The harvest moon, full moon drumming in September

In the northern hemisphere, the full harvest moon rises very soon after sunset and provides plenty of bright light for farmers harvesting their summer crops. The full moon in September is so well known for its brilliance and luminosity that some indigenous tribes in North America even call it the Great Moon called the Great Moon. The full harvest moon has great cultural significance in many different communities. They celebrate not only the fall harvest on this full moon, but also the moon itself.

This moon brings messages of abundance, gratitude and renewal. As the days grow shorter, the harvest moon rises and casts its glowing embrace over the ripe crops below. Its energy symbolizes prosperity and reminds us that our efforts are bearing fruit, like nature's cycle of growth and harvest.

Chinese festival in September: The Moon Festival

The most well-known tradition associated with the full moon in September is the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. It is also known as the Moon Festival or Moon Cake Festival. On the full moon night of the eighth lunar month, people gather with friends and family to admire the radiant full moon while eating moon cakes and drinking tea.

Throughout Asia, including Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, there are many other variations of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Japanese celebrate this full moon with the tsukimi tradition(which literally means "moon viewing" in Japanese), where people make offerings to the moon and eat round tsukimi dango, or rice dumplings. In Korea, this full moon is celebrated as Chuseok , one of the most important holidays in Korea, similar to Thanksgiving. People travel back to their hometowns to reunite with family and tend to the graves of their ancestors.

(The information here comes from: moongiant.com, factsite.com, almanac.com, and timeanddate.com)

Full moon drumming as a ritual

Since 1997, we at feeltone have been drumming for 2.5 - 3 hours every month during the full moon. Either outside by the campfire or inside. Always in a circle and connected to the time quality of the moon.

For us, this is like meditation, which is also practiced worldwide. The purpose of both is similar: it's about pausing and stopping individuality for a moment. We create our realities through our thinking and get caught up in them all too quickly. That's why it's good to stop thinking from time to time. In this way, the brain waves experience new paths and solutions. Afterwards, we are refreshed, calmer and better connected.

Taking part is very simple

Take whatever instruments you can find (including your voice!) and simply make noises - either alone or with friends. It doesn't matter how well you play - all you need to do is create a groove and get into the rhythm of the world's heartbeat.

We are touched by the stories of many of you who have begun to participate in this monthly global community. Feel free to write a comment below this post about what your ritual was like.

Build your own ritual drum

If you want to unleash the power of your own drum, you can build and consecrate your own ritual drum with Martina in the drum making course. Or you can order adrum kit from our store and build your own drum at home.