmed, even partially, we would find ourselves enriched by a great treasure born of the centuries-long contact of humans with nature, offering us new work hypotheses and development possibilities. The situation is analogous to that of pharmaceutical research, guided by the insights of traditional pharmacopeia, whose specificity and efficacy are often astonishing.
This approach has already been undertaken a number of times in the framework of modern scientific methodology for annual plants; sometimes, researchers found themselves unexpectedly faced with lunar rhythms. The potential for innovation still needs to be communicated to the scientific community and to specific users.
-Ernst Zürcher, PhD
Source:
http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume8/04April/PlantsandtheMoon.html
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