Money Blessings Bath

Before you go to your job interview, slip into a magic money bath! This spell is most effective if practiced on a new or full moon Thursday night. Pour green apple or mint essential oil into running bath water and bathe by the light of a single green candle. As you close your eyes, meditate on your true desires. What does personal prosperity mean to you? What do you really need and what do you really want? When you are clear about your answers, focus on the candle flame while whispering:

Here and now,

My intention is set.

New luck will be mine.

All needs will be met.

With harm to none and plenty for all. 

Blessed be.

Binding Prosperity To You: Conjuring Cords

For binding something or someone to you, try this spell during the waxing full moon. To rid yourself of something undesirable, embark on this cord magic during the waning or new moon. Once you have finished, the cords should be given back to the earth by burying them in the ground or tossing them into a body of water, preferably a river. You will need cords or sturdy string in an array of colors. For prosperity, hold a green or gold thread in both hands and envision your desire.

    Begin tying knots when you chant: 

    By knot of one, my charms begun, by two, my charms come true, 

    By knot of three, my desire is free, 

    By four, I shall have more, 

    By knot of five, I will thrive, 

    By six, ill fortune I nix, 

    By know of seven, to Jove in heaven, So mote it be.

Most people don’t realize that the classic charm bracelet is decorated with magical symbols representing the wearer’s wishes. For wealth, wear a Roman coin on your bracelet; for love, try a heart. For protection, a pure silver ring worn on the right pinkie has the greatest magical power, especially when engraved with your birth sign or astrological glyph and sacred pentagram. To instill the ring with protective power, clasp it over your heart and call out:

    Into this ring, is safety, security, and the power of protection.

    Guardian energy, be here now!

    And so it is.

First Moon of New Love: Candle Bell Spell

If you are in a phase of your life where you wish to attract new love, try this Candle Bell Spell two days before the full moon.

Gather together

    * 1 pink votive candle

    * a tray

    * 1 long-stemmed red rose bud

    * a small hand bell

    * rose essential oil

Check your lunar almanac and on the first night of the full moon, place the candle on the tray on your altar. Lay the rose bud and bell beside the candle. Anoint the candle with the rose essential oil. For the next two nights, cup the candle in your hands and direct loving thoughts into its flame for at least 5 minutes. On the last night of the full moon, take a thorn from the rose and carve the name of your heart’s desire into the candle wax, reciting:

    I will find true love.

    Light the candle and ring the bell thrice, saying:

    As this candle begins to burn, a lover true will I earn.

    As this flame burns ever higher, I will feel my lover’s fire.

Ring the bell three more times and allow the candle to burn for a few minutes while gazing at the flame. Keep notes in your bedside journal or your Book of Shadows and note how long it takes for true love to walk into your life. It will be interesting to look back and see where it happens, what sign the moon and sun are in, and all the details that will inform your future magical workings.

Money Magic Bath

You can almost seal the deal before a job interview with this prosperity ritual. This spell is most effective if practiced on a new or full moon Thursday night, but can certainly be used whenever you need.

Pour 6 drops of mint, verbena, or apple essential oil into running bath water. You can also use all three. Turn off all lights, step into the tub, and bathe by the light of a single green candle. As you close your eyes, meditate on your true desires. What does personal prosperity mean to you? What do you really need and what do you really want?

When you are clear about your answers, focus on the candle flame while whispering:

    Here and now, my intention is set.

    New luck will be mine and all needs will be met,

    With harm to none and plenty for all.

    Blessed be. So mote it be.

Lunar Elixir: Restorative Full Moon Infusion

 The full moon is a truly auspicious time and one to savor and make the most of. Try this restorative Lunar Elixir anytime your energy level is low to bolster mind, body, and spirit.

Gather together

• 1 teaspoon sliced fresh ginger root
• 1 teaspoon jasmine tea leaves
• 1 teaspoon peppermint tea leaves
• 2 cups (480ml) fresh water
• a teapot and a mug

Timing: Full moon phases last two days, so make this elixir on the first night at midnight.

Just before midnight, brew and strain an infusion of these healthful and energizing herbs. Once it is cool, pour it into your favorite mug and relish the aromatic steam for a moment. Wait for the stroke of midnight. Now, step outside and drink the elixir during this enchanted hour in the glow of moonlight. You will immediately feel clearer, more centered, and more focused.

Recharging Weekend Wonder: Natural Remedy Potion

This natural remedy is an excellent way to refresh after a hectic week.

Gather together

• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops jasmine essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 6 drops carrier oil
• a small ceramic or glass bowl

Timing: This tincture is most potent right after the sun sets, by the light of the waxing or full moon.

Blend the essential oils and carrier oil in the bowl. Take off your shoes so you can be more grounded. Walk outside, stand on your deck or by an open window. Now, close your eyes, lift your head to the moon, and recite aloud:

    Bright moon goddess, eternal and wise,

    Give your strength to me now.

    As I breathe, you are alive in me for this night.

    Health to all, calm to me.

    So mote it be.

Gently rub one drop of Natural Remedy Potion on each pulse point: both wrists, behind your ear lobes, on the base of your neck, and behind your knees. As the oil surrounds you with its warm scent, you will be filled with a quiet strength.

Thor's-Day Thursday Prosperity Potion

This spell is truly marvelous for getting a new or better-paying job. You will get the best results on a new moon or full moon Thursday night, but any “Thor’s Day” will do. Thursdays are named for Jupiter or Jove, originally Thor of Norse mythology, who represents joviality, expansion, and all things abundant.

To prepare yourself, begin by pouring a few drops of green apple or verbena essential oil into a vessel of hot water. Breathe in the steam deeply ten times, inhaling and exhaling deeply for cleansing. Light a single green candle. As you close your eyes, meditate on your true desires. What does personal prosperity mean to you? What do you really need? What do you most desire?

When you are clear about your answers, focus on the candle flame while intoning:

    Here and now, my intention is set.

    New luck will be mine and all needs will be met.

    With harm to none and plenty for all, blessed be.

After your cleansing breath meditation, perform this tried-and-true prosperity ritual to seal deals and bring new gainful employment and fiscal abundance your way.

Light a yellow or metallic gold candle and light cinnamon incense to go along with the candle. Place a piece of amethyst crystal by the candle and incense, and repeat this incantation eight times while envisioning yourself with perfect abundance at the perfect job:

    I see the perfect place for me; I see a place of plenty.

    Upon my heart’s desire, I am set.

    Prosperity comes to me now.

Place the vessel of water on your altar and let it cool. At midnight, pour the prosperity potion on the roots of a nearby tree.

Invoke Your Inner Goddess

At the next full moon, make a vow, alone or with your partner, to bring forth all your inner erotic powers. Begin with a blissful bath in oil-scented water; this essential oil must be the one that makes you feel sexiest. For me, it is an equal mix of vanilla and amber; my vamber has never failed me. When I wear this unguent, I feel as if a cloud of sensuality surrounds me.

Sit in a darkened room, encircled by flickering jasmine, musk, or “vamber” candles. Raise a cup of jasmine tea or a glass of wine from a vintage that represents a lucky year for you, and speak this spell aloud:

    Now I awaken the goddess in me.

    I surrender to love’s power.

    Tonight, I will heat the night with my fire.

    As I drink this cup, my juices flower.

    I am alive! I am love! And so it is.

You will radiate passion and be intensely drawn to your lover.

Dispel Your Fears: A Rite for Good Riddance

The world can overwhelm us at times with problems relating to work, illness, and all manner of problems that get in the way and want to stay. But these problems are not beyond your control! The ultimate best times to release bad luck and unwanted negative energies are immediately after a full moon or on any Friday the thirteenth.

For this spell, get yourself a big black candle, an obsidian sphere (or at least an obsidian crystal), a piece of white paper, a black ink pen, a cancellation stamp (readily available at any stationary store), and a big flat rock that is slightly concave in the center. Write on the paper what you wish to be freed from—this is your release request. Place the candle and the obsidian on the flat rock, and light the candle near an open window so the negative energy will leave your home. While the candle burns, intone:

    Waning moon, most wise Cybele,

    from me this burden please dispel.

    Upon this night so clear and bright

    I release (my request) to the moon tonight.

Bury the candle’s base in your garden for thirteen minutes so that it stands in the earth as it burns. Take your stamp and mark the paper “cancelled.” Put the candle out; fold the paper away from you and place it under the flat stone. Repeat this process for twelve more nights (thirteen total). On the last night, which should ideally be the beginning of the new moon phase, burn the paper and bury the candle, ashes of the paper, and flat rock far from your home. Give thanks to the moon for assisting you, and let go of your troubles.

A Full Moon By Any Other Name

Many of our full moon names come from medieval books of hours and also from North American Native Americana. Here are other, rarer names from these two traditions that you may want to use in your lunar rituals.

January: Old Moon, Chaste Moon

February: Hunger Moon

March: Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, or Worm Moon 

April: Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon

May: Milk Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Dyad Moon

June: Hot Moon, Rose Moon

July: Buck Moon, Hay Moon

August: Barley Moon, Wyrt Moon, Sturgeon Moon

September: Green Corn Moon, Wine Moon

October: Dying Grass Moon, Travel Moon, Blood Moon, Moon of Changing Seasons

November: Frost Moon, Snow Moon 

December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon 

Recording Your Rituals

I recommend creating a Book of Shadows to keep notes on ceremonies you have participated in and witnessed. Your BOS can and should be a document of what works for you in terms of specifics—moon phases, colors, numbers, herbs, etc. You can greatly expand your BOS with notes on your ritual projects and your life as a work in progress. Here should be your musings, your writing of invocations, your hopes, and your intentions. I call this the “journal of the journey,” and it can take any form of your imagination as long as it catches the deep truths of what you hope to accomplish.

Your ritual record need not be fancy, but it should be raw, honest, and real. Tell the stories of what really happened, mistakes and all. Those who are the most truthful and open will gain the most from their record of experience. Not every group ritual will be a smashing success—someone will be grumpy, someone else might say the words wrong, or you will all get nervous and forget what to do. Or nature may change your plans. For example, an outdoor full moon circles planed for a year may be driven indoors by a rainstorm that puts out the candles and wilts every spirit. Nevertheless, I am always encouraged and amazed to discover the so-called mistakes we learn most from. If everything is perfect, the ritual is more likely to slip from memory. Life itself is messy and bumpy. Think of the metaphor of the Navajo blanket in which the weaver, despite his skill, always makes one mistake. The metaphor is that life itself is not perfect, and the blanket should be reflective of life. That one “crooked thread” can be the strongest stitch holding the fabric together.

At one full moon weekend, a woman’s circle organized by Z. Budapest started off badly when several women didn’t show up, failing to help pay for the retreat house. The ever-resilient Z. only noted the resulting blessings. The women present created a coven of thirteen, a number sacred to the goddess. With fewer women, we could cook and clean up faster, leaving more time to hike in the woods and pray. During the first hike, we discovered a natural spring bubbling out of the side of the mountain. Inspired by this miracle of nature, we splashed and bathed and Z. created an on-the-spot goddess water rite. It was the highlight of the retreat, and an unexpected blessing. Pure magic was woven by Z.’s experienced hand with this crooked golden thread. By documenting and sharing the ritual stories, I have learned much about ritual and about myself in the process. 

October Celebrations, Festivals, & Rituals

 October 1, Beginning of Shinto “Godless” Month in Japan with pilgrimages to shrines temporarily abandoned by the gods and spirits

October 2, Old Man’s Day in Hertfordshire, England, a day of charity and prayer

October 3, Zhong Oiu Jie is a moveable Chinese Moon festival celebrated around this time

October 4, Saint Francis Day, when pets are blessed

October 5, Pilgrimage to Zapopan in Jalisco, Mexico, celebrating the Virgin

October 6, Festival of Vishnu begins (Hindu)

October 7, United Nations Children’s Day

October 8, Okunchi in Japan with a lucky lion dance parade 

October 9, Han’Gul, Alphabet Day (Korea)

October 10, Shuangshi Jie, National Day in Taiwan, also called “Double Tenth Day,” a festival of folk dancing, sword fighting, and martial arts

October 11, Medrinalia in Rome, the celebration of new wine 

October 12, Fiesta de Nuestra Senora del Pilar in Spain

October 13, Fontinalia, Roman Festival in honor of Fons, son of Jupiter

October 14, Japanese Battle Festival, Mega-kenka Matsuri, celebrated with battle rites and reenactments since 201 CE

October 15, Festival of Mars (Ancient Rome) 

October 16, World Food Day

October 17, Family Day (South Africa) 

October 18, Heroes Day (Jamaica)

October 19, Our Lord of Miracles procession in Peru since 1687

October 20, Guru Har Rai Day for Sihks

October 21, Festival of the Black Christ in Panama, El Jesus Nazareno

October 22, Cheung Yeung (Hong Kong)

October 23, Swallows depart from Capistrano (and arrive back on March 19, St. Joseph’s Day)

October 24, United Nations Day celebrated globally with school fairs, concerts, exhibitions, and banquets

October 25, Saint Crispin’ Day (1415), immortalized in Shakespeare’s Henry V

October 26, Quit Rent Day in Europe, celebrated with ceremonies, feasts, and presentations and token payment of rent with horseshoes

October 27, Feast of the Holy Souls

October 28, Meiji Festival in Tokyo featuring five days of performances, classical court dances, concerts and horseback-archery contests

October 29, Ringing of “Lost in the Dark” Church Bells in England

October 30, Angels’ Night, also known as Devil’s Night (United States)

October 31, Halloween, Samhain

Although October is the tenth month of the year, it comes from the Latin word for eight, as it was the eighth month in the Roman calendar. The Romans designated the month of October to honor Astraea, daughter of Zeus and Themis. Astraea lived on earth, but when mankind became too evil, she departed to the stars. The chilly air and biting winds of October symbolize her departure from earth. The Celts call October Deireadh Fomhair, and the Anglo-Saxons called it Winterfelleth, which translates to “winter is coming.” The Franks linked October to the grape harvest and the pressing of new wine, calling it Vintage Month or Windurmanoth, Farmers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in America called the October full moon the Hunter’s Moon, and Native Americans refer to October as Second Summer, which is why we sometimes call it Indian Summer. 

Thursday’s Prosperity Incantation

This ritual is excellent for getting a new or better-paying job. You will get the best results on a new moon or full moon Thursday night, but any “Thor’s day” will do.

To prepare yourself, take a money bath by pouring a few drops of green apple or lemon verbena essential oil into hot running water, and bathe by the light of a single green candle. As you close your eyes, meditate on your true desires. What does personal prosperity mean to you? What do you really need, and what do you really want?

When you are clear about your answers, focus on the candle flame while whispering: 

Here and now, my intention is set.
New luck will be mine and all needs will be met.
With harm to none and plenty for all.
Blessed be.

After your sacred bath, perform this tried and true prosperity ritual that can help get a job and bring fiscal abundance your way.

Light a gold candle, although red will also do.

Repeat this incantation eight times while envisioning yourself with perfect abundance or at the perfect job: 

I see the perfect place for me;
I see the place of plenty.
Upon my heart’s desire I am set.
Prosperity will come to me now.

The Gift of the Full Moon: A Native American Ritual

Many Native American tribes saw the moon as a teacher, for the bright light of the full moon was truly illuminating. While I advise caution with using aspects of indigenous culture, I think that learning the lessons offered while always honoring the source and ascribing references can be life-enriching. My motto is “appreciation without appropriation."

Accept the wisdom that is offered and respect the resource. Here is a full moon teaching from my friend Liz, who is of Native American descent and whose many happy clients attest that she is a very wise woman. The full moon ceremony should be led by a woman, an elder, who chooses a young man to be the warrior. His job is to serve the circle and serve the community by tending the fire as the Keeper of the Flame. The warrior is to be pure of heart. Selection by the elder is

the greatest honor because she sees into the pure heart and perceives the good this man brings to the community. Once the fire is built, other women can approach the fire circle crying out, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” When everyone else has arrived, the young man leaves and returns only when the fire is dying down to rekindle the flames. Whenever he approaches, he should announce, “I am the Keeper of the Flame."

The elder leads the women in discussion of whatever she feel is important, such as the welfare of an individual or the village, or she tells a story. Ultimately, this is a woman’s council fire and the well-being of the community is served in this monthly ceremony.

The elder is the leader of the full moon teaching and it lasts as long as she sees fit; only the elder can excuse women from the circle. Many full moon teachings, the council fires have grown shorter, the elder must know things are going well for the community! 

One Moon for All the World

Although many cultures around the world have had ceremonies to celebrate the full moon, only a few are still practiced today. The Balinese have received wide interest for their full moon ritual, and Bali has become a popular destination for people on a pilgrimage or for tourists who want to be in touch with the sacred. A growing number of nature- worshiping people gather in magical circles to do the same in North America and Europe.

In Peru there is a sacred site, the Quenko-Labyrinth of the Serpent, where full moon ceremonies are held. It is believed that on this site you can experience your true connection with the earth, the feminine, and life, for this sacred site embodies the Goddess. Rites of passage and sacred ritual offerings have been performed here for centuries. Shamans teach this as an important way for humankind to connect with and balance nature and community.

Balinese Full Moon Ceremony

Nearly every temple and Bali celebrates this monthly event.

Essential elements for this ritual are incense, offerings of fruit and lots of flowers, rice, and holy or blessed water.

Gather a group of like-minded folks and head to the nearest body of water—a lake, pond, creek, river, or the ocean. Nature will be your temple.

Begin by sitting in a circle and making garlands of flowers. You should talk, laugh, or be silent as you wish, but most important, be comfortable. When everyone is settled with a garland of flowers, place the garland around the neck of another person. Light the incense and set the rice and holy water in the middle of the circle.

Go around the circle and offer the water to people, sprinkling it on them gently with your fingertips in the Balinese fashion, and offer everyone a cupful of the holy water to rinse their mouths with so the words they speak will be holier. Each person should make a fruit or flower offering to the gods, and lay it near the cleansing smoke of incense. After the offerings are made, everyone should anoint their neighbor’s forehead with grains of rice and speak blessings aloud for each person. If a body of water is accessible, get wet, even if it is just to dip your hands or walk in the water.

Silently acknowledge the blessings in your life through prayer and meditation, and, again, give quiet thanks to the gods for the gift of your life. Unlike most Western-based rituals, there is not much talking during the Balinese Full Moon Ritual. Bask in the tranquility and listen to your thoughts.

Pung-Mul Norj

Pung-Mul Nori is a full moon ritual that has been performed for about two thousand years and continues to this day. Korean traditional folklore combines ritual, acrobatics, dance, and music. Toyo Ongaku, music for this ritual, has remained popular since ancient times when it was performed day and night to protect the crops and dispel evil spirits.

Developed by and for Korean farmers, this ritual was devised to help them keep up their strength and their spirits during the exhausting labor of planting and harvesting season. Many years ago, it was especially important for everyone in the community to participate in this expression of thanksgiving. Every man, woman, and child who was physically able to do so had to sing, dance, drum, play instruments, and perform acrobatics. The word Nori in Pung Mul Nori means to play and, indeed, this is one of the most playful of all the world’s moon rituals. 

Full Moon

When the moon is full, that means Mother Moon is at her zenith, parading in all her glory across the night sky. Rituals that transform and call forth your personal power and psychic awareness are called for at this time. The full moon is powerful and promotes strength and supremacy. Her luminous glow surrounds us, and now is the time to clean our ritual tools, scrying mirrors, tarot decks, and crystals. Take time to honor the moon goddess during this phase. Wiccans have a tradition of “drawing down the moon,” which is a way of invoking the moon’s power into your body, thereby embodying the lunar goddess.

Moonstone—Prophecy and Passion

In olden times, it was believed that wearing a moonstone during the waning moon would offer prophetic abilities. The people of India have held moonstone as holy for thousands of years, but they had a superstition against displaying the sacred stone except on a cloth of yellow, the most spiritual color in their culture. The Indians also believed moonstone was very potent in the bedroom and not only aroused enormous passion but also gave lovers the ability to read their future together. The only problem was that they had to hold the moonstone in their mouths during the full moon to enjoy these magical properties.

Lunar Almanac: Twelve Months of Full Moons

Many of our full moon names come from medieval books of hours and from Native American tribal traditions. Here is a list of rare names from these two branches of tradition that you may want to use in your lunar rituals.

January: Old Moon, Chaste Moon; this fierce Wolf Moon is the time to recognize your strength of spirit.

February: Hunger Moon; the cool Snow Moon is for personal vision and intention-setting.

March: Crust Moon, Sugar Moon; the gentle Sap Moon heralds the end of winter and nature’s rebirth.

April: Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon; spring’s sweet Pink Moon celebrates health and full life force.

May: Milk Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Dyad Moon; the Flower Moon provides inspiration with the bloom of beauty.

June: Horn Moon, Rose Moon; the Strawberry Moon heralds the Summer Solstice and the sustaining power of the sun.

July: Buck Moon, Hay Moon; this Thunder Moon showers us with rain and cleansing storms.

August: Barley Moon, Wort Moon, Sturgeon Moon; summer gifts us with the Red Moon, the time for passion and lust for life.

September: Green Corn Moon, Wine Moon; fall’s Harvest Moon is the time to be grateful and reap what we have sown.

October: Dying Grass Moon, Travel Moon, Blood Moon, Moon of Changing Seasons; the Hunter’s moon is when we plan and store for winter ahead.

November: Frost Moon, Snow Moon; this Beaver Moon is the time to call upon our true wild nature.

December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon; this is the longest night of the shortest day and is the time to gather the tribe around the fire and share stories of the good life together.

Healing Moon Herb Soup

After the September Equinox signals the change of seasons to fall, you should start making pots of this seasonal meal, which is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. This autumnal soup is just as pleasing to the cook as it can be a quick supper, leftovers for lunch, and easily frozen for meals on the go. It is simple and simply delicious. On the eve of the first full moon of fall, gather the ingredients and prepare this nourishing lunar tonic. Refrigerate overnight, and the flavors will “marry” together to intensify and become an even more savory supper to serve to loved ones on a Harvest Moon night.

• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and shredded
• 3 large, thinly sliced leeks
• 2 cloves fresh garlic
• 8 cups of water
• ⅓ cup of virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup sage, finely ground
• 4 large potatoes cut into small, spoon-size chunks; they can be yams, purple Peruvian potatoes, Idaho spuds, red potatoes—cook’s choice!
• ¼ cup fresh chives diced and chopped finely
• ¼ teaspoon celery salt
• Salt and pepper to your taste
• 1 carrot sliced thin into golden moons

In a large iron skillet (preferably one well-seasoned by use in your kitchen), fry the leeks in the olive oil until they become soft and translucent. Add in the chopped garlic until it is also soft and is wafting a wonderful scent into your kitchen. Transfer to a soup pot, oil and all, and add the water, heating to a boil. Add all the remaining veggies, the garlic, and the herbs, then turn the heat down to a simmer for forty-five minutes. Test the taters to see if they are soft enough by mashing a couple with a wooden spoon. If they are still a bit hard, simmer for another five minutes. Turn the heat down to very low and then season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the celery salt as the last element of the year’s abundance.

Moonstone—Prophecy and Passion

In olden times, it was believed that wearing a moonstone during the waning moon would offer prophetic abilities. The people of India have held moonstone as holy for thousands of years, but they had a superstition against displaying the sacred stone except on a cloth of yellow, the most spiritual color in their culture. The Indians also believed moonstone was very potent in the bedroom and not only aroused enormous passion but also gave lovers the ability to read their future together. The only problem was that they had to hold the moonstone in their mouths during the full moon to enjoy these magical properties.