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Moon worship goes back to the earliest humankind. Every ancient civilization celebrated the moon in some form. Ancient Greeks celebrated Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, while ancient Romans called her Luna. Native American tribes looked to the moon to guide their planting and hunting. Even the Christian celebration of Easter is linked to moon. Easter Sunday always falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon of the Spring Equinox. Today the moon is a central part of paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft and other Nature -Based spiritual paths.

The moon is considered by many as a divine feminine energy. The Moon rules below, while the sun rules above. The sun gives life and the moon gives a rhythm to that life. The ocean tides, female menstruation, and the natural rhythm of the planting season are all governed by the moon. While the sun is constant in it’s appearance from day to day, the moon is changes, shrinks and grows over the course of a month, offering different levels of energy and support to those who look toward it for guidance.

Moon Phases

New Moon

The new moon encourages beginnings such as new jobs, relationships or starting a new project or business. If a month has two new moons, the second one is called a Black Moon and is considered more powerful than the first new moon.

Waxing Moon

Waxing Moon is the two week period following a new moon. It is a time that supports growth and expansion. It is a good time to focus on growing your business, passions or knowledge. Take action in the direction of your goals, follow inspiration.

Full Moon

Full Moon represents plenty and when you start to see results of what you started during the new moon. The power of the full moon is at its strongest and is a good time to cast spells, focus your energy on your goals. It is also a time to seek clarity about your path forward. If there is an area in your life that is troubling you, sitting with the full moon and meditating can offer clarity

Blue Moon

If there are two full moons in a month, the second is called a Blue Moon and is more powerful than the first full moon. A blue moon is a good time to cast spells, focus on manifestations or just enjoy a burst of intense energy.

Waning moon

The Waning Moon is a time to let go of things and focus on decrease. It is a good time to focus on weight loss, debt reduction or letting go of relationships that no longer serve you.

The Moon & You

If you want a better sense of how to harness the moon’s energies to improve your own life, start by tracking how you feel during the different moon phases. You can use your Pagan Planner, journal or a separate notebook for this. See if you have more energy during certain phases, or trouble sleeping. You can also plan out spells, rituals, meditations or gatherings to align with the various phases of the moon that match your intention or goal.

Moonlight is also good for cleansing crystals, amplifying spell work and setting intentions.

Recommended Reading & Resources

Mabon House Monthly Moon Planner Pages

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft Skye Alexander*

The Encyclopedia of Magic & Alchemy by Rosemary Ellen Guiley*

Herbal Moon Goddess Website