Free Preview from Curiosity Expands Your Mind by Brenda Miller
Moon Phases
Waxing Moon is when She grows from new (dark) to full. The New Moon provides the correct amount of energy for constructing magical workings requiring growth, enhancement, or improvement. It is a good time for new beginnings, new love, building businesses, friendships, partnerships, finding a new job, and financial prosperity. It also provides ideal conditions for planting herbs, developing your psyche, and for your health/well-being/vitality. The Goddess aspect of the waxing moon is maiden.
Full Moon has three days of expression, the day before, the day of, and the day after. Nevertheless, Her energy is most intense when She reaches complete fullness. Any magical effort, especially difficult ones, can benefit greatly from the potency of this phase. Use the Full Moon to amplify magical intent and to give magical workings additional power. The Goddess aspect of the full moon is mother.
Waning Moon is when She decreases from full to new. In this phase, She offers energy suitable for banishing or releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, and reversing circumstances. This phase may be used to end undesirable eating patterns, break bad habits, or to remove yourself from dysfunctional partnerships or stressful situations. The Goddess aspect of the waning moon is crone.
New Moon or Dark Moon may be used as a period of rest, relaxation, and regeneration. However, magical workings may be done for starting new ventures, new beginnings, love/romance, enhancing psychic powers, and divination. Workings during the New Moon are done on the day of, to three-and-a-half days after. The Goddess aspect of the new moon is re-birth.
Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in one month, which happens approx. every three years. The second full moon is called a blue moon, hence the term “Once in a Blue Moon.” A blue moon happens during Halloween once every 80 years. Use the second full moon (blue moon) in any calendar month to set long-term goals and implement exciting new changes. The power of the moon on earth and in our lives is enhanced and doubled during the occurrence of the Blue Moon.
Black Moon occurs when there are two new moons in one month, but this term is not as well known or frequently used as is Blue Moon. It is said that the second new moon or black moon is a time of great power within the spiritual and magical world, and any workings during this time are especially powerful.
There are two types of eclipses: Solar Eclipse, which occurs during the New Moon phase, with the Moon passing directly between the Earth and the Sun. A Lunar Eclipse happens when the Moon darkens as it passes into the Earth’s shadow. Many believe that an eclipse signals a change and can act as a turning point in their lives. The solar eclipse affects the external and the lunar eclipse affects the personal or internal, such as emotions.
The trick to working with an eclipse: buy an almanac to know the date and time for when the eclipse will take place; plan ahead to know precisely what you would like to change in your life; and begin your magical workings ten minutes before the eclipse is to occur. Continue your spell casting throughout the eclipse until you are completely finished. The idea is to harness the energy of the eclipse as it builds and to draw down the energy to you for your workings. If the eclipse is not visible in your part of the world, no worries here, as the intent of your workings are present and the energy of the eclipse is felt no matter if the eclipse is visible to you or not. The energy of the eclipse will merge with your workings to produce the outcome you seek.
A simple and effective way to use the power of the moon: Write out what you want to release on one piece of paper, then write out what you want to attract/manifest on another piece of paper. Sit outside, if possible, during the full moon and meditate on your request(s) for a few minutes. Burn the pieces of paper one at time, take a few minutes between each burning, and reflect on what you have written down as it is burning and release your request to the Universe/Spirit. Do not dwell on what you have released and/or wish to manifest again, just trust that the Universe/Spirit is taking care of everything and that all is as it should be at this point or time of your life.