July's Guru Purnima and Super Thunder Moon

July 12-13, 2022

According to Vedic tradition, Guru Purnima is the year’s most auspicious Full Moon. This special event occurs in June or July every year after the solstice. Technically, Guru Purnima is the day leading up to the Full Moon during the Purnima Tithi, the 15th day of the waxing lunar cycle known in Vedic astrology as Shukla Paksha. The exact Full Moon occurs at the end of Purnima Tithi and at the start of Pratipada Tithi, which is the first synodic lunar day of the waning half of the month known as Krishna Paksha.

Guru Purnima will occur on Tuesday or Wednesday (July 12 or 13) depending on where you are located. Please check out the Drik Panchang to find the exact timing for your location. Both the Guru Purnima Moon and the Full Moon occupy the Sagittarius constellation, a sign of aspiration, freedom, hope, and enthusiasm. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet also known as “Guru,” which means the “Dispeller of Darkness.”

Guru Purnima is one of the best times of the year to begin a new spiritual or educational practice, to honor and propitiate our preceptors, and to commune with the Divine Teacher who exists within us and within all of nature. This is a time when we can easily access the Divine Light within, not only through our teachers and guides, but in all forms and areas of life where we can find and learn important teachings now. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima because it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the sage who authored the Mahabarata and compiled the Vedas.

It is customary and considered a great honor and blessing in Vedic tradition to offer alms to the needy on Guru Purnima. This is called annadanam. Many will sponsor spiritual pujas at this time which also offer food/donate money for food to be distributed to the needy.

Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Full Moon will reach its peak on Wednesday, July 13 at 2:38 PM Eastern Time (6:38 PM UTC). You can use the World Time Buddy to convert this to your time zone, as the lunation times do vary widely. For instance, in India, the Full Moon will occur the next day on July 14 at 00:08 AM; and, in Sydney, Australia, it will occur even later on July 14, at 4:38 AM. Here below are the sidereal zodiac astro-charts (Lahiri Ayanamsa) for Washington, DC.

The Full Moon will occur in Uttarashadha nakshatra, which is ruled by the universal gods of the heavenly sphere known as the Visvedevas. They symbolize spiritual illumination and also the higher power that can help us achieve our goals. The Full Moon in Uttarashadha nakshatra is considered to be a good time for laying new foundations or setting new intentions.

Additionally, the Full Moon at the 27th+ degree of Sagittarius occupies the first pada/vargottama/ninth harmonic of Sagittarius in the ultra-auspicious pushkara navamsa, which reflects great faith and empowerment. This section of the nakshatra often brings a victory through the benevolence of divine forces led by Lord Ganesha.

Native traditions call the July Full Moon the Thunder Moon, as it brings summer rainstorms. Thunder is also emblematic of this lunation’s intense power which needs to be respected and carefully harnessed. This is also the closest Super Moon of 2022 because the Full Moon and lunar perigee fall on the same day (perigee is when the Moon is nearest the Earth). This will make the Moon look 7% bigger and shine 16% brighter than a regular Full Moon. Often Super Moons cause a stronger than usual lunar effect which can manifest in high tides, seismic events and storms, and emotional intensity.

The Moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the Sun. It is the Full Moon of Purnima Day that reflects in full splendour the glorious light of the Sun. The silent all-enduring earth with its lofty forbearance, the shady fruit-bearing tree with its willing self-sacrifice, the mighty Banyan tree (Pipal) reposing with patience in the tiny seed, the dripping drops whose persistence wears away the rocks, the planets and the seasons with their orderly punctuality and regularity are divine Gurus to him who will look, listen and receive. (Swami Sivananda)

This month’s Full Moon is really something to look forward to and to make use of, both in our spiritual practices and our efforts in the world. May it be a peaceful and fruitful time for all beings everywhere.

Love and light, happy Guru Purnima and Full Moon!