The Moon
Thirty Lunar Days
However, although the moon cycle is unending, it does
have distinct phases; for example, the Full Moon, the
New Moon, the quarters, and so on. In Tibet and India,
the monthly lunar cycle is divided into 30 separate parts,
called lunar days. There are thirty lunar days starting
from the new moon (start of the 1st day) and counting
through the waxing half of the moon cycle to the Full
Moon (end of the 15th day), and on around through the
waning cycle back to the new moon again.
What is interesting in how the lamas and most Hindus
view this 30 day cycle is that the 30 lunar days are not
considered of equal importance. The monthly cycle has
very definite points in it of increased importance—lunar
gaps. It is at these lunar gaps or openings that it is
possible to get special insight into different areas of our
life. In fact, the Tibetans take full advantage of these
lunar gaps to perform very specific practices; that is,