Moon Magick

To put it simply, the esbats are the celebrations in honor of the Goddess in Her different phases of the moon. Each moon phase has its own magick, and we tend to time our magick to align with these different phases of the moon in order to do the most effective magick with our spells. Spells and rituals are most commonly done during either the Full Moon or the New Moon. There are, however, specific spells that should be done within the waxing and waning phases of the moon.

The esbats are considered to be the ‘minor holidays’ with the sabbats being the ‘major holidays’. I do not necessarily follow this, because I feel that it’s putting more emphasis on the God (or Sun/Solar) holidays in comparison with the Goddess (or Moon/Lunar) holidays. I feel that they are equally important. “Where One is, so is the Other.” It is simply my belief that each sabbat is to honor and commune with the God, whereas, the esbats are to honor and commune with the Goddess. Each is special in Their own right, and They each have different traits and knowledge to teach us.

Full Moon
The full moon occurs when the sun, earth, and moon are in alignment (in that order). The moon is then in opposition with the sun. This is when the moon is observed as a complete circle.
This is when the Mother Goddess is at the height of Her glory. This is when the Mother aspect is available to you.
The full moon is when when you want to perform magick such as:

• discarding undesirable influences in your life
• protection magick
• divination
• Drawing Down the Moon Ritual
• any magickal working that needs extra power
• magickal workings involving knowledge and wisdom
• legal endeavors
• dream magick
• creativity
• beauty
• blessings
• communication
• spiritual education
• psychic powers
• fertility
• transformation
• fulfillment

New Moon
The new moon occurs when the moon is directly between the sun and the earth. The moon is then in conjunction with the sun.
This is when the moon appears absent in the sky and traditionally was the first visible crescent seen in the night sky.
This is the time when the Crone has been transformed back into the Maiden.
This is a time when spells to be done can include:

• starting anything new or afresh (job hunting, employment, habits, hobby, ideas, etc...)
• love and romance
• health
• personal growth
• divination for the coming month
• psychic work
• rebirth and new beginnings
• initiations

Full Moon Esbats
January 19
February 18
March 19
April 18
May 17
June 15
July 15
August 13
September 12
October 12
November 10
December 10

New Moon Esbats
January 4
February 3
March 4
April 3
May 3
June 1
July 1
July 30
August 29
September 27
October 26
November 25
December 24

Full Moon Esbats
January 9
February 7
March 8
April 6
May 6
June 4
July 3
August 2
August 31
September 30
October 29
November 28
December 28

New Moon Esbats
January 23
February 21
March 22
April 21
May 20
June 19
July 19
August 17
September 16
October 15
November 13
December 13

Waxing Crescent Moon
This phase of the moon is between the New Moon and the 1st Quarter Moon. This is when the right side of the moon is showing between 1 to 49 percent.
Magick at this time:

• growth
• new projects
• attraction magick (love, luck, wealth, success, courage, etc...)
• magick for good health
• positive changes
• advancement
• productive magick

1st Quarter Moon
This phase falls between the Waxing Crescent and the Waxing Gibbous. This is when you can see the full half of the right side of the moon. This is when many people see the Goddess in her Warrior aspect.

Waxing Gibbous Moon
This phase falls between the 1st Quarter and the Full Moon. This is when 51 to 99 percent of the right side of the moon is visible.
Magick at this time:

• completing a growth project

Waning Gibbous Moon
This phase falls between the Full Moon and the Last Quarter. This is when you can see 99 to 51 percent of the left side of the moon.
Magick at this time:

• releasing or banishing (bad habits, negative emotions, diseases, etc...)
• healing and cleansing
• breaking down barriers that keep you from communicating with others and/or growing as an individual
• knowledge and wisdom
• intuition
• prophecy and divination
• deep secrets

Last Quarter Moon
This phase falls between the Waning Gibbous and the Waning Crescent. This is when you see the full half of the left side of the moon.
This is when the Crone or Sage rules.

Waning Crescent Moon
This phase falls between the Last Quarter and the Dark Moon. This is when you can see between 49 to 1 percent of the left side of the moon.
This is a time to wrap up any projects started earlier in the month and to prepare for a rest.

Dark Moon (also known as the Black Moon)
This phase of the moon falls in between the Waning Crescent and the New Moon. The moon is not visible in the night sky at this time. Traditionally, this was seen as the moon’s last visible crescent. This is, generally, 3 days before the New Moon.
Traditionally, this was a time for rest when no magick was performed. Many people use this as a time for meditation, vision questing, and the planning of spells for the approaching month.
This is when The Crone (or Dark Mother) rules. If this magick is needed, this is a good time to call upon Her assistance in such matters.
If any magick is performed, it generally has to do with deeply personal internal matters or shadow work.

Blue Moon
It’s been a common belief for a long time that a Blue Moon is the 2nd Full Moon within a given month. It is actually the 3rd Full Moon within a season that has 4 Full Moons (rather than the normal 3). This was actually a mistake that came about because of a blunder that was made in 1946.
So instead of the Blue Moon occurring once a year, we only have a Blue Moon once every 3 years (approximately). The last Blue Moon was on Nov. 21, 2010. The next two Blue Moons will occur on Aug. 21, 2013 and May 21, 2016
Magick done during this time:

• adds spiritual energy to any spell done at this time
• said to be a good time to try things that you conventionally wouldn’t do or try

Sidhe Moon
This is the 2nd New Moon that occurs in a calendar month.
Magick done during this time:

• any magick or divination dealing with intuition
• psychic energy
• any magickal working that deals with wisdom

A good source to check the phases of the moon is at the Farmer’s Almanac website. They have a calendar, and each day will show you what phase the moon is in on that day. Be sure to enter your zip code or city and state to get an accurate calendar for where you are located. You can find the calendar HERE.

From ancient times, each month was associated with a different name. Each month has different magical workings that are associated with it, that will be especially powerful when done during this time.
Each month has multiple names because different cultures had different names for these moons. I will include some of the more popular names for each moon.

It is my personal belief, that where each culture lived, had a lot to do with what they were named. There are a lot of instances where one culture named a moon a name and then a different culture named the following moon the same name. For example, the English named the January Moon the Old Moon and February the Wolf Moon. The Algonquian named the January Moon the Wolf Moon and February the Snow Moon. You will see this quite a bit as you look through the various names for each month.

January - Wolf Moon/Old Moon/Ice Moon/Moon After Yule
January was known as the Wolf Moon not only because this is a time of the year when supplies were running low for the wolves and they would enter towns and villages to find food, but also because wolves live in packs. The wolves within each pack depend on one another for wisdom, love, food, and their very lives.
This is a good time to learn and grow with your family members, and to support each other.
Spell work done during the month of January:

• working on personal problems
• protection
• reversing spells

February - Storm Moon/Seed Moon/Wolf Moon/Snow Moon/Hunger Moon/Candles Moon
This is when the seeds in the ground start to germinate and are getting ready for the time when it gets warmer and they can ‘spring’ forth. Now is the time when the plants are developing their roots so that they can grow strong.

If you are planning on planting a garden from seeds, this may be a good time to start planting these seeds in small containers in the home, and then transplant them outside at a later date.

This is a good time to not only recognize past errors, but also to accept responsibility for these errors, forgive yourself (and others, if needed), learn from your mistakes and move on.

This is a good time for mental and physical cleansing of you and your home. This includes getting rid of old habits and ways of thinking, along with items that are no longer needed or wanted around your home.
Spell work done during the month of February:

• purification of you and your home
• spiritual and mental growth
• any type of healing (spiritual, physical, mental, etc...)

March - Chaste Moon/Storm Moon/Lenten Moon/Worm Moon/Crow Moon/Crust Moon/Sugar Moon/Sap Moon/Death Moon
It was believed that when it was a stormy march that this was a sign of poor crops to come, but if it was a dry month this was indicative of a prosperous harvest to come.

If you are wanting to plant a garden of any kind, now is a good time to start planning what you would like to plant, perhaps where you would like to plant this garden, etc...

This is a time when the energies of the Moon reaches out to our inner child. This is a time when we can remember a time when life was much simpler and everything seemed possible.
Spell work done during the month of March:

• new beginnings
• seeing the truth in your life (perhaps removing blinders that you have put on yourself)
• exploring, growing, and prospering in all areas of your life

April - Seed Moon/Egg Moon/Grass Moon/Wind Moon/Hare Moon/Pink Moon/Fish Moon/Waking Moon
Many people call this month the Seed Moon because this is when many people progress from the planning stage to the planting stage and start planting their seeds in their gardens. Where I live, however, is not generally a good time to plant things outside because it can still get quite cold outside and has been to snow even at the end of April.

This is considered a good time to contemplate and work on issues involving your temper, emotional outbursts, and self-centeredness.
Spell work done during the month of April:

• fertility
• knowledge and wisdom
• issues involving self-confidence
• good time to recognize and take advantage of opportunities
• recognize and exercise your ability to believe in yourself (intuition)

May - Hare Moon/Flower Moon/Planting Moon/Chaste Moon/Dyad Moon/Milk Moon/Corn Planting Moon/Corn Moon
This is a good time to unite with and establish and enhance your kinship with the guardians and nature spirits that surround you.
Spell work done during the month of May:

• health
• love and romance
• knowledge and wisdom
• using divination magick in terms of career, job, employment
• intuition
• connecting to guardians, faeries, and nature spirits

June - Honey Moon/Strawberry Moon/Rose Moon/Lovers Moon/Dyad Moon/Mead Moon/Flower Moon/Hot Moon/Planting Moon
This is when you should give some time to make choices, take accountability for current happenings, work on personal discrepancies, and to augment your positive traits and to reward yourself for them.

This is also a time to work in your garden and to commune with Mother Nature.
Spell work done during the month of June:

• protection
• strengthening (physical, mental, and spiritual)
• prevention
• love and marriage

July - Mead Moon/Blessings Moon/Lightning Moon/Thunder Moon/Herb Moon/Hay Moon/Buck Moon
This is when the first harvests start happening and people are starting to prepare for the long, cold winter ahead.

Time of celebration for the crops that are being harvested.

This is when honey is gathered for mead, which is also called ‘honey wine’. Mead is an alcoholic drink that is made of homey and water that has been fermented.
Spell work done during the month of July:

• dream work
• meditate on spiritual plans and goals
• divination

August - Herb Moon/Wort Moon/Wyrt Moon/Corn Moon/Red Moon/Barley Moon/Grain Moon/Sturgeon Moon/Green Corn Moon/Lightning Moon/Dog Moon
This is a time of agricultural prosperity. This is the second of three harvests.
This is when most people are gathering and harvesting their herbs and storing them for winter.

An offering should be given to the Lady for the amount of abundance in your life.
Spell work done during the month of August:

• abundance in your life
• marriage
• vitality and health
• friendships

September - Harvest Moon/Hunter’s Moon/Fruit Moon/Corn Moon/Barley Moon
This is when the grains are being harvested, and this is the third and last of the harvests before winter comes. People are getting ready for the winter, along with celebrating how bountiful the harvests have been, and giving thanks for the provisions that we have for the upcoming winter.

This is an excellent time to array your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual garbage.
Spell work done during the month of September:

• prosperousness
• abundance in your life
• providing and caring of others

October - Wine Moon/Falling Leaf Moon/Blood Moon/Hunter’s Moon/Harvest Moon/Travel Moon/Dying Grass Moon
This is when we observe the obvious signs that nature is preparing for the coming winter. Birds are flying south, leaves are falling off of the trees in an ever-increasing amount, and animals are gathering their storage's of food for the coming winter.

This is a great time to reflect upon what you have done during the past year. What accomplishments have you had this year? Is there anything that you wanted to accomplish, but haven’t, and is there time to still accomplish this?

This is a time to meditate upon the laws of Karma and your thoughts of reincarnation. Good month to let go, and concentrate on your inner balance and harmony.
Spell work done during the month of October:

• new goals
• protection
• resolution
• spirituality
• divination
• inner cleansing

November - Hunter’s Moon/Beaver Moon/Mourning Moon/Tree Moon/Snow Moon/Frost Moon
This was when the cattle and sheep were butchered for food. This is also when the men would go out and hunt the wild game in the area. This was done at this time, because the weather was growing colder and there was less of a chance of the meat spoiling before it could be eaten in the impending winter months.

This is an excellent time to concentrate on the bonds of family and friendships.

This month is considered to be a month of transformation. This is considered to be a fantastic time to intensify your bond with the God and/or Goddess that you are more devoted to.
Spell work done during the month of November:

• friendships
• family
• God and/or Goddess that you have an affinity for

December - Oak Moon/Cold Moon/Long Nights Moon/Moon Before Yule
This is a time of hope and healing. This is a great time to reach out to family, friends, and the lonesome and deprived.

This is also a good time to concentrate on your spirituality.

This is when the moon has rule over the world instead of the sun, since there are more hours of night than there are of day.

This is a time of rebirth of the light when the days start to get longer after Yule (the winter solstice). Yule is when the birth of the Oak King is celebrated, and another cycle begins.

This is a month of death and renewal.
Spell work done during the month of December:

• letting go of the negativity in your life
• endurance
• provisions

When you are doing elemental magick, it is ideal to do that type of magic when the moon is in a corresponding Astrological sign that is governed by that element.

• Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are associated with the element of Earth
• Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are associated with the element of Air
• Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are associated with the element of Fire
• Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are associated with the element of Water

Void of Course (VOC)
This refers to the time when the moon is not in an aspect but rather between aspects of the zodiac.

There is an old rule that says “no aspects, no events”, which means that when the moon is not currently in a sign that nothing of relevance will occur in this period.

It is during periods such as these, that many people will have a feeling of being a bit removed from reality, and have a sense that they are drifting somewhere out in the universe.

With this in mind, a lot of people will find that they are only up for doings tasks that do not require much concentration. This is not a good time to do or start anything that requires a particular end result.

This is an outstanding time to do meditations and many people feel that this is an excellent time to do divination and dream work.

To find the dates during 2011 when the Moon is VOC visit HERE. Simply scroll down to the month that you are interested in. This will also provide you with what aspect the Moon is in among other useful moon data.

If you are wanting a quick look to see what aspect the sun, moon, and planets are in you can visit THIS site, the information is on the top left of the page.

Update ~ I just found a nifty little program that is called "LunaBar". This wonderful little program sits in my tray and shows me what phase the moon is currently in and the aspect that it is in. Love It! So handy! I do keep a Moon Diary and this lovely little program has made things so much easier. With the click of a mouse button I can quickly and easily have everything I want to know about the moon at the moment (and in the future), including moon rise and set, phase, aspect, when the moon is in ascendent, the element that the moon is in, and much more. This is a free program and can be downloaded HERE. May you all enjoy this program as much as I do!

Moon in Aries

• Power, Control
• Self-Control
• Rejuvenation

Moon in Taurus

• Adoration
• Real Estate
• Finances

Moon in Gemini

• Conversations
• Public Relations
• Journey

Moon in Cancer

• Home Life
• Show reverence for Lunar Goddesses

Moon in Leo

• Power of Others
• Bravery
• Child Birth

Moon in Virgo

• Business Matters
• Health
• Mental Matters

Moon in Libra

• Court Cases
• Companionships
• Creative Matters

Moon in Scorpio

• Involving Secrets
• Strength and Authority
• Psychic Growth

Moon in Sagittarius

• Publications
• Recreational Activities
• Honesty

Moon in Capricorn

• Employment
• Political Matters
• Drive

Moon in Aquarius

• Science
• Independence
• Personal Expression
• Problem Solving
• Friendship

Moon in Pisces

• Music
• Telepathy
• Clairvoyance

Drawing Down the Moon

Full Moon Ritual

New Moon Ritual

Blue Moon Ritual

When doing Moon Magick, there can be quite a few things to consider and take into account.

You have the different phases of the moon (Full Moon, New Moon, Waxing Moon, Waning Moon, Dark Moon, Blue Moon, and Void Moon) which all have different magickal associations, each month has different magickal associations, and there are different magickal workings that can be done depending on which zodiac or astrological sign that the Moon is in.

All information on this page is for people in the Northern Hemisphere, since this is where I am located.

The moon not only illuminates us, but also inspires us. With the moon being the closest to us it has a profound influence on us.

With this in mind, it can be a magickal and illuminating experience to keep a Moon Diary. In this diary you will write a daily account of your feeling and emotions, along with the date, moon phase, what aspect the moon is in, and anything else that you want to add.

After a while of keeping this Moon Diary, you might be amazed at what you see, and how your emotions and body reacts to the energies of the moon.

Here is a sample page of a Moon Diary