My Moon Rituals

While I have been deepening my connection with the Moon over the last several years, she has been calling to me, now more than ever. I feel an innate pull to hear her messages, to feel her strength, to be guided by her light.

To me, the Moon feels like a soul sister, an old friend, someone who I can turn to no matter how I look, how I feel, or what kind of day I’ve had. When I look up at the sky and see her, a wave of tranquil excitement washes over me. I greet her and tell her about my day, knowing that she holds no judgement.

I started a more formal moon ritual practice after I look the Witch Triumvirate classes with Cristina Farella. The three week course was an exploration of planetary magic, using herbs in your Craft, and using poetry as a medium to connect with the divine. She recommended that instead of trying to commune with all of the astrological “planets” (the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter), that you pick one who resonates most, whose strengths you are most in need of. I felt an immediate Knowing that the moon was who I was meant to deepen my connection with.

The Moon’s day is Monday, so while you can choose to practice moon magic on any day of the week, it is thought that her magic and connection is amplified on her own day (and extra credit if you practice during the Moon’s hour on the Moon’s day).

Gathering Materials

I typically start my moon ritual by setting up my altar tray (thrifted for $5, yay!). I have my moon candle that I light with each moon ritual as a way to provide protection and to bring light to the messages that I am needing to hear. I will typically also light a spell candle. When I light the spell candle, I state my intentions for the ritual as well as dedicate the time and space to sitting within the Power.

Then I gather my offerings! I have amassed objects that spoke to me as things that the moon would love. I have some leaves that I gathered with beautiful, stark white backs, a stick that called to be included, a stone that I found on a walk, and dimes, which I always seem to find on Mondays before my moon rituals. I also will set out a glass of water as an offering, symbolizing my desire to bring clarity to the messages as well as a clear mind to the ritual space.

If I have some available, I will also place a sweet treat (typically dark chocolate) or some chamomile as an additional offering. 

Sitting Within the Power

After my altar is set up, I create a protective circle by slicing through the air, clockwise, around my ritual space. While you can purchase a fancy stone or crystal ritual knife, I use an old pocket knife that is solely used for my practice. While cutting through the air, I either speak aloud or in my mind's eye the intention to cleanse the space of any energy that is not in alignment and to establish a sacred space for my ritual that day.

Once this is all set up, I will read the Orphic Hymn to the Moon, giving my own air as an offering. I have also been writing poem spells for my practice and if I have one ready for that ritual then I will read this aloud, typically three times.

Now that my space is set up, my intentions are set, and my offerings have been made, I sit within the Moon’s sacred energy. During my Moon ritual I meditate while focusing on the spell candle, draw oracle cards, and journal any thoughts and feelings that come up, synchronicities that I notice, and ideas that come into focus.

Ending the Ritual

While you can sit in the ritual space for the length of time it takes for the spell candle to burn (1-1.5 hours for an average sized spell candle), I have found myself closing the connection sooner. For me, there is a sense of Knowing when the ritual is ready to be completed. I offer thanks to myself for creating the space, to the Moon for communing with me, and to the universe for the opportunity to connect on such a deep level.

I use my ritual knife to open the circle (moving counter-clockwise), return the ritual objects to their homes, and place any edible offerings (like the water or chamomile) outside on my balcony for her to enjoy as the night goes on. In the morning I dispose of them. While some witches consume the edible things that were on the altar space, I choose to return them to the earth (if is safe and animal friendly) as they were gifts to the Moon.

After I close the ritual, I am left to go about the rest of my evening with a lasting feeling of divine reverence, as it is an honor to connect with a celestial body and to feel her there with me, guiding me.

Reflection

As I have continued to deepen my connection with the Moon, I have seen inner transformation. I feel more self-assured and more in connection with myself and the magic of the unknown. I have started to notice more synchronicities and have felt guided and supported. 

As the alchemical saying goes “as above, so below.” While I am connecting with the Moon during my ritual, I am also connecting with that within myself that is divine, undefineable, full of light and dark. As I learn to know and respect her cycles, I have come to do the same for my own. As I make an active effort to sit in the silence, I am able to hear the inner whispers of my soul and to continue to expand into the highest version of myself. 

-SunnyCelly