Saturday, September 09, 2006

Full moon


Does anybody get insomnia at full moon? (It was two days ago.)
It sounds ridiculous to me, but there is some evidence of a connection...

5 comments:

Steve said...

I've been finding the exact opposite with this full moon, though I have not paid close attention to my sleeping habits near a full moon. My sleep lately has been deeper than usual.

Anonymous said...

The link is obvious, just as with psychotic accesses during this time. (It is the origin of the word "lunatic", from the lunar cycle.) But, the supernatural cause of this witnessed correlation is an entire matter entirely. (Vampires and werewolves, anybody? Hello? Am I -gulp!- all alone tonight?)

First, it might plain and simply be because there's more light at night. You always sleep better in the dark. (Well, unless you're my scaredy cousin...)

Then, few people know this, but we have some very deeply rooted rhythms in our genes, and I mean VERY deeply. Because everything that is directly related to the survival of the species, especially reproduction, is subject to the most intense evolutionary pressure imaginable.

For instance, mosquitoes notoriously adapt to bug-killers and other peaceful-nights chemical systems. Because the ones that bite are fertilized females, who need the extra proteins of blood for their eggs. Therefore, the slightest genetic advantage against obstacles to this process is instantly amplified to the max. Survival of the fittest.

Similarly, at the beginning of life itself, in the primordial ocean, reproduction was linked to the rhythm of tides. (It still is for a good part of sea life.) Genes were selected to synchronize the bio-rhythms with the tides. Which have two essential durations : the "daily" cycle, which in fact is 25 hours, and the amplitude variation, identical to the lunar month, which is 28 days and a half. There is also the seasonal cycle of equinoxes...

So these are very ancient and fundamental genes, and we humans stil feel their effect hudreds of millions of years of change later. The average menstrual cycle of a woman is around 28 days. Menstruation : "this which comes each month". Reproduction readiness. (Granted, this varies quite a bit. Because that precise rhythm has lost most of its atavistic importance.) People isolated in caves, with no notion of outer time, adopt an autonomous rhythm of 25 hours, not 24. Which means ous body daily (and smoothly) adapts to the sun, after all these eons. This has direct consequences on jet lag and work shifts.

Therefore, any cyclic phenomenon related to the unconscious functioning of the body and/or mind is very understandable and, dare I say, natural.

Or, you might also have worries about how to finish the month until pay-day... ;-)

Hannah said...

I didn't get insomnia but it's a wonderful shock to suddenly see such a huge beautiful moon jump out at you when you look over your shoulder or just see it between gaps in houses.

I miss the countryside...

Anonymous said...

Actually my girlfriend likes to sleep and make love under the full moon. "She says it relaxes her more." Strange huh? I benefit greatly needless to mention!
Take care,
Levon

Anonymous said...

I have a girlfriend shortage at the moment. :-( But I just love the full moon, and that includes the one that lights up our nights. ;-) A nice moonlight just feels... right! I also enjoy hooters. I mean that we have an owl in the forest around the house, and its voice at night is very relaxing when you go to sleep. Batty neighbors eating the mosquitoes also feel very friendly. No, I'm no goth. I'm just at peace with nature and the night. Never been afraid of the dark, except for one thing : stubbing my toe on an unseen obstacle! (Took weeks to heal.)

Basically, I think the face of Selen is beautiful. Specially when she's a bare, full-frontal model for Laurie Jeffery. ;-)