Harvest (Wine) Moon    

    This moon is called the Harvest or Wine Moon because it reaches its peak of power during the grape harvest.  As drinking wine alters the state of consciousness, ancient people believed that it put them in touch with the Divine Self and its wisdom.  For this reason, the Harvest Moon is a celebration of spirit.

    As such, the Harvest Moon provides a good time to be quiet, still the body, and let the spirit take over.  Pay attention to the wisdom that lives within you.  Nurture it.  Fertilize it.  Cultivate and harvest it.  Then follow wherever it leads you.

Things to Do for the Harvest Moon:

• Wear shades of purple and lavender to invoke wisdom, and create the atmosphere necessary to call upon the Divine Self for guidance.

• Decorate altars with flowering herbs and fruit of the season.

• Use purple or lavender candles and burn the Full Moon incense, or try burning sage, allspice, or mugwort for your incense.

• Serve graham crackers spread with peanut butter, and grape juice for libation.

• Have a grape-eating contest in honor of Bacchus and Dionysus, Gods of Wine and Harvest.  Let the winner bless the participants with a grape juice toast by saying:
                  With this juice, I bless you all
                  Big and little, large and small
                  By Gods of Wine and Ancient Crone
                  May wisdom be your guide alone.

• Weather permitting, go outside with a piece of the season's best fruit.  Give the fruit back to Mother Earth by burying it in the ground.  As you bury the fruit, say:
                     I offer You this perfect food
                    With thanks and love for all You do
                     I honor You, O Mother Earth
                    Please bless me with Your joy and mirth.

• The Harvest Moon also provides a good time for a little brain-teasing spiritual exercise.  Think of something and have someone else try to guess your thoughts.  Keep it simple and let everyone else have a turn.