This week: By the light of the moon Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week:
"Her cold wind calls, and so I follow.
No time to rest my weary bones.
I hear her voice, and my heart grows hollow.
Best not walk these woods alone.
Best keep to the roads and out of the shadows.
Best get on home.
Best to leave them ghosts alone."
~From "The Land Unknown" by Landon Blood. |
The moon has a greater influence on our planet and our lives than many of us know. Its gravitational pull causes tides, keeps Earth's axis tilted at 23.5 degrees, and slows our rotation. Without the moon, the tilt of our axis would vary widely and cause our climate to become extremely unstable. The tides affect the distribution and life cycles of fish and other marine life. The position of the moon relative to the Earth and sun causes lunar and solar eclipses.
The moon is an important part of the mythology and folklore of many cultures. For example, Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon was depicted driving a chariot across the night sky and was associated with love and fertility. Khonsu, the Egyptian god of the moon was a protector of travelers, especially at night. Artemis was another Greek goddess associated with the moon and its connection to hunting.
The moon's phases are seen as a representation of the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth and have been used to mark the passage of time. The moon is often associated with feminine energy and wisdom. Eclipses are often seen as a battle between the moon or sun and a monster, in which the moon or sun disappears for a time but eventually returns.
Many predators, such as wolves are more active at night. For that reason, wolves are more likely to be heard howling at night, although there is no evidence that they actually howl at the moon. While werewolf legends are part of many cultures, the association of werewolves and the moon is mainly due to horror stories and films.
The first werewolf movie was "The Werewolf," an 18 minute silent film released in 1913. It was directed by Canadian film maker Henry MacRae and depicted a Native American woman who became a werewolf. "Werewolf of London," released in 1935, established the common trope that werewolves can create new werewolves by biting people. The best known early werewolf movie is probably "The Wolf Man," which was released in 1941 starring Lon Chaney Jr. The makeup Chaney wore in this film established the iconic "look" of the cinematic werewolf which was used in many other films.
While many police officers and emergency room workers insist that crime increases during a full moon, there is no scientific evidence that this actually happens. Some studies have actually shown the opposite, that crime seems to decrease at times when the moon is full.
If you want to use the moon or werewolves in a story, it might be a good idea to research actual legends and use them in an original way.
Something to try: Write a horror story that involves the influence of the moon upon the Earth.
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| | Our Hero (18+)
12800 words. Monsters, death, Australia. Written for 'Long, Long, Long'. Not quite linear.
#2272285 by S 🤦  |
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Horror/Scary: May 21, 2025 Issue [#13140]
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