Moon Rituals

The Waxing Moon

The waxing moon is the period during which the moon grows from dark to full. It takes approximately fourteen days for this to happen. In many magical traditions, people use this time of the moon to perform "positive" magic -- in other words, magic that draws things to you, or increases things. Some examples would include:
• A money spell
• A working to get a new job or home
• Bringing love into one's life
• Any magic related to increasing material items

The Full Moon

The full moon is the point at which we can see an entire side of the moon. For magical purposes, most Wiccans and Pagans consider the full moon to include the day before and the day after a full moon, for a total of three days. If your tradition requires you to follow the phases of the moon for your magical workings, this is a good time to do rituals focused on personal growth and spiritual development. Some examples would include:
• Spells related to increasing your intuitive awareness
• Healing magic
• Rituals that connect you closely with deity, such as Drawing Down the Moon
• Any magic related to developing your magical skills

Making Moon Water

Leave a jug of spring water out in the light of the Full Moon. This water is excellent for washing your face to impart beauty and purity and can also be used to energetically cleanse crystals and imbue them with the magic of the Full Moon.
• Tips:
• Use the moon water over the next month for watering plants, making offerings, or doing spell work.

Drawing Down the Moon

1. Stand at your altar with your arms crossed over your chest, and feet together. Face towards the full moon. Say:
Goddess of the Moon, You have been known by many names in many lands in many times. You are universal and constant. In the dark of night, You shine down upon us and bathe us in Your light and love. I ask You, O Divine One, to honor me by joining with me, and allowing me to feel Your presence within my heart.
2. Move your feet apart to about shoulder width, and raise your arms up and out to welcome the Goddess into you. The next part is one that you can memorize and learn, or you can speak spontaneously from the heart. You will begin to feel a surge of energy, a palpable tingle – don’t worry, that’s the Goddess making Herself known to you. Feel free to change these words as you like. You are speaking for Her, in Her voice, so let Her say what She wishes. Say:
“I am the Mother of all life, the One who watches over all. I am the wind in the sky, the spark in the fire, the seedling in the earth, the water in the river.
3. Continue:
"I am the vessel from which All Things spring forth.
Honor Me from within your heart! Remember that acts of love and pleasure are My rituals, and that there is beauty in all things.
Honor Me on this night of the full moon! I have been with you since the moment you were created, and shall remain with you always.
Let there be beauty and strength, wisdom and honor, humility and courage within you. If you need Me, call upon Me and I shall come to you, for I am everywhere, always.
Honor Me as you seek knowledge! I am the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone, and I live within you.
4. Feel the power of the Goddess within you. When you are ready, conclude with:
I look down upon the sands of the desert, I crash the tides upon the shore, I shine on the mighty trees of the forests, and watch with joy as Life continues every cycle.
Be true to Me, honoring that which I have created, and I shall be true to you in return.
With harm to none, so it shall be.”
5. Take a few moments to stand and bask in Her glow, and to meditate upon that which you have just experienced. Once the energy surge has subsided, lower your arms, and proceed with your ceremony as you normally would at the conclusion of a ritual.
Tips:
1. Drawing Down the Moon is an altered state of consciousness, a ritual possession by the Divine. It is not uncommon to feel the energy of the Goddess for quite some time following Drawing Down the Moon, so don’t be alarmed if you feel a heightened sense of clarity over the next few days. You may also feel extremely emotional -- it's not uncommon to cry or laugh spontaneously during this rite.
2. This is only one version of this rite. For more variations on Drawing Down the Moon, there are excellent versions in Wicca For One by Raymond Buckland (pp. 87 – 89 and The Grimoire of Lady Sheba (pp. 167- 168).

The Waning Moon

The waning moon is the period during which the moon goes from full to dark once again. Like the waxing moon phase, it lasts approximately two weeks. In many traditions of Wicca and Paganism, this time of the month is used to do "baneful" magic -- that which sends away, gets rid of or destroys things you no longer wish to be burdened by. Some examples would include:
• Magic to eliminate negative or toxic people from your life
• Workings to smoothly end a relationship or job
• Rituals that banish bad habits
• Any magic related to reducing things, such as debt, illness, etc.

The New Moon

The new moon is sometimes tricky to work with because you can't always see it during this phase - it will appear as a very faint crescent of silver low on the horizon, if you can see it at all. For approximately three days during each lunar cycle, after the moon has waned, it goes dark before waxing again. In many magical traditions, this is considered a fallow time, in which one rests and rejuvenates before beginning more intense magical workings again. In other traditions, it's a time to do magic related to wish fulfillment. Some examples might include:
• Cleansing and purifying of the body and mind
• Rituals that designate sacred space
• Any magic related to inner harmony and peace