HedgeWitch (20 page)

Circumference of the Moon

The second technique is to look at the circumference of the moon. If the outer edge is fullest toward the east, the moon is waxing, or growing towards the full moon. If the outer edge is fullest towards the west, the moon is waning to a new moon. If the circumference appears to be more horizontal than vertical, use the highest point of the moon as your guide.

Flowing by the Full Moon

Trying hard to find a schedule to get everything done this year? Try using the monthly full moons as harvest times for particular projects, using the name of the moon as a focus for your activities. Here are some suggestions:

Note:
These moons apply to the Northern Hemisphere.

Historical Moon Names

January:
Nursing Moon, Milk Moon, Wolf Moon—Concentrate on family activities this month. Take care of all wellness/health appointment scheduling for the coming year for yourself, family, and pets.

February:
Storm Moon, Fasting Moon, Weaning Moon—Change your eating habits to match a more healthy way of life. You might choose to go on a diet, or perhaps slowly begin to adjust your diet, removing or adding one food type at a time. Go through those automatic payments and determine if there is something you could do without (magazines, memberships).

Ma
rch:
Seed Moon, Chaste Moon—Excellent time to start new projects and begin a new job or family activity. Great month for teaching yourself new skills. Choose which plants you will grow in your garden this year, and consider any hardscaping plans.

April:
Mating Moon, Hare Moon—Focus on your partner this month. Review your behavior and what you can adjust in your own activities that will satisfy yourself and bring harmony to your partner. When the last frost hits, begin planting your garden.

May:
Dyad Moon, Journey Moon—Try getting all those errands done this month that you've been putting off. Take several short weekend or day trips. Enjoy the season by visiting places you've never been.

June:
Mother's Moon, Mead Moon—Take care of any issues relating to females this month, including mothers, friends, sisters, daughters, etc. If you are interested in feng shui, activate the southwest corner of your home with an altar dedicated to the mother of the home.

July:
Father's Moon, Wort Moon—Take care of any issues relating to men this month, including fathers, friends, brothers, sons, etc. If you are interested in feng shui, activate the northwest corner of your home with an altar dedicated to the father of the home.

August:
Nesting Moon, Barley Moon—Time to look over your winter wardrobe and household supplies. Prepare now for the winter. Mend or sew blankets, hang heavier curtains, etc. Decide what type of winter wear you would like to purchase this year.

September:
Harvest Moon, Wine Moon—Tie up large projects with a sure completion by November (if the project is very large).

October:
Blood Moon, Sorting Moon, Culling Moon—Time to sort through and clear out the attic and the basement, garage, closets, kitchen cabinets, etc.

November:
Snow Moon, Death Moon—Remove any “dead-energy items” from the home. For example: compost dead flowers or plants, repair broken windows, and throw out torn carpets, broken furniture, etc. Make sure all clutter is removed (magazines, books, papers, clothing on the floor or under beds, extraneous junk).

December:
Dark Moon, Birth Moon—Sort through seasonal decorations and throw out the torn, broken, or old things you'll never use again. Take advantage of holiday pre-season and after-season bargains. Go through next year's calendar and mark off special dates, magickal times, etc., and block off areas for specific projects.

Full Moon Magickal Oil Formula*

6 drops gardenia fragrance

2 drops lemon essential oil

2 drops sandalwood essential oil

1 ounce jojoba carrier oil (can use sweet almond oil)

Full Moon Herbal Charm for Attraction

You will need:

White candle

Cotton

Gris-gris bag

⅛
teaspoon lemon peel

⅛
teaspoon yellow sandalwood

⅛
teaspoon wild lettuce

⅛
teaspoon Irish moss

Your desire written on a small piece of paper
(with berry magickal ink—see page 258)

A lock of your hair

White or silver cord

Mortar and pestle

Choose a specific deity from the list provided on pages 193–194. Research this deity fully before petitioning. Using primal language, write your desire with berry magickal ink on a piece of paper. Place all items under the full moon for one hour.

When you are ready to perform this working, light incense and pass over all items. Spread the cotton like a small nest. Grind herbs together to make a powder. Place the ground mixture in the center of the cotton. Put your hair on top. Roll cotton and herbs around your folded petition (fold very small, toward yourself). Secure with white or silver cord. Place in gris-gris bag. Sprinkle bag with full moon magickal oil or your enchanted perfume, as explained in Section 2.

Place gris-gris bag beside white candle. Rub candle with sandalwood herb and hold up to the moon like a wand. Beckon, in your own words, the power of the full moon to enter the candle. Petition the deity chosen, paying special attention to your previous research. Light the candle and pass over the gris-gris bag seven times. Place candle in holder and repeat your desire seven times, remembering to use primal language and saying thank you when you are finished. Allow candle to burn completely. Carry gris-gris with you until your desire is achieved. Burn when your request has been granted. Note: Various flowers can be added to your altar along with favorite items associated with your chosen moon goddess to increase your connection with divinity.

Did you know:
In early times, the sun was attributed to the Goddess, and the moon attributed to the God?

Full Moon Magick Water

Magickal waters are used to cleanse and empower objects, people, and sacred areas. Try this great no-salt recipe using magickal herbs!

Spring water (or white rum; see below)

⅛
teaspoon water lily root

⅛
teaspoon lemon peel

⅛
teaspoon poppy petals

1 clear bowl

1 round mirror (about 6 inches)

1 moonstone

Mortar and pestle, optional

1 white candle and candle holder

On a full moon, either grind herbs to a powder with mortar and pestle or leave whole, as you desire. Place clear bowl of spring water on top of a mirror where you can catch the light of the full moon in the water. Add herbal ingredients and moonstone. Stir water with finger, wooden stick (type of wood can be chosen by magickal correspondence), thin copper tube, or braided sterling silver wire. Both types of metal (sterling is a mix) are excellent for energy flow. Stir water nine times in a clockwise direction. Take three deep, even breaths before blessing and empowering, making sure your feet are firmly on the ground, shoulders straight yet relaxed. Rub white candle with a little sandalwood herb. Light candle. Place candle in the water so that the flame burns safely out of the water. Hold both hands over the water and candle, then speak any of the herbal empowerment conjurations given in this book that match your intended desire. When you are finished, seal the work by ringing your magickal bell to match your personal lucky number. Store water in a fluted potion bottle in refrigerator until needed throughout the month. Make new water each month. This magickal water is to be used for adding power to any working, esbat rituals, or harvest spells, so you may wish to indicate your desire accordingly.

Hint:
Full moon water carries extra power if made in your own magickal garden. As a special touch, float carnations or moon flowers in the water for at least one hour.

Note:
Salt is unnecessary in this formula, as the lemon peel and water lily root are natural herbal cleansers. For a healing moon formula, add eucalyptus herb. For divinatory pursuits, add eyebright herb. To move a particular spell along, use white rum instead of water (just don't put it near a fire!). If you use white rum, you can steep the herbs for an entire month to make the brew more magickal, but don't drink it!

Prayer Beads

Prayer beads are a vehicle used to focus the mind on a single intent by saying an affirmation or prayer as you touch each bead. Ideally, to focus the mind completely, the affirmations should be intoned for a minimum of sixty-five seconds. HedgeWitch prayer beads use twenty-eight beads on a string, with twenty-eight corresponding to one moon cycle (full moon to full moon). Your beads can be used in a variety of ways—there is no limit to their creative use.

You will need:

28 beads (your choice)

2 5-yard pieces of hemp or cord (your choice of color;
larger beads will require longer cord)

Full moon water

White candle

Sandalwood herb or full moon oil

A positive affirmation of your choice that fits your lifestyle

Fold cords in half and make a knot, leaving four dangling ends. On a full moon, cleanse and bless all supplies. Rub white candle with sandalwood herb. Keep candle lit as you work. String one bead onto the two center cords. Tie a plain knot with the two outer cords so that the bead sits within the cords, stabilized by the knot underneath, or use a macramé knot such as the square knot. Each time you string a bead or add a knot, repeat your chosen affirmation out loud. Add another bead. Knot. Continue until your project is completed. Sprinkle beaded cord with full moon water. Place beaded cord in the moonlight. As the month progresses, you can use the beaded cord for a variety of prayers and spell work. Re-empower every full moon. Additional charms can be added throughout the year—you can even add buttons! (That's an Old Pennsylvania Dutch custom.) Your beads can become a year's worth of magick. Retire them at the end of the year, or continue to use them the following year.

Note:
Wooden beads with large holes work best. Add a sterling silver charm to the top or bottom (or both) of your newly made prayer beads. Hang beads on staff, over altar, or carry in purse or pocket.

Dark Moon Prayer Beads

Use only black or midnight blue beads. Use black cord. These beads are for banishing negativity and releasing our fears or worries. Touch each bead, saying: “I let go of _________,” naming whatever is upsetting you at the time. “I am free! I am filled with harmony, happiness, and peace of mind. I am cleansed! Thank you!” When you have finished touching all the beads and repeating your mantra, place prayer beads under the full moon to cleanse them after your working.

Window Dressing

Lengthen cord and add additional colorful beads and bells. Use as a decoration on windows, doors, or over altar. Beads with dots and wild patterns are thought to ward off negativity, confusing the evil energy, making it lose its power. Bells cleanse the atmosphere of anger and negative intentions.

For Magickal Gardeners

Make your HedgeWitch prayer beads while sitting in your garden, allowing the natural touch of Spirit to flow through your fingers. If your basil or hyssop is flowering, add those tiny petals, too!

Full Moon Meditation/Affirmation

For a full month, repeat this affirmation each morning and upon retiring at the end of the day, beginning on the first day of the full moon:

In stillness, I find illumination.
By looking within, I learn the mysteries of the universe,
for therein lies the portal of understanding!

As you look within yourself, you will discover an amazing gateway to divine energy! Practice filling yourself with white light many times during the day. After one month of practice, you may find yourself happier, calmer, and healthier! Consider this inner light the illumination of Spirit, as we see in the face of the full moon. You may find that adding the sound of a singing bowl or tuning forks (particularly B, associated with the second chakra) is helpful in your full moon work. The “Om” sound also resonates well, whether you use a tuning fork or your own powerful voice.