Photo by Magenta
We specialise in astral magick, which basically means the rules we like to follow come from using the movements of the planets, including the phases of the moon, to time the magick. Lots of other practitioners also include the phases of the Moon in their craft.
The relative qualities and phases of the Moon are described in detail in our favourite grimoire, the Picatrix. This is where most of our astral magickal practise comes from.
For us, it’s the power that the archetype of the Moon represents that is the important aspect. So working out what the Moon is up to, and when, is worth a little investigation. Thankfully, the Internet and apps do all the hard maths for us, so all we have to do is ‘Google It’ or look up occasionally, spot the Moon, and figure out what it’s doing.
The New Moon
A “new” moon is the phase when the moon is not visible to us here on Earth because the sun’s light can’t reach it. New moons don’t last very long, certainly no more than three days.
Using a new moon in magick and beyond
The New Moon marks the beginning of the phases of the Moon. This means new moons, as a phase, are an opportunity to make a start. It can be used magickally speaking for spells about beginnings and fresh starts but the New Moon can also be used powerfully beyond spell casting.
As new moons are all about thinking proactively, becoming open (such as being accountable to oneself) and setting positive goals means new moons can be incorporated into project planning or creative thinking processes at work or school. For example, when entering a planning phase for a new project or developing a new perspective on a problem or issue, draw on the power of the new moon.
A new moon is also an ideal time to set intentions for what you want to create, receive, manifest, or experience over the next lunar cycle. This could be as part of personal development goals you have set yourself, perhaps learning a new skill could be timed to coincide with a new moon.
A Waxing Moon
A “waxing” moon is when the sun’s light hits the moon on one side and appears to grow larger, from a small crescent shape until the moon is almost completely visible. This phase lasts about 2 weeks. The waxing moon can be broken down further into smaller phases, if you wish to, as the crescent shape grows.
Using a waxing moon in magick and beyond
Now we know that during the new moon phase we can set our intentions and begin to form our plans, during a waxing moon we are actually taking the practical steps to move towards what is desired. This kind of moon can be used magickally speaking for spells concerned with growing and increasing, but the Waxing Moon can also be used to manifest abundance beyond spell casting.
If new moons are all about planning for a new project, waxing moons are all about taking action towards ideas, objectives and goals. They can be used to bring ideas into creation. For example, when doing a piece of work, draw on the power of a waxing moon to create that document.
A waxing moon is also an ideal time to look for opportunities to obtain what you want to receive or experience over the next lunar cycle. This could mean taking proactive steps such as making appointments, or launching something as part of personal development goals you have set yourself.
A Full Moon
A “full” moon occurs when the sun’s light completely fills the surface of the moon that faces Earth. Full moons, like new moons, dont last longer than about three days before they begin to wane.
Using a full moon in magick and beyond
The Full Moon marks the midpoint (or highpoint if you prefer) in the phases of the Moon. This means full moons, as a phase, are possibly the most potent time in the phases of the moon. They can be used magickally speaking for spells that require an injection of power, but the Full Moon can also be used across all aspects of our lives if we choose to.
As waxing moons turn into full moons, we now know that taking action has begun. So we are moving towards ideas, objectives and goals. The Full Moon then becomes a window in the phases of the moon to put yourself out there. This might mean setting project deadlines to fall on a full moon, producing the deliverables for customers on a full moon. It can mean publishing or running advertisement campaigns during a full moon.
The Full Moon is also an ideal time to look for any signs that you have achieved anything you have set for yourself over the lunar cycle. This could mean spotting little synchronicities or signs that you are on the right path for any personal development goals.
A Waning Moon
A “waning” moon is when the sun’s light hits the moon and appears to shrink, from an almost full moon to a small crescent shape. This phase lasts about 2 weeks, and as the moon wanes this can be broken down further into smaller phases as the crescent shape decreases into the ‘nothingness’ of the new moon. After which the phases of the moon begin again.
Using a waning moon in magick and beyond
The Waning Moon marks the moment the Moon begins to fade from our view here on Earth. This means waning moons, as a phase, represent the best time to release, restrict or banish. They can be used magickally speaking for spells focused on these themes, such as binding spells. However, the Waning Moon can also be used to release things across other areas of our lives.
When the Full Moon begins to wane we have possibly delivered an objective or produced something of value. The Waning Moon then becomes an opportunity to undertake a review of your project for lessons learned, or plan the editing work for a first draft so that this coincides with a waning moon. Waning moons can be used to complete some lingering admin tasks, as well as clearing away the energy when pieces of work are done.
A waning moon is an ideal time to look at the personal lessons you have learned as part of this lunar cycle. This phase of the moon is also great to release anything that you feel is holding you back and remove any blocks as part of the personal development goals you have set yourself.
A Void Moon
As the Moon moves across the sky it moves through each Zodiac sign as it goes. As it does so, it is also forming aspects with the planets (who are also on their journey across the stars). When the Moon forms angles with other planets during its Zodiac travels, astrologers call this “forming aspects”.
Sometimes though, as the Moon travels through the signs it runs out of planets to form angles with. When this happens the Moon is considered “void-of-course” until it enters the next sign. There might be times when the Moon, although busy being in one of the four phases we’ve mentioned, is also “void of course”. It can be tricky to do anything when the Moon is “void of course” but not impossible!
Sometimes operating within a void moon can be incredibly useful, for example if the desired outcome for an objective is just to slide something under the radar, or for your achievements to go unnoticed. If this is what appeals then plan to act when the moon is void. For example, this might be useful when planning communications or deliverables you’d prefer went ignored or unreplied. A void moon can also be useful when having a difficult conversation or undertaking something risky as part of your personal development goals.
So we see that the Moon is awesome, and not just for magickally minded people. Even if we’re not using the Moon to cast spells all the time, it is still a powerful symbol to coincide with any non-magickal intentions. It’s well worth considering how the phases of the moon in a work, school and personal development context can be used to ensure you get the most out of what you’re trying to acheive. Even if that is to simply be ignored!
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