New Moon Friday New Friends Spell

When I moved to San Francisco, I didn’t know a soul, but I used this spell to fill my life with friends. On the first Friday (Freya’s Day, ruled by Venus, is ideal for fun, love, flirtation, gossip, and good times) after a new moon, light some lavender incense. Anoint yourself with lavender essential oil and say aloud:

    I call upon you, friend Freya, to fill my life with live and joy.

    I call upon you, Goddess, to bring unto me that which I enjoy

    in the form of people, wise and kind.

    This I ask and give thanks for; blessed be.

When you go out for coffee or browse a bookstore or metaphysical shop, look around you: new friends may be right there, just a hello away!

Spice Up Your Life Spell

Start a fresh chapter in your love life without delay with this cup of love.

Gather together

    * cinnamon spice tea (from a shop) or 3 chopped cinnamon sticks

    * 1 cup (240ml) of hot water

    * 1 teaspoon honey

    * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or 3 more sticks ground in your mortar and pestle)

Brew and steep the tea for at least 3 minutes. Stir in the honey and savor the sweet, spicy smell. Drink it while contemplating your hopes, intentions, and dreams for a happy, healthy love life. Now, sprinkle the ground version of this charismatic spice on the threshold of your front door and along your entry path. When the cinnamon powder is crushed underfoot, its regenerative powers will help heat things up in your love life.

Who Is My True Love? Pendulum Power

If you have any doubts about a friend’s intentions or actions, try using a pendulum to help you determine the truth. I take my pendulum, a lovely striated quartz, everywhere I go to answer those tough yes-no questions that crop up daily. Pendulums are available with many different stones and crystals, but you can make one from any number of herbs, as well.

Take a twelve-inch length of string and choose one of the following herbs. Experiment to see which one works best for you:

• A sandalwood chip, cinnamon bark, a star anise seed, orris root, a lump of frankincense

Your best bet would be a string of natural fiber. If you can, take a needle and poke a hole through your root, bark, or seed to ensure that your pendulum is secure. Start out by asking, “Show me yes,” and “show me no.” Then, ask a question for which you know the answer. Don’t be surprised if the pendulum appears to have a mind of its own. Now you are ready to use this divination tool in all interpersonal matters where questions arise.

The Magic of Massage

Set the stage for hands-on pleasure before you knead your lover’s body into rapturous bliss. Start with your favorite music. I prefer Indian ragas because they seem to have a naturally sexy rhythm. Whether it is the sound of classical guitar, angelic harps, or an ambient electronic band from Iceland, it should relax and bring pleasure. Light pink, red, and brown candles to create a loving, sexual atmosphere that is strongly grounded. Kindle incense your lover has previously complimented, and lay out towels you have warmed and oils and lubricants you have also warmed. Turn up the heat a bit and turn down the lights to simply create a “spa” feeling for complete unwinding. I have some honey, goose feathers, and an edible raspberry-and-mint rub I like to share as well.

First undress your partner, very slowly and gently. If your partner is open-minded to pagan ways, you should speak this incantation in his or her presence. If not, it is your silent prayer:

    I call on you, Pan,

    god of the woods, goat, man, and boy.

    I ask your blessing on this day of joy.

    I call on you, Venus, Goddess of this night,

    may we find new seasons of delight.

    What I want is here and now.

    And so it shall be.

Start with warmed oil and give a classic massage while your partner relaxes face down on the bed or massage table. The basic principles of magical massage are rhythmic yet sensitive gliding strokes, gradually shifting to deeper strokes. Use your body weight for firmer pressure.

After relaxing your partner’s back, legs, and feet, have him or her turn over. Massage the chest, arms, and hands. Then glide down to the legs, occasionally brushing the genitals with a light touch. After you finish the legs and feet, slide back up the body and very delicately brush the genitals in a teasing way. Draw the tease out as long as you can so the energy builds and grows. Now is the time to start shifting the focus to more explicitly erotic activities.

One of the most important tips for an amazing connection: Look your partner in the eye as you pleasure him or her. Locking the eyes and keeping them open during sex will open up new dimensions of gratification.

Presence of Peace: Citrine Spell

To begin this comforting ritual, anoint a yellow candle with calming and uplifting bergamot oil, then light it to bring mental clarity. Place a yellow rose in a vase to the left of the candle. To the right, place a bowl containing at least two citrine or quartz crystals.

Next, you will need saffron water, which is made quite easily by simmering a single teaspoon of saffron from your cupboard in two quarts of distilled water. Let the saffron water cool to room temperature and pour it into the bowl of crystals. Put your hands together in prayer and dip them in the bowl. Touch your third eye in the center of your forehead, anointing yourself with the saffron water. Now, speak aloud:

    Goddess great, fill me with your presence.

    This night, I am whole and at peace.

    Breathing in, breathing out, I feel your safe embrace.

    And so it is.

Color Magic: The Supernatural Spectrum Pt. II

GREEN

Ah, green, the color of fertility and luck! Green is a great color to work with if you need a little financial boost as it is heavily associated with money and wealth, growth, prosperity, and employment, as well as all-around good luck. It is also related to beauty, youth, nature and earth magic, and success in gardening. Look to green for abundance and bountiful blessings!

GRAY

Gray is a neutral color, imbuing it with the potential for balance and stability. Gray represents impartiality, cancellation, and stalemates. It can protect from negative influences and is also excellent for meditation. Try incorporating a gray candle into your rituals when you are dealing with confusion or need to remain objective about a particular matter.

YELLOW

In need of a little pep in your step? Yellow is an energizing color that will bring you optimism and invigoration! Intelligence, charm, attraction, learning, inspiration, persuasion, confidence, divination, psychic power, wisdom, happiness, memory, and friendship are some of the meanings associated with the color yellow. Because yellow is the color of the sun, expect an awakening and stimulating effect from burning yellow candles.

BROWN

Brown is a color that connects us to the earth. Its magical uses are related to animals, home, family, grounding and stability, balance, strength, hard work, protection, and material things. Use this candle when you feel like you need to bring things back into perspective, or when you are casting a spell to protect your home.

PINK

Love, honor, fidelity, morality, and friendship are just a few of the associations with the color pink. It is a color for affection, affinity, romance, beauty, self-love, faith, and devotion. Pink also carries a feminine energy and can be a catalyst for reconciliation.

ORANGE

Orange is infused with the energies of adaptability, stimulation, attraction, encouragement, ambition, creativity, and success. It is also the color of justice, which makes it of great use in all legal matters. Orange is also the color of opportunity, so you may find an orange candle to be a useful tool when manifesting success in business, networking, or career changes.

PURPLE

Purple is a color symbolic of power, authority, healing, spirituality, ambition, and wisdom. Burning purple candles can be conducive to business progress, tension relief, meditation, exorcism, and deepening spiritual awareness.

Color Magic: The Supernatural Spectrum

Candle magic and color magic are deeply intertwined. Ritual candles are chosen for their color correspondences and then carved and anointed with special oils chosen for their own special energy. Color is a deeply intuitive form of magic, and its effect on the human mind is widely recognized and is supported by an array of scientific studies. Think about color therapy, for example! The way that colors elicit a subconscious response from your brain is its own form of magic. Even skeptics will agree that different colors can change the energy of a room and alter your mood. You may also find that your favorite colors have something to do with your response to certain vibrational energies and or some things that you are unconsciously lacking in your life.

Color magic is incredibly simple and can be incorporated into all areas of your life, from your home decoration to all the items you adorn yourself with such as clothes, makeup, nail polish, and so forth! Creating a candle spell involving color can be as simple as applying the basic precepts of color magic: Have a clear picture of your desired outcome, and choose a candle in a color you feel is appropriate. Then, just light your candle and let it burn while you focus on your intention. Because color magic is so subjective, some differences of opinion do exist, and color itself is a magical system. You may study the following guide as you select your candles, but remember to let your instinct lead you above all else here.

WHITE

Because white contains the whole spectrum of colors, it can often be used as a catch-all candle color and can replace other candles in a spell if necessary. White is specifically associated with protection, purity, peace and harmony, truth, binding, sincerity, happiness, spirituality and the higher self, tranquility, and new beginnings. You might wish to use the power of a white candle either to get a fresh start to your day or to create a sense of calm throughout your space.

RED

Red is the color of passion! Signifying the lifeblood running through your veins, it can be used for protection, strength, health, energy, vigor, sex and sensuality, love, courage, and power. Red candles are fierce and bold, useful in love magic as well as to ignite your personal power and charisma. They will help you to overcome obstacles and become the most daring and confident version of yourself.

BLACK

Black candles are best known for their ability to absorb and destroy negativity. They have strong banishing powers, protecting you from any harm that might come your way in the form of negative energy or ill intentions. Black is also an excellent color to help you cope with fears of the unknown and is associated with acceptance, determination, grounding, security, release, endings, and grief.

BLUE

Blue represents emotion, honesty and trust, relaxation, and calm. It is a color that can bring peace to a restless heart and mind, and it is also associated with communication. There are a variety of shades of blue that have even more specific correlations and uses.

Healthful Beginnings: An Altar of Healing and Protection

Creating a healing altar will safeguard your physical health and that of your loved ones. Set up your healing altar facing north.

To ensure healthful beginnings, find a pure white square of fabric to drape over your altar to make a tabula rasa, an altar equivalent to a “blank slate.” Take two green candles; place them in green glass holders or votive glasses and position them in the two farthest corners of the altar. Place your incense burner in the center between the two candles and light the incense. Sandalwood, cinnamon, camphor, and frankincense are all powerful purification incenses that are perfect for the creation of a healing altar. Burn one or all of these purification essences to consecrate the space. Adorn your altar with objects that symbolize healing energy to you. You may perhaps choose a candleholder carved from a chunk of amethyst crystal, which contains healing properties; an abalone shell with the iridescent magic of the oceans; a small citrus plant bursting with the restorative power of vitamin C; or a bowl of curative salts from the sea.

These symbolic items, and any others that you select, will energize your altar with the magic that lives inside you. It is also important that the altar be pleasing to your eye and that it makes you feel good when you look at it so you want to spend time there each and every day. After you have been performing rituals there for a while, a positive healing energy field will radiate from your altar.

Magical Intentions

 

The following words correspond to various planets and elements. See below to learn more.

Banishing: Saturn, fire

Beauty: Venus, water

Courage: Mars, fire

Divination: Mercury, air

Employment: Sun, Jupiter

Energy: Sun, Mars, fire

Exorcism: Sun, fire

Fertility: Moon, planet Earth

Friendship: Venus, water

Happiness: Venus, Moon, water

Healing and Health: Moon, Mars (to burn away disease), fire (the same), water

Home: Saturn, Earth, water

Joy and Happiness: Venus, water 

Love: Venus, water

Money and Wealth: Jupiter, Earth 

Peace: Moon, Venus

Power: Sun, Mars, fire

Protection: Sun, Mars, fire

Psychism: Moon, water

Sex: Mars, Venus, fire

Sleep: Moon, water

Spirituality: Sun, Moon

Success: Sun, fire

Travel: Mercury

Wisdom and Intelligence: Mercury, air

Colors

This list can be useful when choosing candles for magical rituals or spells, tinting bath salts, or designing entire rituals around herbal products. Some differences of opinion do exist and color itself is a magical system. Use your instinct. Here is what each of the colors represents so that you can select the right ones for your magical ritual.

White: Protection, purification, peace, truth, binding, sincerity, chastity, happiness, exorcism, spirituality, tranquility

Red: Protection, strength, health, energy, vigor, lust, sex, passion, courage, exorcism, love, power

Black: Absorbing and destroying negativity, healing severe diseases, banishing, attracting money

Light Blue: Understanding, tranquility, healing, patience, happiness, overcoming depression

Dark Blue: Change, flexibility, subconscious mind, psychic perception, healing

Green: Finances, money, fertility, prosperity, growth, good luck, employment, beauty, youth, success in gardening

Gray: Neutrality, cancellation, stalemate
Yellow: Intellect, charm, attraction, study, persuasion,

confidence, divination, psychic power, wisdom, vision

Brown: Working magic for animals, healing animals, the home

Pink: Love, honor, fidelity, morality, friendship

Orange: Adaptability, stimulation, attraction, encouragement, all legal matters

Purple: Power, healing severe disease, spirituality, medication, exorcism, ambition, business progress, and tension relief 

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. 

North, South, East, and West: a Ritual for Daily Life

You can purify your home every day and create sacred space for living a life of daily ritual. After cleaning or straightening your home, bless the rooms and ensure that you are surrounded with good energy. Take a bowl or cup of water and add a sprinkle of salt. Then anoint your fingers and forehead. Now turn to the east and say:

Powers of the East,
Source of the sun rising,
ring me hope and inspiration.

Sprinkle some water in the east, then turn to the south and say:

Powers of the South,
Source of summer’s warmth and light,
Bring me joy and bounty.

Sprinkle some water in the south, then turn to the west and say:

Powers of the West,
Source of oceans and rivers,
Bring me the power of the waves.

Sprinkle some water in the west, then turn to the north and say:

Powers of the North,
Source of the winter, place of the mountains, and the polestar,
Bring me security and sight.

Close this simple ritual by sprinkling the water and salt all around your home, especially on or around windows, windowsills, doorways, and thresholds where energy passes in and out as visitors arrive and depart. By doing this, you are cleansing and managing the energy of your space. After an argument or upsetting event, or even after a visit by a person who is in a foul mood, you can repeat this ritual to clear out the “bad energy." 

North, South, East, and West: The Four Directions and the Four Elements in Ritual

There are many layers of meaning to add to ritual that are based on centuries of mystical and spiritual source material that still influence us today. These sources are called “magical correspondences,” and the transformative process that is ritual calls for as many correspondences as possible to add to the overall effect, creating a synthesis of energies to work these changes in your life and in the world. Just as there are the specific astrological influences of the stars and planets, such as the rhythmic phases of the moon, and a range of powers in stones, there are particular powers in the elements you can call upon in your ritual work.

Earth, air, fire, and water are the four elements of the ancients. The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Empedocles of Sicily, taught the theory of the four elements about 2,500 years ago. Modern metaphysicians and magicians no longer believe literally in four elements but find them useful tools for magic.

Earth

Earth is the manifestation of the “solid.” It is matter made tangible. Earth represents intransigence, constancy, and durability. We are made of earth, and so we are part of our own planet. Upon our death, we once again return to the earth. Earth is the stable material and the stable element. You can place salt in a ceramic bowl or soil in a small vial upon your altar to represent this element. You can call upon the element of earth to become more grounded or to build a new aspect into your life. Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn should perform earth ritual on a regular basis to stay centered.

Water 

Water is the fluid state of matter, the nurturer of all life and essential for all continued existence. The blood that flows through the veins of animals is mostly water with trace minerals flowing within it. Water cleanses, nourishes crops, and washes away what no longer serves a purpose. Water is the opposite of earth in that it flows: it lacks stability. Even ice, water in a stable form, can melt. Water in our rivers, lakes, and oceans is ever-changing. Water is a very important cleansing and blessing element to bring into play in your ritual. A fountain or bowl of water in your home represents the all-important water of life. You can use water for any kind of releasing ritual. Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces should stay in tune with their sensitive, creative natures with water rituals. 

Air 

Air is an ever-changing element, matter in its gaseous form. Air has ultimate mobility and dynamism. The oxygen in the air we breathe is essential to the continuation of our life.

Air is unseen and is, in and of itself, formless. Wind is the power of air to move and stimulate change. Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius can maintain their brilliance and superior communication skills with rituals invoking their native element of air.

Fire 

Fire is sheer transformational power, capable of changing the other elements. The most visible form of energy, fire is also heat. Watch the flicker of your candle flame, the ember of your incense, and the blaze of your council fire, and you will see a constant transmutation of matter. Fire has the ability to both excite and incite us and is used to bring about active change. Fire signs Aires, Leo, and Sagittarius will stay strong and vibrant when they employ their personal element, fire. 

Setting Your Intention

A well-defined and focused intention is the key to success in a life-enhancing ritual. Good results depend upon clarity. If your intention is not crystal clear, you are likely to fail. You must approach your ritual with a definite concentration. If a nagging worry is hovering in the back of your mind, you are not properly focused. You may even want to perfect an image of your intention and desire with creative visualization.

Part of your preparation should also include using ritual correspondences—the phase of the moon, the day of the week, the color of the candles you use, and much more. These things add to the depth and meaning of your ritual. Do you need to clear the energy and refresh your altar with some housecleaning and smudge? Do so and continue to focus on your intention as you create the foundation for a successful ceremony.

While you are clearing energy in your space, you must also clear out the clutter in your mind. If you are in a state of inner chaos, the outcome will simply not measure up to your expectations. Perhaps it will help you relax if you play CDs of instrumental music or sacred chants. Conscious breathing or stretching will also help you make yourself ready for ritual.

Constructing your inner temple is a marvelous process that can aid in your journey deep inside yourself. Sit or lie down in a position that is comfortable enough to relax you, but not so comfortable as to allow you to drift off to sleep. As you breathe slowly and rhythmically, imagine a peaceful, beautiful place specific to your desires. It could be a white marble temple in a lovely sculpture garden under a still blue sky. It could be a mirror pool by a sacred grove. It must be pleasing to you, a place you can visit frequently in visualization. It can be any size or shape but should have certain aspects:

• The Center: Your inner temple should have a single center from which you can access all areas of the temple. This center is a representation of your personal power center.
• Reflective Surface: Here is where you can take a look at yourself spiritually. The reflective surface can be a scrying mirror, a crystal ball, or even a pool of water. You can also use it to look at the past, present, and future.
• Water: Your inner temple can have any number of water sources, such as a waterfall, a well, a stream, or an ocean. Water represents our deepest levels of consciousness. Commune with your deepest self here. 
• Earth: Here is where you ground yourself, and create manifestation. Take stock of your deepest desires and goals here in a garden, forest, meadow, or wherever your imagination guides you. 

Ideally, your inner temple has four doorways or gates, one each for the four directions and elements. Once you have created your ideal inner temple, you can now use it to perform ritual, as you have created permanent sacred space inside and outside this temple through visualization. 

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.

Everyday Sacred: A Ritual Guide to the Days of the Week

Each day of the week has specific correspondences and meanings. Here is an at-a-glance guide to the days of the week, gleaned from the mythologies of centuries put to practice for different types of ritual. I do a money-enhancing ritual every Thursday, or “Thor’s Day,” which is the day for prosperity. Perhaps you want new love in your life; if so, try a “Freya’s Day” ritual on a Friday night.

Sunday is the day for healing and vitality, as well as creativity and new hope. It is a day of confidence and success. This is the day ruled by the Sun, so it corresponds to fire and the sun sign, Leo. The colors for this day are gold, orange, and yellow, and the sacred stones for this day are also in those colors, amber, citrine, carnelian, and topaz. Sunday’s herbs and incense are cloves, cedar, chamomile, frankincense, amber, sunflower, and heliotrope.

Monday or “Moon Day,” is a dreamy day for intuition, beauty, women’s rituals, and your home. Monday is associated with the element of water and the sign of Cancer. The clouds are shiny silvers, pearl, pale rose, white, and lavender, which are reflective like the moon. The gems and stones are similarly shaded moonstone, pearl, quartz crystal, fluorite, and aquamarine. The herbs and incense are night blooming jasmine, myrtle, moonwort, vervain, white rose, poppy, and camphor.

Tuesday is the day for action, as mighty Mars rules it. Now you can seek your passion, surge toward your goals, find your destiny, and be strong and courageous. “Mars’s Day” is the time for high energy in your career, for physical activity and sports, for aggression in meetings and negotiations, and for strong sexuality. Both fire and water come into play and the astrological assignations are Aries and Scorpio. Red is the day’s color, and the corresponding gems and crystals are ruby, garnet, carnelian, bloodstone, and pink tourmaline. Incense and herbs for Mars’s Day are red roses, pine, carnation, nettle, patchouli, pepper, and garlic.

Wednesday, or “Odin’s Day,” is when the planets of communication, Mercury and Chiron, rule. This is the optimum time for writing, public speaking, intellectual pursuits, memory, and all other forms of communication. It is also a day to recognize your karmic duties through astrology and your Chiron sign, an important asteroid placement in your chart. Through introspection, try to find your “sacred wound” and heal it so it does not hold you back in life, trapping you in old patterns and relationships. The element for Wednesday is earth and the sun sign is Virgo. Colors for this mercurial day are light blue, gray, green, orange, and yellow. The crystals are sodalite, moss agate, opal, and aventurine. The herbs and incense are cinnamon, periwinkle, dill, sweet pea, cinquefoil, and ferns.

Thursday is the day for business, politics, legalities, bargaining, good fortune, and material and fiscal wealth. In other words, it is money day! The elements that come into play are water and fire, and Jupiter, the planet of abundance is the ruler. Pisces and Sagittarius share this planet as ruler. The colors are blue, purple, and turquoise. As you might suspect, the crystals are turquoise, sapphire, amethyst, and lapis lazuli, so favored by the Egyptians. The herbs and incense for the day are saffron, cedar, nutmeg, pine, oak, and cinnamon.

Friday is doubtless everybody’s favorite day of the week, as it is ruled by Freya, the Nordic Venus, goddess of love. Friday is all about beauty, love, sex, fertility, friendships, and partnerships, the arts, harmony, and music, and bringing the new into your life—new energy, new people, new projects. Haven’t you met a lot of people on a Friday night out? Air and earth are the elements and the signs of Libra and Taurus are the astrological signs. Pale green and deep green, robin’s-egg blue, pink, and violet are the colors, and the crystals are emerald, pink tourmaline, rose quartz, as well as jade, malachite, and peridot. The herbs are incense for Fridays are apple, lily, birch, pink rose, verbena, ivy, rose, and sage.

Saturday is ruled by Saturn and connects the elements of air, fire, water, and earth. It is a time for protection, discipline, duty, binding, family, manifestation, and completion. The sun signs are Capricorn and Aquarius, with their colors of black, brown, and deepest blue, Saturday’s crystals are amethyst, smoky quartz, jet, black onyx, obsidian, and darkest garnet. The incense, plants, and herbs for this day are ivy, oak, rue, moss, myrrh, deadly nightshade, mandrake, hemlock, and wolfsbane. (Many Saturn herbs are poisonous; please exercise caution when using them.) How do we use these magical correspondences in ritual? You can create your own ritual simply by choosing candle colors, crystals, and incense from the list that matches your intent and go from there. I have included some sample rituals that draw from these magical correspondences. 

Lunar Lore: A Thirteen-Moon Guide to Rituals Throughout the Year

Thanks to the way the earth orbits the sun and the way the moon orbits the earth, our calendar year contains thirteen full moons and moon cycles. Here are some traditional correspondences from astrology and folklore:

January is known as the Cold Moon or Wolf Moon. This is the time for new beginnings, for planning for and conceiving a child, as well as making other goals for yourself, your working life, your health goals, and any other aspirations. You should look deep inside yourself and take this time during the Wolf Moon to think about and contemplate what is most important to you, and how you can have what is truly meaningful in your life. The Cold Moon is also when you should perform protection spells for yourself and your loved ones and rituals of safekeeping for your home and the people and things you really care about.

February is the time of the Wild Moon or Snow Moon, Now you can begin growing the seeds you panted in your soul during last month’s Wolf Moon. The Wild Moon is an excellent time for purification rituals and for cleansing old “bad” energy out of your life, your home, your psyche, and your office. The Wild Moon can be a time of great healing, especially after a ceremony for energy cleansing. One of the best cleansing rites you can perform is true acceptance of yourself, letting go of all self-loathing and saying goodbye to your inner critic. A ritual of self-love and recognition would be a wonderful observance of the Wild Moon of February.

March is Crow Moon or Seed Moon and is a time to balance your life energies. After the cleansing and goal-setting of the past two moons, now you can begin to activate your plans.

This March full moon is also an excellent time to concentrate on prosperity. Crow Moon is a wonderful time for an abundance ceremony.

April is the Hare Moon or Pink Moon, one of the most creative times of the year. This is the moon when you can act on what you have been dreaming of during the earlier moons. You can begin to manifest your deepest desires during both in terms of your aspirations and your amorous side, since Hare Moon is made for love spells and other rites of romance. Pursue your passions with confidence and optimism.

May is the Merry Moon, the Flower Moon, the Green Month in terms of green magic and the time of the fairies. Nature has now burst into a glorious full spring. In May, your inner wisdom is at its height. Now is the time to connect with nature and explore the beauty of our beautiful and sacred planet. Rites of spring are a wonderful way to commune with spirit.

June is the Mead or Strawberry Moon, the Lover’s Moon. Now we can taste the sweetness of life and celebrate our strength and fruitfulness. It is a time of security and protection. Assess the results of all that you have planned and seeded in the past months.

July is the Thunder Moon or Blessing Moon, a time for divining meaning and focusing on spirituality. Now we can expand our consciousness and listen to the messages of our dreams. The Thunder Moon is when we receive the blessings of the rain and feel the charged energy of the thunderstorms. The Thunder Moon is an auspicious time for a dream ritual or a divinatory rite.

August is known as the Corn Moon or Red Moon. This time of years is bursting with health, vitality, and ardor. This is an optimal time to gather friends and family together and celebrate the brightest side of life. Feasting, dancing, and delight are the order of the day.

September is the Harvest Moon and Singing Moon. Now we see completion of plans and ideas and the harvesting of our crops. Now we reap what we have sown earlier in the year— our thoughts, actions, words, and projects. The Singing Moon is a wonderful time to organize our lives and let go of anything that is no longer working. If something is worn out, broken, or simply does not suit your life anymore, including emotions, patterns, beliefs, and even people, this is the perfect time to let go. Declutter and simplify your life.

October is the Hunter’s Moon or the Falling Leaf Moon. Great transitions are taking place all around you now and change is also taking place within. Take time to observe and feel these transformations in your life and in the world around you. Notice how the temperature changes, how the trees shed their brightly colored leaves, how the geese and other birds fly south. The Hunter’s Moon should honor the very human need for physical nourishment, warmth, and rest. Seek inner peace now after the hurly-burly of summer. This is the season for relaxation and release. This is a karmic time during which you can seek karmic completion. You should acknowledge the changing of the seasons with ceremony.

November is the Beaver Moon or Mourning Moon. At this time you should get in touch with your spirit through introspection. Many countries observe November 1 as an Ancestors’ Day and remember the dead through ritual and feasting.

December is Winter Moon or Long Nights Moon. This is when we experience a metaphorical death and rebirth. We can also light the flame of our hearts and souls through journeys of the spirit.

The “extra” or thirteenth full moon of the year is the blue moon of the expression, “once in a blue moon,” which refers to rare and special occasions. How do we know when the blue moon occurs? It is on that rare occasion when two full moons occur in one calendar month. The blue moon is to be used wisely. Take this opportunity to look at your long-term plans and goals and to give thanks for what you have accomplished. As you take stock, be grateful for what you have and for the people in your life. Bear in mind that “what you have” should not make you think about your fat stock portfolio but rather about good health, children, a job you enjoy, good friends, a comfortable home, and opportunities.

The blue moon is also a time for prophecy. Each blue moon ritual you create should contain an aspect expressing thanks to the gods and goddesses and to Mother Nature, who gave you life. 

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. 

Invoking the Goddesses Part II

Isis

Isis is the only goddess who could guarantee the immortality of the Egyptian pharaohs, resurrecting them as she did Osiris. Her worship spread and became an enormous cult that appealed to the entire Roman Empire. She has great appeal as a divine mother. Isis is the daughter of Nuit, the goddess of the sky, and of Seb, the god of earth. The ancients worshipped her as the Queen of Heaven, and she is often depicted with wings.

Isis is the link between birth and death and can be invoked in rituals designed to celebrate existence under our banner of stars.

Juno

She watches over the daughters of the earth, and as such attends nearly every female need and function. The Latin word for a female soul is juno, and as the mother of all women she can be invoked in any woman’s mystery of birth, menses, croning, and death. Some of her aspects include a goddess
of fate, Juno Fortuna; of war, Juno Martialis; of marriage, Juno Domiduca; of bones, Juno Ossipage; of mother’s milk, Juno Rumino. Because Juno is a special protector of brides, you can invent a Juno-centered ceremony to celebrate your own nuptials or those of a friend who espouses women’s spirituality.

Kali

She is the Hindu goddess of the ever-cycling nature of creation and destruction. Kali can be called on to protect and defend women of any age. If you are afraid for yourself, pray aloud to Kali in her destroyer aspect, which wears a necklace of skulls that will scare off any attacker. If someone is recovering from an abusive relationship, Kali can be called on to help with healing and renewing courage and self-esteem. Kali is not to be feared, but respected and admired. One of Kali’s aspects is the Indian goddess, Vac. This incarnation of Kali is the “Mother of All Creation” who spoke the first word, OM, which gave birth to the universe. She also invented the Sanskrit alphabet.

An image of Kali in your office or cubicle will keep trouble at bay and keep you strong and active and fully in your power. Give offerings to her occasionally with your girlfriends in your life with “womanpower” rituals.

Persephone

She is the Greek goddess of the underworld. She spends half of the year, fall and winter, with her husband, Hades, in the underworld, and the other half, spring and summer, above with her mother, Demeter. Persephone is a wonderful deity to invoke once winter has ended, since her return from below marks the beginning of spring. Also, if a dear friend is moving, you can create a pomegranate ritual to ensure regular visits. Persephone is also associated with the element of earth. During equinoxes, you can design rituals with plants, flowers, trees, and fruits of the seasons and acknowledge Persephone’s transition to the other world. This goddess represents the balance between light and dark.

Selene

She is the full moon, another Greek aspect of the lunation cycle. She sheds light on the world and on all of us, inside and out. Her mythology is that as a teacher of magic and all things supernatural, she passed her special knowledge on to her students. She is also a mentor, and her light illuminates our intelligence and ability to think clearly with logic.

Shekina

She is the female deity who is “God’s glory” and the spouse of an ancient Hebrew god. Older rabbinical texts describe her as the “splendor that feeds angels.” She was the only one to get away with being angry with the Hebrew god. She is associated with Sophia and Mari-Anna. Having been redacted from all biblical texts, Shekina was veiled in obscurity until some medieval cabbalists rediscovered her. Glimmerings of Shekina show up in passages of the Talmud telling the story of the exiled Israelis wandering into the wilderness with Joseph’s bones and a second ossuary, or “bone box,” containing “the Shekina” in the form of a pair of stone tablets. Be very creative in designing rituals, altars, offerings, and ceremonies honoring this deity, since you are rebuilding a lost part of goddess history. One daring ritual could include calling a women’s circle and rewriting the tablets of wisdom. Call upon your inner Sophia and inner knowledge for guidance in this highly original approach to ritual.

Sige

This Gnostic goddess charges us to be silent. In Roman mythology she stands for the secret name of Rome, which could not be spoken aloud, and thus she is depicted as a hooded woman with a finger to her lips. Gnostic texts speak of Sige’s origins as the mother of Sophia. She is the primordial female creator: out of silence came the logos, or the word. The cult, rituals, and folklore regarding Sige were held so strictly secret that we know nothing about them now.

But, since creation comes out of silence, there is complete creative freedom for you to recreate new myths, stories, and celebrations for this obscure deity. Silent celebrations, quiet meditations, and secret spells no doubt have the approval of Sige.

Sunna

She is the ancient Germanic goddess of the sun, proof that our big star is not always deified as male. The Teutons also referred to this very important divine entity as “Glory of Elves.” In the great Northern European saga, the Poetic Edda, Sunna was said to have a daughter who sheds light on a brand-new world. Other sun goddesses include the Arabian Attar, the Japanese Amarterasu, and the British Sulis, “the sun’s eye."

Venus

The Roman goddess of love, Venus is associated with ultimate femininity, ultimate sexuality, ultimate fertility, and all that is beautiful. The word veneration means to worship Venus, and she should be venerated in all the love spells of your own design as well as celebrations and circles taking place on her day—Friday. The lore and mythology of Venus is well known, as she has been imprinted on our consciousness as the beautiful naked nymph on a half shell rising out of the foamy wave of the ocean. Honor her by creating venerable dances on the beach, and write love prayers and poems inspired by the love in your own heart. 

Invoking the Gods

Here is a selection of male deities to choose from in your ritual work. Included are some of the more commonly invoked gods and also some rare and obscure powers to consider for ceremonies and incantations. There are many rich resources for further study, such as mythology, which is a real tapestry of humankind’s deepest truths, eternal struggles, and victories. I have learned many stories that have inspired and enriched my spiritual practices from books such as Bullfinch’s Mythology, Robert Graves’s The White Goddess, and James G. Frazer’s The Golden Bough. Reading more about the history and folklore of deities will give you ideas and inspiration for rituals of your own creation.

Adonis

He is the god of love, and partner of the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Adonis is also an herbal deity with domain over certain plants and flowers, representing earth, fertility, and health. He is often invoked for love rites and spells. Ask Adonis for help with your gardens and for healing.

Apollo

He is the god of music and the arts and brother to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. If you are an artist of musician, ask Apollo to help you with the creative process or invoke him to banish writer’s block.

Cernunnos

He is the Horned God of the Celts, sometimes also called Herne the Hunter. Cerunnos is a virile figure and represents man’s sexual power. He is the one to call on for animal magic, for fertility, and any earth or environmental ceremonies you want to create and represent the wild man’s spirit.

Dagon

He is the fishtail god of the Phoenicians who symbolizes the sea and rebirth. Originally a corn god, Dagon protects against famine and is also a god for oracles. He can be called on in water, gardening, and food rituals, and the celebration of life. Pisceans should familiarize themselves with this half man- half fish god when creating original rituals and should ask for Dagon’s aid in divination.

Ganesha

This elephant-headed Hindu god of good fortune is the “remover of obstacles.” Ganesha’s domain is literature and he dispenses much wisdom. Summon him for any new business and for rituals of prosperity. Many people keep Ganesha figures and images in their offices and on altars to ensure that he keeps obstacles at bay. Money spells and work-related rites are greatly abetted by the presence of this agreeable divinity.

Hermes

He is associated with the Roman god Mercury and the Egyptian scribe god, Thoth. Hermes is an important deity for astrologers and metaphysicians as he is credited with the invention of alchemy, astrology and several other occult sciences. “Thrice Great Hermes” is revered by ceremonial magicians and is believed to be the wisest of all. He is the psychopomp who conducts the newly dead to the Underworld. Early Christians and Gnostics saw Hermes as a precursor to Christ, a divine prophet, the revealer of mysteries, and the giver of enlightenment. The Hermetic Cross is an adaptation of the insignia of Hermes. Hermes should be invoked if you are fashioning any rituals using the signs of the zodiac, foretelling the future, or acquiring the deepest wisdom.

Horus

He is the Egyptian god of light and healing, the “all-seeing eye,” and child of Isis and Osiris. Horus is often depicted with the head of a falcon and the body of a man. You can turn to him in meditation and prayer when you are looking for his beacon of “enlightenment.” Horus is also a healing power to invoke in healing rituals.

Janus

He is the gatekeeper from whom the word “janitor” comes. Janus has two faces and was at one time identified with Jupiter. He is the gatekeeper of the year, as the divinity of the first month of the year, January.

Lugh

His name comes from the Celtic languages, translating to “Shining One.” He is a warrior sun god and also guardian of the crops. Lugh has his own festival, Lughnasadh, which takes place every year on August 1 to celebrate harvest time. A ritual of gratitude for life, luck, and prosperity will keep the bounty flowing. If you need a guardian or help with interpersonal problems at work, turn to Lugh as your defensive deity.

Mithra

He is the “Bringer of Light,” a Persian god of the sun and protector of warriors. Mithra corresponds with the element of air and comes from a deep mystery tradition of Mesopotamian magic and fertility rites. If you have a loved one in a war far away from home, you should create a special altar for your beloved with Mithra, who is the “soldier’s god."

Odin

He is the Norse equivalent of Zeus and Jupiter and is King of the Aesir. Odin rules wisdom, language, war, and poetry. You can appeal to him by carving runes or writing poetry. Odin can help you with any kind of writing, giving you the energy to forge ahead with purpose and passion. He can even help you write your own rituals and poetic magical chants.

Osiris

He is the Egyptian god of death and rebirth who also takes care of the crops, the mind, the afterlife, and manners. Husband to Isis and father of Horus, Osiris is a green god who is deeply connected to the cycles of growing and changing seasons. Turn to this god for rites of remembrance and for help with grief and mourning.

Pan

He is the goat-like god of the pastoral world as well as of lust and fertility. Pan represents the earth element and can be invoked for any erotic spells or ceremonies of a sexual nature. Call on Pan any time you want to have fun. As a minor love god, he is an essential guest for Beltane, a modern Pagan version of Valentine’s Day.

Talieisin

Although not technically a god, this monumental figure is said to live in the land or “summer stars” and is invoked in higher degrees of initiation in some esoteric orders. Talieisin is the harper poet from Welsh tradition, steeped in magic and mystery. He is associated with the magic of poetry, and embodies wisdom and clairvoyance. Talieisin is a helpmate to musicians and creative folks. If you are a solo practitioner and want to create a ceremony of self-initiation, Taliesin is a potent power to engage.

Thor

The Norse sky and thunder god of justice and battle uses his thunderbolt to exact his will. Medieval Scandinavians believed the crack of lightning and thunder was Thor’s chariot rolling through the heavens. Turn to Thor when you need spirituality to solve a legal matter. He is also a powerful protection deity to use in ritual.