Full Moon Mania

The full moon for January is today (Saturday); the "Wolf Moon".

Have you been feeling a bit weird? A bit "antsy"?

(flickr)

Some people and even some scientists believe that the moon does affect people's behavior. 

The very word "lunatic" is from the Latin word for moon, luna.

 I know that we always blame the school kids' crazy behavior on the full moon

(and they have been a  bit loud, jumpy,and hyper this week).

(flickr)

From Psychology Today:

"Everything from increases in violent crime and psychotic behavior to stock market fluctuations has been blamed on the effects of the fully illuminated moon. In 19th-century England, lawyers used the "guilty by reason of the full moon" defense to claim that their "lunatic" clients could not be held accountable for acting under the moon's influence."
"Despite these many assertions, scientists who have investigated the matter have come up empty-handed. University of Sydney researchers found no link to the moon's cycle in two separate studies, one of violent or aggressive behavior, the other of dog bites that required human hospitalization."

And yet, 81 percent of mental health professionals, according to a University of New Orleans study, still believe that lunar cycles affect human behavior!

I know I believe...... otherwise, how do I explain my cravings for this?

" Every one is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody."

Mark Twain

 

From It's a Wonderful Life:

George Bailey: "What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary."