The moon is an important source of natural energy that is essential in magick, if you perform your spells and rituals at the right lunar phase. Performing spells during the wrong phase of the moon can seriously debilitate the spell, producing no result or possibly the wrong result.
The Wheel of the Moon, is approximately 28 1/2 days long, waxing to Full Moon and waning to New Moon.

Waxing Moon

means the moon is getting larger in the sky, moving from the New Moon towards the Full Moon. This is a time for spells that attract, that bring positive change, spells for love, good luck, and growth. This is a time for new beginnings, to conceptualise ideas, to invoke. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Maiden aspect, give praise to Epona, Artemis or one of the other Maiden Goddesses. The period of the waxing moon lasts about 14 days.

Full Moon

is when the moon has reached its zenith, it forms a perfect silvery sphere in the sky. This is a time for spells that transform, increase psychic ability, for fertility spells and invocation to lunar goddesses. This is a time of strength, love and power. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Mother aspect, give praise to Cerridwen, Isis or one of the other Mother Goddesses. The period of the Full Moon lasts from about 3 days before to 3 days after the actual full moon.

Waning Moon

means the moon is decreasing in size, moving from the Full Moon towards the New Moon. This is a time for spells that banish, release, reverse. This is a time to break bad habits or bad addictions, to end bad relationships. This is a time of deep intuition and a time for divination. At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Crone Aspect, Hecate, Morrigan or one of the other Crone Goddesses. The period of the waning moon lasts about 14 days.

Full Moon Names

January — Storm Moon
A storm is said to rage most fiercely just before it ends, and the year usually follows suit.
February — Chaste Moon
The antiquated word for pure reflects the custom of greeting the new year with a clear soul.
March — Seed Moon
Sowing season and symbol of the start of the new year.
April — Hare Moon
The sacred animal was associated in Roman legends with springtime and fertility.
May — Dyad Moon
The Latin word for a pair refers to the twin stars of the constellation of Castor and Pollux.
June — Mead Moon
During late June and most of July the meadows, or meads, were mowed for hay.
July — Wort Moon
When the sun was in Leo, the worts (from the Anglo-Saxon wyrt plant) were gathered to be dried and stored.
August — Barley Moon
Persephone, virgin Goddess of rebirth, carries a sheaf of barley as a symbol of the harvest.
September — Blood Moon
Marking the season when domestic animals were sacrificed for winter provisions. Libra’s full moon occasionally became the Wine Moon when a grape harvest was expected to produce a superior vintage.
October — Snow Moon
Scorpio heralds the dark season when the sun is at it’s lowest and the first snows fly.
November — Oak Moon
The sacred tree of the Druids and the Roman God Jupiter is most noble as it withstands winter storms.
December — Wolf Moon
The fearsome nocturnal animal represents the “night” of the year.

The Blue Moon — Variable
A Blue Moon occurs when the moon with its 28 day cycle appears twice within the same calendar month, due to that month’s 31 day duration. Many consider the Blue Moon to be a goal moon where you set specific goals for yourself.

The Black Moon — Variable
A Black Moon occurs when there are two dark cycles (new moon) in any given calendar month. It is believed that the second dark moon of a time of great power within the spiritual world and any magick worked during this time is especially powerful.

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Astrological Aspects of the Moon

As the Wheel of the Moon continues on its never ending course, the moon also travels through the different astrological signs, just as the sun does, only more rapidly. When the moon resides within the various signs, the sign influences the magickal aspect of the moon.

EARTH spells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
AIR spells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
FIRE spells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
WATER spells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Moon in ARIES

is the best time for spells involving authority, rebirth, and leadership; healing spells of the face and head.

Moon in TAURUS

is the best time for spells involving love, money, and acquisition; healing spells for the throat and neck.

Moon in GEMINI

is the best time for spells involving communication, writing, and travel; healing spells for the arms, hands, and lungs.
Moon in CANCER

is the best time for spells involving the home and for honouring lunar gods and goddesses; healing of the chest and stomach.

Moon in LEO

is the best time for spells involving authority, courage, and fertility; healing of the upper back, spine, and heart.

Moon in VIRGO

is the best time for spells involving employment, health, and diet; healing of the intestines and nervous system.

Moon in LIBRA

is the best time for spells involving justice, unions, balance (spiritual and otherwise), and artistry; healing of the lower back and kidneys.

Moon in SCORPIO

is the best time for spells involving power, psychic growth, and sex; healing of the reproductive organs.

Moon in SAGITTARIUS

is the best time for spells involving travel, sports, truth, and horses; healing of the liver and thighs.

Moon in CAPRICORN

is the best time for spells involving organisation, ambition, career, and politics; healing of the knees, bones, and teeth, skin.

Moon in AQUARIUS

is the best time for spells involving science, freedom, friendship, breaking bad habits or addictions; healing of the calves, ankles, and blood.

Moon in PISCES

is the best time for spells involving music, art, telepathy, dreams; healing of the feet and lymph glands.

New Moon Meditation

The new moon or “dark of the moon” occurs when the side of the moon that is facing us on Earth is not illuminated by the sun as they rise and set together.

The new moon is a great time to meditate on setting new intentions, starting new projects and for giving thanks for the existing skills and abilities we carry. It is literally the best time to sow new seeds in any area of our lives that need a breath of fresh air, rejuvenation and creative growth. We can focus on new beginnings and transform doubt, worry and anxiety into hope, action, strength, courage and peace.

We can focus our intention on personal goals in our career, family harmony, improved relationships with partners or friends, health, finances, a calmer home, or any aspect of our earthly existence that needs new energy. We can set out our intent to explore new avenues on our spiritual path, or ask to find fresh new understanding of any recent events that have impacted our lives.

We can also focus on wider issues, such as bringing new ideas and energetic input to those who can bring about world peace, an abundance of food for all on the planet, to help humanity find a new way to be living in harmony with the earth, nurturing home environments for everyone, healthy relationships, a world where diversity is embraced. Wording our intent is incredibly important, we are not focusing on lack, e.g. hunger, homelessness, war, etc. We are focusing on the new, creating, harnessing that fresh new chance of creativity, instead of that which we may fear.

How to meditate with new moon energy:

1. Begin by preparing a sacred space, be that inside your mind and/or by creating a space to meditate in at home. Peace and quiet and being undisturbed for the duration is important.

2. Ground yourself and place protection around yourself in whichever way you feel comfortable with.

3. Light a white candle (a tea light or short beeswax candle is ideal) and as you do, give thanks and state your intent that you are about to open to receive the guidance of whomever you believe in, be that your guides, angels, God, Buddha etc. Welcome them and give them permission to assist you in creating your sacred intentions, and helping you manifest your visions and ideas into reality. Light incense and use herbs or oils if you wish, ideally star anise, juniper or valerian, cedar or sandalwood. Make sure the candle is placed somewhere it can burn down safely ideally without being blown out.

4. Write down your sacred intention for this meditation. It can also be helpful to draw symbols or sigils if you are so inclined e.g if you are a Reiki practitioner you may wish to draw the power symbol Cho Ku Rei. Make it something that represents your vision. If you keep a psychic development journal you can make these new moon meditations a part of your ongoing entries. Channel your mental and emotional energies into your written intention, and state your intention clearly, making sure that it is worded with no expense or detriment to anyone else.

5. If you are meditating in a group, visualise a bright cord of light (your chosen colour) connecting you from the solar plexus to all in your group, and to the powers guiding you, allowing yourself to feel each connection linking with yours, allowing the illusion of separation to melt away.

6. Meditate for as long as you feel comfortable.

7. Close down with a disconnection of the cords, visualise each person in your group disconnecting and returning to their individual purpose with clarity. Give thanks to all connected for the experiences you received.

8. Repeat your chosen grounding ritual and reinforce your protection. Allow the candle to burn down without being blown out if you can. (Tea lights usually burn 2-4 hours)

Place the paper you’ve written your intentions on in a sacred place (altar, journal, Book of Shadows etc) until the moon becomes full at which time you can review your intentions. You can check in at different times in the following moon cycle to see if your progress corresponds with the waxing or waning energies of the moon.