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To inculcate the bond between you and a new acquaintance, grind together one part white sandalwood and one part frankincense; use a mortar and pestle if you have one. Add four generous drops of sandalwood oil and speak the following full moon blessing together:
Daughters under the sun,
To attract new love, two nights before the full moon, take a pink votive candle and place it inside your cauldron or any large metal pot. Lay a rose and a bell beside the cauldron and your altar. Use either rose or apple blossom essential oil to anoint the candle’s wick. For the next two nights, cup the candle in your hands and direct loving thoughts into its flame. On the night of the full moon, take a thorn from the rose and carve the name of your heart’s desire into the candle’s wax, reciting:
I will find true love.
Nearly every temple in 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.
This is an interesting transitional time, as August comes to a close. We are swiftly entering the thick of the harvest season and undoubtedly gathering juicy abundance from our respective gardens. We are also taking stock of the year thus far and carefully plotting out what we have left to work with. We're not deep in meditation mode yet, but still easily distracted by lingering summer delights... OK, I'm clearly talking about myself here, but you catch my drift. We should certainly make the most of any good weather we have available to us, as many of us may be forced to go into hibernation mode once more in the not-so-distant future. All in all, it's a great time to step outside barefoot and feel the earth between your toes.
Although it's good to acknowledge and spend time with each of our changing seasons, that shouldn't stop you from stepping outside to connect with Mother Earth, no matter how snow-laden and chilly the ground may be. You might even find it invigorating—as our August guest on "Women Who Howl at the Moon," Jacque Daul delights in telling us! Jacque, a vibrant, 80-years-young Wiccan and still practicing massage therapist, has many fascinating stories to share. Be sure to tune in to our latest podcast episode to hear everything our new favorite Leo has to tell us! That's one of the things I really love best about conducting these interviews—I'm able to connect with and get to know so many amazing women in the community. If you haven't liked our Facebook page or perused our Patreon, please do so today.
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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.
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 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.
One of the loveliest things about a full moon is that you can reap the benefits of it for three days leading up to it, and three days after. Especially this summer, when so many of us are booked solid socially, it can be a relief to know that you can still practice magick and soak up the moonbeams on more than one night of the week. One of the simplest rituals that I enjoy practicing is to open up a shade and a window where I can see the moon and feel it shining down on me. I close my eyes and bask in the moonglow. If you have some nice bike paths in your neighborhood, fill up the tires, put on your helmet, and turn on the lights for a leisurely full moon bike ride.
This is the time of the season where even if we blissfully ignore it, our bodies sense the shift and harvest about to happen August 1st. (For some fun ideas to celebrate Lammas/Lughnasadh, consider a small bread baking party.) We will start going inward in our minds, even while we are still able to enjoy the often- beautiful weather outdoors. For many traditions, the Holly King is reigning for now, and the dark half of the year is his time. This isn't a reason to be sad, just perhaps more introspective. Take more time out to meditate. Think about what you'd like to manifest yet before this year comes to a close and jot it down in your journal. Or noodle out a spell in your Book of Shadows to help bring your goals to life. This can be a period of planning and preparation. You can also enjoy a Corn Moon celebration later in the month—if you can squeeze it in!
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Recently, I have been wishing and hoping for peace in this world of ours, as have most of us. I have been making, burning, and giving away candles with the word “peace” written with crystals embedded in the soft candle wax.
If possible, perform this spell during a full moon night for the greatest effect. Place your stained-glass peace candle on your altar and light rose incense, which represents love and unity. Light the candle and chant:
ty!
