Maybe it’s the revival of Witches or Neptune in Pisces.

Maybe it’s the millennial generation rediscovering what the Baby Boomers first started in the 50s, 60s or what Gen X began in North America in the 70s.

Perhaps it’s continuing from the 90s surge of new age books, witchcraft and tarot books flooding every Barnes & Noble and then later Amazon as well.

It seems like everyone online is following the moon phases, whether it’s the new moon or what sign the moon is in.

Witchcraft is making its resurgence and not only that, also other aspects of “new age” that come with it.

New moon and full moon rituals appear online, no longer only in printed books reserved to the dark corners of bookstores in a tiny section labeled “New Age”.

The moon phases are taking front and centre and more people are interested in working with them, charting daily events, planning and scheduling, setting goals for both short and long term.

There are several books on the market that list moon phases and rituals, each one is unique and every author has their own information to add to the plethora of ideas that are available and have been available for decades.

The purpose of this post is to be a resource to find and explore additional information that may be useful to the new and more advanced practitioners.

Moon phases aren’t only reserved for those who practice the Craft.

Many (if not most) gardeners and farmers plant by the moon phases and almanacs which also list the moon phases and best planting and harvesting times.

 

Let’s begin with a few printed materials and online resources that can be helpful in keeping track of the moon phases:

 

Witches’ Datebook – This datebook printed by Llewellyn is a great tool to quickly look up the moon phase in addition to when planets go retrograde or direct. It also includes dates for harvesting and planting as well as full moon/new moon dates and retrograde dates.

There are also quick written articles in the datebook as well. It’s a quick and easy reference guide if you’re on the go. The Witches’ Datebook is released every year for the upcoming year.

 

Witches’ Calendar – Similar in the information found in the Witches’ Datebook, Llewellyn publishes a wall calendar that makes it quick to reference. In the back of the calendar are correspondences for colours, planets, herbs, metals, etc. for workings, along with planting and harvesting.

 

Llewellyn’s Magickal Almanac – This yearly almanac is similar to the Witches’ Datebook, however in book format. There are more articles in the beginning of the book, but the information contained in the days listed in the almanac are quite similar to the datebook.

Moonology by Yasmin Boland – I haven’t read this book, but I saw it making the rounds on social media. This book seems like a good introductory point. Yasmin Boland also has her own website at moonology.com.

 

To Light a Silver Flame & Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation by Silver RavenWolf – OK, good mother Silver has kind of a rap in the Craft community back from the 90s.

However, when you’re a new witch in the 90s, her stuff was like liquid gold, which more experienced witches would turn their noses at her “fluffy bunny” writing (not my quotes).

Yet, nonetheless, Silver RavenWolf knows her stuff and her writing got me started on my path over 20 years ago. I still re-read her works as part inspiration and part nostalgia.

There’s a section in the appendix of her third book installment, To Light a Silver Flame, that lists moon phases that are helpful.  Find it on Amazon.

In Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation there are more detailed excerpts about moon phases along with correspondences that are always helpful.

A note about purchasing these as e-books: I’m not sure what it’s like on Kindle or other ePubs, but for Kobo, Solitary Witch doesn’t convert well to ebook due to the charts in the book. Most of the wording gets cut off.

Plus, the book is pretty big. I recommend getting that book as a hardcopy which makes it easier to bookmark and flip to sections with greater ease. Find it on Amazon.

 

Moon Sign Book – This Llewellyn book published every year since 1905 shows the moon sign for each day along with other information (they also publish a yearly Sun Sign Book).

This book aims to help with planning events, goals, etc., together with new moon, full moon and eclipse forecasts.

 

Astro.com – If you’re in a pinch and don’t have your books around or other resources, you can hop into astro.com to get the current transits for the moon and other planets. This way you can also check aspects.

 

timeanddate.com – This is where you can find the time and date for any place in the world, including sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset.

Enter your location and you can find everything for the upcoming month, future and archives. You can plan your workings around the exact times or heightened times of the moon phase.

 

Working with the Moon Phases

 

Working with the moon phases takes planning, knowledge and creativity.

Resources that have correspondences for herbs, plants, crystals, colours, etc., will help when working with the moon phase.

For example, if you’re working on a banishing spell during the waning or dark moon phase, adding correspondences that are associated with banishing will lend extra energy to your spell.

If possible, try to work with a moon sign during that phase that may also give an added boost to your purpose.

The more elements (whichever you use) that go well together and are similar in purpose will create the right amount of energy and emphasis, which will help to keep intent and focus intact.

Spells can be as simple or as complex as you want.

Some effective spells can be nothing more than one candle in a colour connected to your purpose and the correct moon phase; add a tarot card if desired for visual focus or as a visual reminder for extra emphasis.

 

Moon Phases

 

The five simple moon phases are: New Moon, Waxing, Full Moon, Waning and Balsamic (Dark) Moon.

The moon phases are technically divided into new moon, first quarter, second quarter, third quarter and fourth quarter.

These are also known as new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent.

Although any and all moon phases can be worked with to become more specific with your intent and purpose, most practitioners work with the new moon, waxing, full moon, waning and balsamic (dark) moon.

Below is my list of purpose and workings for each moon phase and goddesses. This is no where near a complete list of workings and goddesses for these moon phases.

I encourage you to do further research and read other materials to find workings and deity associations for each moon phase.

Feel free to explore these aspects and how they relate to your own personal practice, cultural and ancestral background.

 

New Moon

 

Purpose: Beginnings

Workings:

• Starting new projects / goals
• Abundance
• New job / work
• Opportunities
• Money / Finances
• Health / Fitness

Goddesses:

• The Maiden (of the Triple Goddess)
• Lada
• Artemis
• Juna

 

Waxing Moon

 

Purpose: Growth

Workings:

• Increasing work / employment
• Increasing wealth / prosperity
• Spells and projects that will take time to culminate (by the Full Moon or at least one moon cycle)
• Animals
• Business
• Luck
• Motivation

 

Full Moon

 

Purpose: Completion

Workings:

• Health
• Dreams
• Psychic abilities
• Protection
• Banishing
• Divination
• Self-improvement
• Change

Goddesses:

• The Mother (of the Triple Goddess)
• Diana
• Cerridwen
• Selene

 

Waning Moon

 

Purpose: Endings

Workings:

• Addictions (to get rid of)
• Protection
• Banishing
• Divorce
• Health & healing
• Ancestors
• Closure
• Farewells

 

Balsamic / Dark Moon

 

Purpose: Regeneration

Workings:

• Healing addictions
• Banishing
• Hexing
• Cursing
• Justice
• Divination (scrying)
• Mediumship
• Ancestors
• Shadow work

Goddesses:

• The Crone (of the Triple Goddess)
• Hecate
• Lilith
• The Morrigan

 

More can be found here about the dark moon: Working with the Dark Moon.

 

Tarot and the Moon Phases

 

Tarot works amazingly with the moon phases, that even moon phases can be associated with the meanings and symbolism of the tarot.

Certain tarot cards embody what each moon phase represents and what we work with during those moon phases.

The moon is closely connected to psychic abilities, intuition and tarot; most notably with The High Priestess and The Moon cards.

The moon appears in other tarot cards such as the 8 of Cups (believed to be an eclipse) and the 2 of Swords.

When we look at what each moon phase represents, we can analyse what they mean to us in our lives and where we are currently in our lives.

Harness what the five moon phases (new moon, waxing, full moon, waning and dark moon) represent with this Moon Phases Tarot Spread.

Blessings,
Stacey & the Tarot Pugs

 

Images designed in Canva.
Card images from Arcana of Astrology by Black and the Moon.