I had typed out a long response to this, but I decided not to post it. Might be seen as an offense or even an attack which is not what I want to do.
Now what interests me the most is the idea of moon cycles. I have read some about the old traditions in Germany. Trees to be cut for carpentry are always cut in the winter, this works well because generally you can't build a house at this time of year, so it gives you a great opportunity to cut and hew a lot of timber. BUT, you don't just go and cut down a tree or two a day, and do that all winter. Instead, you go around and choose your trees carefully, and decide what traits you want a tree to have. Do you want it to resist bending? Do you want it to resist tension? do you want it to maintain its shape as it dries? and so forth. (Keep in mind that this is done with oak in mind, or in some cases pine or whatever other material is available locally. The Germans don't use varying species for different characteristics) You pick the trait you want, and on a specific day you cut down the tree and it will have those qualities. Even the hour of the day is believed to be of importance. In some cases you cut the tree at night. What determines the right day is the cycle of the moon. I believe one important day generally falls somewhere in the neighborhood of February 3 or so.
This is interesting. We are tempted to say this is all a bunch of superstitious hooey. But the Germans didn't give a superstitious explanation for it centuries ago, they said simply that the moon cycle had some effect on the way the tree grew and so on. Today we know that moon cycles do, for some odd reason, have some effect on plant life. (Purdue University, I believe, has done some study into this area, and found that it is so.) Back in the day we all used to plant and harvest according to the moon. Some people in recent times (in regards to gardening) have discovered that the moon does have an effect on the early stages of plant growth.
So maybe moon cycles have an effect on trees. It would be an interesting study (although one that would take many years to produce any kind of conclusive results) Me, I'd like to learn about it and apply it to some degree (maybe for my own house?) if for no other reason than just as a curiosity.
