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WORKING WITH THE MOON
New Moon: 1st Quarter This energy
can be used for starting new projects of all kinds including business
ventures and jobs. It is also used for spells involving self growth and
moving forward on your path.
Waxing
Moon: 2nd Quarter - This is the time of beginnings, health
and healing, fertility, psychic awareness, beauty. The time from the New
Moon through the first quarter to the Full Moon is the proper time to
perform healing rituals, positive magick, and spells that increase love,
good luck, growth of any kind, sexual desire, and wealth.
Full Moon: 3rd Quarter - Protection,
Love, Healing Purification, Money, Travel and psychic awareness. The
period of the Full Moon increases the powers of extrasensory perception,
and is the proper time to perform lunar goddess invocations, fertility
rites, transformations, spirit conjurations, and spells that increase
psychic abilities and prophetic dreams. The Full moon holds great power
and energy and is the strongest time of the month to perform magickal
workings. It is a great time for performing divinations or for working
magick to increase magickal power. The Full Moon means energy is
heightened for any magickal work you would like to do.. especially work in
psychic areas. Full Moon magik can be conjured during the 3 days prior to
the rise of the Full Moon, the night of the Full Moon and during the 3
days after.
Waning Moon: 4th
Quarter - Banishments of habits, addictions, disease and negatives.
Jealousy, guilt and hurts are released. Between the full moon and the dark
moon is the period of WANING moon. This energy can be used for banishing
and rejecting those things that influence us in a negative way. Negative
emotions, diseases, ailments, can all be let go. We can do work to get rid
of money problems,(rather than increasing money we are banishing poverty
or financial problems). This is the time to get rid of unwanted things...
good for weight loss, bad habits, negative energy or people in our lives.
Dark
Moon: Void Of Course -The Dark Moon period occurs 3
days prior to the New Moon. This is the time when you can't see the moon.
No magik is usually performed during this time. This is the time go within
and use meditation and a time of quiet contemplation thinking about where
you are on your path and where you are going,... what do you want to
accomplish and create in your life... time to think and replenish your own
energies.
Lunar Eclipse: A
Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into the Earth's shadow. This
type of eclipse does not occur every year. But when it does, it's a
wonderful and magikal night. When it does occur it lasts for only a few
hours, so you need to plan your rituals well in advance. This one night is
perfect for all purposes
Drawing Down the Moon
All ye assembled
at mine shrine,
Mother Darksome and Divine.
Mine the Scourge and
mine the Kiss,
Here I charge you in this sign
All ye assembled in my
sight,
Bow before my spirit bright,
Aphrodite, Arianrod,
Lover of
the Horned God,
Mighty Queen of Witchery and night,
Morgan,
Etione, Nisene,
Diana, Bridgid, Melusine,
Am I named of old by
men,
Artemis and Cerridwen,
Hell's dark mistress, Heaven's
Queen.
Ye who ask of me a rune,
Or would ask of me a boon,
Meet
me in some secret glade,
Dance my round in greenwood shade,
By the
light of the Full Moon.
In a place, wild and lone,
Dance about mine
altar stone;
work my holy mystery.
Ye who are feign to sorcery,
I
bring ye secrets yet unknown.
No more shall ye know slavery,
who
give true worship unto me.
Ye who tread my round on Sabbat
night,
come ye naked to the rite,
in token that ye be really
free.
I teach ye the mystery of rebirth,
work ye my mysteries in
mirth.
Heart joined to heart and lip to lip,
five are the points of
fellowship,
that bring ye ecstacy on earth,
for I am the cicle of
rebirth.
I ask no sacrifice, but do bow,
no other Law but love I
know,
by naught but love may I be known.
All things living are mine
own,
from me they come, to me they go.
I invoke Thee and call
upon Thee
Mighty Mother of us all.
Bringer of Fruitfulness by seed
and by root.
I invoke Thee by stem and bud.
I invoke Thee by life
and love
and call upon Thee to descend into the body
Of this Thy
Priestess and Servant.
Hear with her ears, speak with her
tongue,
touch with her hands, kiss with her lips,
that thy servants
may be fulfilled
Healing by the Moon
By Rachel Raymond
Moon goddesses are also
goddess of magic and herbal healing. Isis, Artemis,
Hecate, and Diana
are just a few of the any lunar deities who were invoked
in herbal
healing rituals and spells.
The very first forms of magic were
healing magic. Healers used the energies
and properties of the world
around them to bring their ailing patients back
into a state of
health. They observed that all living things responded to
the waxing
and waning of the Moon. During the Full Moon shellfish are
plumper and
more succulent, and mammals have more blood in their bodies and
stronger heartbeats. Women tend to menstruate during the New Moon and
ovulate during the Full Moon. The herbs used by ancient healers were
said
to be best when picked during a particular phase of the
Moon.
As a modern herbalist, I have found the Moon to be a powerful
healing ally.
Unlike my healing predecessors, I am spoiled by a ready
supply of prepared
herbs. Therefore, I don’t spend a lot of time
picking my herbs during the
optimal phase of the Moon. However, I have
found using herbal therapies in
harmony with the phases of the Moon to
be a very powerful healing strategy.
Waxing
Moon
The waxing phase of the Moon is the best time to build the
body up. This is
when I use nurturing herbs and tonics to strengthen
the body’s natural
immunities. Raspberry leaf is an excellent tonic
for female reproductive
organs; hawthorn berries are good for the
cardiovascular system; nettle is a
great blood tonic; marshmallow root
is a soothing tonic for the urinary
tract; astragalas is a wonderful
immune system tonic; burdock is a good
liver tonic; red clover builds
fertility; oat straw is good for the nervous
system; and alfalfa is a
fantastic all-around nutritive tonic.
These herbs are simple and
gentle. They are best taken in a cup of tea,
three to five times a
day. During the waxing phase, I also like to increase
water intake to
avoid water retention. The more water we ingest, the less
water our
bodies attempt to retain.
This is also a good time to apply
medicinal salves and to take therapeutic
baths. Most importantly, I
work during the waxing Moon to ensure that the
body has all the
nutritional support it needs. This is the body’s building
time, and it
needs a good supply of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates,
lipids, and
amino acids to be healthy. I would also not attempt to fast or
to lose
weight during the waxing Moon.
Use energy healing techniques to
strengthen and reconnect with the earth.
Be careful to ground and
center when healing so that you never use up your
own life force
energy. The universe if full of energy to use, and by
tapping into it
you will be able to help many more people than you could by
using just
your energy alone.
Full Moon
The Full Moon
lasts about three days. It is a very intense phase. Many
women still
ovulate with the Full Moon. This is the time when I apply the
most
powerful herbs. I like to use cayenne capsules to treat infections of
any kind. Goldenseal is a well-known herbal antibiotic. Echinacea and
Lomatium are anti-viral. Dong quai, black cohosh and chasteberry are
excellent herbs for female hormonal fluctuations.
Energy
healing work during the Full Moon is very powerful. On the energetic
level, it acts like a magnifying mirror. The strong lunar energy pulls
everything out of hiding and reflects it back at us. This is often the
time
during an acute illness when people feel their worst. The Full
Moon
intensifies whatever else is going on. Often people aren’t even
aware that
they’re sick until the Full Moon hits.
This is also
an excellent time for psychological therapy. Emotions seem
closer to
the surface than usual and social inhibitions melt away. Agendas
that
have been simmering under the surface tend to come out under the light
of the Full Moon. This is a time to strengthen relationships and
reaffirm
bonds. Never underestimate the healing power of simply
holding someone’s
hand and listening. This is not the time for
isolation or introspection.
The Full Moon draws all of life toward it.
Even the solid ground rises
several inches when the Full Moon passes
overhead!
Waning Moon
The Waning
Moon is the best time to employ therapeutic fasts. I avoid
drastic
fasting. There is usually no need to starve the body to heal it.
However, I found it helpful to limit my intake to juices and soups for
a few
days during the waning Moon, particularly when I was struggling
with the
flu. I like to use purifying herbs in moderation at this
time. Sage,
ginger, lemon, thyme, lavender, and peppermint are all
cleansing the
clearing herbs.
The waning Moon is also a good
time to do sweats and diaphoretic (sweat
producing) baths. In
addition, if I were trying to kick a habit, I would do
it during the
waning phase. Full body massages help circulation and
strengthen the
eliminative systems. Use energy healing techniques to server
unhealthy
bonds and strengthen boundaries.
New Moon
The New Moon is as powerful in its own way as the Full Moon. It is a
time
for taking stock. It is a phase of hibernation, retreat, and
contemplation.
Avoid crowds and gatherings and seek a
little time for yourself. Unless
an illness is at a critical phase, I
frequently cease all therapies for a
day or so and allow the body to
seek its own level. Rest is crucial during
the New Moon. Simple foods
and quiet times are powerful healers.
Many women menstruate with
the New Moon. It is natural to want to curl up
in bed with a good book
and nice cup of chamomile tea. Stronger nervines
(relaxing herbs) are
skullcap, hops, catnip, oatstraw and valerian.
After the New Moon
ends and that first crescent appears, then the healing
lunar cycle
begins all over again. Most acute diseases do not last a full
lunar
cycle.
The information in this article is only intended to be an
educational tool,
not a prescription. It is always wise to consult
with your health care
provider when experiencing any illness or
discomfort.
Awareness of the rhythms of nature can assist you and
your health care
provider in determining the best course of treatment
at any given time.
Naturally, some conditions will require that you
apply therapies that don’t
necessarily “fit” with the phase of the
Moon. However, I have found that my
own therapies are much more
effective when I am not fighting the tides that
flow around and
through us.
May the lunar goddesses of healing – Artemis and Isis,
Diana and Hecate –
bless your healing efforts with Moon wisdom and
Moon magic.
A Full Moon Ritual
This is a VERY powerful ritual. I have
had great results from this. If done correctly, the presence of the Lady
can be strongly felt!
You will
need
-two white candles
-a bell
-Wine or lunar
liquid
-Your chalice (or cup)
-spell material if you are doing
something afterwards
Cast your circle . Stand before the altar
facing North and say:
"This is the time of the full moon, a time of
great power for positive manifestation, a time of increasing and gaining.
The tide of Moon-power is strong. I am of the Goddess. I stand before You
at Your altar, in love and adoration. Be with me Goddess. Let me feel your
presence here tonight."
Go to the east with the bell. Ring it once and
say:
"Hail Selene. Help me feel the Lady's power and presence
within my mind."
Go to the South. Ring the bell once and
say:
"Hail Cerridwen. Help me feel the Lady's power and presence
within my spirit."
Go to the West. Ring the bell once and
say:
"Hail Athene. Help me feel the Lady's power and presence
within my emotions."
Go back to the North. Ring the bell once and
say:
"Hail Aphrodite. Help me feel the Lady's power and presence in
my body."
You will probably have an amazing wave of feelings
come over you. Let them sink into your body and soul. When you are ready,
return the bell to the altar, turn to the North, and raise your arms high
above your head. Say:
"Hail Goddess! Moon Mother, Lady of Light,
Mistress of Magick and Animals. You are the white light of the Moon upon
the Earth, the brillant rays of sun upon life. You are the beginning and
ending, the One who creates and takes away. Within You, I see myself and
all woman. In this time, You come to me and fill me with your
presence."
Communicate with Her now. Tell Her your problems,
wishes and anything you wish to tell her. When you are finished
say:
"All honor and love to the wonderful Goddess, for She is the
power behind all powers, the Goddess behind all gods, the Eternal Life
behind death. I see Her loving face within the moon and rejoice. All Hail
Queen of the heavens and the earth, the eternal on of
Wisdom!"
Raise the chalice to toast her and say:
"To
Diana and all the Goddesses!"
Now is the time for divination,
meditation, and spellwork of any kind.
Close the circle when
done.
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