Lunar Celebrations
Of all that is mysterious, and wonderous, and magical about Wicca, the most powerful of all is the Moon. Since ancient times, people have looked to the Moon to define order of their days. The Sun’s cycle could only dictate the passing of the seasons; people needed a way to mark time in smaller increments. The first calendars, therefore, were lunar, the division of weeks and months decided by the Moon’s waxing and waning phases. The Chinese philosophy of yin and yang is based on these same principles, and both Muslim and Jewish cultures still divide thier years by the Moon’s cycle.
The tangible nature of the Moon’s energy is indisputable. Ocean tides, spawning fish, earthquakes, and catastrophic weather phenomena have all been studied in direct correlation to the Moon’s cyclical temper. Since emotions correspond to the element of water, jsut as tides are braced and buffeted by the Moon’s influence so too is the human psyche. Research done by psychiatrists, police investigators, and hospitals show dramatic fluctuations in criminal and psychotic behaviours during both the Full and New Moon phases. But the effects are not purely negative; heightened psychic and intuitive awareness, precognitive dreams, and enhanced healing and manifestation ability are all gifts of the Moon’s watery spirit.
Women have always been the most aware of, and thus mos profoundly connected to, the Moon’s unique energies, as the path of the Moon is a celestial illustration of the menstual cycle. Because of this instinctual connection, women were the healers and the sages in the clans of our ancestors as well as the keepers of the calendar, charting the most auspicious times for planting, harvesting, gatherings, and ritual. For this same connection, the Moon is seen as the Goddess, changing in her monthly circles as do women’s bodies; the cycle of increased hormone production, ovulation, and menses in women corresponding exactly to the Maiden (New), Mother (Full), and Corne (Dark) phases of the Moon.
So, what does all of this mean to a Witch? In a word, magic. The Craft, with its reverence for the feminine, has always been irrevocably linked to the mystical influence of the Moon. Each Moon phase has a distinct energy that can be tapped for specific magical purposes; many a Witches observe both New and Full Moon Esbats, and work magic in between as well, according to need. The word Esbat literally means “to frolic”, and there is merriment aplenty whenever Witches gather to celebrate in the glow of the Goddess.
Moon Magic
There are thirteen Full Moons in a calendar year, due to the rotation of the Earth, and each has a number of ancient names and magical meanings. For the October Full Moon it is known as the Blood Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, or Moon of Storms. This is a time for transition, release, inner peace, past lives, and karmic completion.
October 4th, 2009 – Full Moon
Here is the Mother in all her glory, sailing high in the heavens, trailing silvery skirts across the bright Earth. Magic that calls forth personal power, abundance, protection, fertility, and psychic awareness is the most fruitful during this time. Cleansing of ritual tools, crystals, Tarot decks, and the like can also be done now. The power of this phase can be accessed for a period of seven days – three days prior to, the night of, and three days after the Full Moon. Magic worked during the Full Moon often takes one complete Moon cycle to come to fruition.
The Full Moon is also the time to honour the Goddess. Whitches do this in the Craft by “Drawing Down the Moon”, a ritual that brings the Moon’s power directly into the physical body. Done well, a Drawing fills you with the most extrodinary energy – tingling, electrified, aliv, our senses heightened, the air fairly crackling around you. And any ritual magic worked after embodying the Goddess in this way is practically guaranteed to catch the universe’s attention.
I would love to hear from any of you, on how you might celebrate this full moon or if you have any stories of the effects a full moon has had on you or anyone you know.
Blessings, Francesca