The Moon Phases & Wiccan Magick

What are the Moon phases? How do they affect tides, magick, and Wicca? What are the magickal powers of each phase of the Moon?

The powerful effect of the Moon is obvious. Look at how it pulls the waters around our world.

And the Moon affects much more than just water. The very Earth under your feet has tidal movement that also follows the Moon. So does the air you breathe. So does the blood within your body, at least metaphorically.

Every phase of the Moon creates a certain energy.

This energy affects us, and everything on Earth.

(You can see a clip of the Moon going through all the phases below.)

As a religion of nature worship, Wiccans are well aware of the importance of the Moon's cycles. Especially as they affect making magick.

Let's start with the basics . . .

The Phases of the Moon
(and How to Remember Them)

Every month, the Moon cycles through its phases:

Full Moon Waning Moon Dark Moon New Moon Waxing Moon Full Moon

As we observe this Moon cycle, we are watching a living mandala in action.

How To Tell If The Moon Is Waxing Or Waning

The Waxing Moon begins on the right side of the moon. It grows from right to left. (This is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is opposite.)

If you flatten your right hand with all your fingers together and hold it out at arm's length, it makes a curve, like a backwards letter "C." (If it looks like an "L" tilt your thumb toward the ground. See it?) This is the way that the Waxing Moon looks. It would fit into the curve between your thumb and fingers.

You might find this easy to remember, when you consider that for most people the right hand is the active, doing, giving hand. This is the energy of the Waxing Moon. And this is the hand that looks like a waxing ")" shape.

Another memory-cue is to think of making candle magick: you would write in the candle wax, and (if you're in the majority) you'd use your right hand. So right hand is waxing hand.

If you do the same with your left hand, you get the direction of the Waning Moon. The left, in Wicca, is the hand of releasing, undoing, and receiving. The Waning Moon, with this same energy, echoes the shape of the left-hand "C" shape.

A memory tip for remembering that waning means the Moon is getting smaller is to remember that waning means weakening: the Moon's light is getting weaker. And weakening has the word waning hidden within it: W-e-A-k-e-N-I-N-G.

Powers of the Moon Phases

The Moon is in magick the way it is in life. Each moon phase generates an energy flow.

Watch the Moon move through Her phases here...

Can you get a sense of how the Energy shifts in each stage?

If you want to work magick with the Moon — which is one of the most important ways to enter into the flow of Magick — you must perform your spells in harmony with the Moon's phase.

Below is a list of Moon phases, and the energy they create. This will tell you when the best time is to work any magick spell.

New Moon

  New beginnings, fresh starts, optimism, hope and faith,

Waxing Moon

  Building, accomplishments, creativity, strength, growth and learning, positive transformation

Full Moon

  Abundance, harvest, wish-fulfillment, manifesting desires, sexuality, achieving all dreams, protection

Waning Moon

  Letting go, clearing away, cleansing, releasing, shedding old patterns, undoing bindings, opening up problem-knots, making space

Dark Moon

  Rest, Peace, deep wisdom, divination, contacting the guru within, letting things die away completely

Moon Phases Affect the Tide

One of the greatest powers of the Moon is its affect on the tide.

The Moon phase affects the tides not only of the ocean, but of the atmosphere and even the Earth. And of course, it affects people and animals too.

There are, in fact, 5 tides caused by Moon cycles.

These tides are have a powerful effect on all things. In fact, the Moon is responsible for all life on Earth.

It is no wonder, then, that the Moon is revered as one who gives abundance and grants wishes. How natural it is for Wiccans to celebrate the phases of the Moon!

With Brightest Blessings,

erin Dragonsong

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