New Moon the movie and the meaning of moons

January 25, 7:35 PMAstrology ExaminerMaria Barron

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Dakota Fanning (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Young actress Dakota Fanning is planning to play a vampire in New Moon, the sequel to the popular Twilight movie, adding new teenage star-power to the blend of mysterious symbolism that swirls around the moon in all its changing glory.

Curious teens are likely to start wondering about the meanings of moons as the new film heads into production, and their folks might want to steer them towards interpretations that don’t involve blood-sucking, despite all the fun that spooky creatures can add to late-night slumber parties.

My friend Anindita Basu, a technical writer from Bangalore, India, is here to help. Today, we introduce two new monthly features: New Moon Astrology from the western perspective and Full Moon Astrology from the eastern perspective, with meanings derived from the Vedas, the Indian sacred writings that are the oldest known Holy Scriptures in the world.

In Twilight, the fantasy film released to theaters late in November, human protagonist Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, falls in love with a vampire she meets in her new high school. In New Moon, set to begin filming in March, Bella enters a proverbial dark time, symbolized by the new moon, when her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, leaves her. In keeping with the lunar symbolism, this second installment in the saga, based on novels by Stephenie Meyer, adds werewolves to the cast of characters. Everyone knows what a full moon will do to a werewolf.

Astrologically, new moons and full moons are both auspicious. Western astrology favors new moons as a time for new projects related to the sign where the moon occurs. Vedic astrology favors full moons as a time for rituals and ceremonies marking new phases of life, from the right time to begin feeding new food to baby to weddings and housewarmings.

In Jyotish, the study of light, the proper name for Vedic astrology, the full moon takes place in one of 27 mansions of the moon, and the characteristics of that full moon flow from the significance of the mansion. The sun’s demeanor, from its position directly opposite the moon, can also be described. As Anindita says, “It is interesting that a culture so steeped in the concept of unity and oneness should consider a celestial opposition to be auspicious, and that too when it is the luminaries who form the opposition.”

I’ll post my first New Moon Astrology piece in several hours as the new moon day dawns in the United States. Anindita’s Full Moon Astrology will debut in a couple of weeks in time for the February full moon.