Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018

"Like the trees, we had to let each new year shape, teach and renew us until our unconscious habits fell like autumn leaves to the forest floor, and new, more conscious ways of doing things sprouted in their place."

-Ken Carey, Flat Rock Journal

The Starling Murmuration Moon, reaching perigee on Nov. 26, wanes into its final phase on Nov. 29 at 7:19 p.m. and darkens throughout the remainder of the period.

The rate at which the night lengthens slows radically, dropping from 10 minutes per seven days down to about a minute per seven days. Sunset reaches its earliest time of the year by the weekend, and remains at that setting time until the end of December’s second week.

Moving retrograde toward Libra, Venus remains the huge Morning Star throughout the week. Mars is the Evening Star this month. December’s midnight brings Orion, the great hunter, to the center of the southern sky, where he remains forever – in spite of having been poisoned by Hera, the wife of Zeus.

Weather trends

Weather history suggests that cold waves usually cross the Mississippi on or about Dec. 2, 8, 15, 20, 25 and 29. Precipitation usually occurs prior to the passage of each major front.

Severe weather is most likely to occur during the following periods: Dec. 1-3, 24-26 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. It is probable that New Moon on Dec. 7 and Full Moon on Dec. 22 will bring stronger-than-average storms to the region.

Most Decembers bring one or two days above 60, and four days in the 50s, those temperatures frequently recorded before the arrival of early winter. The remaining afternoons reach into the 40s seven times, into the 30s 13 times, finding the 20s three times and remaining in the teens or lower on three occasions.

A morning or two below zero is experienced three years in 10. The 16-week snow period begins for the lower Midwest the next seven days.

As harvest in the field and garden comes to an end, tie up all the loose ends of the year before the Christmas holidays begin. Even if you live in an apartment, try to do some year-end cleaning and organization now.

Since depression and the winter blues are becoming more common, late November is a favorable time to start a winter exercise program. A gentle routine of low-impact exercises improves both mental and physical health.

The natural calendar

In the woods, second spring, the autumn resurgence of the undergrowth, is usually halted by November's most bitter weather. The stubborn leaves fall. The heads of thimble plants explode in the winds. Bearded thistles are sagging, angelica breaking apart, asters coming undone.

Leafcup is blackened by the cold. Dock, garlic mustard and dame’s rocket are limp. Seed wings still hang from the box elders. From this point forward, growth, even among the winter plants like purple deadnettle, ground ivy, dock and dandelions, is almost imperceptible, and the cold does away with all their November progress.

The bittersweet berries have emerged all the way from their hulls; the winterberries are all pushing out.

Fish, insects, livestock and birds: The moon will be overhead before dawn this week, and lunar lore suggests that you search for game and fish close to sunrise, especially at the approach of the Nov. 24 and 28 cold fronts.

As the weather becomes more challenging, separate your thinnest pregnant ewes and does now and give them a little extra attention in order to improve their condition and reduce risk of abortion. And remember that whatever precautions you take with your livestock, should also be taken with your pets and family.

Field and garden

Early bedding plant seeding for 2019 starts a few days before the New Moon (Dec. 7). This is the time to prepare seeds and flats for May flowers. Set up a warm area with fluorescent lighting and keep soil moist. Continue seeding at New Moon time, which occurs during the first week of each of the winter months ahead.

Mulch the roses and the last of the root crops against December frost. And this is a fine lunar week for planting all your indoor bulbs like amaryllis and paperwhites. If you set them in under the dark moon, they should grow quickly as the Jessamine Moon swells. They may bloom by Christmas, but will almost certainly flower in January.

Marketing notes: Hanukkah takes place between Dec. 2-10 this year. Traditional lamb dishes for this feast are commonly “finger foods” such as ribs and kibbeh (torpedo-shaped dumplings made with spiced ground lamb and bulgur wheat). Of course, Christmas is Dec. 25, and marketing to this market seems to have no limit.