Silence Your Inner Critic: An Encouragement Spell

As the sun sets on a waning moon day, you can quiet the inner voices of negativity and criticism that get in the way of simple joy. When our moon ebbs, another grows forth, so this is an excellent opportunity to send away that naysayer inside of you and allow a more blissful, self- accepting side of yourself to shine through.

Gather together:

• 1 teaspoon of patchouli resin

• 1 teaspoon of rose hips

• 1 vanilla bean

• A charcoal disc

• 1 gray candle

Grind together a teaspoon each of patchouli, rose hips, and vanilla bean. Burn this resin-based mixture on a piece of charcoal on your altar (charcoal wafers are available from metaphysical stores in packs of ten). Light a gray candle for protection and meditate on the flame. As you meditate, think about how you sometimes doubt yourself and your instincts. Visualize clearing that from your mind. Think about your talents and your potential as you chant:

    La Lune, Goddess of the Moon,

    as you may grow, so do I.

    Here, tonight, under your darkest light,

    I shall embrace all within me that is good and right,

    and bid goodbye to all the rest.

    Blessed be.

Blow out the candle and cast it into a fireplace, outdoor firepot, or wherever it can be melted down completely and safely. You must completely destroy the candle, as it now contains the energy of your inner critic. You should feel lighter and brighter almost immediately!

The Dark Side of the Moon – Eclipse Enchantments

When the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, this is a lunar eclipse. These are rare occasions that make for a truly enchanted evening. I recommend you think ahead to what you want to accomplish in this phase, since an eclipse only lasts several hours. Think about what you want brought out of the shadow and into the light – do you need to dust off old dreams and reactivate them? Do you have old hurts and wounds you need to let go of and purge from your life? Do you feel there is a secret being kept from you? This one night is perfect for the purposes of saying goodbye to the old and ushering in the new. Simply plan your magical workings to coordinate with the passing shadow. When the moon is in full eclipse, treat those few moments as if the moon was in its Dark phase. It is also an excellent time to honor the goddess of the moon in a group or solo ritual. Think through carefully your heart’s desire and what will serve you for many months to come.