New Moon Magic

Pinterest is a wonderful resource for a beginner like me learning to use the magic of the moon. I'm sharing with you a collection of spells or chants or rituals that I have adopted to harness the powerful energy of La Luna. You can also follow my Pinterest Board 'Big Magic' and put together a concoction of your own, and please, share it with me.

A New Moon is the perfect time to start fresh and set new intentions. During the lunar cycle, a New Moon is the time to revisit your goals and bring new action towards them. It's the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. The energy of the moon at this time will make you question old habits, behaviors, or beliefs, and give you the initiative to find a new and innovative way of resolution. The most powerful time of a New Moon is during it's waxing phase, or the first two weeks of the moon cycle.

There are a lot of different ways to acknowledge and celebrate the moon. Some will create an altar, chant, pray, meditate, do a tarot card reading...the list goes on. I believe there's no right or wrong way to create moon magic, as long as you work within the first three days of the New Moon when the energy is most potent. But you can work with the New Moon in the way that works best for you.

Each phase of the Moon has a better use of magic than the other. The New Moon is best used to set  new intentions, while the Full Moon gives you the energy to move forward with your intentions or move past them. The lunar cycle is approximately 28 days, with two weeks between the New and Full moons, but it may take up six months between the New and Full corresponding moons when manifestations become a reality.

During the waning phase of the moon I can only describe it as a static in my soul. I am hearing so many different voices and seeing different signs, that I am almost overwhelmed with what the Universe is trying to tell me. With a daily brain dump and meditation, I start to make sense of all the noise and can finally find clarity in the hum of all the energy. By the start of the New Moon, I have my intentions set and I'm ready to make some magic.

As I have become more in tune and knowledgeable in my practice, and with more guidance and intuitive cultivation, I have created a rather simple ritual for a New Moon, and it is what has worked best for me over the course of time. I'm excited to share it. Whether you're a newbie like me or if you are an experienced witch, I hope you find this helpful or just something new to try.

As a busy momma of two, most of my moon magic is done after the little ones are down for the night when I know I won't be disturbed. I am able to be fully aware and present in what I am sending out and am clear in the intentions that I am about to set. Sometimes I am skyclad or I am comfortably wrapped up in my fuzzy pink house coat.

Before I begin, I gather all of my supplies. And depending on the weather, I either sit outside or open the blinds to my bedroom window to let the night shine in. Here is what I use for my New Moon Magic:

• white candle
• notebook and pen
• sage and/or incense

To begin, I sage the area banishing all negative energy and welcoming only love and light into my space. I then light a white candle and some incense (with Copal being my new favorite), and ask for protection and guidance from my spirit guides and guardian angels. I want to be sure that my space is cleansed and cleared before I begin, so this may take three minutes or more. Knowing that there is no time limit, I take all the time I need.

Once I feel that the vibe is right, I sit in a comfortable position with my notebook and pen and I begin to write. It usually begins with random thoughts and feelings, but there comes the moment when my words become more powerful and it's from there I get clear with what it is I want to do or who I want to be. It's the story of the new me. I allow myself to write until my soul has no words left and that my intentions are clear. Again, there is no limitation, so I allow myself to write for as long as it takes.

The next step in my New Moon ritual is to create a List of Intentions or sometimes a vision board with the things I want to do or accomplish; whether it's to finish a chapter in a book to buying myself a Range Rover. The Universe has no limits; if you do not ask, you cannot receive. I like to make the list on a piece of pretty stationary and I put it in a place I can see it often. If you have an altar, place your list or vision board on it and over the next two weeks, spend time meditating on it.

I end my ritual with prayer or meditation. I'll let the candle burn through the night and the next morning I'll snuff the flame. While the Moon is in her waxing phase, I remain confident that things will manifest, and I am more keenly aware to what is happening around me. The Universe is listening, but are you?