Moon Phase Magic
The full moon has long had an aura of mystery and magic about it. It is tied to the ebbs and flows of the tide, as well as the every-changing cycle of womens' bodies. The moon is connected to our wisdom and intuition, and many Pagans and Wiccans choose to celebrate the full moon with a monthly ritual. Here are some of our most popular moon rituals, as well as ideas for craft projects and recip…
If you look back at history, there are a lot of stories about the magical powers of the moon. Read on to see some of the myths and legends associated with this magical body!
For thousands of years, people have looked up at the moon and wondered about its divine significance. It should come as no surprise that many cultures throughout time have had lunar deities - that is, gods or goddesses associated with the power and energy of the moon. If you're doing a moon-related ritual, in some traditions of Wicca and Paganism you may choose to call upon one of these deitie…
For many Pagans and Wiccans, the cycles of the moon are important to magical workings. It's believed in some traditions that the waxing moon, the full moon, the waning moon and the new moon all have their own special magical properties, and so workings should be planned accordingly. If your tradition follows these guidelines -- or if you think you'd like to time your magic based upon the phase…
This beautiful and powerful ritual is one in which the practitioner invokes the Goddess directly into herself (or himself, as the case may be). In some variations of this ritual, a High Priestess (HPs) may go into a trance-like state and speak the words of the Goddess, and in others, it may be a formal monologue calling upon the Goddess in her many forms.
In addition to the eight Sabbats, many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate regularly with an Esbat. This is a time of spellwork and magic, as well as of communing with the Divine, traditionally held at the time of the full moon. You can hold this Esbat ritual either alone or as part of a group.
You're planning a ritual or magical working to be done at the time of the full moon -- but what happens if the weather's bad, or you can't see the moon? Do you just call it quits?
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a seasonal full moon. Welcome spring with a water-themed ritual adaptable for either groups or solitaries.
Instead of a regular Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups tailor their full moon celebrations to the season. This ceremony is designed for a group of at least four people, and can be held during any of the sunny summer months.
This ritual can be held during any of the Autumn full moon cycles. Celebrate the Corn Moon in September, the Harvest Moon in October, and November's Blood Moon. Although this ceremony is designed for a group, it could easily be adapted for a solitary practitioner.
Instead of a regular Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups tailor their full moon celebrations to the season. This ceremony is designed for a group of at least four people, and can be held during any of the chilly winter months.
In some traditions, the appearance of the New Moon each month is even more important than the night of the Full Moon. This ritual is a very basic one that can be done either as a solitary or as part of a group. The welcoming theme makes it a good one to use if you're teaching young children about Pagan and Wiccan spirituality.
For many Wiccans and Pagans, the time of the new moon is a period of rest and rejuvenation. It's a time to look inward, and think about what we're going to do in the coming lunar cycle.
While most people think of their gardens as a place of sun and light, there are a number of plants that thrive nocturnally. Consider planting a magical moon garden, so you can enjoy the benefits of your efforts under a night sky instead.
The Celtic Tree Calendar is a calendar with thirteen lunar divisions. Most contemporary Pagans use fixed dates for each "month", rather than following the waxing and waning lunar cycle. If this was done, eventually the calendar would fall out of sync with the Gregorian year, because some calendar years have 12 full moons and others have 13. The modern tree calendar is based on a concept that each…
Not sure what phase the moon is in right now, or when it will be waxing, waning or full? Many Pagans and Wiccans prefer to do spells related to attraction or positive magic during the waxing moon, and negative or baneful magic in the waning phase. Check out this great site for a complete calendar that shows you what lunar phase falls on which dates.