Moon Magick

The Moon travels through all 12 zodiac signs in 28 days. There are usually 13 moon cycles in each year. The Moon has four phases:

first quarter - new (endings; renewal and cleansing)

second quarter – waxing (seeding, growth, opportunity, & development)

third quarter – full (culmination, fruition of desires)

fourth quarter - waning (shrinking, removing, banishing)

Every calendar month, the moon will have a new moon and a full moon, but because the calendar isn’t synchronized to the moon, the date of each “lunations” (new or full moons) shifts from month to month.

New moons and full moons are sequential, passing between opposite signs. When you see a full moon symbol on a calendar, consider the sign the sun is visiting during that month. For instance, from March 20^th or 21^st until April 22^nd, the Sun is in Aries. Any full moon that occurs while the sun is in Aries will be in Libra. Some calendars show the moon’s sign from day to day, which is helpful – but even if it doesn’t, you can tell what sign of the full moon just by looking, even if you don’t know the degree.

Each lunar cycle is unique because the lunation events occur at different degrees of the signs from year to year. The Moon’s Nodes are an imaginary axis that slowly moves backwards through the zodiac, and these points are always 180Ò apart, so always occupy opposite signs. The Moon’s North Node shows the sign where the Moon moves from south to north declination. The Moon’s South Node shows where the Moon will move from north to south declination. The Moon swings from extreme north to extreme south declination within her 28-day cycle.

The Nodes also indicate where eclipses will occur. If the Nodes are in the Pisces-Virgo axis, then the eclipses will occur in March and September (roughly). It takes the Nodes about 2.5 years to back through a pair of signs. When an eclipse occurs, the Sun is always close to a Node. Twice a year, the Sun will align with the Moon’s north-south crossing point. If the Sun is at the same place as the Moon, then there’s a solar eclipse (new moon). If the Sun is opposite of the Moon, then there’s a lunar eclipse (full moon). There aren’t many sure things in life – this is one of them. Neither the Moon nor the Sun is ever retrograde.

New Moons bring renewal to the matters that zodiac sign rules. Full moons bring matters in that sign’s purview to fruition or culmination. Spell-work that takes advantage of the meaning of each soli-lunar cycle benefits from flowing with, instead of against, these powerful energies.

New Moon in Aries: renewal to ambitions, fresh energy, spring fever, new hopes and goals

Full Moon in Libra: resolutions and culminations in relationships, partnership agreements, and one-on-one relationships

New Moon in Taurus: renewal in financial matters, property and land use, spring planting, fertility, physical strength, personal resources

Full Moon in Scorpio: illuminates passions, deep-seated feelings, sexual drives, creative drives

New Moon in Gemini: clears away old messages and ideas, and replaces with new ideas. Use of time and energy is re-regulated through shifting schedules. Social relationships are refreshed, new friendships begun.

Full Moon in Sagittarius: Long-term projects and long-distance travel are brought to pass. Educational goals are met, and networking connections formed.

New Moon in Cancer: Domestic conditions are refreshed through house-cleaning and renovation; family relationships are renewed, security interests are scrutinized. New forms of nurturing are developed.

Full Moon in Capricorn: Ties between generations are explored and fulfilled. Responsibilities in the home and in the world are rebalanced. Commitment to long-term development is cemented or stabilized.

New Moon in Leo: Love relationships, including those with children and pets, are refreshed, as are personal creative goals that expand talents and opportunities for self-expression.

Full Moon in Aquarius: Love relationships as well as relationships with friends and children reach fruition. Conditions are measured for everyone’s benefit and well-being, and room for progress in the world.

New Moon in Virgo: Work and health matters are renewed. New tasks are assigned, methods are analyzed, priorities placed on efficiency and hygiene.

Full Moon in Pisces: Ties of affection and love culminate. Sentiment about the past, or the things one holds dear are explored and acknowledged. Sympathy toward those in need.

New Moon in Libra: Revitalize and refresh relationships on all levels – marriage, significant other, best friends, family, day-to-day contacts. New agreements are considered, old ones ended or released.

Full Moon in Aries: The fruits of ambition ripen, as does confidence and self-esteem. Courage in negotiations is applied to relationships and desires for achievement.

New Moon in Scorpio: Physical drives, including the libido, is rested and refreshed. The body slows for winter pace, emotional security is reprioritized.

Full Moon in Taurus: The summer’s abundance is preserved, and wealth accounted for. Investments, resources, and the rewards of work are illuminated and celebrated.

New Moon in Sagittarius: Old interests wane to make room for new. People return to their home grounds, or family origins and traditions. New affiliations, travel, and educational possibilities are considered for the following year.

Full Moon in Gemini: Socializing reaches a peak, as does the exchange of messages and information about the past and future. Schedules are adjusted to accommodate the seasonal celebrations; planned events take place.

New Moon in Capricorn: Party hats are put away, and Janus looks past and future to consider results and possibilities for the new year. Quiet contemplation and serious issues are reflected and pondered as the old year dies.

Full Moon in Cancer: Safety, security, and family ties are strengthened as the winter grows colder. Warmth, basic needs such as food and clothing, and family budgets are of prime importance during this bleak part of the year.

New Moon in Aquarius: Renewal of group interests, the new year’s social agenda, the individual’s place and role in society is reassessed with an eye toward improvements.

Full Moon in Leo: Getting to know people more deeply, intensity in relationships increase. Harmony in all kinds of relationships is tested and weighed.

New Moon in Pisces: Personal, family, neighborhood, social and business relationship cross, intersect, mix and mesh as interpersonal spheres are refreshed.

Full Moon in Virgo: The possibility of cooperation and shared goals culminates. Goals that require the efforts of many are organized and catalyzed. Plans go into motion; other plans reach fulfillment.

Moon sign and phase are the two most important determinants of spell timing.

Spells for new beginnings and to attract opportunities should be performed a few days (3) after the New Moon.

Spells to generate excitement, to swell attention, or to expand opportunities should be performed during the seven days before a Full Moon.

Spells for cumulative effects, positive results, and best possibilities to arise from past efforts and achievements should be performed on the Full Moon, or within seven days after the Full Moon.

Spells for banishing, shrinking, removal, reduction should be performed during the 4^th quarter phase, when the Moon’s light is shrinking to nothing. Ideally, these should be ended on the New Moon, so the situation or condition being banished can be sucked into the New Moon’s recycling bin.

Spells should coordinate with the new-full axis. For instance, love spells benefit when the Sun/Moon are new/full in the Leo-Aquarius axis, as these signs rule different kinds of relationships and ties between people who choose to be together (as opposed to relatives, who aren’t chosen). These are fixed signs, and will help “fix” interests between partners.

Spells for financial improvements should be performed when the Sun/Moon are new/full in the Taurus-Scorpio axis, as these signs are directly concerned with money; and are fixed signs, so give lasting results. This is also a good axis for sex magick. Money magick also does well when the moon is waxing toward full in Cancer or Pisces, as money should flow like water.

Sometimes it is beneficial to be more specific. For instance, it is best to work a spell for career improvements when the moon is waxing toward full in Capricorn or Aquarius. It is best to work a spell for family harmony and security when the full moon will be in Cancer.

To work a spell to eliminate an obstacle in a relationship, begin the spell while the moon is waning toward a new moon in Leo or new moon in Libra – both signs that will renew circumstances in relationships.

When performing a 3-day or 7-day spell (for instance), be deliberate about choosing both the beginning and ending location of the moon. A great money spell can begin while the Moon is in Taurus and end three or four days later with a Full Moon in Cancer. A spell to enhance career networking and information flow could start with a waxing moon in Sagittarius, and end with the Full Moon in Aquarius.

Try to pick matching moon signs – both the same element, or friendly elements. Taurus and Cancer are earth and water – friendly elements. Sag and Aquarius are fire and air – friendly elements.

If the spell is directed toward overcoming obstacles, two approaches can be taken: 1.) to increase personal power to overcome the obstacle (waxing moon); or 2.) shrink the obstacle in one’s path (waning moon). Because this kind of spell involves a deliberate choice to tackle a specific challenge, it is best to choose signs in “square” relationship with one another (four signs apart; a 7-day period). For instance, a spell to increase personal strength to overcome an obstacle could start with a waxing 2^nd quarter moon in Leo, and end with the Full Moon in Scorpio. This is a fire-water combination (ambition is merged with emotion), and both signs are fixed - they deal with will power and manifestation.

A spell to diminish an obstacle would benefit from mutable signs. Mutable signs rule changing situations. For example, start with the 4^th quarter moon waning in Sagittarius, and end it with the New Moon in Pisces. Because both of these signs are Jupiter-ruled, the element of luck and the principle of change dominate the spell’s energy – both qualities that enhance the probability of obstacle removal. The effectiveness of this type of spell increases if the person performing it is open to adjusting attitudes, opinions or beliefs; or is willing to shift goals or personal focus to adapt to changing situations. Spells like this don’t work one-way – you have to meet the energy half-way.

The same principle holds true when casting spells to banish illness or negative emotions. Start the spell with the 4^th quarter Moon waning in a mutable sign (Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, Sag), and continue for seven days until the Moon is new in the following mutable sign. The mutable signs are ruled by either Mercury or Jupiter, both planets that are concerned with physical health and well-being. Virgo is directly concerned with health and hygiene, so an ideal illness-banishing spell would start with the 4^th quarter Moon in Gemini, and end under the New Moon in Virgo.

In general:

Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) help get things started, generate fresh energy, strengthen leadership positions, and generate enthusiasm. Usually cardinal-sign spells have to be followed up with fixed-sign spells to keep matters in motion or drive to completion; or with mutable sign spells to secure cooperation from others.

Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) help strengthen will to continue efforts and follow through until completion. Fixed sign magick is powerful – but effects are hard to undo, so make sure you really want what you’re asking for. These signs are also good for banishing powerful resistance or stubborn obstacles.

Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sag, Pisces) are changeable and slippery, and are good for tweaking conditions to ones more favorable through increase or decrease, as needed. Subtle but very powerful when used correctly.

It helps if spells are started when the Moon is in good aspect (conjunct, sextile or trine) a planet that rules the subject matter of the spell. Perform spells to enhance communication when the waxing moon is sextile or trine Mercury. Spells for growing affection benefit with a Moon trine Venus aspect.

Mix and Match

The best spells include both the appropriate Moon sign and phase and a fortunate moon-planet aspect that coordinates with the spell’s intent. The sign the planet occupies can also benefit the spell. Several examples are given below. These aren’t hard-and-fast prescriptions, but are intended to show how one goes about selecting the lunar timing most appropriate for a spell’s intent.

A waxing Moon in Gemini sextile Mars in Aries (increase/air/fire/mutable-to-cardinal aspect): great for casting a spell to improve opportunities for getting a new job or for doing well at a job interview. Mars gives courage and self-confidence in Aries; the Moon in Gemini gives good communication skills and the ability to adapt with ease to unfamiliar surroundings.

A waxing Moon in Cancer sextile Jupiter in Taurus (increase/water/earth/cardinal-to-fixed aspect): perfect for a spell to increase in wealth through a raise or a bonus. Cancer is the Moon’s sign of rulership, and concerned with improving security through enhanced money flow; Jupiter is in a tenacious, luxury-loving, earthy-money sign.

A waning Moon in Pisces trine Saturn in Scorpio (decrease/water/water/mutable-to-fixed aspect): This combination is good for a seven-day spell for quieting gossip or reducing the influence of a troublemaker. Pisces is sympathetic but sensitive to emotional undercurrents, while Scorpio has a stinger and Saturn is a limiting influence. The spell should be completed with a New Moon in Gemini – words are ended, gossip is kaput, the troublemaker is no more.

Full Moon in Leo square Mars in Taurus (decrease/fire/earth/fixed-to-fixed aspect): a good combination for overcoming resistance and finding courage to do an important task. Begin the spell with the Full Moon in Leo, as this sign rules the ego; while Mars in Taurus is ready to do battle with stubborn ruts and calcified attitudes. Proceed for seven days, until the Moon reaches Scorpio, the next fixed sign (and ruled by Mars). By the time the Moon enters Scorpio, the resistance – or the reason behind the resistance – should be fully conscious. Fear, distaste, or prejudice rise to the surface and the emotional toxins can be cleared as the moon wanes to new.

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Lunar conjunctions, sextiles and trines are the ones generally chosen for spell work. Squares and oppositions can be useful, but are only used when the most resistant or difficult issues are at hand and require deliberate resolution, elimination, or confrontation. Squares and oppositions occur in signs of the same quality (cardinal, fixed, mutable), and care must be exercised to coordinate the spell’s intent with the sign quality of a moon-to-planet square or opposition.