The lunar phase is important in determining the best time for magick. There are basically two lunar phases: waxing moon (ideal time for positive magick) and waning moon (ideal time for banishing/negative magick, study, and meditation). In between you'll have the dark moon (the time of greatest power for banishing and negative magick) and the full moon (the time of greatest power for positive magick).
Most witches and pagans work around these lunar phases. However, others, like Silver RavenWolf, suggest a much more complicated subdivision of the moon phases. Here I'm providing Silver RavenWolf's moon phases as they appear in her book To Stir a Magick Cauldron.
| New Moon Magick (from the day of the New Moon to 3 1/2 days after) | ||||
| Timing: The magick should be performed between dawn and sunset for the best use of this magick. | Conjuring: beauty, health, and self-improvement; farms and gardens; job hunting; love and romance; networking | |||
| Crescent Moon Magick (from 3 1/2 days after the new moon through the 7th. day) | ||||
| Timing: The moon rises at mid-morning and sets after sunset. | Conjuring: animals, business, change, emotions, matriarchal strength | |||
| First Quarter (Waxing Moon) Magick ( from 7 to 10 days after the new moon) | ||||
| Timing: Sunset is the prime time for waxing moon magick. | Conjuring: courage, elemental magick, friends, luck, motivation | |||
| Gibbous Moon Magick (from 10 to 13 days after the new moon) | ||||
| Timing: It's a wonderful time for working around 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. | Conjuring: patience | |||
| Full Moon Magick (14 days after the new moon) | ||||
| Timing: Midnight is the best hour to work. | Conjuring: artistic endeavors; beauty, health, and fitness; change and decisions; children; competition; dreams; families; health and healing; knowledge; legal undertakings; love and romance; money; motivation; protection; psychism; self-improvement | |||
| Disseminating Moon Magick (3 to 7 days after the full moon) | ||||
| Timing: The time of souls is at 3:00 a.m. | Conjuring: addictions, decisions, divorce, emotions, stress, protection | |||
| Last Quarter (Waning Moon) Magick (7 to 10 days after the full moon) | ||||
| Timing: The moon rises at midnight and sets at noon. | Conjuring: addictions. divorce, health and healing (banishing disease), stress, protection | |||
| Dark Moon Magick (from 11 to 14 days after the full moon) | ||||
| Timing: As odd as this may sound, the strongest pull of the dark moon is around 10:00 a.m. | Conjuring: addictions, change, divorce, enemies, justice, obstacles, quarrels, removal, separation, stopping stalkers and theft | |||
Eclipses represent the perfect union of sun and moon. Any type of magick is acceptable.
There are 2 types of lunar eclipse:It's said that the moon is void of course before it enters a new moon sign (Cancer, Leo, Virgo...). There is a sort of dead space when this is happening. The rule here is to avoid doing any important magick work while the moon is avoid of course. Don't do any major magick work. Don't complete any magick work.
The moon continuously moves through the Zodiac, from Aries to Pisces, picking the influences of the astrological signs. A working witch takes this into consideration when planning a ritual or a magick spell.
| MOON SIGN | Conjuring (according to Silver RavenWolf) | Conjuring (according to Llewellyn's Magick Almanac) |
| Moon in Aries | Beginning of things, matters of self and your personality | Good for starting things, but lacks staying power. Things occur rapidly, but quickly pass |
| Moon in Taurus | Financial matters of personal nature, vehicles, benefits, possessions | Things begun now last the longest, tend to increase in value, and become harder to alter |
| Moon in Gemini | Relatives, communication, studies, writing, street smarts | Things begun now are easily changed by outside influence |
| Moon in Cancer | Home environment, mothers, end of life, family | Pinpoints need, supports growth and nurturance |
| Moon in Leo | Pleasures, hobbies, love affairs, entertainment, sports, your pets | Showmanship, favors being seen, drama, recreation and happy pursuits |
| Moon in Virgo | Working environment, health, service extended, clothing | Favors accomplishment of details and commands |
| Moon in Libra | Marriage, partnerships, legal matters, small animals | Increases self-awareness, favors self-examination and interaction with others |
| Moon in Scorpio | Death, sex, taxes, inheritances, transformation | Increases awareness of psychic power. Ends connections |
| Moon in Sagittarius | Religion, metaphysics, long-distance travel, in-laws, higher learning | Encourages flights of imagination and confidence |
| Moon in Capricorn | Business, career, reputation, fathers, honor | Increases awareness of the need for structure, discipline |
| Moon in Aquarius | Friendship, acquaintances, hopes and dreams, groups and organizations | Favors activities that are unique and individualistic |
| Moon in Pisces | Inner development, karma, restrictions, secrets revealed | Energy withdraws from the surface of life, hibernates within, secretly reorganizing and realigning |
The information on this web page was taken from the following sources: Silver RavenWolf's To Stir a Magick Cauldron and Llewellyn's 1996 Magick Almanac