The pearl of the sky, Hecate, Selene, and Artemis; it may have many names, but for most of us, it is known as the moon.
Our planet’s only satellite, the moon, shines at night in the darkness of the heavens, bringing a tender feeling of comfort and home into our lives. Leaving aside the history, the collisions millions of years ago, and the achievements of the last century, the moon has always created mystery. It is strange to think that the ancients looked at the same celestial body that we admire today, perhaps in a different position than it must have been centuries ago, but still the same satellite. So many are the people and scholars who have tried to understand it, to analyse it and to unveil its secrets. Many are the scientists who still do so today, but the moon, with its waxing and waning phases, adorned with constellations of stars, will perhaps forever remain a mystery.
In particular, one of the most frequently asked questions, and one that has branched out over the centuries, is whether the moon is an object that can also impact us. From the accounts of doctors, nurses, and mystery lovers, it would seem so; indeed, not only is human behaviour subject to the changes of this pearl of the sky but also to the weather. Wolves howl at her, tides change when she is full, and the ancient calendars of Native American and European peoples planned their harvests and rituals according to her phases—so why shouldn’t the moon have an impact on us too?
Grimoires teach us that in magic it is good to work with the lunar energies and that each of them has a specific meaning.
According to science there are only eight states, but witchcraft sees the invisible and knows that to the eightfold there is another.
It starts with the New Moon, and as the name suggests, it represents a new beginning. It is the first phase, in which we can only see a small light into the ether. It is a time of intention, cleansing, meditation and starting over, good for planting and decision-making. The two weeks of waxing that follow after are a wonderful time for successful growth.
We then have the crescent, the first quarter, and the gibbous, which arrive approximately on the 3rd, 7th, and 13th day after the New Moon and are extraordinary phases for spells, abundance, rituals, choices, attraction, and health, but above all for thinking in the present tense.
Then, once the full moon rises brightly in the sky, the winds shift, and the time to act begins. The full moon is fruition, the moment when things come to be. It is the most powerful and perfect moment to obtain, receive, and finally bring success to culmination. Divination and communication with the spiritual world are at their peak as well. A moment we want to make the most of until its very end, for once it changes, so does everything else.
When then the waning chapter begins, with the gibbous, the last quarter, and the crescent, the powers shift along our intention. Falling approximately on the 3rd, 7th and 10th day after the full moon, it’s recommended to be cautious during this time, for this energy is not to be toyed with. Rituals and spells to remove the negative, cleansing, and meditation are all welcome if done quietly; however, this is not the time to choose a path, and it is recommended that any important decision should be avoided.
At last, when the Moon reaches its final phase, the sky turns dark, and the radiance no longer reaches us (although it may not exist for many), the Black Moon finally makes its appearance.
This time of the month means only one word: rest.
Rest, because its dangerous, destructive magic must be left alone, and we don’t want to mess with forces we cannot tame.
Despite the fact that many may cry ‘Fibs!’ and ‘Humbugs!’, the narratives of the past and the ancients paint the moon in this light, as if we always knew we were somehow connected to it.
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’?
Do you know what it means and where it comes from?
The association of a god, a figure, a symbol and a name with our satellite is certainly not recent; in fact, it is much more remote than we think. Even before there were calendar months, time was calculated through the moon and its magnificent phases. Which—we must admit—makes much more sense than our system, since each cycle lasts around 28 days and is much easier to follow. Throughout history, lunar calendars have been replaced by solar ones, but the names we still use today when talking about each full moon emphasise the link to the roots.
Each month’s full moon has, in fact, a specific title, many of which you may have already heard. January’s Wolf Moon symbolises the howling of wolves in a cold and scarce month to strengthen pack bonds and communicate food sources. Then there’s the famous Strawberry Moon in June, during which the berries begin to ripen, but also the Harvest Moon in September and many others.
We have Native Americans, such as the Algonquins, and various European cultures to thank for these remarkable epithets, but to the long list of honorifics we must also add the dreaded Blood Moon, painted scarlet only during lunar eclipses, the Supermoon, and finally the Blue Moon—the rare second full moon in a cycle or month.
It can therefore be said that this celestial body has always fascinated mankind. For millennia it has been used as a reference in the sky; some festivals align with the moon, and the same applies to sowing and gardening. Spirituality, religion, mythology, and superstition have always existed and will always exist around this midnight jewel. Many of them were tied to women, fertility, and growth. There is even the dearly loved symbol of the Triple Moon Goddess, worshipped in neo-pagan traditions, representing the maiden, the mother, and the crone and thus the circle of life. We can therefore state that, though science may not fully explain it, an undeniable bond exists between moon and man. It’s a quiet, timeless connection, woven from love and adoration. A kin that has endured across generations, bridging past and present, transcending even the boundaries of reason and discovery.
I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I deeply love the moon. As crazy as it may sound, I even call her ‘mother’, because every time I gaze at her, I feel like she’s looking back at me, like a mother to a child.
I may be a fool, but I feel her love, even if we’re kilometres apart.
Up, Dancing Fairies by August Malmström (1866)
Sources:
Can the moon influence human health?
How does the Moon affect life on Earth?
Why do we have special names for full moons?
Super Moon, Blood Moon, Blue Moon and Harvest Moon
A Guide to Moon Phases Meanings
How to Use Moon Phases in Witchcraft and Manifestation
The Ultimate Guide To Working With Moon Phases
The Witch of the Forest’s Guide to Natural Magick: Discover your magick. Connect with your inner & outer world by Lindsay Squire (2024) — a book in my library
The Library of the Unseen 
Beautiful description of my sign! Thank you ☺️ 😘😘