Basking in the Moon

Amber J
Apr 21, 2023
9 min read

Updated: Aug 11, 2023

Witchcraft has a lot of fun gizmos and gadgets. There is an herb for this and a stone for that. You have robes, wands, cauldrons, and candles a plenty. Ask any witch what their most useful magical tool is and you will get a different answer. Some will point to their trusty candle holder that has seen a thousand rituals, others will talk about their favorite alter cloth that lets them take their spells on the go.

It can be overwhelming for a newbie who is trying to get their bearings and start somewhere. Currently, you can throw a rock in a book store and find a "Witchcraft for Beginners", or "Witchcraft 101". This is AMAZING! I am glad it has become easier to enter into this world. Many of these books will follow a more Wicca inclined path talking about needing a wand, a cauldron, a chalice, a robe, an athame, etc.

There is nothing wrong with having a guideline of tools to use (and how to use them safely), but it can muddy the waters and take away from the larger point of witchcraft; To become connected with oneself, and therefore the universe as a whole. Tools are valuable helpers. I myself indulge in the many pretties I can find online, in antique stores, and my local used book store. I am a collector at heart and am a strong advocate for finding what works for you. So I say this next bit with every ounce of humble in my heart (and eating a little bit of crow):

Don't forget that the most important tool/helper/ingredient in witchcraft is yourself. You. Are. The. Only. Thing. You. Need.

Candidly, I forget this more often than I remember it. I'll be toting out piles and piles of stones to charge under the full moon, the new moon, the eclipse moon and forget to just sit outside and recharge myself.

I will become so focused on what the right herb to dress this candle is, that I forget that clear and concise intention is all that is truly needed. I will often rush to Amazon, Dollar Tree, or my local Witchy Shoppe to look for the 'perfect' component to accomplish a single spell - and forget that I am the perfect component. When I do remember my wallet and my budget are much happier with me.

There is another tool that has been here long before you and will remain long after. The moon. Always just hanging out in the sky, looking down, offering it's gravity to the oceans. Capitalism has yet to find a way to charge us for moonlight - so lets take a look at how we can utilize this other, completely free to you tool.

Moon Phases - The Basics

First, let's talk about how to determine what phase we are in on sight. This will vary depending on what side of the equator you are on. I found a fun little homework help website that makes things super easy and straight forward. I even learned that folks who are directly at the equator see the moon phases go from bottom to top instead of side to side. (http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/moon/hemispheres.html)

Luckily - these phases all happen at the same time regardless of the hemisphere you are on. So, the dates and times of these events will be aligned (much unlike the seasons).

The fact that it changes based on where you are looking from helps me understand why some merchandise with moon phases looks like what you see to the left.

While other merchandise has what you see to the right. Its a quick way of knowing if the art was made from the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere.

During different phases of the moon - remember that the energy can transcend walls to reach your shiny horde of crystal friends. The kindest thing you can do for yourself is walk outside and take a few deep breaths of clean air to tap into the moon's energy. You can even try imagining the moonlight coming in with each inhale. I say this as someone who lives in the middle of no and where with a bunch of cows down the lane - so some nights there is no deep breaths because it smells like beef cattle lot - but I still take a few minutes to bask in the lunar glow (or lack thereof as the case may be).

What The Phases Help Us With

To help you bask in the moon with intention, below is a high-level introduction to what the different phases of the moon can bring into your life. It is not comprehensive. There are a lot of books and other information sources available that go far more in-depth. I will include a few of the books I myself use to help connect with these energies under the resources section.

https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-in-motion/moon-phases/ — New Moon

The new moon is the start of our lunar journey. The moon rises and sets with the sun during this phase and is not but a dark circle in the sky. This phase is the best for starting something new including:

Planting seeds
Setting new intentions
Starting new cycles
Explore dreaming exercises/spells/envisioning

This moon phase is all about starting things off on the right foot. Resting and rejuvenation are good things to focus on during this phase. Recognize that you are about to start to grow again - and starting off right is important.

The "Dark Moon" is typically the day right before the new moon and just after the waning crescent moon. It is the 28-29th day of the moon cycle. This is seen as one of the most powerful times for banishing energy and is the official "last day" with the new moon being day 1.

When the moon is waxing (or growing) you can start to see the tangibility and the action behind what was sown on the new moon. If you are starting at this phase, it is good for:

Optimism
Creating better habits and maintaining them
Visioning a better state of being/life
Starting a new process
Action and actionable ideas

This is one of my favorite times because it is all about seizing the moment to push your life and goals to the next stage.

The first quarter is the half way point between new and full. This is a good time to start making choices on what to keep and what to let go. It is also good for:

Pivoting on prior made plans/goals
Refining and redefining intentions
Setting boundaries (we love a good boundary)
Using will and discipline to our advantage
Removing hurdles and overcoming blockages

This is a good time to really assess what has been going on in your life for the last week or so since the new moon - mind you its only been about 6-9 days since that phase ended. The moon moves relatively fast, and using the lunar cycles as a tracker for goals can help you be more reasonable with your timelines. Longer term goals are great - but breaking those down into shorter term wins is even better.

The waxing gibbous is a great moon phase as we start to see things coming to fruition. This phase focuses on:

Growth and Expansion
Abundance, wealth, fertility
Self-care and internal focus
Happiness, health, healing, and overall wellness

This is a great phase to look inwards and make sure you have everything that you need to keep moving forward. Sometimes you need to re-assess and take a break - and the waxing gibbous moon is here for it. Growth often requires rest, so don't push yourself too hard.

You know and love the full moon - popular in culture - bringer of werewolves, helper of the lost. At only 13-15 days into the moon cycle the glow up is impressive. I tend to use the day prior and the day after the full moon as the same energy ( both days are at 99% illumination, so the difference is minor). Use this energy for:

Celebration of what you have accomplished so far
Fruition, blooming, accomplishment, and finalization
Emotional work and release
Amplification of everything from:
- Divination
- Ancestral work
- Spell work
- Creativity
- Self-reflection
- Psychic abilities
- and much, much more.

This phase of the moon is the most noticeable from witches to ER nurses. People just tend to feel and act differently when the moon is high and bright in the sky. I have friends that find they get a migraine every full moon because the energy is too much. Be kind to yourself and don't feel like you HAVE to work with this (or any other) moon phase, but notice how our lunar friend specifically impacts you in this stage.

The waning gibbous is 15-22 days into the cycle- that is only two to three weeks. It's important to remember that in such a short time you can accomplish a lot. Sometimes accomplishing a lot is remembering to drink enough water 22 days in a row (looking at you, mirror). The waning gibbous brings us the energy of:

Release and Dissemination
Revealing what is hidden and looking inward
Harvesting what we have sown thus far for the second time

Self-reflection is the name of the game during this phase. Where are you at? How are you feeling? What parts of you need a bit more care? What can you let go of?

We are in the home stretch of the moon's cycles with the last quarter. You may also hear this called the '3rd quarter' which makes the sports fan in me happy. This is a good time to find balance and work on:

Shadow work - what is going on behind the curtain that needs addressing
Organizing
Research
Uncrossing and surrendering to the process
Recommitting to ourselves and our chosen path

It very much feels like we are about to close the chapter on work we have been doing during this lunar cycle. It can start to feel like the last mile in a marathon - you've come this far but the finish line still seems so far away. Really analyzing what you've done and what needs to still be done can help with those last quarter blues.

22-27 days into the lunar cycle brings us to the waning crescent. This is a good time for:

Cleaning house and energy
Banishing that which does not serve
Clearing the way for what we want to sow on the new moon
Continuing the inward journey to help gain understanding
Re-engaging with our whole selves

There is a pattern - as the light grows, we work on outward goals and progress. As the light diminishes, we look inward and focus on the parts of us we hide from the world.

A Note About Eclipse Energy

Eclipse energy is chaotic. Lunar or solar you are going to find yourself in a tidal wave of an avalanche of power. Be careful during this time if you choose to do magic, as the energy can be overwhelming. If you are new to the craft - maybe sit the eclipses out for now. It's important to have strong energetic boundaries - and also strong energetic bonds prior to trying to harness eclipse energy. 

That being said - don't let anyone tell you that you can't. It is always a matter of 'should' and 'are you ready'. This is a good time to work with others if you can, and decide you want to harness this energy.

So What Does This Mean?

Not everyone wants to work with the moon. Not everyone feels drawn to the stages of how the light reflects on the surface of earth's only natural satellite. This is perfectly ok. I often only notice the moon cycle when a friend reminds me a big celestial even is about to take place, such as an eclipse. Would I like to work with the moon better? You bet! We are old friends. Does life sometimes get in the way? Absolutely. I try to be in bed by 8 pm my dudes.

The moon is still in the sky in the middle of the day. You may not be able to see it - but the energy is still there. There are calendar apps and desk calendars that will show you the major moon phases. This can help you recognize what energy is available to draw on if you so choose. This does not mean you MUST do magic with the moon cycles. If you need to banish on a full moon, do IT. If you need to be introspective on the waxing crescent - go for it, don't wait for the waning phase.

That being said - if you are like me and enjoy having some guidelines on when to start a new family chore chart and have an idea of how often to check in on the plan - the moon has got your back.

Final Thoughts

It is more than ok to just step outside and stand in the moonlight for a few moments to catch your breath. The moon is a tangible thing that we can look to. While cloud cover, weather, and stinky cattle feed yards can make it feel less magical - the moon's energy is always there. The reason the tides move on this planet is because of that satellite - and you, my dear reader, are 70% water - the moon moves you too. Knowing how you are affected, and what you can do with that energy can help empower you. Not tapping into that energy is also perfectly acceptable - as long as you avoid un house-trained werewolves!

Resources

Websites:

Books: