Why lunar time? In an era in which allegiance to systems of human logic and record keeping seem increasingly dubious, lunar time offers a tidy method for demarcating the ruthless arc of time’s arrow with no pen, no paper, no value system, no reference beyond the length of the day and the sight of the moon. The lunar new year, the first new moon following the northern midwinter, is like all new moons a time of darkness, reflection, shadow, and seed sowing. How does one know Midwinter passed? Maybe a water clock, an hour glass, POP-CORN, Google, Or maybe your internal clock is perfect. Einstein knew the distinction between past, present, and future to be no more than “a very stubborn illusion”, and yet for us four dimensional creatures, time’s arrow is real in forms thermodynamic, physiological and cosmological (Hawkings, 1988). And of course, technology intervenes, whipping along now breakneck in an asymptotic frenzy. Time distorts in its wake. The establishment of relatively accurate non-local times followed only after the advent of the rail, itself then followed shortly by the invention of cold storage food cars, an invention which would transform the management and ownership of the food chain. This revelation, perceived by some as “time banditry”, would forever disrupt the locational relationship between the production and consumption of food, specifically meat (Osman, 2012). By my clock I'm late to work. The moon however orbits faithfully, tidily tidally locked and radiant, swaying all of our waters and peacefully metering our lives on Earth.

Image souce: Le Voyage dans la Lune, Georges Méliès, 1902