|
Lunar Magick, Esbats
Waxing Moon -- (the moon is increasing in light) Maiden Goddess honored (especially when one sees the crescent moon, the waxing crescent, in the sky); do magick for attraction, beginnings, new projects, increase, growth
Full Moon -- (the moon is opposite the sun, and is all lit up completely; this is the 15th of the/any lunar month) the Mother Goddess honored most; do all/any positive magick, and divination (or fortune-telling), and psychic pursuits; magick done here will culminate by the next full moon
Waning Moon -- (the moon is decreasing in light) the Crone (Old Woman) Goddess honored; do magick for banishing bad habits, and getting rid of things
New Moon -- (the moon is up by the sun, and so, is dark in the sky, and it is 2 weeks before the full moon) Crone Goddess and Maiden Goddess; practice reflection, and do magick for new beginnings, and some attraction, growth, etc., whatever good things you wish to start; magick done here should culminate or work by the next Full Moon
The Goddess of the Moon, here, is three persons in one being, or the Triple Goddess -- the Maiden (seen in the waxing moon), the Mother (of the full moon), and the Old Crone/Old Woman (seen in the waning moon, and Dark Moon), respectively.
Three days before the New Moon is called the Dark Moon, especially the day before the New Moon, when no magick is done during those 3 days (and magick is usually not done, specifically, on Sabbats, or solar holidays, either, except for sun magick, and for the sun to give your magick a boost), or Wiccans/Witches take a rest during the dark moon days, except for deep reflection, or hardy banishing of something. It's ruled over by a Dark Goddess, such as Hecate (pronounced "Heck-ah-tay"), the Greek goddess of crossroads and of the moon, and of moonless nights.
The best FULL MOON magick is done 3 days before, the day of the full moon, and 3 days after, the full moon. And that is the Esbat, or Working Holiday, when you do the most magick, and consecrations, of anything positive. Full and New Moons are usually the days and nights of the Esbats, but some people use Fridays, or other days.
The God can be honored on Esbats, too, and there are moon gods, such as, Osiris, Thoth, Khons, Mani, and probably Cernunnos, and so forth.
Some Lunar/moon goddesses: Selene, Luna, Isis, Juno, Freya, Diana, Aradia, Artemis
Some Dark Moon goddesses: Cerridwen, Kali-Ma, Nephthys, Hecate, the Morrighan
Full Moon Rite by S. Cunningham, in his, "Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner," book
After purifying, casting circle, lighting candles (white or silver candles are appropriate), calling God and Goddess, as usual, say and visualize the following:
Wondrous Lady of the Moon,
Celebrate the Simple Feast, or Wiccan Communion (called, also, Cakes and Ale, or Cakes and Wine [or juice]), do any divination you wish, especially with scrying in water, and/or with a piece of silver; thank Goddess and God, say fairwell to the elementals or quarter guardians, and draw up the circle, again, as usual.
You may wish to have a celestial simple feast of lunar foods and beverages -- i.e., ones that are all white, or whitish, in color. And crescent cakes are traditional, as well, and fresh-squeezed lemonade, or milk.
You can address a specific goddess after the first part of the verse, like Isis, or another full moon/moon goddess you adore.
You can do "Drawing Down the Moon," (which is a rite, in it's self) or the power of the Moon Priestess-Goddess, before you say the verse... Gaze at the moon, and stand in it's light, if possible. Stand feet spread, legs apart, arms bent at right angles in front of you, palms upward. Visualize or sense the light of the moon energy, silvery, white, glowing, and of the Moon Goddess, flowing into you, and coming into you. Then, you function as the Moon Priestess-Goddess incarnate, 'til the end of the full rite/ritual. Drawing Down the Moon is for energy, for one thing, like recharging your psychic or spiritual battery, and can be done at other rituals, as well. In a group, the High Priest would help the High Priestess draw down the Goddess Power into herself, and she would speak, as for the Mother Goddess, incarnate, to Her children, if she feels so moved (which you could probably do solitary/alone, too); the Goddess may speak to, or through, whomever She chooses. The "Drawing Down the Sun" Rite can be done by a man.
Note: male Witches are NEVER called warlocks (the word "warlock" means "oath-breaker," and was used by Church persecutors of witches, most of whom, killed, were Not real witches, and times like the Inquistion are called The Burning Times).
Also, the Blood of the Moon is a woman's menstrual period (when she actually has More power than usual, not less), and her cleansing cycle, so to speak, is about 28 days, and the lunar/moon cycle is about 29 1/2 days, so, it's very close.
New Moon Rite by me, [email protected] 20th January, 2003 (c)
Purify, cast circle, use white or black candles, or some that speaks to you for the New Moon, and ground and center (as with any ritual or even a devotional), and do the usual things like that.
Say something like the following (you first state your purpose for the/any rite or ritual, as in the first line, below):
The New Moon Rite...
Close circle as usual, remembering to thank any deities you called (note: circles must be closed with as much energy and focus as you erected them with, in the first place!). Do some deep thought or meditation, if you wish.
|