The Horse Moon
Endyspoitropios Full Moon
The Horse Moon is a celebration of individuality, tenacity, and the strength that resides in all of us. The second to last full moon of the calendar year, The Horse Moon allows us the freedom to be authentic to ourselves and our nature before the coming winter. It is also the time when we bid farewell to the recreation of swimming in the sea, as come Endyspoitropios the beaches off South Carolina's shores become too cold for most to be able to continue swimming in.
Rituals held outdoors or at the beach are auspicious, as is harvesting late fall produce.
symbols & Decore
hair binding / veiling
Not Recommended
Jewelry / Adornments
No Recommendation
foods of significance
Dishes That Incorporate Onion and/or Garlic
Root Vegetables Such As Carrots and Potatoes
Breads That Incorporate Produce, Such As Zucchini or Banana Bread
colors of significance
Black
Brown
Navy Blue
symbols of significance
Sea Glass & Sand
The Trident
Grains and Sheafs of Grain
history vs modern day
While full moons may have been celebrated in ancient times, there is little to no record of a specific festival or observance for these lunar events (unlike Noumenia, etc.)
The traditions, alignments, and recommendations for our Full Moon Festivals come from a variety of places - not all of which are Hellenic in nature. Our Full Moon Festivals are also inspired by the local flora and fauna of South Carolina (where our Temple is located) as well as from other pagan and neo-pagan Full Moon traditions.
The Horse Moon is named in honor of the Horses of Shackleford Banks. On Shackleford Banks, along the southern coast of North Carolina, a herd of over 100 wild horses roam free from the influence or constraints of man. You can actually visit Shackleford Banks via ferry, and observe these horses in their natural habitat - but only from a distance, lest you risk a fine and possible jail time (source: National Park Service). These beautiful horses serve as a reminder that, outside of the constraints of human society, we are - all of us - just animals that long to be free.
Endyspoitropios is also the month in which we honor King Poseidon, God of the Sea, Earthquakes, and Horses. In this, The Horse Moon is a time to honor not only horses, but also the beauty and fearsome nature of the ocean. A time to allow ourselves to be the multifaceted individuals we are, complex and wild - like King Poseidon and the Horses of Shackleford Banks.