Moon Phase Magick

As the Harvest Moon is tomorrow, I wanted to share some moon phase information I got many years ago from http://www.sacredsax.com/phases.shtml. I like the correlations that it makes to the growing cycle. We can use that in much of our moon magick. I posted the quick chart here, at the top, and the details below.

New Moon		Seed	Gestation
Crescent Moon	Waxing	Sprout	Laying Down of Roots
First Quarter Moon	Waxing	Leaf	Crisis of Commitment
Gibbous Moon	Waxing	Bud	Struggle for Survival
Full Moon		Flower	Illumination
Disseminating Moon	Waning	Fruit	Pollination
Last Quarter Moon	Waning	Harvest	Climax of Fruit or Seed
Balsamic Moon	Waning	Compost	Decay / Letting Go

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New Moon (Dark Moon) Seed: Gestation Contained within the darkness of the Earth, the seed pulses with life and prepares for its journey.
Here we find the Sun and Moon in conjunction with eachother.
Under the influence of the New Moon we may feel impulsive, passionate and intuitive. This is the time to plant our seeds for there is great energy and potential for any new journey.
The New Moon rises and sets with the Sun.

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WAXING PHASE: Build up and Strengthen Absorption of nutrients or substances is accentuated. This is an excellent time for action and growth.

Crescent Moon Sprout: Laying Down of Roots The seed pushes down through the Earth and reaches for the Sky.
This is an excellent time to break from the past to create your own destiny.
Crescent Moon rises midmorning and sets after sunset.

First Quarter Moon Leaf: Growth - Crisis of Commitment Roots run deep, stems shoot up; we grow in both directions.
Here we find the Moon squared to the Sun. Bodies are strong. Old structures are cleared away to provide room for new development.
First Quarter Moon rises close to noon and sets close to midnight.

Gibbous Moon Bud: Struggle for Survival The pulse of life wrapped beautifully in itself is ready to expand.
This is an excellent time to refine and purify. Utilize spiritual tools as you seek your truth.
Gibbous Moon rises midafternoon and sets before dawn.

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Full Moon Flower: Illumination The Seed has become a Flower and shows its self, its beauty, to the world.
Here the Sun and Moon are in opposition with each other. The Full Moon fulfils the potential of the New Moon. The Full Moon casts the greatest amount of light at night providing us with the ability to see into the dark or unconscious. Our awareness and sensitivities are heightened. Emotions swim close to the surface and creativity needs full expression. We are called to release the inspiration and energy accumulated during the Waxing Phase.
The Full Moon is visible from moonrise to moonset.

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WANING PHASE: Complete and Release This is an excellent time for detoxification, dieting or introspection.

Disseminating Moon Fruit: Pollinating / Dispersal of Knowledge The Flower enjoys the Fruits of its labour.
This is a time when we see our purpose, life has meaning. We have learned from experience. Our ideas and wisdom is shared with others.
The Disseminating Moon rises midevening and sets midmorning.

Last Quarter Moon Harvest: Climax of Fruit or Seed The very life of the Fruit and Seed are given to sustain the lives of others.
Here, once again, we find the Moon square to the Sun. This is a time of powerful reflection and transformation. The internal and external worlds are balanced under this Moon.
The Last Quarter Moon rises around midnight and sets around noon.

Balsamic Moon Seed: Compost - Decay / Letting Go The soil which originally contained the seed is now rich with nutrients and ready to nourish the new seed.
This is a time to access wisdom and insight. Patience and understanding are our tools as we show our prophetic selves to the world.
The Balsamic Moon rises before dawn and sets midafternoon.

Witchilicious Terminology and Misconceptions

Many books and Pagan websites use several terms interchangeably, so I thought I’d write a short entry about the terms (as I see them) and what they mean.


Pagan is a term that encompasses most non-Abrahamic religions. While Christians often refer to anyone that is not of their faith as Pagans, the modern explanation of this term is one that includes Wicca, Asatru, Druidry, and other nature and polytheist related faiths. Some include Hinduism and Buddhism under the umbrella, while others do not. The original definition for Pagan is “country dweller,” and was adapted as a religious term as those who lived out in the country often practiced local religious traditions, some incorporating folk magic, while others honored spirits of the land. Someone who incorporates many traditions and beliefs into their practice, creating their own personal belief system is called eclectic Pagan.


Wicca is a specific religion, with specific traditions. If you are Wiccan, you honor polarity in both the God and Goddess. You honor the eight sabbats and the esbats, and do so within a ritual structure. This includes casting (and sealing) a circle, calling quarters, evoking deities. You heed the Wiccan Rede (more about that next), and if you are in a coven, your structure is hierarchal. This is not to say you can’t honor MORE than just one God and Goddess. It’s also not saying that you can’t also celebrate other holidays. It simply gives a structure within what Wicca is. Wicca isn’t whatever you want it to be – that’s more along the lines of eclectic Paganism. If you do the above, but do not practice within a coven’s tradition, then you are eclectic Wiccan.


The Wiccan Rede is eight words and is not a LAW of Wicca. It’s not the long poem written by Lady Gwen Thompson- that’s the Rede of the Wiccae. There is no “law of Wicca.” It’s assumed that you are mature enough and are aware that what you do can come back to you. The word “rede” means advice- the Wiccan rede is advice to those who practice. That’s it: An it harm none, do as ye will.


Traditional Wicca is Wicca within a tradition. A tradition is a set of beliefs and/or practices that governs the way you practice your spirituality. For example, my coven practices the Twilight Tradition of Wicca. We do things a certain way, have certain traditions while crafting this coven tradition. If you don’t practice within a tradition, then you are eclectic.


British Traditional Wicca is where Wicca began. Each BTW initiate can trace their initiatory lineage back to Gerald Gardner, who really brought Wicca out from the shadows. The lore says that he learned witchcraft from a coven in the New Forest area of England, and used that Book of Shadows to create his form of witchcraft, now called Gardnerian Wicca. Most initiates of BTW believe that any other path calling itself Wicca that is not BTW, should not call itself Wicca. They don’t believe that they are the one true path, but as the founder of these paths was a cornerstone of modern Paganism, they feel as though it’s a misnomer to call non BTW traditions Wiccan.

There is nothing wrong with being eclectic ANYTHING. Each person’s path is their own. Some people are drawn to structure and tradition, some are drawn to a more free-flowing and mutable eclectic practice. Nothing is wrong with either.

Magick is changing something to be in accordance to your will using energy. Magick can include spells, ritual, charms, and other practices. In a Wiccan ritual, each part of the ritual is magickal – you cast a circle to create an energetic boundary so that what you need to stay in, stays in, and what you want to stay out, stays out. That in itself is a magickal act. The lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram- a ritual primarily used in ceremonial magick is performed to clear a space or a person (depending on who you ask) of energy. This is also a magickal act. A spell or working to achieve a specific goal is also magick, as can be a hands on energy healing. Sometimes it’s something you can see, hear, or feel- sometimes not.

Witchcraft is a practice, like yoga or prayer that can be applied to spiritual principles, or religion. This practice includes the practicing of low magick or folk magick, magick that usually focuses on the physical world. Many people call witchcraft their religion, as they focus mainly on the physical world, and the energies within, rather than Gods and Goddesses of the ancients.



A pentagram is a five pointed star. A pentacle is a five pointed star with a circle around it. Others say that the five pointed star traced in the air is a pentagram, whilst a physical representation of the same star (whether there is a circle or not), is a pentacle. I disagree.


Terminology isn’t important to everyone, after all, the meanings for names can change, as evidenced by the word Pagan. However, while communicating with other Pagans it’s especially helpful to know and understand the meanings for common terms, to avoid miscommunications.

May's Full Moon

Tonight's the full moon! I love it when it's stormy here, especially while doing witchy workings. I feel that it adds energy to whatever I'm working on. May is the Hare Moon or Planting Moon (depending on the culture), and the energy that it brings is an energy full of growth, fertility and workings toward keeping ourselves fed. Today, I'm focusing on fertility.I do have a few things to plant in the ground, but am unable to do so in the rain.

Here are a few ideas on what you can do for this full moon:

• Focus on making a baby!
• Focus on renewing your creativity
• Plant seeds in the ground
• Charge seeds in the moonlight
• Start some seeds in small containers
• Or of course, do a working for whatever you need at the moment

If you are looking for some easy plants to start from seeds, I suggest radishes. They go from seed to food in about six weeks. If you start new seeds on week 4, they should be ready to plant by the time you are pulling your grown radishes out of the ground. This is a great lesson to kids about how food doesn't originate in the grocery store.

Fiery Wall of Protection

A friend of mine has had some trouble lately, and I was thinking about what I might do if I was in her position. From this personal musing, came some research, and ultimately a recipe. The Fiery Wall of Protection incense/powder/oil is a pretty basic recipe, and it is purported to invoke the flaming sword of the archangel, Michael. Angels really aren't part of my personal path (not that I disbelieve), but if it works, it works.*

The main ingredients for Fiery wall of Protection are:

• Salt
• Dragon's Blood
• Frankencense
• Myrrh

Grind these up into a powder, and you have your base powder. Add to castor oil for an oil, or you cal also burn it over charcoal as incense. Some people like to add cayenne pepper, cinnamon, agrimony or other things, but keep in mind, that many "fiery" additives are skin irritants, so don't use them in an oil.

*I believe that many rituals and recipes work based not only on religion and evocation, but also work based upon the egregore created by decades of usage with specific intent. LBRP, for example.

Five Waters: Holy Water Recipe

Let me preface this with a statement: This is not the only way to make holy water- this is a project I've spent over a year working on. This is copyright me, 2011, for personal use only- do not duplicate my work- thanks!

This recipe is meant to make a concentrated water that can be added to any regular water to make it holy, or added to a regular recipe to give it a boost. I'm leaving out most gestures, etc in the recipe, as you'll want to make it your own.

Supplies:

• rainwater collected under a full moon
• rainwater collected under a waxing moon
• rainwater collected under a new moon
• rainwater collected under a waning moon
• local water- ideally from a spring, but filtered tap water will work
• (all rainwater should be clean- I hand filter mine using coffee filters)
• sea salt
• bowl
• measuring cup, preferably glass
• wooden spoon
• final vessel (like a glass or crystal bottle or jar)

Gather all of the waters you need, along with the rest of the supplies, so you won't be disturbed. The finished water should generally be made of equal parts of all the waters.

Begin by drawing a banishing water pentagram over the local water, and say: I cast from this water all that is negative or harmful, that it be clean and cleared. Hold the water over the bowl, and then say: This local water honors the spirits of the land, and the place I make my home. Pour water into the bowl.

Take the bottle of new moon water. Draw a banishing water pentagram over the new moon water and say: I cast from this water all that is negative or harmful, that it be clean and cleared. Hold the water over the bowl and then say: Water from the new moon, lend your easy intuition and knowledge beyond the shadows to this sacred brew. Pour the water into the bowl.

Find your bottle of waxing moon water. Draw a banishing water pentagram over it and say:  I cast from this water all that is negative or harmful, that it be clean and cleared. Hold the water over the bowl and say: Water fallen during waxing moon, lend your growth and ever increasing potential to this sacred brew. Pour the water into the bowl.

Take your bottle of full moon water. Draw a banishing water pentagram over it and say:  I cast from this water all that is negative or harmful, that it be clean and cleared. Hold the water over the bowl and say: Water fallen under full moon bright, lend your peaking power to my sacred brew. Pour the water into the bowl.

Get your bottle of waning moon water. Draw a banishing water pentagram over it and say:  I cast from this water all that is negative or harmful, that it be clean and cleared. Hold the water over the bowl and say: Water fallen under waning moon, lend your power of banishing and decreasing to my sacred brew. Pour the water into the bowl.

Gently mix the waters together, deosil with your wooden spoon and chant the following (I did it five times, but do what you feel is right):

Five waters in the cauldron go,
Powers mix and mingle so,
Magick mixture, power divine,
Amplify intent, the will defines.

Then add a pinch of salt and state something like: A pinch of salt to seal and purify against all other energies.

Mix again, and state the chant above again (five waters in the cauldron go).

Then charge with your personal energy however you usually do.

Then fill your vessel with your new concentrated holy water. You may want to pour into the measuring cup first, since the spout will help you pour into a bottle. The chant is structured so that, though all of the moon's energies are mingling within the water, the user's Will will define how those energies are used.

White Roses

White roses symbolize purity, reverence, loyalty and sincerity. They are also known as “flowers of light.” A white rose blooming in the early fall prophesizes and early marriage.

There is a version of the myth of Aphrodite’s birth in which as Aphrodite was born, risen from the sea, where the sea foam touched the earth, white roses appeared. Also, other myths surrounding Aphrodite say that she was often adorned with roses, and a rose bush grew within the pool of blood spilled from Adonis, Aphrodite’s murdered lover. Roses were colored red, also when Aphrodite pricked her finger trying to help Adonis. The blood fell upon the rose, staining it red.

In Arthurian myths, the white rose symbolized treachery. There is a fairie name of Rhoswen, which means “white rose.” In Islamic tradition, it’s claimed that a white rose sprung from Mohammad on his journey to heaven and was stained red with his blood. The white rose is also known as a symbol of silence. When Cupid was found toying with a nymph, he offered a single white rose to Harpocrates in his attempt to keep the matter quiet. Harpocrates is now represented holding a white rose against his lips.

Maybe it's in the DOING, rather than the THINKING.

A short, rather shallow, meditation last night led me to do some research this morning. I’ve been feeling disconnected on-and-off for months now, and rather than bemoan this fact, last night I decided to do something about it. I started changing around my altar, which has lately been a place that has accumulated items without a home. I have empty baby food jars, random candles, a homeless statue and other things on there. I started by finding many of the items a home, and then I decided to just light some of the candles.

I worked up another batch of tomato bug killer (in case it works), and set it in the windowsill, between the window and the screen, so that the sun might hit it and cook it. Of course, as it contains tobacco, I labeled the jar POISON, so that I won’t use it for anything I’d ingest. I think one of my problems is that my studio room has changed so much, I have a bunch of clutter that relates to my jewelry business that I’m trying to get off the ground, and there simply isn’t space for this stuff in the closet. Ben says that he’s cleaning out some of his closet, and maybe I could use that space. That would make me really happy. Plus, I’m still thinking about getting smaller jewelry spinners, because the big one is really beginning to piss me off, and it has no home. Anyway, I ramble. Hey- it’s my blog- if I can’t ramble on here, where can I ramble?
So, in the end, I did a short meditation. While doing this, one of the dogs came in the candlelit room and laid next to my chair. I focused on the ‘how’ of becoming reconnected, rather than the ‘why’ of the disconnect. Which leads me to my research project this morning- among other things, a big white garden rose. After the meditation, I made notes in my BoS, and realized that I am no longer used to handwriting. My ‘writing’ in my BoS is awful, unlike the emails I send, nor the blogs I write. It’s because my hand cramps so quickly when I handwrite, now. I wonder if there is a way to correct that. I appreciate my handwritten BoS/journals a lot- there is nothing like being able to go back 10+ years and see your experiences written in your own hand. Even if the quickly worded writing style doesn’t make you happy.

So, in the end- I feel that doing something witchy, rather than just thinking about it, wondering, analyzing it, will help to bring the disconnect I feel to an end. I tend to analyze things seven ways to Sunday before making any sort of move. But I think, that perhaps the idea is to just MOVE. To just DO something, rather than spend time thinking about it.

For the Good of All and Harm to None!

“… for the good of all, and harming none…” This is a fun little statement that many Pagan and magick books like to add at the end of a spell. Just in case? To hedge your bets? I can’t remember the last spell I did that used this statement at the end of it- though I’m sure at some point when I was a n00b, I did, since the books advised to. I think at some point, though, I started to actually think and analyze what I was I doing when I mentioned that little tidbit at the end. I believe that the authors had good intentions when they advised their readers to add this statement. I believe that they were probably trying to minimize blowback potential. However, going about it this way completely hinders the energy of the spell.

First of all, one should have a good sense of their personal ethics and morals before doing spellwork. A witch needs to know herself well enough to figure out what she feels is right and wrong (I use the word “feels” as some matters are completely subjective) before trying to create change using magick. Another thing that I feel a witch should have is the sense of self-responsibility that seems to be missing from many people coming of age in this new generation. If you do something that screws something up, one needs to be able to take responsibility for it (not blame others), and step up fix it. Too often, I see witches say, “Well, the Gods must have willed it this way.” Which, of course, may be true, but if it’s obvious to another witch that you’ve left yourself open to blowback- it could be your fault that your love spell generated your stalker.

What is magick? Magick is change generated by the witch.. It’s not prayer- which is by definition communion with deity- it’s action. It’s the energy of the witch manipulating energy (whether this is personal, elemental, deity, etc) to create a change on the energetic/astral plane that will be reflected on the physical plane. That’s a lot to say, and it’s a lot to do, at times. A Witch should have enough confidence in her spell to not feel the need to put a qualifier at the end of it.

Also, you can’t throw out a spell meant to harm someone, add the qualifier and release yourself from responsibility. That’s another case of “Oh, well, the Gods must have willed it. After all, I DID say ‘with harm to none’.”

It’s the equivalent to saying “Harm to none- If the Gods will that no one be harmed, may these blessed batteries not work” and zapping someone with a stun gun. If you have done the work (ie: checked the batteries) and you know how to use the stun gun, most likely the stun gun will work. Using the qualifier at the end of a spell does not release you from the responsibility of the end result. There are better ways to reduce the potential for spell fallout than a silly phrase at the end of the spell.

Of course, if the Gods decide that your intended result of a spell is not to be reached, then of course your spell will fail. You don’t need to add “if the Gods will it,” at the end of your spell. How pointless. It takes away from your focus, like the FTGOAAHTN qualifier. You are the witch. You are doing the magick, you are enacting change. If you aren’t confident enough in your intent and skill (and your ethical code), why bother doing it at all? It just gives the energy another thing to focus on besides your end result. Why set yourself up to fail? The point of magickal spellwork is to change something- to focus your energy in order to make a change. Why take away from that focus with qualifiers?

What goes around, will come around- even if you mention a cop-out phrase at the end of your spell. There really is no copping-out.