The Lunar Cycles

BY

The moon has always had a strong influence over human emotion and mystery.  Long has it been associated with the feminine cycles of monthly bleeding and even more so the mystic of night.  The feminine principle watching over us that changes with a silent ritual of passing from waxing to waning, full and new.  Many animals are also said to represent this Goddess incarnation in the heavens, such as the rabbit.  When we begin to break down each cycle of turning we can see that it also says much about the seasons as they progress.  In ancient times our ancestors recognized the moon as a early calendar just as clearly recognized today by modern peoples. 

There is evidence of a lunar year being observed in Romano-Celtic Gaul.  Today it is known as the Coligny Calendar, because the bronze plate on the town of Coligny in 1897.  The year was divided into twelve or thirteen units, which is assumed to the lunar number of moons by which it is based.  The last month is only used in case it was needed to fill out the missing moon, similar to our leap year today.  Mid Samonios brings together the 13 moon solar year that like the moon, changes consistently enough to measure by.  There is a 363 day cycle in this present assumption, leaving the solar year about one and a quarter days short.  Those differences lead us to the most magical time for celebration of the moon and its wonders.  As we revolve around the sun, and the moon around the earth we realize the effect of these bodies on the waves and on the human mind, which is as deep and hidden as the new moon birthing its crescent light. 

The main time span of the Celts dated events of the moon around what is called a Great Year.  This time was approximately 19 solar years, and can be seen as part of the full cycle involving the earth, sun and moon.  The Celts understood by that time that the sun would always rise and set at the same point in the horizon, on the same date each year, although it would vary slightly across the horizon from day to day in its path.  To the people it suffused the very beliefs in the way life was cast as well; each day different from the last but we all continue on in the circle of the seasons to meet again where we once stood.  The moon though, took about 19 years to complete the same cycle of rising and setting to the same position.  The Great Year, is somewhat obscured in meaning to the present day, but may have had some hidden meaning to the druids of the time.  There is still a varying consensus on the exact Celtic Tree Calendar in accordance with the moon cycles, so I will give the general meaning without trying to upset that touchy subject.  I think, to reflect upon the trees as they are listed with the concept of the moon is interesting.  Generally we think of the night time passage of the moon's light as a silvery glow to cast shadows of the forest on the ground and guide our way through dreamtime.  Although we know now, that trees processes of photosynthesis does not stop while we dream, instead the tree acts as a guide to the magical roots and branches of our place between the elements and the divine.  

Beith Birch: A new start and beginning, cleansing. First month; November.

Birch Moon: November or December Full Moon

Called the Moon of Inception on the Celtic tree calendar, this is the lunar cycle in which to celebrate new beginnings and fresh starts with the close ties to Samhain time. Beithe, the birch tree is placed at the beginning of the Tree Ogham to set everything else in motion and in its correct order.  Through the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, we also sacrifice to bring about the changes necessary to begin again.  Every year has a new start and so does the ancient Celtic Year, the new year could not start until the old one has been finished and all malign influences are cast away.  This purification of the earth starts in the forests with the dropping of leaves but also the spirits of our ancestors are asked to guide us with the white light of the birch tree.  The white indicates cleanliness and determination overcoming these influences, concentrating and uplifting our minds towards the white of the moon and birch help guide us on this journey.

Luis Rowan: Protection against enchantment, control of all the senses.  Second month, December

Rowan Moon: December Full Moon

Sometimes called the Moon of Vision in the Celtic tree calendar, it represents a time to travel inward to bring out new strengths.  The astral moon is a good time to connect with the spirit world and uncover hidden mysteries while the snow lays on the cold ground.  Luis, also known as the mountain ash, has an ability to grow high on mountainsides and clinging to outcrops and fissures where many other trees cannot.  It has an ability to ward off evil, and the tree is good for making charms.  The rowan's ability to protect one against enchantment, runs deeper than the mere appearance of its metaphorical meaning.  Linked to the moon, its red rowan berry bears a tiny five-pointed star, or pentagram - the ancient magical symbol of protection.  This moon time will help you retain the control of your senses so that you can distinguish bad from good, harm from help, and help you use your spiritual strength to combat anything that threatens your serenity and purpose.  This is a strong time for magick and gathering of fellow practitioners or warriors banding together like the tides to the moon.

Fearn Alder: Oracular and protective.  Third Month; January

Ash Moon: January Full Moon

This moon indicates a time for connecting with the flow of life and making magical tools like healing ash wands.  It is also a cosmic time, because the ash indicates a progression from its cousin the rowan.  Nuin is also a symbol of the World Tree, a place rich in mythology.  The Ash tree has deeply penetrating roots and sours the soil, making it difficult for other vegetation to grow beneath it.  Its branches are thick and strong, in Norse myths this tree spans the universe - roots in the Earth's core and its brances supporting the heavens with the earth at its center.  In Celtic cosmology it connects us with the three circles of existance - Abred, Gwynedd, and Ceugant - which can be variously interpreted as the past, present, and future or confusion, balance, and the creative (Awen) force.  The tree that reaches up to the moon, embraces it as the feminine mother to the father sun, from which all creation is dawned.  There is a continual rebirth as passage made from circle to circle until the Land of the Blessed is finally reached.  The ash engulfs both big and small, man and Earthly things are reflections in miniature of the universe, the cosmos being reflected in our natures (as above, so below.)  The ash carries keys as seeds linking our mental and spiritual selves to the tree and ultimately the universe and the forces working on it, like the feminine moon.

Saille Willow: Night Vision, lunar rhythms, female aspects. Fourth Month; February

Alder Moon: February or March Full Moon

A moon of action as spring nears, quickening the awakening of earth with its gravity.  Like the willow, the Alder is a water loving tree.  Its timber is oily and water resistant for building underwater foundations like those found in Venice.  Bran the Blessed has been associated with the Alder; it is said he used his body to span the river Binon, forming a bridge to raise his follower above the dangerous waters, as wood does when set afloat in water.  Bran's name means raven, and the presence of the raven suggest a special protection safe from attack as long as they remain there.  They are also prophetic birds, who's flights can signify the outcome of wars and other events.  The alder tree takes up the tests of the rowan that have been accepted and overcome.  It is a tree that is symbolized by the shields made from the wood of the alder in ancient times, which too has a magickal purpose.  The quickening of the moon at this time to our spiritual nature allows us to glimpse the visions brought to us from the moon, and give us guidance and protection towards the future.

Nuin Ash: Inner and outer worlds linked, macrocosm and microcosm.  Fifth Month; March

Willow Moon: March Full Moon

The willow being a feminine tree of water, and its boughs traditionally used for making magickal tools, this cycle is also called the Witches' Moon. The long and slender branches of a willow, often used for dream catchers and basket making made it a stable along with its medicinal properties.  The willow tree perfectly represents a time when the veils are parted to view the Otherworld.  In this time of Ostara, we find that the cycle of death and rebirth of the plant itself (being chopped down annually to the ground, to spring forth the next year with many new branches) becomes visible.  The willow's presence along riverbanks and fords also gives it an air of being between worlds, as these borders are in-between states, and very important places.  When you wish to move from one stage of the working to another, or when you wish to focus your concentration on what is about to unfold, the vibrations of the Willow moon can be an important time to proceed.  Saille stands for the female and lunar rhythms of life.  She is water-seeking, thriving from preference on the damp margins of lakes and streams or across the low-lying water meadows.  Water and the tidal movements of the sea are governed by the pull of the moon.  The moon in its monthly rhythms is female, contrasting with the male sun's daily and yearly turnings.  The ability to connect with this moon offers the gift of women in seer-ship, often expressed through dreams, or night visions.  The willow is additionally sacred to the moon goddess, offering protection against damp diseases and fertility represented by the willow's catkins that appear early in the spring before the leaf buds unfold.  Containing nectar, they attract the activity of bees as they rouse from the winter and start the summer round of pollen bearing.  Observe your dreams at this time, for they hold deeper clues to the feminine mystery of the moon.

Huathe Hawthorn: Cleansing and chastity, protection. Sixth Month; April

Hawthorn Moon: April Full Moon

Blooming hawthorn is a faery flower, one said to be gathered by sovereigns such as Guinevere on Bealtaine morning.  Huathe as it is called, leads up to the fertile central Oak month following from Beltane.  The Fire Festivals of fertility and renewed growth and strength also alight around the worship of the thorn.  The Celts marked the passing of time by the dark periods followed by light, and they divided the year into a dark half and a light half.  Marriages were allowed to take place only during the light half of the year, though often preceded by a 'trial marriage' of a year and a day.  The Hawthorn is a small tree that grows with a dense, many branched and twisted habit.  Used mainly as hedging, this is where it also receives its namesake, other common names are whitethorn and may.  The garlands of the hawthorn flower on maypoles and for Mayday can equate beauty and love, while the thorns are protective.  The Hawthorn moon represents cleansing and chastity, bringing protection from the inner magical realms.  It offers a chance to concentrate on the mental rather than physical activity as a prelude to the spiritual fertilization, growth and harvesting that will follow, providing such space will allow new doors to be opened with opportunities following close behind.  Observe this time for solitude rather than magick, the difficult aspects of this tree indicate caution so it is best expected as a time of disruption .

Duir Oak: Solid protection, doorway to the mysteries, strength.  Seventh Month; May

Oak Moon: May or June Full Moon

The oak is a tree of strength, associated with Midsummer rituals and a masculine energy tree.  By associating with the masculine moon can also bring women the promise of those qualities for ritual work and balancing.  Duir the oak also translates into door, and in the forest it is considered the king.  The oak stands mighty and solid with great branches, matched by its great roots.  It is often struck by lightening, leaving the trunk gnarled and withered.  Yet it somehow manages to survive, and in the savannas where wildfires rush its bark grows tough enough to resist those fast fires.  The oaks growth is slow but sure, the refuge where you find oak is a central stand.  He stands in the middle of our Celtic solar and lunar year, between light and dark.  The oak is used to protect and defend the boundaries between one area and the next, like the doorway between the year it stands tall.  Often times, people sought the oaks mighty presence to enforce the ritual work and bring strength to the vision.  The primeval strength and ability to overcome and survive enables this moon to help those who need more security in their lives.  While the oak seems to be very masculine, the balance of it's properties even offers the ability to heal women through difficult menstrual cycles.  At this time, it offers us the successful completion of personal projects, setting us back on the road of progress and discovery so that we may be protected and also help protect the King of trees.  Examining your own desires and impulses will bring you closer to the spiritual level intended at this moon time.  All good things of life are being offered to you at this door, if you choose to except and work on your craft.  The ceremonial cauldron of life, or chalice is full and abundant if the heart and soul is in turn willing to see it - so give freely and truly of yourself to pass the test of the oaken doorway.

Tinne Holly: Best in the fight.  Eighth Month; June

Holly Moon: July Full Moon

This moon is representative of polarities, especially between male and female. Tine is considered to be holy because of its three leaves, but also has close association to oak.  Indeed all of the plants in the wheel follow one another with a complete relationship that bears new light onto one another as each moon season passes.  The practical magick of tree ogham represent this spiritual progress, and it is implied in the levels of existance for which their uses have manifested.  When worked with together, holly and oak can strengthen one another, but it is also a sacrifice in the growth.  The trinity of oak, holly, and Self (all heal) will prove to be very powerful in your life once you gain full understanding of the deep complexities the holly offers us.  It represents knowledge of life after death with its evergreen properties, and a link for us to communicate with the Otherworld on all three levels.  This moon may bring some confusion as we become aware of all the levels being revealed to us, but learning to function with these links is a tool we must gain in order to progress, so be ready for your guide to signal to us between these gateways.  The holly is also the best used in a fight, often from the astral planes we are aware of worlds so close to our own and think they are only dreams.  It is in this truine which we are revealed the time to witness and be chosen for battle, to defend ourselves and defeat our enemies understanding the trinity of this time can help us gain advantage over that which threatens us.  The Hoolly becoming the holy tree in Christianity, with its crown of thorns, represents the fighting of the soul's battles that eventually unites this life with the one that follows and, also runs parallel.  Although the holly is considered male, it also represents fatherhood.  With the Ivy and the Mistletoe, the Holly has always been regards as a potent life symbol, both for his year-long foliage and for his winter fruits.  This is a time for balancing, to find your spiritual battle and prove your fight.  Coming after the fertile and central Oak month, the Holly can show us what lies ahead and what may come in time if we are able to stay focused on all aspects of the triune.

Coll Hazel: Intuition, straight to the source.  Ninth month; July

Hazel Moon: August or September Full Moon

It is time to honor the crone and to celebrate the wisdom of earth mother in that aspect.  Salmon are associated with the Hazel in Irish legend, swimming in the River Boyne under the overhanging hazel tree from which the nine nuts of petic wisdom fell.  These were eaten by the salmon who absorbed the inspiration they encapsulated.  Hazel is also strongly associated with meditation and mediation.  As well as poetic skill and intuition, the power of divination leading straight to the source comes to us from this moon.  It can channel our creative energies and allow us to be inspired or increase the capacities of our pursuits.  It can be a catalyst or transformation time allowing our intuition to pour fourth from the source of the well spring.  The hazel time represents the loss of something, and is connected to the keening of Brighid - a goddess most closely associated with wisdom and divine inspiration. The dowsing rods of the hazel also help you delve into the deeper levels which are hidden to your mind, working with the Otherworld to gain wisdom is a tedious process and sometimes dark and you must be ready to face obstacles and can be a long wait for the outcome to be brought home. 

Muin Vine: Prophecy, Tenth Month; August

Vine Moon; September Full Moon

A celebration of the harvest, particularly products of alcoholic beverages such as wine can be used to represent a toast to the moon on the altar.  The Vine moon can teach us the deeper aspects of the wild.  The vine's knowledge of the properties of the host tree to support its growth and that it is in harmony and sympathy with the tree, understanding it so well that it is capable of living beside or on top of it is much like our own healthy relationships can spring the fruit for harvest time.  If we have failed to allow the people around us room to breath then we will soon find that we will have small rewards for the next year to grow on, if however we allow the people around us air and light and partnership then the harvest will continue to be bountiful.  During Otherworld journeys or rituals this moon can be an aid to new knowledge, or an alternative way to find out the properties of those around us.  Take the inspiration you receive on imbibing as part of the celebration and not the complacent, trusting the visions you receive on part of those around you is important but if you fail to really look, you will learn nothing.  The vine is a teaching tree that grows in conjunction with one tree, and then spreads itself across to join another tree, and so on without limit.  It unites us and ourselves by the culmination of our roots with our inspiration and availability to touch others.  Binding ourselves or others can be dangerous, and we must properly use our magick to see the truth of a situation without doing harm onto others.  Becoming a source for inspiration for and to others is the point of progress and learning that will help you and others along the way, the trees in the rest of the forest grow strong to support those truths you have gained and when it comes time to unite and share them.  The potency of omens and predictions inclined by the prophetic powers of this moon allow us to speak more perceptively and truthfully than otherwise, but first you must rely on the instinct of reading those around you.  As trust is learned, the soul will open to be able to harvest and gather together all the signs and omens that we are able to comprehend if we permit this process of learning.  If we fail to unwind it can block the spiritual gift it is allowing us to shine light upon.

Gort Ivy: The spiral of the self, search for self.  Eleventh Month; September

Ivy Moon: October Full Moon

Called the Moon of Resilience, which addresses our beliefs in rebirth, and a triumph over death Gort spreads and flourishes in many conditions.  It will push its way through tiny cracks and crevices to reach the light and it is strong and difficult to destroy.  Since ancient times, the Vine and the Ivy have been regarded as enemies.  If the vine, through intoxication, releases prophetic powers, the Ivy, in contrast, puts you in touch with our own inner resources, giving you the ability to see through the eyes of the soul beyond the everyday world.  The ivy represents the spiral of the self and the search for self.  The maze of labyrinth is also linked to ivy, symbolizing the wandering of the soul, circling inward and outward seeking nourishment and experience from the outside and from within itself, to finally achieve the goal of enlightenment.  Exploring our hidden selves by the light of this moon, is necessary to uncover the depth that we could not tap the year before.  The spiral dance collects our unconscious pathwork and assist us on the journey as we reach outward again.  Like the vine it can also bind us if we forget to look at the others around us, it may appear sweet but its powerful cords can choke its host with its dense spiral.  The work of the moon can help us reflect on how far we have come on our journey, and show us where we have created dense thickets that we cannot penetrate with the light of the Otherworld upon the closing time.  It can show us that we are not always in control and may have made deep reflective mistakes for which the passage must be cleared.  This can show us the fascinating new depths that must be cleansed in order to continue walking the spiral, and also offer us new rewards while giving us new mysteries to ponder on.

NgEetal Reed or Broom: Direct action. Twelfth month; October

Reed Moon: October or November Full Moon

A time of completion, bringing to the front the home and hearth and reflecting on the past season in story and gathering.  If you have started some new work or a broken period of inactivity, and if the backlash is potentially dangerous or destructive, then the ivy will be invoke by the Otherworld to warn you.  It is good to check to see if there is repair or healing needed due to damage already caused.  the broom is the trees that cleans up the damage that has been done.  This moon can help you bring the healing needed to repair the shortcomings being made aware of by the Ivy moon.  This time is very potent so take care of that the magick done under this moon influence will not bring further harm, just play it safe if unsure of the necessity of the situation.  Reflect on what went wrong , and why the ivy and the broom had to be invoked in the first place.  Take the opportunity to learn from the mistakes in your magical and spiritual Workings.  This moon helps us recognize things about ourselves - feelings, thoughts, and emotions - which might actually be dangerous or damaging and need to be dealt with.  This can be unpleasant but will lead to a stronger self that will be relieved of the emotional expense in the months and years to come once we let the experience go and bring it to the open.  The Reed moon indicates that you are aware of the great outside that surrounds us all.  You are capable of finding order where others find only chaos. Your results are as sure as the intentions with which you started.  You progress by continually keeping your aim in sight.  It gives you the capacity to make spiritual weapons, just as the bowman has first to make and find his bow, then he has to make the arrows and tip them with a point.  The flights, or feathers give the arrow direction and prevent it from going off course of the target.  The reed offers us direction like the feathers and gives us meaning and purpose in our journey that started at the beginning of the year in November, according to the old calendar.  Once the journey has been entered upon, then surprise encounters and upsets are only to be expected.  The skills to overcome these short-lived troubles are as important as making the journey in the first place.  

Ruis Elder: The end in the beginning and the beginning in the end. Thirteenth month, last three days of October 

The last moon is hidden, that which is unseen and can communicate with us the deepest part of our journey.  Between the gateways and the path there is a force guiding us which remains just out of reach.  It is this time for which we come to reflect on where we have been and what brought us there, and how to achieve what we have dreamed for ourselves.  To know the darkmoon and the force which affects us in our daily lives is to recognize we are connected to the Universe and the intricate levels of life, death, and rebirth are part of that process which we grapple with in understanding our road forward.  Ruis represents the start of something new, the child in the cosmic womb, it is a magical time for inspiration and nourishment.  To be reborn through the cauldron of the moon is to be restored to life and strength, we in turn enable our battles to be overcome and won with the power of the mystery.  It represents the end in the beginning and the beginning  in the end; life in death and death in life; the casting out of the old year and the renewal and creativity of the new; the timelessness of the cycle by which the fading of old age is always balanced by the new start of birth.  Remember the circles that make up our lives, and how they turn with the changing of the moon times, all is continuously linked as phases of life and experience repeat themselves in subtly different forms, leading always to renewal.  Work with the elder moon is honest, truthful, honorable, brave, vital for feeling achievement and cleansing from the past.  To feel the sense of oneness with the cycle of the moon helps us see our family, social structures, groups, and career with a new light that is responsible and recycling or giving new life to that which must be acknowledged for the future.  With the sacred thirteenth month, we see the wisdom in our ancestors and elders and come to respect and honor that presence working within our lives.