The Moon

To become aware of the phases of the moon is to become aware of the Goddess as expressed in her three aspects of maiden, mother and crone. As Wiccans we seek to attune ourselves with both the Goddess and the God. Paying attention to the phases of the moon and meditating on the appropriate aspect of the Goddess is a powerful way to become more in tune with her. It is also appropriate to understand these phases and keep them in mind when working magic. Thus magic that deals with increase is best performed when the moon is waxing. Similarly the full moon is best for giving thanks and working magic aimed to reach our fullest potential. Finally the waning moon is best for removal of unwanted energies, learning of the great mysteries and seeing beyond the veil.

Simple put the three phases and what they represent are as follows:

Maiden Enchantment Waxing Moon

Mother Ripeness Full Moon

Crone Wisdom Waning Moon

Yet these three are ever one. This idea was well expressed in The Witches Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar:

Behold the Three-Formed Goddess;

She who is ever Three - Maid, Mother and Crone.

Yet is she ever One;

She in all women, and they all in her.

Look on these Three, who are One, with a fearless love,

That you, too, may be whole.

"Look on all Three who are One".

Meditate and understand each of the three aspects as the phases of the Goddess. In order to help you get in tune with these phases it is helpful to look at each of them in a little more detail. The rest of this lesson brings together the ideas about an aspect, some Goddess names that represent these ideas and a meditation to help you attune to that aspect. It is suggested that during the appropriate phase of the moon you look at what is presented here for that phase. Use the meditation as a starting point from which to create a meditation of your own.

Phase: Waxing Moon

Aspect: Maiden

Rules: Birth, initiation, virginity, beginnings, the hunt, springtime, youth

Goddesses: Artemis, Nimue, Eos, Renpet, Siduri

Color: White or silver

Meditation (from Spiral Dance):

Ground and center. Visualize a silver Crescent moon, curving to the right. She is the power of beginning, of growth and generation. She is wild and untamed, like ideas and plans before they are tempered by reality. She is the blank page, the unplowed field. Feel your own hidden possibilities and laten potentials; your power to begin and grow. See her as a silver-haired girl running freely through the forest under the slim moon. She is the Virgin, eternally unpenetrated, belonging to no one but herself. Call her name "Nimue!" and feel her power within you.

Phase: Full Moon

Aspect: Mother

Rules: Growth, fulfillment, sexuality, maturation, nurturing, love, ripeness,

teaching

Goddesses: Diana, Mari, Gaia, Juno, Isis,ÊLuna

Color: Red or green

Meditation (adapted from Spiral Dance):

Ground and center, and visualize a round full moon. She is the Mother, the power of fruition. She nourishes what the New Moon has begun. See her open arms, her full breast, her womb burgeoning with life. Feel your own power to nurture, to give, to make manifest what is possible. She is the sexual woman; her pleasure in union is the moving force that sustains all life. Yet she is also the protectress. Against anything that threatens those she loves, she is merciless and terrible. She is power. Her color is the red of blood, which is life. Call her name "Mari!" and feel your own power and ability to love and protect.

Phase: Waning Moon

Aspect: Crone

Rules: Woman past menopause, old age, deep secrets, wisdom, divination,

prophecy, compassion, death and rebirth, endings.

Goddesses: Hecate, Anna, Persephone

Color: Black

Meditation (from Spiral Dance):

Ground and center. Visualize a waning crescent, curving to the left, surrounded by a black sky. She is the Old Woman, the Crone who has passed menopause, the power of ending, of death. All things must end to fulfil their beginnings. The grain that was planted must be cut down. The blank page must be destroyed, for the work to be written. Life feeds on death - death lead on to life, and in that knowledge lies wisdom. The Crone is the Wise Woman, infinitely old. Fell your own power to end, to lose as well as gain, to destroy what is stagnant and decayed. See the Crone cloaked in black under the waning moon; call her name "Anu!" and fell her power in your own death and rebirth