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January, The Wolf Moon
The first full moon is a time of silence and sitting by the home
fire. As the wild winter howls, appreciate the
warmth of home and family. Now is the time to go within and plan
the changes you will make in the spring.
Consider now what you will plant. Start a moon journal to record
your lunar tides and write down your spring
dreams.
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February, The Storm Moon
At this Moon begin your spring cleaning. Think about what needs
to be released and let go of in your life and in
your home. Burn white candles and purifying incense, sweep out
the cobwebs and prepare for the new growth of
spring.
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March, The Chaste Moon
This is the Moon of the maiden and Faery folk. Gather the seeds
of inspiration and imagine what they can grow
into. Build an Altar to the Moon and bless your garden in the
moonlight. Prepare the earth for planting and
yourself for change.
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April, The Seed Moon
At the Seed Moon plant your seeds of magick, whether it be in a
garden, in a pot by the window or simply in your
heart. Fill your home with light and flowers, create colorful
eggs to decorate it and bring fertility and joy. On
the full Moon plant herbs. Sing in the rain.
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May, The Hare Moon
Now is the time to celebrate life and love. Renew and affirm your
sensuality, kindle the fire of romance . Dance
and make love by the light of a bon fire, the glow of red
candles, or just the full moons radiance. Free your wild
nature.
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June, The Dyad Moon
See how things are growing! The old has died away to make room
for the new . Create an Altar of roses and
honor the beauty of nature. Send flowers to your mother. Hike to
the top of a mountain.
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July, The Mead Moon
Bask in the warmth of summer and take time for yourself, relax.
Perhaps a moonlit walk by the sea to gather
sacred seashells. Make an ocean amulet necklace for one you love.
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August, The Corn Moon
This is a time to harvest the gifts you have nurtured and give to
those who are in need. Collect and store fresh
herbs for the coming winter. Bake special breads to honor the God
and Goddess of grain and growing things,
share them with your family and friends but save some to offer
the Earth.
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September, The Harvest Moon
Drink a toast to Dionysus, the God of wine and ecstasy - The son
of the Moon! Gather with friends to celebrate
the vine with a bottle of good wine and good cheer. Catch the
Moons reflection in your cup and raise it up in
salutation, now drink in her essence and feel the presence of the
God and Goddess.
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October, The Blood Moon
In the past this was the time of hunting and storing. The wheel
of the year turns like the cycle of life and death.
At this Moon the veil is thin, make an Altar to honor your
ancestors and ask them to guide and protect you.
Carve pumpkins and place candles within to light their way.
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November, The Snow Moon
Winter's cold descends and outward growth slows. Make this a time
for inner growth. Learn a new craft or study
thwarts of divination. When the Moon is full do a reading for
yourself or your friends. Develop your psychic
talents.
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December, The Oak Moon
The time of the Suns return approaches and the Moon awaits her
lover. Make wreaths of Holly, Pine, Oak, Cedar
or Ivy. On the full Oak Moon burn them as an offering to the Sun
and Moon. Create a sacred Moon ornament to
hang on the boughs of your yule tree.
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The Blue Moon
This is the second Full Moon which falls within in a single
month, it varies each year. When the Blue Moon
occurs plan to do something strange, something you have never
done before. Write letters to folks you have not
seen for years, plan a surprise for someone you love. Howl at the
Moon!
*** The Moons Phases ***
NEW MOON
First Quarter:Weakest Quarter Good time for meditative
preparations and cleansings.Spell writting may be
started at this time. Best workings are from the first day of the
new moon to three and 1/2 days after
WAXING MOON
Second Quarter:Building and Beginnings Creating,Healing,Outward
Change Good time to start new projects
Best workings are within seven to fourteen days after new moon
FULL MOON
Third Quarter:Time to honor the God and Goddess
Whenever you are unsure what phase perform during full moon.
Strong emotional time Best workings are
Fourteen to seventeen and 1/2 days after new moon GREAT WHEN
EXTRA POWER IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN
SPELLS OF LOVE
WANING MOON
Fourth Quarter:Destroying and Breaking Down Endings and
Banishings Inward Changes Best times are three
and 1/2 days after full moon
*** Solitary Moon Rite ***
This rite may be used for either New or Full Moon. The difference
is in your meditation and mental attitude in preparation.
Remember that the New Moon is a time of outward work and thought,
building to the peak which is the Full Moon. At the Full
Moon, you should be preparing to lessen the outward flow of
energy, bit by bit, until the period before New Moon, during
which
you are passive, building a pool of energy within you, in
preparation for the New Moon.
The altar should be placed in the center of the ritual area. On
it should be placed a rose or stick of incense on the eastern
side, a red
votive candle to the South; a cup of water on the West, and a
bowl of salt or living plant on the North.
Around your ritual area, you should place an unlighted candle at
the cardinal point of each direction.
To begin your rite, enter your darkened temple, carrying one
burning candle, white or lavender, with you. Place it on the
center of
your altar, sit, and meditate on the meaning of the rite. When
you feel the time is right, stand, and go to the eastern point,
carrying
with you, the burning taper. Light the votive at the eastern
point and go to the southern, picturing, as you do, an arc of
pure strong
light curving from one candle to the next. Continue to the West,
and then to the North, lighting the candles as you go, and then
walk
to your eastern candle again, having formed a circle of
protective light surrounding the area in which you worship.
Return to the center of the circle, replace the candle on the
altar, and say:
My Lady of the Moon, who is called Diana, Artemis, Levanah, Isis
and by any other names, I come to you to bring you my love and
my devotion. May you grant me the joy of your presence.
Mentally divide the room into four quadrants by visualizing a
line of silvery moonlight from the southeast to the northwest,
and
from the northeast to the southwest. Go the East, taking with you
the rose or incense. Say:
Sweet Goddess, the gentle breeze is the touch of your loving
hand, the wind of storm a reminder of your strength. The sound of
the
trees in the wind is your voice, and the fragrance of flowers
borne on the wind is your gift of beauty.
Place the rose next to the votive candle, then stand there as you
picture the quadrant filling with moonlight. See the moonlight
streaming quietly and gently into the room, filling the quadrant
from center point to the edge of your circle.
When this is complete, take the red candle to the South. Place
the gift and see the quadrant fill with moonlight. Say:
Most loved Lady, the light of the candle is a guide along our
path leading to you; its warmth the reassurance of your presence
and
your love. The light of the Sun is the knowledge you impart to
us, driving out ignorance and those things which can survive only
in
darkness.
At the West:
Lovely One, the quiet pool is the serenity of your being. The
vast sea where life began on this planet is the vast sea of your
being
whence all life came; its waves are the ebb and flow of the
universe you rule.
At the North:
Goddess of all, the fertility of the earth is a sign of your
fertility, whence all life rose. The solidity and permanence are
still of it are
still less than yours. The Earth's fertility feeds our bodies,
and your fertility feeds our souls.
Go to the center of your temple, which is now filled with
moonlight.
Everything in the circle is touched by it, blessed by it,
including you. Sit down and feel this moonlight around you. Know
that it is
the Goddess. Realize that you are in the center of a sphere of
light that is half above and half above and half below where you
sit.
Begin to breathe slowly and evenly, deep breaths that penetrate
your whole body. When this rhythmic breathing becomes natural,
imagine that the moonlight by which you are surrounded enters
you, fills you entirely.
With each exhalation of your breath, some of the essence of
yourself leaves your body, and with each inhalation, the light
enters
you. You are being filled ever so gently with this beautiful
light. This light, which is the presence, the being of the
Goddess, is within
you as well as without. With each breath, you are less yourself
and more the Goddess.
When you are filled with light, filled with the Goddess, the
shell of your body fades away. You have no body; there is nothing
to
separate you from the entire being of the Goddess. Nothing exists
but the being of which you are apart. You have ceased to be a
separate entity. You are nothing and everything. All that was,
that is, and all that will be, you are.
Enjoy this feeling as long as you like. When you feel it is time,
picture the outer shell of your physical body reforming, becoming
solid again. It is being built out of the Universe of which you
are a part.
Now, as you continue your slow deep breathing, see the moonlight
flowing out of your body, as gently and slowly as it entered. As
it
flows out, realize there is a difference. Because you have become
one with the Goddess, with the Universe, your being has changed.
As the moonlight flows out of your body, it takes with it a part
of that which was yourself, now part of the Goddess, and leaves
behind a part of the Goddess, forever now part of you. You become
yourself again, solid as you were, but changed. You are
surrounded by the presence of the Goddess, which now contains a
part of yourself .
Move again to the East. As you speak, and after, picture the
moonlight in that quadrant flowing back to its source, leaving
that
quadrant as it was.
Do this at each quadrant, until all the moonlight has returned to
the Moon.
At the East:
My Lady, guide my thoughts. Let them lead always closer to you.
At the South:
Gracious Goddess, guide my actions. Let them always help and
never harm others or myself.
At the West:
Lovely One, guide my emotions: Let them be healing and touched
always by you.
At the North:
Sweet Goddess, let my mind always be fertile and strong, that I
may grow always toward you.
Return to the East to complete the circle and say:
Queen of Heaven, I thank you for your presence, both now and
always. My love and devotion are yours. Blessed
be!
All spirits who have joined me tonight may depart, with my love.
Return to your proper places.
Walk again around your circle, but this time counterclockwise,
extinguishing the quadrant guards as you go,
and at the same time, mentally erasing the white line which
surrounded your circle. When the candles are out
and the circle gone, rap on your altar and say:
The rite is ended.
INVOCATION TO THE GODDESS
Diana, queen of night,
In all your beauty bright,
Shine on us here,
And with your silver beam
Unlock the gate of dream;
Rise bright and clear.
On earth and sky and sea,
Your magic mystery
Its spell shall cast,
Wherever leaf may grow,
Wherever tide may flow,,
Till all be past.
O secret queen of power,
At this enchanted hour
We ask your boon.
May fortune's favor fall
Upon true witches all,
O Lady Moon!
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Solitary New Moon ritual
Special tools:
cedar or sage smudging wand or other cleansing incense
white candle
Cast the circle
Use a smudging wand or incense to purify the space as you move
around the circle.
Invocation to the Goddess
(ring bell with arms in Goddess position, arms in a V above your
head, feet apart)
Great Goddess
Queen of the Underworld
Protectress of all Wicca
It is my will on this night of the new moon
to overcome my shadows
and bring about change
I invite you to my circle to assist and protect me in my rite.
Invocation to the God,
(hold athame with your hands in the God position, crossed over
your chest, feet together)
Great God,
Lord of Protection
It is my will on this night of the new moon
to overcome my shadows
to bring about change
I invite you to my circle,
to assist me and protect me in my rite.
Statement of intent,
Dark is the night as I reach this turning point
As the wheel turns, I see birth, death and rebirth
and I know that every end is a beginning.
Meditation
Remember a time in your life when you were miserable, depressed
and felt like you couldn't go on.,br> Let the painful memories
overtake you, feeling yourself weaken and become frightened. Put
yourself back in that pain-filled time in your life.
Then, arise! Light your white candle and hold it high overhead.
Say:
In darkness, there is light!
I feel energy and life returning to me!
I feel my heartbeat strong
I feel the power of the universe and the power of the Goddess and
God within me.
Pass the candle over your body, tuning in completely with the
light, feeling its power heal and protect you.
Allow its rays to completely penetrate your being, healing and
cleansing you.
As you are doing this, chant
Let the light cast out all darkness
Cakes and wine (eating bread and drinking wine or juice to
restore energies spent during ritual)
Thank the God and Goddess for their presence Release the circle
Astrological Aspects of the Moon
The Moon moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac each month,
spending about two and a half days in each sign and taking on
the sign's characteristics while there. Moon sign astrology is an
ancient tradition and holds a significant place in folklore and
magic.
In addition to using the waxing and waning phases of the Moon in
daily life, it is important to know which Moon signs can be
helpful
to the job at hand and which will work against you. Here is a
description of how the Moon behaves in each of the twelve signs.
Aries is a cardinal fire sign that is ruled by the planet Mars.
When the Moon is here, it is time for starting new ventures,
particularly financial or medical. Don't plant seeds for your
garden, though. This Moon is about the self and the ego and
anything
ruled by Mars--knives, sharp things, strength, daring, courage,
and lust. Use this Moon for quick results, not for things that
will
drag out. People will be enthusiastic during this time , also
headstrong and rash. If you fall, you'll land on your head!
Taurus is a fixed earth sign that is ruled by Venus. The Moon is
exalted in Taurus, which means that it is very happy here and can
be used for anything associated with love or the arts. Taurus is
about values, possessions, money, fertility, and Mother Earth.
This
is a good time for gardening and for anything requiring hard work
and steady progress. People will be cautious and protective of
what they have. You'll think your voice sounds especially lyrical
in the shower now.
Gemini is a mutable air sign ruled by the planet Mercury; it is
also a dual sign, which means you can do two things at once, or
perhaps not be able to make up your mind. You may feel restless
and changeable, but it is also a good time to write, study, or
communicate with your family. Be careful what you say or ask for;
you may mean it for only as long as it takes you to say it.
Practice your sleight of hand or juggling, as your fingers are
very nimble now.
Cancer is a cardinal water sign and the home of the Moon herself.
When the Moon is here, she is at her most powerful, so use her
for working important magic and divination. This is the most
fertile of signs, good for planting any seeds. The Moon rules the
home,
children, the emotions, cooking, eating, and all nurturing.
Prepare your favorite comfort food, but don't overeat! Do kitchen
magic
and be careful not to hurt anyone's feelings.
Leo is a fixed fire sign, and King Lion is ruled by the Sun. It
is the most barren sign and the only garden job it is good for is
weeding.
Leo loves to be appreciated and looked up to. Use this Moon to
work with your stocks and bonds, creative arts, pets, hobbies,
and
romance. Throw a dinner party with dramatic flair--make it a
barbecue or serve flaming brochettes in honor of the Sun. Be
generous and kind; don't behave like a sulky child.
Virgo is a mutable earth sign, and it too is ruled by Mercury,
which lends abstract thought and a keen and critical intellect to
the
Virgin. Pay attention to detail and all matters concerning health
and healing, nutrition, herbs, crafts, ethics, service to others,
volunteering, and community needs. It's a good Moon for garden
chores other than planting, or use these days to deal with coven
matters, or crafting altar tools or ritual accouterments. Use
this Moon's energy to thoroughly clean the house.
Libra is a cardinal air sign, and also ruled by Venus. When the
Moon is here it is time for partnership matters, legal affairs,
socializing, and planting flowers. Balance and harmony are the
Venusian theme to this Moon time, so use it to accomplish things
with another person. Magic can be done with a partner, and it's
definitely time for romance; sprinkle rose petals in the incense
burner, but don't overimbibe; you kidneys will give you a
headache.
Scorpio is a fixed water sign, ruled by Mars and Pluto. Some
traditional magicians ignore Pluto as too modern and implement
the
enduring power of Mars. The Scorpio Moon is about fertility, sex,
death, and occult matters. Powerful magic is done now;
divinatory energy is very strong and ritual effects are long
lasting. This is a time for secrets and other hidden things.
Sensitive and
intense emotions can bring obsessions. Don't eat while you're
upset, and prepare for the consequences of saying what you think!
Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign, under the domain of Jupiter.
Go with your current mood of warmhearted friendliness and take
your mother-in-law to lunch and a lecture at the museum. Schedule
a trip to Malta or Avebury Plain for an independent journey.
Be philosophical about your restlessness and mail your manuscript
to the publishers. Use intuitive gifts to work some divination
magic. Harvest fruits and vegetables. Be careful not to injure
your hip when you fall over the patter in the linoleum.
Capricorn is a cardinal earth is dominated by that lesson master,
Saturn. This is good planting and grafting time, but when the
Moon is here everybody wants to be the boss, so hold back the
autocratic orders. This sign is a gateway to the land of magic
and
very powerful in obtaining what you need. In this Moon, you will
find the crone and profound wisdom, so don't let negativity and
depression get you down. However, the Moon is not happy here and
tends to be ruthless with other's feelings. Try bending at the
knees for a little humility.
Aquarius is a fixed air sign ruled by traditional Saturn and
transpersonal Uranus. This Moon is happy working for the common
good of all, so use this time for coven matters or working magic
for others. Selfish independence is a problem with this
impersonal
Moon, as personal magic can boomerang with scattered thinking.
Garden chores should be limited to weeding and cleanup. It's
okay now to dress a little weirdly and express your off-the-wall
thoughts. Stay out of your in-line skates if you have weak ankles!
Pisces is a feminine mutable water sign traditionally ruled by
Jupiter and by the modern Neptune. Another very fertile sign, it
is
good for planting all seeds. This is the Moon that ruled magic
itself, so it is very powerful for prophecy, dreams, and deep
psychic
work. Use it to explore past lives and all secrets, you can find
things you've lost or mix potent ritual elixirs and perfumes. You
don't
need to polish off the cooking sherry to make music or dance or
find your spiritual roots. Avoid getting lost in the fantasy;
keep
