Tag: Ritual

Indulge Under the Super Strawberry Moon

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, hello, my darlings! I’m cutting it close with this one, but hopefully it will still be helpful. Tomorrow, June 14th, we will see the Super Strawberry Full Moon! Last month we had the Super Flower Full Moon (among many other interesting lunar movements), so hopefully you remember that Super means that the moon is passing closer to the earth giving it a much larger place in the sky! It also denotes an increase in the effect that this celestial body has on the planet, and thereby, us.

June’s Full Moon, the Strawberry moon, brings us closer to our fulfillment in life. We’re reminded of all of the decadent and joyful moments that we sometimes race by on our way to the finish line. In Europe, this is referred to as the Rose Moon in some places, as all the roses are currently in bloom. In other parts it’s called the Honey Moon; fitting as June used to be the season for weddings. After the Beltane celebration, many young lovers would commit and be in the throes of “the honey moon phase”.

Now is the time to allow yourself space to slow down and drink in each moment. The Strawberry Moon represents optimism, wonder, magic, openness, and pleasure. It can also be associated with tenacity and grit. With Litha, or the Summer Solstice, a mere handful of days away, now is the time that we’re saying goodbye to Spring and hello to Summer! Halfway through the Gregorian calendar, we can reflect now on the goals we set way back during Imbolc. How have we kept to those goals? How have those goals changed, if at all? Have we achieved any of those goals? How have we approached the obstacles that hindered our progress? Have we let surprises crop up and slow our progress?

This is what I will be focusing on tomorrow. I plan to journal out my answers to these questions and hopefully cut away the thorns that have been ensnaring me. Full moons are about release, remember. Let go of that which holds us back from our Highest Good. I also want to find some ways that I can slow down and incorporate my favorite things into my daily life or practice. Last year I dried rose petals and handed them out to loved ones. This year I may go berry picking and even attempt to bake something rich and succulent with what I’m able to forage! Or I could simply spend more time in the sun. Whatever you choose to do, just remember to enjoy it and be present. One of my favorite quotes comes from Khalil Gibran. “Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair.” Spend time enjoying your favorite things about early summer. Make a bonfire, have s’mores, enjoy yourself however feels right to you.

I’m stressing the pleasure aspect of this moon, I know, but I feel like we’re all in need of some self-care, especially because this Full Moon is in Sagittarius. The third fire sign of the zodiac year is independent and focused. They have a healthy relationship with pleasure, knowing how to dote on themselves. Their untamable spirit burns like a beacon, setting others ablaze with joy and inspiration. They are also ruled by Jupiter, the planet of good luck, growth, prosperity, healing, and opportunity. If you’ll remember, Jupiter recently started a brand new journey through Aries four weeks ago during the Super Blood Flower Moon Eclipse. Still a mouthful!

This is the way I want to come at summer. What sets you on fire? What lights you up inside? Bring that into your day to day, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time. A friend recently recommended to me that I should read ten pages a day, as I had mentioned I struggled finding the time to read the many books I have added to my collection. “Ten pages?” I asked him, “What is ten pages going to accomplish?” He told me, “Even if you only read ten pages per day, you will have read 3,650 pages by the end of the year. That’s the equivalent of seven 500 page novels.” A little every day adds up, just like a savings account. So why not drop a few coins on your heart’s fire this summer? Perhaps you’ll blaze a new trail into a habit that brings you joy even in the winter months.

Now if you are wanting to take all these journaling prompts, like myself, and sit down in a sacred space to connect with the earth, your deities, ancestors, whatever, let’s talk about associations. As always, Full Moons are associated with Selenite, Clear Quartz, and Black Tourmaline. Sagittarius is associated with Lapis Lazuli, connecting us to our inner royalty, Blue Topaz, which helps the spirit relax as well as the body, and Turquoise, which can help instill an inner calm. Side note, it’s great for preventing panic attacks and helping to recover from depression and exhaustion.

Herb wise, Sagittarius is connected to Sage, which helps bring wisdom, good luck, and prosperity, and Saffron, or the Queen’s Spice, which connects us to our passionate and even seductive side. The Full Moon is associated with Mugwort, for inducing vivid dreams and awakening psychic gifts, as well as Star Anise to promote harmony. It’s also associated with Jasmine, which I usually leave out because Jasmine very specifically speaks to romance and manifesting prosperity in love, but the Honey Moon seems like a perfect time to sprinkle a little Jasmine in your cauldron and jzooj up the passion in the air. Sagittarius is also associated with independent animals such as the camel, able to sustain itself in the desert without a drink for days on end, and the wild horse, running free and exploring the open air. The Full Moon is associated with rabbits and moths. I also suggest drying some strawberry leaves and keeping them either on your altar or in your pocket as they draw good fortune and favorable circumstances!

Take some time to set up your space, and set an intention with any incense or candles you light. If you aren’t able to do that, perhaps just take a moment to focus on a stone, or even on a journal before delving into these prompts. My intention will be to practice being more consciously present. How can you let yourself play this summer? Being grateful for what you have while moving towards what you want helps me stay grounded. Letting myself break free of the anxiety of societal judgment feeds my spirit, personally. At Beltane, when I hung ribbons on my rose bush, I laid in the grass afterward just feeling the earth below me. I’m sure my neighbors thought I was nuts, but ignoring social standards allowed me to really connect. How can you find that connection daily? Do you believe you deserve to find that connection daily? Knowing how to dote on oneself and believing we deserve it are two separate tasks, in my opinion.

This look at our self-worth can be jarring or difficult. If you find yourself struggling to explore the joyous side of yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you trust for support. My coven knows that we are here for each other. If you don’t feel like you have someone, it may be worthwhile to find a counselor to help you navigate your feelings. You should know by now, I’m a big supporter of mental health!

When I’ve finished my journaling, I will meditate on what I’ve learned about myself, if anything, and chant this prayer I wrote several times:

Blooming Strawberry moon, shining bright above
Harbinger of luck and sweetness, prosperity and love
With your light to guide, my clarity grows
I trim the thorns, but leave the rose
I take delight in each leg of the journey
While present and grateful for all you bring to me
The path now smooth beneath my feet
Leads to the Truth of my heartbeat

When I feel my intention is good and solidified, I’ll finish with:

So mote it be. So mote it be. So mote it be. Blessed be.

Look for joy this summer, my darlings. Look for it in yourself, and in your surroundings. And let no one tell you that your happiness is disallowed. I’ll see you in a few days for my Litha/Summer Solstice post!

Slowing Down with May’s New Moon

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello my darlings! I want to touch on the New Moon that’s coming up on May 30th. This one is going to be in Gemini! Associated with Mercury, who is currently in retrograde, they rule over transportation, technology, communication, and contracts. If you’ve been having trouble expressing yourself lately or finding a lot of inconvenient mishaps making you late, we generally chalk that up to Mercury being in retrograde. That being said, I think that this New Moon may be a good time to cultivate some patience. Patience with ourselves, others, and general circumstances of any given situation.

Keep in mind that Mercury will be leaving retrograde right after this New Moon on June 2nd. Giving ourselves and others the grace to be fallible and human during this time will resolve a lot of misunderstandings before they even become an issue. If you’re entering into any legal agreements at this time, don’t be pressured to move quickly. Take your time to read the fine print and make sure you understand what you are agreeing to.

I know now that the weather is becoming more amenable to playing outdoors we all tend to overbook ourselves and we wind up not feeling rested or relaxed at all. My suggestion for this New Moon is to slow down. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been feeling a little disconnected lately, from my craft, from the earth, and from a lot of the things I enjoy. So here is how I intend to reconnect with patience and quiet on Monday.

Since I’m lucky enough to have Memorial Day off of work, I’ll be spending the majority of the day with friends, but once I’ve returned home, I want to gather some materials at my work space and cleanse it. Namely Bay Leaves, my cauldron, a lighter, a marker, a piece of paper, salt for cleansing, Lavender for calm, peace, and to represent Gemini, Chamomile for abundance and health, Calendula petals for joy and stability, Clover Honey for a lasting effect and sweetening stressful situations, and a chime candle. I’ll also be grabbing Rose Quartz (which I’ve been drawn to lately) for universal love, Clear Quartz for clarity and grounding, and Blue Lace Agate to calm stress and anxiety.

Once all my items are gathered, I will ground myself by setting out my stones, then making a list of frustrations I face regularly that are out of my control. As I write them, I will envision the frustration leaving me through the ink. I’ll fold the list up and set it aside, and bring forward the herbs, honey, and chime candle. First I’ll carve the word patience into the side of the candle with my thumbnail. That’s what we’re creating here, a sense of peace and living slow. Next I’ll put a thin layer of honey on the outside of the candle. A little goes a long way, so don’t feel like you need to slather it on. Then I’ll sprinkle the herbs over the candle. I usually work over a small plate to avoid large spills. This also helps if the herbs have trouble sticking, you can roll the candle on the plate to help adhere more onto it until you’re satisfied.

When you’re ready, light your chime candle. Allow it’s light and warmth to roll over you, before lighting your list of daily frustrations and letting it burn in your cauldron. Remember, guys, fire safety is incredibly important. Use common sense! As the candle and my frustrations burn, I am going to meditate on the path I want to walk and the patience required to do so. If I find a few revelations during the meditation I will journal them. If not I will probably do a tarot reading or scry in my mirror for clarity.

And there you have it! A quiet easy way to add a little peace to your life. Slow down and breathe. Tomorrow will come, today will leave, and the small things, while inconvenient, are only that; small. I love you, my darlings! I hope you enjoy the long weekend if you’re able, and don’t push yourselves too hard.

Blossoming In The Beltane Reunion

A story by Calista Moon on .

My darlings! May we be well met as we come up on the third Sabbat of the year. The Beltane celebration starts on April 30th, the same day the new moon settles in Taurus. We’ve talked about the way the energy of the new moon is ideal for manifesting, so I want to focus on the lively energy of Beltane in this post. Before we get too deep into it though, here are some reminders for how to connect to the black moon.

Take some time to clean your altar. If you’re celebrating Beltane, you may be doing this anyway to harness the high energy in the air, but the new moon is a time for fresh starts. For my little rock goblins, selenite, clear quartz, labradorite, tiger’s eye, and tiger iron are great manifesting and new moon connecting stones. Cinnamon brings abundance, luck, and prosperity. Mugwort awakens psychic gifts and banishes negative energies. Basil is a great protection and wealth herb as well. I associate all three of these with the new moon, bringing in fresh new opportunity and pushing out old energy. Green would be a great color to add and really bring in that fresh spring feeling as well!

Now let’s talk about Beltane! I don’t know about you, but this is what I’ve been waiting for since the weather turned cold. Beltane is the halfway mark between the Spring Equinox (Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (Litha). It is the height of the Spring season, and is still celebrated today as May Day in a lot of areas. Originally it was a Celtic fire festival, like Imbolc, and, like Imbolc, is celebrated from sundown to sundown. So Beltane will last from sundown on April 30th until sundown on May 1st. A couple large differences between Beltane and Imbolc is both the weather and the role that sexuality plays in this Sabbat. If we look to nature, we see attraction and babies everywhere at this time of year, and we use that energy to our benefit as well. Birds hatch, flowers bloom, and it’s even said that the Fae reawaken during Beltane. In some cultures the Fae and the May Queen are tied closely to Beltane, but I’ll let our Master Librarian fill you in on that. I’m sure she has far more knowledge than I do in that realm.

During the day, Beltane celebrations would start with people decorating their doors, windows, and livestock with yellow and white flowers, symbols of the sun and its promise of fertility, positivity, and abundance. A maypole would be erected with ribbons attached to the top. Young men and women would then grab a ribbon and dance around the pole, interweaving their ribbons together. Handfasting ceremonies would take place during Beltane to insure abundant fortune for young couples. There is even something called a May Bush, which is much like a Christmas tree! A thorn bush, or sometimes just a branch, would be decorated with ribbons, brightly colored shells, and rushlights. I had to look that last one up myself as I’d never heard of rushlights until I started looking into the history of Beltane. They are rushes that have been soaked in animal fat to act as small torches. (If you want to decorate a May bush this year, use smart fire safety, my darlings. String lights, fairy lights, what have you, may be more modern, but they are much more practical and safe than rushlights in this day and age.)

As night would fall, the Beltane fire was stoked, and all other flames would be extinguished. Candles, hearths, what have you, would go dark and be rekindled with the Beltane flame to protect the home and bless it with abundance. People would dance around the Beltane fire, and young couples would leap over the embers to in hopes of abundant love and fertility. Some would use the flames to create a smudge stick of sorts and let the smoke cleanse their homes and cattle, or even drive the cattle to leap over the fire itself in hopes of protecting the herd and bringing prosperity and abundance. The next morning many would roll in the morning dew as they believed it to increase beauty and maintain youth. A Beltane rain is said to cleanse and bring blessings of radiance, warmth, and abundance as well.

From a deity perspective, Beltane is the reunion of the Green Man and Mother Earth. Now that she has fully awoken after her long sleep and the Green Man has come of age in the cycle of the year, they embrace and express their love in the green and growing places. This is part of where the maypole came from. It is a phallic representation pushed into the earth, the joining of the Green Man and Mother Earth. As the ribbons intertwine and sheathe the maypole, it becomes the womb of the earth, full of life and potential, bringing kind weather and fertile land for crops. The Green Man is an ambiguous title for Mother Earth’s lover, and he can take many forms. In the Celtic pantheon he is the horned god Cernunnos, but this is a time when you can work with any fertility gods or goddesses. And remember as you harness this energy for growth that this is also the time of the New Moon, a powerful time to manifest!

So how do we celebrate now? While a lot of these rituals still take place today, such as the maypole and fire festivals, we can do a number of different things. As usual, whatever feels right to you is the way to celebrate, but here are some ideas and how I intend to bask in the new life around us. Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t, my darlings.

We’ve talked about making a ritual fire and decorating a May bush. You can make your own Maypole with a good stick, colorful ribbons, some fragrant herbs or flowers, and even tying on a crystal to decorate your altar. Making a fairy garden, or sowing new seeds in a plant garden are great ways to represent the rebirth in the air! You can also visit and decorate a nearby spring or well for the occasion and bless the waters there. If you’re looking to harness the sexual nature of this Sabbat, try cooking a meal with your lover and using aphrodisiacs to ramp up the desire between you like the Green Man and Mother Earth.

Personally I will be partaking in quite a few of these rituals! I love this time of year. Usually I spend time outside with nature appreciating the greenery, which is also a lovely way to honor the earth. However after researching the history of this Sabbat, I feel inspired to tackle traditional methods of celebration. I entirely intend to make a ritual fire and dance around it like the wild woman I am. I also want to decorate the rose bush in my front yard and lay out some offerings for the Fae and one of my deities, Persephone, who happens to be a fertility goddess. If I can find myself a good and hardy stick, I want to try my hand at making a maypole for my altar, which itself needs a good clean.

Oh! Let’s talk about rocks and plants! Two of my favorite topics, you know. Being all about sun and growth, Beltane’s associated colors are white, yellow, red, pink, and green. Some crystals to add to your workings or altar right now are Carnelian, for creativity and passion, Emerald, for luck and prosperity, Rose Quartz for love in all its forms, and Malachite, the stone of transformation, for courage and clearing negativity. Good herbs to throw into your cauldron or ritual fire are Yarrow for healing, love, and protection, Mint to symbolize personal strength and virtue, Lilac for high self-esteem and confidence, and Frankincense to cultivate inner peace and purification. If you’re one to make offerings to the earth, deities, Fae, or anyone else, cherries and peaches are wonderful choices during Beltane. Cherries represent sensuality and the elixir of life, while peaches are associated with perpetual vitality and satisfaction.

Once my altar has been decorated for the Beltane season, I will pick up the journaling I did during the Pink moon. Remember how we talked about the cosmic energy of the Pink moon was preparing us for this New moon? I suggested and embraced shadow work around the passion of my spirit, what brings me energy, and what stops me from engaging in these fulfilling activities. I have spent the past few weeks working to incorporate my soul fire into my daily life and I want to continue this work, so I intend to sit down in my cleansed space and meditate. What would my life look like if my spiritual garden burst fully into bloom? If every dream I have opened to my soul’s flame, like flowers spreading their gorgeous delicate petals to the sun? How would my soul, my body, my mind feel in this harmony? I will hold and charge a talisman with this passion and flow, and carry it with me. I’ll spend some time journaling about what this projected passionate life looks like on a day to day basis. Remember to stay realistic in your vision. Contentment and discipline stay when motivation and passion wane.

With my meditation complete, I will head outside to stoke my ritual fire. Once it’s burning brightly like the fulfillment of my future, I’ll recite this invocation. I found it during my research and tweaked it to suit my own intentions and ritual.

The Beltane Fire sends its flames to the sun
The promise of summer warmth to come
The Horned God dances through the green,
Chasing after his Goddess and Queen

The Earth Mother laughs with joy
That her young consort is no longer a boy
Their sacred marriage empowers the earth
As we seek their blessings of love and mirth

New spring blossoms clean and bright
Clarity grows in the gathering light
Now is the time for action and life
To fertilize plans and banish strife

Father Sun and Mother Moon
Whose balance keeps life in tune
Bless us as we thrive, grow, and dance
In the beautiful universe expanse.

Dance free across the Beltane fire
Let the ashes raise you higher
‘Neath the moon, now dark and new
The Greatest Good come swift to you!

And so it is. And so it is. And so it is. Blessed be.

And then…we dance! Dancing isn’t for everyone, but I like to think of it as moving in time with the cosmic flow. However you move is the best way to move. Let your body guide you, it knows where it wants to go, and the universe will love however you move! Think of this aligned future you’re manifesting and the bright fulfillment you desire; that you deserve! Send the energy of your dance up with the flames to shift the machinations of the universe to your dreams. When I feel my future has been solidly rooted, done and dusted, I’ll sit and buzz in the thrum of the energy I’ve raised until the fire dies.

In the morning, I’ll go roll in my yard and scare my good suburban neighbors as I embrace the morning dew with affirmations of beauty, vitality, and the fact that we must grow old, but no one must grow up. Being young at heart is a quality I hold dear, and rolling around in the grass is a great way to engage your inner child. Playing is so important, my darlings. I hope you let yourself play and cut loose this weekend as you celebrate however you like! Blessings and fortune be upon you!

April’s Pink Moon Is Going Super Saiyan

A story by Calista Moon on .

It’s that time again, my darlings. The wheel continues to turn and we find ourselves preparing for the fourth full moon of this year; the Pink Moon. It’s also known as the Hare Moon or the Egg Moon. Sound familiar? If you were raised in the Christian beliefs, you would be right in thinking that this is yet another pagan celebration that was hijacked by the Catholic church during the Barbarian conversions. There is a lot of mythology and lore that is interwoven magnificently around Easter and the Pink Moon, but I don’t want to get into that too much this month. If you’re interested, I would suggest researching the Germanic goddess Eostre.

I want to focus instead on the sky and the earth, this month. The Pink Moon is about attaining fullness. It falls during Aries season, and the adventurous spirit of this fire sign is coming through to set us after our ambitions. The energy in the air is restless and ready to be utilized! One of the best parts of this year’s Pink Moon is that it is going to be in the air sign of Libra, the scales, who will bring balance to this restless energy. Aries and Libra are a wonderful system of checks and balances. Where an unchecked passionate Aries can burn recklessly, the cool intellect of Libra will stall the flames and help focus our energy toward our goals. Together they blaze a beautiful trail.

This gorgeous pairing of signs around the Pink Moon is the perfect time to reflect on the obstacles or fears stalling our progress and adapt to the situations at hand so that we may overcome and even transcend this level of internal or external struggle. Now is a time to let love flow around you and release the very human need to cling tightly to the familiar. This kind of trust can open the door to a lot of discomfort and fear. That’s okay. Let that fear in. Sit with it. It is there to try to protect you, and it learned to be fearful from the past. Reassure it that everything is going to be fine. The universe has your back, and always has. Attune with your intuition and meet that fear with love until it tires itself out.

That is an act much easier said than done, of course. We’re human after all. But let me toss a few more cosmic movements into this mixture to see if we can persuade your fears to relax. So we’ve got ambition, and the intellect to focus it, as well as the moon’s transcendent energy. Already a lovely combination, but what if we saw Jupiter, the planet of opportunity, potential, and luck, meet up with Neptune, the planet of the unconscious, evolutions, and imagination for the first time in roughly 150 years? Furthermore, what if we saw them align in Neptune’s home sign of Pisces; ruler of dreams, intuition, and emotional awareness? And, to help focus that wild combination of intuitive luck and imagination, what if Venus, the ruler of Libra, showed up to bring love, beauty, and compassion to the equation?

I know. That’s a lot of information. It can get a little muddy sometimes, so let me try to nutshell all of this as best as I can. Today, on April 12th, the fortune and potential of Jupiter aligned with the evolutionary imagination of Neptune. That evolutionary energy is being emphasized since Neptune is in its home sign of Pisces. These two together, evolution and luck, are going to be with us for the Pink Moon on April 16th. The same Pink Moon that is overflowing with the energy of Becoming, wholeness, and adaptation. The same Pink Moon that is driven by the fiery ambition of Aries season towards our desires, and whose energy is being focused by arriving in the clear intellect of the fair and balanced air sign of Libra.

This Full Moon is about Becoming with a capital B! It is about preparing for the next New Moon. It is begging us to Let. Go. Let go of the fears that keep us stagnant. Let go of the what ifs and anxiety that keep us from opening to opportunities. Because, before the month is out, Jupiter and Neptune will be joined by Venus’ compassion in Pisces just in time for the New Moon. These three are an incredibly powerful manifesting trio, and Venus’ added energy will be leveling up all of our interpersonal relationships. Luck, evolution, and compassionate love coming together. Now is the time to be courageous. Reflect on your big picture, adapt and trust in the world around you, and in that flow you will transcend what you currently perceive to be an obstacle, and see it for what it really is. A stepping stone towards the point where your fortune, love, and evolution meet.

I think the key to harnessing this collective energy under the Pink Moon on Saturday is going to rely a lot on balance. It will require the balance of your gut with your mind. Emotions and intellect must be kept in check of one another. Where Libra sits and ponders over a situation, Aries will light a fire under them to keep moving. Some really good balancing stones to incorporate in your Full Moon ritual this month will be Rhodonite and Unakite.

Rhodonite is a self-esteem and self-image booster, as well as helping open us to the world of possibilities. It can help us look closer at ourselves, and helps enhance our relationships with our self, friends, business, and romantic interests. Unakite is a heart healer. It recalibrates our frequency to resonate with love and compassion while balancing the emotions in the body, such as fear and anxiety. If you’ve ever heard someone say feel your feelings, that’s what they mean. The tightness in the chest or shoulders, the knotted forehead muscles. Unakite will help recalibrate the way we interact physically with our emotions. Letting love flow into the spaces where fear lives can help us let go of the stagnation that makes us feel safe in familiarity. Contrary to the old adage, the devil you know is not actually better than the devil you don’t.

This is already a very lengthy post, so I won’t be going into a step by step for the Pink Moon. My ritual this month is fairly personal and will incorporate a lot of shadow work anyway, so I want to leave you with a few questions to help you fill the corners of your heart and mind with the trusting love of the universe, and a prayer. What gives you vitality and energy? What could you lose if you incorporated this into your life more? What could change? What stops you from tending to the needs of your spirit’s flame? Where does this stem from?

I bask in the fullness of the Pink Moon. As the grasses reach for the sky, I too yearn for growth. I acknowledge the traumas that have marred my spirit. I release the pains that weigh on my heart and mind. I meet my shadows with love. I am open to change and love in all forms. I look to nature for examples of how to relinquish worry and embrace the joy of living in the present. I trust in the abundance and perfect love of the universe. And so it is. And so it is. And so it is. Blessed be.

Note: shadow work is absolutely not for everyone. However, if you find some of these questions touch parts of your mind or heart that scare you, and you feel ready for change, I would encourage you to journal a little on these thoughts, my darlings. Examination of ourselves is the best way to prune away that which doesn’t serve us any longer, in my opinion. And I for one am very ready to remove what’s holding me back from my love filled, evolutionary potential. Blessed be!

A Moon By Many Names

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, my darlings! I hope you’ve spent the last few weeks focusing on your manifestations from Imbolc’s new moon, because the sixteenth of February marks the second Full Moon of 2022. This one goes by many names for a lot of different reasons. The first name I heard for February’s full moon was the Bone moon, but in researching for this post, I learned it is also called the Snow moon, the Ice moon, and the Quickening moon.


I always liked the name of the Bone moon, because it makes sense historically. Food reserves were running low around this time of year, and people relied on bone broths and gnawing the last of the meat off of bones for sustenance before spring made her grand entrance. However, we’re a bit removed from that lifestyle these days with 24 hour grocery stores and year round abundance, so I wanted to look into other names that may resonate more with the earth and the lives we lead now. The Snow moon and Ice moon make sense, especially considering that here in the Midwest we just had one to two feet of snow fall in 2 days a couple weeks ago. 


The Quickening moon intrigued me. I like the tie it gives to the cycle of the planet. In my Imbolc post, I talked about how the very first stirrings of life were beginning to move in the earth again, and Imbolc translated means “in the belly”. The Quickening moon echoes this to me. Spring is building beneath the surface. The earth is rooting and waking. She’s preparing, much like a mother who feels her child kick for the first time. She’s not here yet, but she’s coming. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve and patience before change arrives. Take time to be grateful for that which you have now while we wait for the greenery to burst forth and change the world, yet again. 


The Quickening moon is going to be in fiery Leo, so if you want to harness some of that creative, warm-hearted and cheerful lion energy, I would encourage you to safely have a representation of fire on your altar. I intend to make a need fire for burning Rosemary and Chamomile since they’re associated with Leo (one of my favorite ways to work), but if that’s something you’re not comfortable with, don’t worry! You can pull out Sunstone, or Peridot, have a representation of a lion, or the sun on your altar. If those are out of your realm as well, you can simply add gold or orange colors. Remember, it’s less about tools and more about intention. 


Like any other full moon rite, you can focus on what you would like to let go of as the full moon wanes. With Leo being our point of reference for the moon, it could be a good time to release the weaknesses associated with this sign such as arrogance, stubbornness, or inflexibility if you’re feeling that you struggle in those areas. I know I will be releasing an arrogant inflexibility that manifests in needing to control situations this month! So let’s talk about what that release looks like.


I’m going to add this reminder every time I post a ritual or spell working. Every witch’s practice is a little different. This is mine.

1. Cleanse your space. This is the staple beginning point for any ritual or spell. Having a clean workspace helps us make sure our energies don’t get mixed. Just like for the Wolf Moon ritual I posted last month, I like to clear the workspace of old workings or stray items, and wipe the table down with moon water. For the full moon, try wiping in a counterclockwise circle for releasing or banishing. Clockwise can help with manifesting or bringing in new energy. Then I’ll do smoke cleansing of the area with incense. If you feel like you need to clear the entire room, try using a singing bowl to raise the vibration in the room or clear any lingering energy.

2. Dress your workspace. This is my favorite part. I set out my associated items for this working stones, herbs, colors, what have you. The Quickening moon is associated with bones, (shock!) Jasper, Amethyst, and Rose quartz for stones. It’s associated herbs are Myrrh, Sage and Hyssop, and its colors are purple and blue. If you are intending to include items for Leo, its stones are Sunstone, Peridot, and Onyx. Herbs, like I said before, are Rosemary and Chamomile, and it’s colors are gold and orange. I put out candles for my deities and light them to invite them to join me in my working. Since I am going to burn herbs and my intention to release, I am also going to make sure I have salt, rubbing alcohol and my cauldron in the space. I’m also going to have bay leaves and a marker nearby to write my intended release, but this can be done on a piece of paper as well. Personally, I prefer to burn herbs. They smell nicer than paper. I’ll also be keeping my djembe drum nearby for this working.

3. Meditate and connect. This step is crucial for me. I take time to quiet my mind and connect with the earth and the moon. Meditate on that which I want to release, and let the energy flow through me. For this particular moon, I will be using the following incantation:

I drum beneath the Quickening Moon to awaken the Earth beneath me. She who stirs with potential and grants us life, food, and shelter. I awaken my own potential alongside her. I take advantage of my strengths and gratitude in this time of preparation. Mother Earth, hear my drum and awaken with me. 


I will drum on my djembe until I feel ready to do my working. I tend to focus on the energy in my hands the most, though in awakening the earth, I also extend my energetic root to the earth and envision the energy she offers coming up to me for this working.

4. Charge your release vehicle. Once I feel the buzz of energy, I will grab my bay leaf and marker and write that which I want to release on it, visualizing the energy moving this need to control, this inflexibility and stubbornness, out of me and into the leaf through the writing. Sometimes after writing, you may feel that there is more energy to be moved out of you and into your leaf or paper. Take some time to sit with the item in your hand and continue moving energy into it until you feel like you’ve completely eradicated that which you want to release.

5. Burn to release. At this point we’ll set aside the leaf or paper, and bring up our cauldron, salt, and rubbing alcohol to make the need fire. Please remember to never leave your open flames unattended. Need fires burn bright and hot, but don’t burn for very long; only a few minutes. In your cauldron put one tablespoon of salt, and 1/2 to 3/4 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Mix this together until the rubbing alcohol has been absorbed and it’s a little gooey in consistency. Then use a long match or a long candle to light. It goes up quick, so use smart fire safety when making your own need fire. Once your need fire is lit, you can add herbs if you like, or just light your leaf or paper that you wrote on. As it burns, visualize the negativity being burned with the vehicle. When the fire goes out, it is done. 

6. After drawing energy from the earth, I take a moment to move any excess energy in my body back down into the earth and then pull up my energetic root. This can help if you wind up with a high energy of mind and body after workings. I usually still have a bit of an aftershock effect, but this step can definitely help in mitigating it.

7. Closing the ritual. Once your need fire goes out, you can do any other workings you have in mind or you can close with the following incantation:

Thank you for listening and assisting in my working. I release that which blocks me from my Highest Good and retain that which keeps me aligned with my Highest Self. And so it is. And so it is. And so it is. Blessed be.

I then thank my deities for joining me, invite them to stay or go as they will, and extinguish their candles. 


And look at us! We did our second full moon spell together! Thanks for joining me, my darlings. I hope removing whatever obstacle you released helps lessen the struggles in your path! If you changed anything or did something different, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear about everyone’s nuanced differences.

Howling at the Full Wolf Moon

A story by Calista Moon on .

As we approach the first full moon of 2022, I wanted to share some ways to connect yourself to the moon cycle if you feel so inclined. I’ve loved looking at the moon since I was little. As I’ve grown and discovered my own spiritual path, I find that connection deepening every day. Please keep in mind that the only thing you need to practice any level of spirituality is yourself, but being raised in a very ritualistic household, I find comfort in the ceremony of my craft. So don’t feel obligated to purchase things for each Esbat (full moon) or Sabbat (a witch’s holy day), my darlings. This is just how I do things, and everyone’s practice looks a little different. 


The first full moon of the year has a lot of different names in a lot of different cultures, but where I’m at in the U.S., the most common name I’ve heard is the Wolf Moon. This particular Wolf Moon will be in Cancer, which brings change and release to our emotional foundation. Doubly so given that the moon is the ruling celestial body of Cancer! If you like working with particular spirits, the animals associated with this Esbat are the wolf, the coyote, and the fox. If you’re into crystals and stones, then you might want to pull out your garnet, onyx, or jet for this full moon ritual. If you work more with herbs and flowers, you can take some marjoram and holy thistle to your altar. You can also use nuts, cones, crocus petals, and snowdrop petals. I generally light a white candle for the Esbats as she is big and round and bright, but black or a blue-violet color are also great for the Wolf Moon. 


It’s a quiet time in nature. The earth is asleep, making this the perfect time to bunk down and look inward, focusing on situations that involve only yourself. Though Full Moons are associated with completion, cleansing, and removing what no longer works for you, this particular moon has an air of transformation. We release and make space for the energy to come. My favorite way to release this is to howl at the moon. It can be a lonely sound, but it reminds me I am not alone. The moon is listening. I tell her everything in my howl, loud and mournful. I let go of everything cluttering my mind, my intentions, my goals. This doesn’t need to be done aloud, or even outside. Again, each practice is different. Find what feels good and right to you. Personally the noise, the vibration in my chest, resonates and helps me feel like I’ve shaken loose the cobwebs and cleaned my spiritual house. 


But I’m getting ahead of myself. Please keep in mind that I have only ever been a solitary practitioner. Every witch’s spells and rituals look a bit different. A full moon ritual in my house usually looks something like this: 

1. Cleanse the space. I remove any stray items I haven’t put away, and wipe down the workspace with moon water. Then I’ll light some incense and sit with a singing bowl for a few minutes while I focus on my breath and envision the sound ringing through the space bringing brightness and cleanliness to the air and energy in the room. 

2. Dress the space. This is probably my favorite part. The aesthetic of witchcraft that we see on social media just isn’t something that is really sustainable all day every day, but making a beautiful cozy space to connect to the universal consciousness really helps put me in the mindset for magic working. This is when I arrange my crystals, set out my tarot cards and protection wards to charge, light candles for my deities and invite them to join me, get the herbs or flowers I’m working with prepped, and any other tools I’ll need. This can include an athame (a knife), a wand, a mortar and pestle, a lighter, candles, a pen and paper, any sigils, whatever I need for what I’m planning to do. If I’m making moon water, I’ll set it out at this time as well. Just get everything in arms reach so I can focus on the ritual as opposed to trying to find everything.

3. Dress the candle. This is a very meditative part of the spell for me. I like to carve intention into the candle whether with words or sigils, focusing my end goal into each indent and putting my will into the wax. Once the carving is done, I melt the wax of the sigil slightly and roll it in my ground herbs/flowers. You can also use an appropriate diluted essential oil, or olive oil/jojoba oil for this. You don’t need a whole lot, just enough to allow the herbs to stick to the candle. For this full moon, I will be sprinkling moon blood on the candle as well, to bind the transformative energies of the Wolf to myself. 

4. Meditate and connect. Once the candle is ready, I light it and focus on my intention, meditating on my end goal. When I feel the idea is solidified, I choose a way to open myself to the universal consciousness. This can be done a number of ways, but I usually like to do a tarot reading followed by journaling while my candle burns. For this particular Esbat, I will be using the following incantation:

I howl to the Wolf Moon to awaken the Goddess within me. The wild woman that seeks to be set free. I ask for guidance, insight, healing, and strength as I continue towards my Higher Purpose. May I always allow myself to express who I truly am. Mother Moon, I embrace you.

I repeat this as many times as feels right, then I’ll howl until I feel I have released that which doesn’t serve me or my intention. My intention for this Wolf Moon is “I am focusing my energy inward for personal growth and fulfillment.” Using the raised vibration of this sound work, I plan to do a simple three card tarot draw. The first will represent where I need to apply the energy to achieve fulfillment through growth. The second card will represent how to apply my energy to this focus. The third and final card will represent a sign that I will receive to know I am on the right path. Then I’ll journal my intuitive thoughts and meditate on the reading until the intention candle burns out.

5. Closing the ritual. Once the candle has done its work, my energy has been taken out into the world, my intention already working me toward my goal. I say the following incantation as a closing of the connection to the universal consciousness:

Thank you for everything. All my needs are met in all areas of my life, while working towards what I desire to have in my life. I release thoughts, worries, fears, attachments, and all that which does not serve my Highest Good nor my Highest Self. And so it is. And so it is. And so it is. Blessed be.

I then thank my deities for joining me. I invite them to stay if they like, or to go if they will, then extinguish their vigil candles.

And the spell is complete! After a ritual, my energy is usually very high, so I like to calm down with some tea and bask in the knowledge that my desires are on their way to me. Again, this involves a lot of tools and candles and things, but could be done simply by writing your intention on a piece of paper, meditating with it, charging it with purpose and will, and being open to whatever thoughts come to you about the situation before burning it to release the charged energy. There is no wrong way to do witchcraft, my darlings. Let me know what you like to do that may be a bit different from what I’ve described here, and have a blessed full moon!