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Why the Moon Changes Shape: Every Phase Has Beauty
Episode 63 • 13th August 2026 • Faithfully Explore! • Laura Menousek
00:00:00 00:23:25

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One night, the Moon is a glowing circle. A few nights later, it looks like half a cookie. Then it becomes a delicate crescent—or seems to disappear completely.

But is the Moon really changing shape?

In this episode of Faithfully Explore!, young listeners follow the Moon through its repeating cycle and discover what causes the lunar phases. Through vivid explanations, cultural connections, and playful riddles, children learn how the movement of the Moon around Earth changes the portion of its sunlit half that we can see.

Along the way, we explore how people have watched the Moon for thousands of years—not only to understand the night sky, but also to organize time, welcome new months, and determine the dates of meaningful celebrations.

Listeners will discover:

  • Why the Moon always remains a round world, even when it looks like a crescent
  • How the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon create the lunar phases
  • The difference between waxing, waning, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full, and new moons
  • Why Earth’s shadow does not cause the Moon’s regular monthly phases
  • How Muslims watch for the first crescent, or hilal, to mark the beginning of Islamic months
  • How the Hebrew calendar follows both the Moon and the Sun, with Rosh Chodesh welcoming each new month
  • How the Chinese lunisolar calendar helps determine celebrations such as Lunar New Year, the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival
  • Why different calendars can follow the same Moon in different ways

Children can test what they have learned during a round of moon-phase riddles. Can they identify each phase using only the clues?

The episode ends with a Belief Backpack reminder inspired by the Moon’s dependable cycle:

Change is natural, and every phase has beauty.

Perfect for families, elementary classrooms, homeschool science units, bedtime listening, and anyone who has ever looked up and wondered, “Why does the Moon look different tonight?”

After listening, continue the adventure by observing the Moon over several nights. Sketch what you see, record the date and time, and watch for patterns as the bright portion appears to grow and shrink. You can also explore the episode’s companion books, activities, and learning resources at FaithfullyExplore.com.

Press play, look toward the night sky, and discover why the Moon changes shape.

Transcripts

Laura:

Explorers, I need to tell you something strange.

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The moon is a shape-shifter.

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One night, it is a tiny silver smile.

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Another night, it is a half a cookie.

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Another night, it is big, round,

and glowing like a giant nightlight.

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Then a few nights later,

it starts shrinking again.

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Which brings us to today's

very important mystery.

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Is something nibbling it?

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Is there a giant space mouse

taking bites out of it?

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Is the moon playing peekaboo?

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I'm Laura, and today in our Faithfully

Explore series, Sky Stories:

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Wonder Written in the Stars, we're

exploring why the moon changes shape.

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We'll learn the science of moon phases

and discover how the moon helps shape

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Muslim, Jewish, and Chinese calendars.

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So grab your imagination telescope,

pack a pretend moon snack, and please do

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not accuse the moon of being dramatic.

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The moon is just going through a phase.

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Let's faithfully explore.

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Faithfully Explore! Intro:

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faithfully Explore!

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is the name.

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Learning together is our aim.

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Beliefs around the globe we'll track,

filling up our Belief Backpack.

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Laura: All right, explorers.

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Before we travel through

stories and celebrations,

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let's solve our moon mystery.

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Why does the moon change shape?

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First, here's a surprise.

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The moon is always round.

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Yes, always.

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Even when it looks like a tiny

crescent, even when it looks like a

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half circle, even when it disappears

and you can't see it at all, the moon

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itself is still a round ball in space.

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So why does it look different?

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Because of sunlight.

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The moon does not make its own light.

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It shines because light from the

sun reflects off the moon's surface.

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The sun always lights up half of the moon,

just like the sun lights up half of Earth.

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But as the moon travels around

the Earth, we see different

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amounts of its sunlit side.

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This is what makes moon phases.

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The whole moon phase cycle

takes about 29 and a half days.

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That's about one month.

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The word month even comes from an

old word connected to the moon.

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Moon, month.

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They're cousins.

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Now let's meet the moon phases

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First, we have the new moon.

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During the new moon, the moon

is between Earth and the sun.

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The lit up side is facing away

from us, so from Earth, the moon

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looks dark or almost invisible.

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It's still there.

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It's just doing a stealth mission.

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Then comes the waxing crescent.

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Waxing means growing.

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Crescent means a curved, skinny

shape, like a banana or a smile.

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This is when the moon first

appears again after the new moon.

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Next is the first quarter.

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This one can be confusing because it looks

like half a moon, but it is called first

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quarter because the moon is one quarter

of the way through its whole cycle.

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So it looks half lit, but

it is called a quarter.

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Then comes the waxing gibbous.

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Gibbous means more than

half lit, but not full yet.

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Let's try saying gibbous.

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Gibbous.

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Gibbous.

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Then comes the full moon.

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That's when the whole face of the moon

looks bright and round from Earth.

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Full moon nights have inspired stories,

songs, festivals, and calendars.

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After the full moon, the moon

starts to look smaller again.

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This is called waning.

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Waning means shrinking or getting smaller.

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So we get waning gibbous, still

mostly full, but shrinking.

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Third quarter, also called last

quarter, another half-looking moon.

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Then waning crescent, a

tiny silver curve again.

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And then we return to new moon.

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The cycle begins again.

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New moon, waxing crescent, first

quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon,

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waning gibbous, third quarter,

waning crescent, again and again.

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Now let's say it together.

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New moon,

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Annie: New moon

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Laura: waxing crescent,

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Annie: Waxing crescent

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Laura: first quarter,

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Annie: First quarter

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Laura: Waxing gibbous,

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Annie: Waxing gibbous

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Laura: full moon,

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Annie: Full moon

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Laura: waning gibbous,

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Annie: Waning gibbous

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Laura: third quarter,

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Annie: Third quarter

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Laura: waning crescent.

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Annie: Waning crescent

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Laura: Wonderful, explorers.

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Long before people had phone

calendars, they watched the sky.

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The moon helped people count days.

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A new moon meant a new beginning.

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A full moon meant the middle of the month.

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The changing moon became a

natural clock in the sky.

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Let's visit a few traditions

where the moon still helps shape

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important times of the year.

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First up, Islam.

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In Islam, Muslims follow a

lunar calendar called the Hijri

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calendar or Islamic calendar.

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Lunar means moon-based.

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Each Islamic month begins

with the sighting of the thin

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crescent moon called the hilal.

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That little crescent is very important.

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It is like the moon whispering,

"A new month has begun."

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The month of Ramadan begins when

the new crescent moon is sighted

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after the month of Sha'ban.

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Ramadan is a sacred month when many

Muslims fast from dawn until sunset,

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pray, read the Quran, give charity, and

focus on gratitude and self-control.

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Then when Ramadan ends, Muslims

look again for the crescent moon.

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The sighting of the new crescent

helps mark the beginning of

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the next month, Shawwal, and

the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

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Eid al-Fitr is a joyful holiday

with prayer, food, family, giving,

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and celebration after Ramadan.

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Now, here's something important.

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Not all Muslim communities begin

Ramadan or Eid on exactly the same day.

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Why?

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Because the crescent may be visible

in one place and not another.

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The moon is in the same sky, but

people may see it at different

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times depending on where they live.

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That is a good reminder

for Faithfully Explore.

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Even within one religion, people

may practice in different ways.

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Now, let's travel to Judaism.

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In Judaism, the Hebrew

calendar is lunisolar.

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That means it follows the moon for

months and also adjusts to stay

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connected to the seasons of the sun.

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Each Jewish month begins

with Rosh Chodesh.

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Try saying that with me.

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Rosh Chodesh.

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It means head of the month

or beginning of the month.

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Rosh Chodesh happens at the start of a new

Hebrew month connected with the new moon.

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In ancient times, witnesses would

watch for the new crescent moon, and

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the new month would be announced.

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Today, the Jewish calendar is

calculated, but the moon is still

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part of the rhythm of Jewish time.

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Some Jewish communities also say a

special blessing called Kiddush Levana,

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the sanctification of the moon, during

the first part of the lunar cycle when

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the moon has returned to the night sky.

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I love that image.

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People stepping outside at

night, looking up, and blessing

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the moon as it grows again.

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The moon disappears.

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The moon returns.

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The month begins.

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The people remember.

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Many Jewish holidays also appear

around certain moon times.

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For example, Passover begins on

the 15th day of the Hebrew month

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of Nisan around the full moon.

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Sukkot begins on the 15th day of

Tishrei, also around the full moon.

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That means the full moon can shine

over important Jewish celebrations.

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The moon teaches rhythm.

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Begin, grow, shine, rest, begin again.

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Now let's travel to

Chinese lunar festivals.

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In Chinese culture, many important

holidays follow a lunisolar calendar, too.

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The Lunar New Year, also called

Spring Festival in Chinese culture,

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begins with a new lunar year.

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Families may clean their homes,

gather for meals, give red envelopes,

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enjoy fireworks or lion dances,

and welcome a new beginning.

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Then on the fifteenth day of the first

lunar month comes the Lantern Festival.

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This festival marks the first

full moon of the new lunar year.

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People may carry lanterns, solve

riddles, watch performances, and eat

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sweet rice balls called tangyuan.

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Think about that.

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The year begins in darkness and

newness, and about fifteen days later,

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the full moon arrives, bright and

round with lanterns glowing below.

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Sky lights above, lantern lights below.

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That is beautiful.

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Later in the year comes the

Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth

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day of the eighth lunar month,

another full moon celebration.

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Families admire the moon, share

mooncakes, tell stories of Chang'e and

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the Jade Rabbit, and celebrate reunion.

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So in Chinese lunar festivals, the

moon helps mark new beginnings,

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full moon brightness, family

togetherness, and seasonal change.

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Now let's pause and notice something.

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Islamic moon sightings, Jewish lunar

months, Chinese lunar festivals, science

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of moon phases, different traditions,

different stories, same changing moon.

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Let's cross our Friendship Bridge.

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Today, our friendship

bridge is made of moonlight.

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On one side, we have science.

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The moon changes shape because

we see different amounts of its

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sunlit half as it orbits Earth.

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On another side, we have calendars.

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Muslims look for the crescent

moon to begin Ramadan and Eid.

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Jewish months begin with Rosh

Chodesh, connected with the new moon.

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Chinese festivals move with the lunar

calendar from Lunar New Year to Lantern

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Festival to Mid-Autumn Festival.

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All of these connect to one big

truth: people have always looked

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up at the moon and noticed change.

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The moon is not the same every

night, but every phase matters.

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The new moon matters

because it begins again.

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The crescent matters because it returns.

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The half-moon matters

because it's on its way.

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The gibbous moon matters

because it is almost full.

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The full moon matters because it shines.

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The waning moon matters

because it teaches letting go.

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Then the new moon returns, and

the whole cycle starts again.

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Isn't that a lot like life?

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Sometimes you feel bright

and full of energy.

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Sometimes you feel small and quiet.

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Sometimes you are growing.

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Sometimes you are resting.

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Sometimes you are letting go of something.

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Sometimes you are beginning again.

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And all of those phases

are a part of being human.

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You do not have to be full

moon bright every day.

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You are still you when

you are a tiny crescent.

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You are still you when you need rest.

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You are still you when you are changing.

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That is our friendship bridge.

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Different cultures honor the

moon in different ways, but

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many notice the same pattern.

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Change is natural, and

every phase has beauty.

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Now, I think our brains

are ready for a game.

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It's game time.

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Welcome to Riddle Me Moon.

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Today's game is a moon

phase riddle challenge.

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Listen closely, think like a

sky detective, and see if you

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can solve each moon mystery.

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Ready, moon thinkers?

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Let's begin.

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Moon riddle one: I look

round, bright, and complete.

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I am the phase people often notice first

because I can light up the night sky.

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I happen when the side of the moon

facing Earth is fully lit by the sun.

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What phase am I?

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Full moon.

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The full moon looks round and

bright because we can see the

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whole sunlit side facing Earth.

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Moon riddle two:

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I am only a little thin slice of light.

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I happen after the full moon when the

moon's bright part is almost gone.

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Soon, the moon will look dark

and begin the cycle again.

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What phase am I?

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Waning crescent.

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Waning means shrinking, and

the waning crescent is the last

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small sliver before the new moon.

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Moon riddle three:

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I look like half a moon,

but my name is different.

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I come after the new moon

and before the full moon.

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Each night after me, the

bright part keeps growing.

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What phase am I?

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First quarter.

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The first quarter looks half lit

from Earth, but it is called quarter

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because the moon is about one

quarter of the way through its cycle.

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Moon riddle four:

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I am more than half

lit, but I am not full.

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My bright part is getting

smaller each night.

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I come after the full moon

and before the last quarter.

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What phase am I?

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Waning gibbous.

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Waning means shrinking, and gibbous

means the moon looks more than half full.

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Moon riddle five:

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I am the moon phase

you usually cannot see.

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The moon has not disappeared, but

the side facing Earth is dark.

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I begin the moon's cycle again.

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What phase am I?

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New moon.

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During a new moon, the side facing

Earth is not lit by the sun, so the moon

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is hard or almost impossible to see.

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Moon riddle six:

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I am more than half lit,

but not quite round.

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I come before the full moon.

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Each night, my bright part keeps growing.

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What phase am I?

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Waxing gibbous.

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Waxing means growing, and the

waxing gibbous grows brighter

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on the way to the full moon.

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Moon riddle seven:

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I look like half a moon.

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I come after the full moon when

the bright part is shrinking.

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Even though I look half lit, I am

near the end of the moon's cycle.

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What phase am I?

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Last quarter.

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The last quarter moon looks half

lit, but it comes after the full moon

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as the visible light gets smaller.

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Moon riddle eight:

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I am a tiny curved sliver.

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I come after the new moon when the

moon's light is just beginning to grow.

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Each night after me, you

can see a little more light.

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What phase am I?

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Waxing crescent.

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Waxing means growing, and the

waxing crescent is the first small

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sliver of light after the new moon.

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Wonderful moon thinking.

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You solved the riddles

of the changing moon.

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What's inside our belief

backpack this week?

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Today, we explored why

the moon changes shape.

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We learned that the moon is always round,

but we see different amounts of its

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sunlit side as it travels around Earth.

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We learned the moon phases, new

moon, waxing crescent, first

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quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon,

waning gibbous, third quarter,

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waning crescent, then back to new.

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We learned that Muslims look

for the crescent moon to begin

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important months like Ramadan,

Shawwal, which begins Eid al-Fitr.

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We learned that Jewish months begin

with Rosh Chodesh, connected with

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the new moon, and that the moon helps

shape the rhythm of Jewish time.

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We learned that Chinese lunar festivals

include new beginnings at Lunar New Year,

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lanterns at the first full moon, and

family reunion under the Mid-Autumn Moon.

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So what goes into our Belief Backpack?

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Today's Belief Backpack takeaway is Change

is natural, and every phase has beauty.

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Let's say that together.

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Change is natural,

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Annie: Change is natural

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Laura: and every phase has beauty.

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Annie: And every phase has beauty

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Laura: You are allowed to change.

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You are allowed to grow slowly.

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You are allowed to have bright full moon

days when you feel excited and brave.

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You are allowed to have quiet

crescent days when you need rest.

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You are allowed to begin again.

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The moon does not apologize for changing.

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It just shines the light

it has, and that is enough.

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This week's challenge is

called My Moon Phase Check-In.

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Each day, ask yourself, "What

moon phase do I feel like today?

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Do I feel like a new

moon, quiet and resting?

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A crescent moon, just

starting something new?

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A half moon, halfway there?

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A full moon, bright and ready?

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A waning moon, letting

go and slowing down?"

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Then tell a grown-up,

draw it, or act it out.

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And remember, no phase is bad.

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Every phase belongs.

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Thank you for joining me for

another episode of Sky Stories:

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Wonder Written in the Stars.

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The next time you see the

moon, notice its shape.

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Is it hiding?

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Is it growing?

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Is it glowing?

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Is it letting go?

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Whatever phase it is in,

I hope you remember this.

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The moon is beautiful in

every shape, and so are you.

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I'm Laura, and this has

been Faithfully Explore.

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Until next time, stay curious, stay

kind, and keep faithfully exploring

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that wonderful world around you.

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Faithfully Explore! Outro:

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Faithfully Explore!

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is about you.

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Let's grow kinder together it's true!

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Faithfully Explore! Discover the world's beliefs, celebrate differences, and grow together.
00:02:20
25. Campfire of Legends: Spooky and Sacred Creatures from World Mythology
00:32:01
24. Yggdrasil’s Bedtime Odyssey
00:17:45
23. What Happens After? A Journey Through Beliefs About the Afterlife
00:27:13
22. Amaterasu and the Sun Salutation
00:15:14
21. Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are
00:26:32
20. Embracing Courage: Warrior Pose and The Legend of Little Scarface
00:17:05
19. Update
00:00:46
18. Ten Virtues Treasure Hunt: Jainism’s Das Lakshana
00:34:47
17. Fatima the Builder: The Woman Who Built a University
00:36:52
16. Fire and Light: Teachings of Zoroaster
00:35:04
15. How the World Began: Creation Stories Around the Globe
00:33:23
14. Trail of Belief: The Journey of the Latter-day Saints
00:36:28
13. What Goes Around: Exploring Karma
00:39:25
12. Living Waters: Baptism Across the Christian World
00:33:21
11. Star Maps: What the Skies Teach Us Around the World
00:43:01
10. Kind Without a Creed: Exploring Humanist Values
00:36:03
9. Hajj: A Sacred Journey
00:38:35
8. Confucius Says: Words Build Bridges
00:34:40
7. The Shabbat Table: A Time for Rest and Connection
00:38:16
6. Listening Hearts: Discovering the Power of Prayer
00:33:24
5. Under the Bodhi Tree: A Journey into Vesak Day
00:29:24
4. The Turbaned Tornado: Meet Fauja Singh
00:37:23
3. Kindness in Bloom: Celebrating Ridvan and the Bahai Faith
00:32:18
2. The Story Keepers: Explore Aboriginal Beliefs
00:28:13
1. Belief Backpacks: Let's Explore Together
00:28:09