Tag: Solitary Witchcraft

Even though the Moon simply exudes magic and seemingly saturates our lives
with it whether we want Her to or not, there are approximately twelve times
every month when She is positively incapacitated. It’s as if all Her power has
been stripped away, and suddenly She seems to have no strength or energy or
magic at all. In fact, to the magical practitioner, She has no purpose whatsoever,
except, of course, to light our way through the dark of night. It’s at these times
that the Moon is said to be Void of Course.
To some folks, especially those not well versed in astrological terms, saying
that the Moon is Void of Course sounds very silly, indeed. For the fact of the
matter is that the Moon is always on course, moving steadily through each
astrological sign every month. That being the case, Her journey continues like
clockwork.
There does, however, come a time when even the Moon needs a little R &
R. She needs to kick back, relax, and regroup before moving onward, to take a
power nap, if you will. And She grabs that opportunity just before She enters the
next astrological sign.
So how do we know when the Moon is out of service, and how long do
these periods last?
Void of Course periods are usually calculated by a plethora of complicated
mathematical equations and variables that few of us truly understand. Couple
that with the fact that the length of these periods varies from several minutes to
forty-eight hours, and proper calculations could be very sketchy, indeed.
Fortunately, though, we don’t have to worry about that. An ephemeris, an
almanac, or a calendar with accurate Moon data will provide this information
right down to the minute. All we have to do is keep one handy, and we’re good to
go.
Once we have the Void of Course information for the Moon, what do we, as
magical practitioners, do with it? In a word, nothing! Fact is, all magical
operations seem to run amuck when the Moon is chilling out. It’s not that they
don’t work. They do. It’s just that they seldom work as planned. It’s as if the
Universe is suddenly confused as to the quickest route between point A and
point B, and things tend to manifest in such a way that we often wish we’d never
set them motion.
Think I’m mistaken? Then try this on for size. A former student of mine
once did an abundance ritual during a Void of Course Moon. Her first mistake,
of course, was asking for abundance instead of prosperity, for money was what
she really needed. But even though I reminded her of both problems-the
abundance issue and the Void of Course Moon-she went right on with her plans.
And what did she get for her trouble? A lot more than she bargained for!
Whole regiments of gophers, moles, and rabbits took up residence in her
garden, and what they didn’t eat away from below, huge flocks of blackbirds
gobbled up from above. Termites invaded her house. Feral cats chose her garage
as a birthing quarters. She wound up with an infestation of sand fleas that even a
case of sevin dust wouldn’t cure. But that was just the abundant contribution
from the animal world. Her troubles had just begun.
Both of her children got sick about the same time she lost her second job.
Her budget wasn’t well padded and didn’t allow for extra medical expenses. And
while she was fortunate enough to find another job, the hours were absolutely
horrendous, which meant additional child care expenses. So in the final analysis,
she was doing little more than paying for the privilege to work a second job. All
in all, it was her worst nightmare-times three.
Magical efforts aren’t the only things that go awry during this period.
Computers and peripherals act up, communications get tangled, and plans don’t
work out. A sense of stalemate is in the air, and because of it, nothing runs true
to form, not even the thinking process. This communication breakdown often
results in a temporary but unrealistic view of present circumstances. Acting on
much of anything at this time could bring very unexpected consequences,
indeed.
That having been said, it pays to follow the Moon’s lead when She’s Void of
Course. Just kick back and relax, and take a bit of well-deserved time for
yourself. Read a book, see a movie, or take a leisurely stroll through the park.
The Moon will be back on track before you know it, and because you had the
good sense to rest as well, you’ll be raring to go when She is!

There’s more to the Moon than meets the eye, especially when it comes to
magical operations. There are only twelve months in the calendar year. However,
the Moon cycles thirteen times during that period, which means that at least two
Moon phases of the same type will appear in the same month several times each
year. When the repeated phase happens to be the Dark or New Moon, we call the
second occurrence the Black Moon.
Since the repetition of anything only serves to increase its power, the Black
Moon is very potent. It’s said to unearth mysteries with ease, pare matters down
to the bare bones, and shed light on even the most deeply hidden truths.
Therefore, the Black Moon provides an excellent time for soul searching
and inner journey work, divination, and the eradication of any self-deception.
This phase also provides a good time for drawing up plans for the future. Should
you decide to work toward a new beginning at this time, though, know that all
plans made will reflect the absolute truth, so it’s not a good idea to brush aside
your inner voice. Listen when it speaks, for while under the power of the Black
Moon, it cannot lie.
While the Black Moon is definitely important when it comes to magic,
there is another phase that many practitioners revere even more. They believe it’s
the most powerful of all Full Moon phases, and because it only transpires every
couple of years, they await its arrival with much anticipation and excitement. On
the other hand, other practitioners believe that it’s no more powerful than any
other Full Moon, but enjoy the prospect of the additional energy and opportunity
it provides for magical workings. This phase is known as the Blue Moon,’ and is
the third Full Moon to rise when four Full Moons appear within the same season.
As a magical practitioner, how you perceive this energy and where you
apply it is up to you. Remember that belief and personal perception are key
elements to magical success. So whether you work toward miracles or simply
treat this energy as that of another Full Moon, I’d suggest that you give it all
you’ve got. Why? Because it’s been my personal experience that no magicregardless of its magnitude or its triviality-has ever met with anything other than
rapid success during the Blue Moon.
Perhaps the only occasional Moon phase that never meets with a debate as
to its power is that of the Lunar Eclipse. To the nonpractitioner this may seem a
bit odd, because these eclipses happen much more frequently in the solar
calendar than the Blue Moon. In fact, they occur at least once annually, and often
two to three times within the same year.
No matter how often it occurs, though, the Lunar Eclipse is a magical event
more special than any other. For one thing, it provides a time when the energies
of the Moon and Sun connect, and this marriage of sorts brings a balance, an
equalization of the male and female polarities if you will, that puts everything
back in perspective. Because it brings the light-dark-light concept into full view,
it’s also a reminder of the birth-deathrebirth cycles, and that’s something to
which nearly all magical practitioners subscribe.
That’s not all. The Lunar Eclipse also brings an indescribable sort of energy
to everything in its path; something so strong that it goes beyond the point of all
human feeling or description. It’s an energy that not only embraces us, but fills
our very cores to overflowing-even if only for a few moments. Because of its
allencompassing power, Lunar Eclipse energy can be a bit overwhelming; so
much so, in fact, that some practitioners refuse to use its power at all in their
efforts. They say that its energy is simply too hard to control.
While I understand where they’re coming from, this simply isn’t true for me.
And it isn’t true for most of the practitioners I queried. While Lunar Eclipse
energy is definitely potent, it is not at all scattered. It’s a balanced, cohesive,
emulsification of two opposite energies. It’s a little like raw milk. Before it’s
processed, the cream becomes irrevocably separated from the milk, and try as
you may, there’s nothing you can do to make it stick to the heavier liquid. But
homogenize it and see what happens: Both substances blend together in flawless
unison, providing a much stronger and more nutritious drink. Such is the way of
the Lunar Eclipse. It homogenizes the energies and allows us to work with both
as a single unit.
That having been said, all that’s left is the decision of whether or not to use
this very special energy. I urge you to try it just once. Why? Because the energy
related to this occurrence is so powerful it can bring about events that other
Moon phases seldom manage. Simply put, Lunar Eclipse energy brings the
impossible to fruition; it can single-handedly manifest real miracles.
Keeping that in mind, I suggest saving especially difficult projects for the
Lunar Eclipse. Good ideas might include long-term goals like business ventures,
financial planning, or successful career changes, as well as efforts that require
balance, harmony, or a meeting of the minds. It’s also very potent when it comes
to developing personal shields-whether they be psychic in nature, or related to a
physical protection against poor health, theft, harm, or danger. Want an entirely
new life? This is the time to change your personal reality. Don’t discount efforts
that involve relationships, partnerships, or matters of the heart, either. However,
know that the magical effects will be extremely longlasting.

The Full Moon is ruled by the Mother Goddess, and contrary to popular belief,
Her energy isn’t necessarily just a one-day affair. In fact, many practitioners
consider it to be full (and use its energy as such) for one day before the calendar
date and one day after. This is really good news magically for a couple of
reasons. For one thing, the Full Moon can be used for any effort at all, but more
importantly, the Moon’s energy peaks during this time. This means that any
effort performed during the Full Moon is not only charged to the max, but packs
a cosmic wallop when released into the Universe. Because of this, most
practitioners save this phase for handling difficult or complicated matters, or for
efforts that require an extra boost.
What about the debates on the phases of the Dark and Waxing Moons? Who’s
right? Who’s wrong? More specifically though, how should practitioners handle
the Moon phases in order to achieve the best magical success?
The fact of the matter is, like magic itself, there is no right or wrong. How
you handle the energies of these Moon phases and apply their powers is your
decision alone. Just remember that magic is designed to make your life easier,
not the other way around, so do whatever feels right for you and let it go at that.
Remember that you are the magician, the matrix from which all magic flows,
and as such, you are at the controls.

Belonging to the Light Maiden, the Waxing phase occurs when the Moon grows
in the sky from new to full, and it’s during this period that She gains power. That
means it’s a good time to perform any efforts that require an increase of sorts, or
necessitate momentum. Good candidates include spells that involve a fresh start,
increased productivity or efficiency, the addition of something to your life, a
victory or recognition of sorts, or good health and well-being. If you need more
of something, Waxing Moon energy can provide it.
Just as with the Dark Moon energy, though, things can get a bit sticky here
with some practitioners as well. Why? Because they also divide the Waxing
Moon phase into two separate portions: First Quarter Moon energy and Gibbous
Moon energy. Luckily, this isn’t nearly as magically confusing as the Dark/New
Moon debate. Simply put, they define the First Quarter energy as that which
occurs from seven to ten days after the New Moon, and they apply it to any
effort that necessitates increase. While they consider Gibbous Moon energy
(which occurs, incidentally, from ten to thirteen days after the New Moon) to be
of major magical importance, they use it primarily with only one goal in mind:
to instill the attribute of personal patience while waiting for an effort to manifest something that a magical practitioner can never have too much of!

The Dark or New Moon is frequently the subject of heated debate among
magical practitioners. So much so, in fact, that there are only three things that
practitioners seem to agree upon when it comes to this phase: 1. It occurs during
the period between the Waning and Waxing phases.
2. It belongs to the Crone.
3. Even though the Moon isn’t visible in the sky, She’s still there bathing us with
Her energy.
Because of this, the magical practices associated with this phase are as varied
and diverse as the practitioners themselves. Many folks, for example, use this
phase to rest and relax, regroup and regenerate. Others find this energy
extremely useful for delving into past lives, divinatory efforts, magical study,
and meditation. A personal favorite for Dark Moon energy, though, is truth
discovery. Nothing surpasses its energy for getting to the heart of things and
seeing them for exactly what they are.
Still others divide this phase into two parts: New Moon energy and
Crescent Moon energy. New Moon energy is afoot from the first day of the Dark
Moon to three and a half days after, and is said to be excellent for efforts
involving self-improvement, gardening, employment solutions, and health.
Crescent Moon energy picks up the slack after that, and is said to continue from
the three and a half day mark through the seventh day after the Dark Moon. And
those who work with its energy usually harness it for efforts that involve
business dealings, animals, feminine strength, a leveling of emotions, or projects
that necessitate change of some sort.
While I certainly don’t discount the strength of these two energies, or the
fact that they work well for the efforts described, I do have to admit that I have a
problem with the mathematical figures from which these phases are derived. For
one thing, the practitioner would have to consistently check an ephemeris to
determine the exact time of the Dark Moon in order to calculate the first three
and a half day period with any sort of precision. For another, the Crescent Moon
usually isn’t even visible in the sky until about five to six days after the Dark
Moon. This, of course, means that the Moon is not yet even a sliver during the
first couple of days of calculated Crescent Moon energy; thus, it is not a crescent
at all. Most important, though, is this: If the Moon is visible in the sky after the
Dark Moon, even a bit, it is growing or waxing, and the Waxing Moon does not
belong to the Crone or Her energy. Rather, it is ruled by the Light Maiden.

While these discoveries definitely did much to increase crop and animal yields something that the early peoples relied upon for survival-the Moon was just
beginning to reveal Her mysteries, and it wasn’t long before something of equal
importance came to light. Simply put, the Moon proved to be a fairly accurate
predictor of the weather. Since scientific theory hadn’t come into play yet, this
must have seemed more than just a little remarkable to early humankind. In fact,
it’s a safe bet that they thought it was real magic in the making.
While it’s difficult to differentiate between exactly what ancient
civilizations learned about lunar weather forecasts and what came several
centuries later, one thing is for sure: the Moon has long served as one of the most
definitive tools of weather prediction, and still does today. It’s a well-known fact,
for example, that more tornadoes and hurricanes occur during the periods of
New and Full Moon than at any other time. It’s also common knowledge that it
tends to rain more often during both the Moon’s first quarter and the Waning
Moon’s first week.
If weather prediction piques your interest, just pay a little attention to the
Moon and the symbols that surround Her. With some keen observation and a bit
of practice, you can learn to outdo even your favorite television meteorologist.
The weather-related Moon adages below will get you started.
,t Pale Moon doth rain, red Moon cloth blow, white Moon doth neither rain nor
snow.
,t When Full Moon’s shadow fills the Crescent, fair weather comes to king and
peasant.
When a circle appears around the Moon, snow or raindrops will fall soon.
,t Should a ring around the New Moon be, expect disasters out at sea.
,t Should a red Moon rise with large clouds nearby, a half-day brings rain from
the sky.’
,t If October’s Full Moon brings no frost, none comes till the next Full Moon is
tossed.
The closer New Moon’s arrival to Christmas Day, the longer the Winter stays to
play.
* When the Crescent bears sharp pointed horns, a tempest of the winds is born;
but should the horns be blunt and dull, fair weather stays at least till Full.

Even though we usually associate the Full Moon with magic, it’s not the only
phase that tugs at our emotions. The waxing, waning, and dark phases also come
into play. In fact, each phase exudes a particular and separate type of energy that
feeds and energizes the emotional pool, and since pure, raw, and unadulterated
emotion triggers successful magic, the Moon-in all Her phasescomprises one of
the most powerful tools we can use in our efforts.
The trick here is to work in harmony with the Moon’s phase. Take a spell to
gain new friends, for example. Since you’re obviously looking to increase the
number of people you know (and solidify your moral support system), you’d
want to perform the effort when the Moon is waxing or growing in the sky from
new to full. But what if the Moon is waning and you don’t want to wait several
weeks for the proper phase? Not a problem. Just rework the spell to reflect the
eradication of your loneliness. You get the idea.
With the exception of the Void of Course Moon, nearly any effort can be
performed successfully no matter what the Moon is doing. (For more
information, please see “A Moon Without Magic,” on page 46.) It’s just a matter
of knowing the energies of the phase at hand and understanding how to apply
them to your cause. Explanations of the Moon phases, their magical correlations,
and the Goddess archetypes Who claim them follow below

Anything surrounded by centuries of mystery and superstition takes on a very
magical quality, and such is certainly the case with the Moon. But has She
always been considered a source of enchantment? More to the point, though, is
the Moon really magical? Is the power that She seems to hold more than just a
simple illusion created in the mind’s eye?
While the real answers to these questions are certainly anybody’s guess, I
believe that a consultation with the Earth’s earliest inhabitants would probably
bring a positive response to all three questions. For all the advancements we’ve
made in both education and technology through the ages, I also believe that
those answers would still be affirmative if posed to today’s practitioners. Why?
Because anyone who’s worked with the Moon in any way, shape, or form simply
cannot deny Her power when it comes magical manifestation.
However, I’m also of the opinion that over time, we as practitioners have
given the Moon more power than our predecessors ever thought possible. How?
Because we’ve fertilized Her with praise, fed Her with worship, and tended Her
with devotion. We’ve offered Her our deepest emotions, called out to Her in
times of need, and depended upon Her light for comfort. We’ve given Her our
energy, and in doing so we’ve breathed life into Her, charged Her magic, and
given Her a potency unsur passed by any other planet in our system. Because of
this, the Moon often seems to have a life of Her own-and even, some might say,
a mind of Her own.
Before your eyebrows shoot up in surprise, understand that this isn’t
necessarily a bad thing. By giving the Moon our energy and strengthening Her
power, we’ve built a very magical creature, indeed. She’s become a friend with
whom we can bond, a confidante with whom we can share our deepest secrets.
And because of Her natural pull upon our emotional makeup, She’s also become
the strongest ally possible when it comes to practicing the ancient arts.
Like everything else in our world, though, there is another side to this coin.
Because we’ve energized the Moon, we have to be respectful of Her power and
use it wisely. This means that we need to think long and hard before we invoke it
for magical use. We need to be specific in our intentions. We need to be
absolutely certain that our goals are in the best interest of all concerned. Above
all, we need to maintain control and direct Her power. Otherwise, the end result
of our magic may be anything but that which we first envisioned. In fact, it could
take on a life of its own, and that’s a place we simply don’t want to go.

Anything of power, especially something with a mysterious power that we don’t
fully understand, is bound to be surrounded by superstition. And the Moon is
certainly no exception. In fact, the Moon is probably shrouded in more
superstition than any other object in the Universe.
While some of the following superstitions do actually bear a shred of truthyou’re apt to catch more fish by day during the Waning Moon, for example,
because fish can see food better in bright light-some of those connected to the
Moon are just plain ridiculous. And it’s interesting to note that most of the
absurdities were largely contributed by leaders of the early church. But why
would they even bother to concoct such nonsense? The answer is simple: by
making people afraid of the Moon, they hoped to stamp out lunar worship.
Naturally, it didn’t work. In fact, it only served to add to Her mystique, and
increase the interest of nearly everyone She managed to touch with the
iridescence of Her silvery light.
Beauty
,t Women should always take care not to let the Moon shine on their faces while
sleeping. Otherwise, the Moon will twist their faces and steal their beauty
away.
Birth and Pregnancy
* Pregnant women who sleep with the Moon shining on their bodies will be
“moonstruck” and thus give birth to idiots.
,t Should a child be born during the Waning Moon, the sibling who follows shall
be of the opposite sex.
* Should a child be born during the Waxing Moon, the sibling who follows shall
be of the same sex.
,t A child born between the phases of the Waning Moon and the New Moon is
sickly, weak, and shall not live long.
Devil
,t The devil lives on the Moon and controls Her; thus, he is sure to molest those
who gaze upon Her face and claim them as his own in short order.
Fence Building
,t To build a wood fence that will not break or rot, always set the posts while the
Moon is waning, and wait until the Moon’s horns point skyward to lay the
lower rail. Then stake and complete the fence when the Moon’s horns point to
the Earth. It’s said that preparing the fence as such will prevent escape-even
the escape of children!
Fishing
* In the Waxing Moon, set hooks at night; when the Moon doth wane, fish by
daylight.
Home Building
House foundations laid when the Moon is black will sink into the earth.
* Only shingle a roof when the Moon is dark; otherwise the shingles will warp.
Livestock
Livestock born during a Waning Moon will be sickly and die within the month.
Luck
,t Bow to the Moon when She is new; your luck will then run fast and true.
,t It is unlucky to view a New Moon through tree branches.
,t Pointing at the Moon brings bad luck, but to do so at the first New Moon of the
year brings nothing but twelve months of sorrow.
Weddings
,t For a fortunate marriage, set the date twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the
appearance of the Full Moon.
* The Scottish believe that weddings should always occur during the Full Moon
to ensure the long-term happiness of the couple.
Wood-Cutting
,t Always cut wood on the Waning Moon, as it’s said to prevent damage by
termites and worms, and to provide a more slow-burning fire.

As mysterious as all of this must have seemed to the ancient people, one thing
definitely topped the list as extraordinary, and this was, of course, the direct
connection between the monthly menstrual cycles of women and the comings
and goings of the Moon. And while this may not appear to hold much
importance in today’s world, such was not the case in ancient times. Why?
Because these civilizations not only valued their women, but considered them to
be extremely magical. The reason is simple but multi-fold. First, women not
only bled every month even though they weren’t injured, but those who lived and
worked together usually bled at the same time.
Second, the temporary suspension of a young woman’s cycle brought forth
new life. And though this was magical in and of itself, there was more. It soon
became apparent that human pregnancy was the only gestation period calculated
solely by lunar cycles-nine of them to be exactand the realization that human
beings were the only “lunar primates”‘ served to solidify the connection between
the Moon and humankind.
Third and most mysterious, though, was the magic created by older women.
Their menstrual cycles suddenly changed course to coincide with the Waning
Moon, and shortly thereafter-even though they weren’t pregnant-they simply
ceased to bleed at all.
In today’s world, these observations are nothing more than common
knowledge, but to early civilization they must have seemed very peculiar,
indeed. In fact, these pieces of knowledge probably served as the catalysts that
sparked the initial worship of the Moon in the feminine forms of Maiden,
Mother, and Crone.

While these discoveries definitely did much to increase crop and animal yields something that the early peoples relied upon for survival-the Moon was just
beginning to reveal Her mysteries, and it wasn’t long before something of equal
importance came to light. Simply put, the Moon proved to be a fairly accurate
predictor of the weather. Since scientific theory hadn’t come into play yet, this
must have seemed more than just a little remarkable to early humankind. In fact,
it’s a safe bet that they thought it was real magic in the making.
While it’s difficult to differentiate between exactly what ancient
civilizations learned about lunar weather forecasts and what came several
centuries later, one thing is for sure: the Moon has long served as one of the most
definitive tools of weather prediction, and still does today. It’s a well-known fact,
for example, that more tornadoes and hurricanes occur during the periods of
New and Full Moon than at any other time. It’s also common knowledge that it
tends to rain more often during both the Moon’s first quarter and the Waning
Moon’s first week.
If weather prediction piques your interest, just pay a little attention to the
Moon and the symbols that surround Her. With some keen observation and a bit
of practice, you can learn to outdo even your favorite television meteorologist.
The weather-related Moon adages below will get you started.
,t Pale Moon doth rain, red Moon cloth blow, white Moon doth neither rain nor
snow.
,t When Full Moon’s shadow fills the Crescent, fair weather comes to king and
peasant.
When a circle appears around the Moon, snow or raindrops will fall soon.
,t Should a ring around the New Moon be, expect disasters out at sea.
,t Should a red Moon rise with large clouds nearby, a half-day brings rain from
the sky.’
,t If October’s Full Moon brings no frost, none comes till the next Full Moon is
tossed.
The closer New Moon’s arrival to Christmas Day, the longer the Winter stays to
play.
* When the Crescent bears sharp pointed horns, a tempest of the winds is born;
but should the horns be blunt and dull, fair weather stays at least till Full.