The night has always been connected in the minds of people with mysterious rites and events. Many rituals of antiquity were carried out only in the dark. And evil only with the onset of twilight crawls out of its shelters.
Many magic rituals were and are held at midnight. It is believed that it was at this time that the curtain between the worlds was lifted, and otherworldly forces were especially strong. Another companion of night magic is the moon. Some ceremonies are performed exclusively on a waning or rising moon, some only on a full moon.
It is now scientifically proven that moonlight has no magic power. This is just a reflection of the sun's rays. But the rites associated with the moon are still very popular. And not only rituals. Some people cut their hair, transplant plants, only by checking the lunar calendar.
Maybe the moonlight really carries something magical and incomprehensible to us? The moon really affects the life of living organisms and natural phenomena. An example is the tide. The position of the satellite relative to the Earth leaves a trace that is understandable from a scientific point of view.
But why not look at the moon? This seemingly stupid question has not ceased to be asked so far. Explanations are the most diverse. Sometimes so ridiculous that the hair stands on end.
Some attribute this sign to werewolves and vampires. Although it’s very stupid. Indeed, in werewolves, only transformation is associated with the moon, and it has nothing to do with vampires. Unless, you gape, watching the night luminary, and one of these mythical creatures will attack you .
Speaking about why you can’t look at the moon, the children will probably remember the scene from the animated film Legends of the Night Watch. There, with the help of the moon, little owls were zombified, forcing them to forget about the past. They will be closer to the truth than adults with werewolf legends. After all, the moon really acts on living beings, not only in fairy tales.
It just so happened that all signs and superstitions very often have very interesting stories of origin. Man has always been closely associated with nature, but until some time many phenomena were explained only with the help of magic. In those very times, the answer lies to the question of why it is impossible to look at the moon.
The fact is that the lunar cycle greatly affects the vital activity of organisms, including the human mental state. In the full moon, for example, cases of exacerbation of mental illness become more frequent. However, our ancestors did not know that the oddities were caused by one or another position of the moon in orbit. Therefore, it was believed that you can not look at the moon, otherwise you will lose your mind.
There are, of course, contraindications in our time. It is not advised to look at the moon with a telescope for a long time (it is not possible to get a small burn of the cornea, there may be a slight defocus). But nothing threatens the mind, only the eyes.
Just like that, the legend about why you can’t look at the moon is dispelled. So enjoy the night luminary, it is very interesting and even useful. Reasonably, of course.