In Witchcraft and most Pagan traditions the Moon is a major part of worship and is considered sacred. We see that the Moon controls the tides of the oceans and farmers plant and harvest by Her cycles. In astrology the Moon governs over our emotional nature and when She is full it is said that many a ‘lunatic’ will be out that night. There are many myths and stories about the Moon and Her mysterious ways.....
Phases of the Moon:
The Moon follows a continuos 28 day cycle -- called a Lunation -- and during the course of a year there are 13 Moons cycles. When the Moon is growing in the sky it is called “waxing” and looks like a crescent faced this way--> ). The Moon waxes from new to full. When the full moon is decreasing in size it is called “waning” and looks like a crescent faced this way--> (. The Moon wanes from full to new.
The Sun and Moon:
When the Moon is new it is always in the same astrological sign as the Sun ( a conjunction). When the Moon is full it is in the opposite sign as the Sun ( an opposition). Example: Sun in Libra= new Moon is Libra and full Moon is Aries.
There are 4 quarters in a Moon phase:
1st quarter- starts with a new Moon. The first day it is conjuncting with the Sun appears invisible. It then grows for seven days. 2nd quarter- The Moon is now a half moon and will continue to grow for 7 days. 3rd quarter- Starts as the full Moon. It is in opposition with the Sun and reflects its light completely. It now begins to wane for seven days. 4th quarter- The Moon is again a half Moon and will continue to decrease for 7 days until the cycles starts again with a new Moon.
Full Moons:
When there are 2 full moons in the same month the 2nd one is referred to as a “blue moon” and usually there are rare as with the saying “once in a blue moon”. Note that this year there are 2! Also the full Moon during each month has a name. These names Im guessing correspond to some weather or planting cycle. The “harvest” Moon is the full Moon is September and comes from farmers working all night in the fields getting in their last harvests; they used the full Moon’s light to work under.
2001 Moon Cycles
| Month | Full Moon & Sign | New Moon & Sign | *Full Moon Name |
| January | 9-Cancer | 24-Aquarius-Eclipse | Cold |
| February | 8-Virgo | 23-Pisces | Quickening |
| March | 9-Virgo | 24-Aries | Worm |
| April | 7-Libra | 23-Taurus | Wind |
| May | 7-Scorpio | 22-Gemini | Corn Planting |
| June | 5-Sagittarius | 21-Cancer | Strong Sun |
| July | 5-Capricorn | 20-Leo | Thunder |
| August | 4-Aquarius | 18-Leo | Corn |
| September | 2-Pisces | 17-Libra | Harvest |
| October | 2-Aries | 16-Libra | Blood |
| November | 1-Taurus/ 30-Gemini (blue) | 15-Sagittarius | Morning |
| December | none | 14-Sagittarius | Long Nights |
Celtic Tree Months:
Just as there are 13 lunations during the year there are 13 Celtic “Ogham” Tree months. These months do not follow the same days as the calendar we use but do have 28 day cycles. These “months” are named after sacred trees which are also letters in the sacred Ogham written and signed language used by the Druids. The thinking behind this 28 day calendar is that the Druids must have used the Moon cycle to make and thus not used a Solar calendar. The “symbol” that goes with each Tree is from Celtic astology much like Leo the Lion or Libra the Scales.
Celtic Tree Calendar*~*
| 28 day cycle | Tree | Gaelic | Symbol |
| Dec 24-Jan 20 | Birch | Beth | White Stag |
| Jan 21-Feb 17 | Rowan | Luis | Green Dragon |
| Feb 18-Mar 17 | Ash | Nion | Sea Horse |
| Mar 18-Apr 14 | Alder | Fearn | Hawk / Pentacle |
| Apr 15-May 12 | Willow | Saille | Sea Serpent |
| May 13-June 9 | Hawthorn | Uath | Challice |
| June 10-July 7 | Oak | Duir | White Horse / Golden Wheel |
| July 8-Aug 4 | Holly | Tinne | Unicorn / Flaming Spear |
| Aug 5-Sept 1 | Hazel | Coll | Rainbow Salmon |
| Sept 2-Sept 29 | Vine | Muin | White Swan |
| Sept 30-Oct 27 | Ivy | Gort | Butterfly |
| Oct 28-Nov 24 | Reed | Ngetal | White Hound / Stone |
| Nov 25-Dec 23 | Elder | Ruis | Black Horse / Raven |
* This information is from "The Witches' Calendar 2001" From Llewellyn publications
*~* This information is from "The Handbook of Celtic Astrology" by Patterson
Working with the Moon:
When you want to preform magick, spells, rituals, or just want to attune with the Moon it is best to do it on her terms. Follow her natural cycles of waxing and waning. During the 1st quarter when the Moon is new is the best time for new beggings, starting projects, planting , any creative work. A good time for spell work and any rituals for the Maiden aspect of the Moon. While the Moon is growing feed this power and your magick. When the Moon is full she is at her height in power and it is a time for celebration A good time for protection spells and rituals around women, blessings, healing, and the Mother aspect of the Moon. When the Moon is waning it is a time for regeneration, inner work, and harvest of what you planted during the new Moon, both earthly and spiritual. A good time to meditate, do banishing spells, rituals around letting go, and the Crone aspect of the Moon.
The Goddess and the Moon:
The Moon like the Sun and Earth has always been worshiped and revered by many peoples, cultures, and religions. Although there are Moon Gods most Moon deities are Goddesses. In fact there seems to be a natural association between women and the Moon. The Moon has always seem to represent all things feminine: emotions, love, sexuality, fertility, intuition, mystery, and secrets. One connection between women and the Moon ( and probably the first connection) is the 28 day cycle. When we were closer to the land women probably menstruated more in tune with each other and with the Moon. The people seeing this came the conclusion that the Moon ruled women. So it was easy for the early Pagans to see the Moon as a Goddess. Today she is loved, worshipped, and revered by Pagans and just “Moon lovers” alike.
Moon Goddesses:
Artemis, Brizo, Ceridwen, Diana, Hathor, Isis, Hecate, Levanah, Luna, Nimue, Phoebe, Selene, Anna, and
the Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone.
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