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Leo Full Moon: January 24th at 1:46am Universal Time (UTC, also known
as GMT)
adjust for your time zone, eg:
New York: January 23rd at 8:46pm
Portland OR:January 23rd at 5: 46pm
Melbourne Australia: January 24th at12:46pm
Its time for our journey to begin. As we travel together through a full lunar cycle - from Full
Moon, through her waning, then her waxing phases, and back to the Full - we will be
deepening our connection to our beautiful satellite, and growing together as a community.
Even those of us who are already dedicated to a life of Magic and connection with Nature have
much to learn, as each lunar cycle has its unique gifts, and being focused for a whole month
on the subtleties of the lunar energy will bring so many rewards.
We are going to begin our adventure by simply immersing ourselves in the glorious glow of the
Moon as she waxes towards her fullness, culminating in a ritual on the Full Moon. This week
we will focus on just what makes the Moon so special, introducing ourselves to her cycles and
phases, and also exploring her connection to the Divine Feminine. We will offer our gratitude to
the Moon for all of her many gifts, and also learn the basics of my approach to ritual.
THIS WEEK WE WILL COVER THE FOLLOWING TOPICS
(You might also like to check out this youbtube animation illustrating the sizes of satellite in our Solar
System)
But it is not only the fact that our Moon is large that makes her so special, its the fact that she
is a very particular size. A magical equation occurs between Earth, Moon and Sun. Although
science has taught us that the Sun is very large, and the Moon in comparison very small, from
our point of view here on Earth, the two brightest lights in our skies appear to be almost exactly
the same size. The Sun is not only approximately 400 times bigger than the Moon, but is also
about 400 times further away from us, making them appear the same size. How extraordinary
this that! In fact, the relationship between size and distance is so perfect that our little Moon
can eclipse the light from our enormous Sun!
So we have these two beautiful major lights in our sky. Somehow different, yet equal. The Sun
of the day and the Moon of the night. Nearly all cultures around the globe have regarded one
luminary as masculine, and the other as feminine. Which gender is applied to which might
change across cultures, but there is definitely a strong mythology of Sun and Moon as God
and Goddess. In modern Pagan mythology, the Sun is regarded as a symbol of the God and
the Moon as a symbol of the Goddess, and thats the alignment that I will be working with
during this short course. But we must remember that this is really a symbolic alignment. Spirit
is everywhere, in everything, and transcends the duality of God and Goddess. The Moon, for
me, is a gateway to connecting more deeply with a particular aspect of Spirit: The Divine
Feminine. Maybe you feel differently about the Moon? Maybe for you the Moon is aligned with
the Egyptian God Thoth? Maybe for you the Moon is just a rock in the sky? It doesnt matter.
You will still gain much by journeying with the Moon as Goddess over these five weeks, and
experiencing her Magic. There are no fixed rules in Living a Life of Magic. We simply
encourage you to follow your flow, and be guided by the lantern of your Self.
Before we dive fully into our focused month of Lunar Magic, lets spend a moment comparing
the energy of our two beautiful luminaries - the Sun and the Moon - equally beautiful, but in
such different ways. The Sun, which rules our daytimes, is glorious, shining, radiant,
magnificent. Sunlight creates contrast, colour, vibrancy. The Sun is an energising force, calling
plants to rise and people to action. The Sun can feel wholesome and healing, inviting us to
bask in his rays like a cat. But the Sun can also be harsh, creating drought, hunger, thirst. As a
representation of the Sky God, his energy can feel both rewarding and punitive. But one things
for sure; the Sun is always constant, rising in the East as a glowing orb, making his way across
the sky, then setting again in the West. Day in and Day out - a perfect circle. In fact, the only
time that our glorious Sun appears anything other than a perfect circle is when he is being
eclipsed by our Lady Moon.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
And thats the thing about the Moon. She carries the energy of change. Unlike the Sun, she
does not appear as a perfect circle day in and day out. Over the course of a month she
changes from a fingernail sliver, to a half circle, to a full circle, then begins to get smaller and
smaller until she disappears all together! But low and behold, a few days later she returns
again and the cycle begins over. The Moon teaches us about both constancy and change. She
is always in a state of change - growing smaller or bigger - and yet she is constant in that we
can trust her to return to us after her absence. We are reminded that the only constant in
Nature is change, and that we can trust in the natural flow of darkness and light. As the
renowned Pagan author Starhawk says:
She Changes everything she touches
And everything she touches, changes
Unlike the Suns clear bright power, Moonlight has a mystical quality. Her light is subtle,
creating soft shadows and blurred lines. Even at her brightest, on a clear nights Full Moon,
she bleaches colour from the palette, reducing all to an otherworldly monochrome. She calls
us to look deeper, beyond the surface of things. Logic takes a sidestep, and intuition holds
sway. It is only on rare occasions that we can gaze directly at the Sun, but the Moon invites us
to gaze into her, to contemplate, to reflect. Her light draws us inward, to the realms of our
emotions and our imagination.
In these modern days of electric lights and indoor lifestyles, the phases of the Moon can slip by
almost unnoticed. But if youve spent time in wilderness, away from cities and lights, it
becomes quickly apparent that the Moon has a huge impact on our experience of night. On a
Full Moon, Her light is very bright and casts clear shadows. Once your eyes adjust, it becomes
quite easy to move through field and forest on a Full Moon, clearly seeing any obstacles in
your way. Do the same on the dark Moon, and its quite a different story. The night is very dark
indeed. Imagine, then, how this would have affected earlier cultures, before flashlights and light
switches! The Moon is moody, sometimes dark, sometimes light, and she reminds us that our
own shifts in mood, in emotional texture, are a valid expression of Nature.
A vital way of encouraging Magic into our lives is to recognise and honour the sacred cycles of
Life, Death, and Rebirth that are intrinsic to the Universe. Witnessing the cycles of Nature,
such as the monthly cycle of the Moon's waxing and waning, the yearly cycle of the Sun and
the seasons, or the daily cycle of the spin of the planets and stars, gives validity and purpose
to the many cycles of life and death, growth and loss, in our own lives.
shorter and shorter until we once again reach the Winter solstice and the cycle starts over. So
the Sun has just one big inhalation and one big exhalation each year - 6 months of increase, 6
months of decrease.
energy of each phase, we will come to recognise that this short cycle is a microcosm of the
bigger cycles in our lives. We all go through periods of waxing, growing, increasing, moving out
into the world setting our intentions. And we also go through times of drawing inward, finding
stillness, letting go, resting, healing. What we learn about the Moon can be applied to all of the
cycles in our lives. These booklets and the ritual recording that go with them can be used again
and again to help us honour and direct our own personal flow.
We begin our Lunar Magic journey as the Moon is increasing towards her fullness, and hold
our first ritual when she reaches the perfect roundness of the Full Moon. Then, over the next
month, we will witness her process of decreasing in size until she is invisible, then reappearing
and increasing in size until she is once again Full. The time from Full Moon to Full Moon
makes one complete cycle, and takes 29.5 days. The visual changes that the Moon goes
through during that 29.5 day period are known as phases. As we enter into deep connection
with the Moons cycle, each week of our Lunar Magic course will provide the opportunity for us
to delve into the mysteries and Magic of each unique lunar phase. Each week will therefore
have a very different feel, and a very different energetic focus as we align with the current lunar
phase. So we have plenty of time to get to know these phases intimately, and plenty of time to
study the actual astronomy of why these phases occur, but for now I would like to simply
outline an overview of the major lunar phases so that we have a map for our journey together.
I am aware that many of you will already have a good understanding of the lunar cycle, but
this information is intrinsic to the core work of this course, and it certainly doesnt hurt to revise
and refresh our knowledge. Maybe youll discover a hidden insight, a fresh awakening, or a
renewed level of appreciation for our beautiful Moon and her graceful dance through the
phases.
wish for growth. As the Moon grows, so do we. This is the time for asking the Universe for
more of anything, and allowing room for INCREASE and GROWTH.
The period between the Full Moon and the Dark Moon is the waning part of the cycle. During
this two week period the Moon appears to decrease in size each day, and the energy on Earth
begins to draw itself inward. We are encouraged to do the same. As the Moon wanes, we are
given the opportunity to release and let go of unwanted baggage. This is a time of LETTING
GO, and DECREASE. It is a time to prepare for the still, soft darkness of the Dark Moon. The
Dark Moon offers us a time of rest as we prepare to begin the journey of growth once again
with the waxing moon.
This is one of the most simple and powerful ways that we can increase Magic in our lives - just
to be aware of whether the Moon is waxing, or whether she is waning. Is she getting bigger, or
is she getting smaller? That simple! As we flow and connect with this pulse of increase and
decrease, it is almost like an inhalation and exhalation - a single breath over the course of a
month.
THE PHASES
Next week we will dive into a thorough exploration of the astronomy of the lunar phases and
the relationship of the Sun, Moon and Earth during each cycle, so for now lets not concern
ourselves with the science and mechanics of the phases. Instead, lets simply acknowledge the
visual changes that the Moon goes through, and the most obvious markers of those changes
within each cycle.
DARK MOON
The approximately 3 day period when the Moon disappears from our view.
Although for our convenience we divide the lunar journey into these distinct parts, in reality the
waxing and waning cycle is one fluid movement, endlessly flowing. We could divide it into as
many phases as we wish - one for each day of the cycle if that felt good to us But as we will
learn next week, there are four very precise moments within each cycle - governed by the
astronomical dance of the Sun, Moon and Earth - that definitely give us the four anchor points
of Dark Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Third Quarter. But thats for next week :) . Before
we go any further, lets clear up a few of the terminologies that may create confusion.
THE QUARTER MOONS
Why do we refer to the First Quarter, when clearly the Moon at this phase is not 1/4 of a
circle, but rather a half circle? Well, the quarter bit is actually referring to a point in time, rather
than to a physical state. The First Quarter is exactly 1/4 of the way through the full Lunar
Cycle. And the Third Quarter is exactly 3/4 of the way through the cycle.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DARK MOON AND NEW MOON
There can sometimes be a little confusion around the use of the terms Dark Moon and New
Moon. Many people use them interchangeably to refer to the start of the lunar cycle, when the
Moon is invisible to us. But for me the two terms have a very different energy. Some people
consider that the New Moon is the moment when the Sun and Moon are exactly aligned at the
same point in the Zodiac (known astrologically as a conjunction). At this stage of the Lunar
Cycle the Moon is invisible. I prefer to refer to this stage as The Dark Moon. She is hidden and
private, like a seed underground. I dont really feel the energy of the New Moon until her
crescent is visible in the Sky a day or two after the Dark. So , just to be clear, I will use the
term DARK MOON to refer to the entire 3 day period when the Moon cannot be seen, and the
term NEW MOON to the period of time that begins a day or two after the Dark Moon - when
the first crescent is in visible in the sky.
THE OLD MOON
Im not really sure if anyone else refers to the waning crescent as the Old Moon, but I like to. If
there is a New Moon, why not an old? Lets not be ageist here!
Lets finish this introduction to the lunar phases with a charming little poem by the Pre
Raphaelite English poet Christina Rossetti.
Lady Moon,
Your horns point towards the East
Wax, be increased
Lady Moon
Your horns point towards the West
Wane, be at rest
THE CIRCLE
For each of the five rituals in our Lunar Magic course, we will be casting circle and
consciously creating a sacred space in which to do our magical work. Why a circle? Well, as
we have seen, all of Nature moves in cycles, which are expressions of the energy of the circle
moving through time. Just as there is no real beginning nor end in each lunar cycle, but rather
an endless flow, so too a physical circle has no beginning nor end. It is both ending and
beginning. By creating a circle of energy around ourselves, we are aligning with Natures flow.
The circle is a symbol of wholeness, of equality, and of eternity.
NATURAL CIRCLES
Nature provides us with many powerful images of the circle. We can meditate upon the radial
beauty of a sunflower, a cactus, a mushroom or a sea anemone, but one of the most powerful
natural images of the circle must certainly be the beautiful Full Moon. Gazing at her perfect
form is a profound experience that instills a sense of wholeness and peace. In my many years
of Moon gazing I have become finely attuned to her changes, and can recognise the most
subtle imperfection as she waxes towards a perfect circle, or wanes away from it. Imagine,
then, how clearly these changes must have been recognised by ancient civilizations whose
lunar gazing was not interrupted by city lights and indoor lifestyles. Below is one of the many
photos that I have taken of Lady Moon. On a clear Full Moon night, I encourage you to go out
and witness the pure beauty of this perfect natural circle.
A CIRCLE OF EQUALS
God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.
Empedocles (500-430 B.C., Greek Philosopher)
My approach to spirituality and to Magic is non-hierarchical, and is based on the premise of a
circle of equals. I believe that each of us are equally magical, equally sacred, and that we all
have equal access to Divine Power. This is in contrast to the majority of religions (including
some branches of modern Paganism) that are based on the model of a pyramid. In this form of
hierarchy there is one ultimate leader, who acts as a direct channel or representative of
God/Goddess. Their interaction with God is then shared with the layers of people beneath
them. An example of this is the Catholic Church. The Pope represents God on Earth. There is
then a complex system of cardinals and bishops etc, down to the local priest who shares the
word of God with his congregation.
This is a very dis-empowering way to connect with the divine, and relies upon an outside
source acting on a persons behalf in the role of intermediary. This really doesnt appeal to me.
I believe that it is our job as individuals to form a direct relationship with God and Goddess (or
whatever your personal experience of the Divine is). If we conceive of God / Goddess as the
point of centre, rather than the top of a pyramid, we can see that everyone within a circle can
share equal access to the Divine.
DIFFERENT PATHS
The symbol of the circle reminds us that there are infinite paths to the Divine. If the aim of our
spiritual journey is to reach a sense of centre, of Oneness, then we can visualise that centre as
the point in the middle of a circle. This is the point of Unity. The edge of the circle can expand
the point in the middle of a circle. This is the point of Unity. The edge of the circle can expand
forever, allowing more and more room around its circumference for different viewpoints and
pathways. The centre remains the same. Whether its Buddha, Jesus, Hecate, Pan or
Cerridwen that draws you towards centre is not the issue. The important thing is the journey.
We may even find that our path towards centre has no name at all, and is best honoured by
gardening, or bushwalking, or painting, or any of the myriad activities that give life its soul. The
centre need not have a name. It simply IS.
With this in mind, I invite you to experience our Lunar Magic course as a circle of equals.
When a group of people sit in a circle, we can see each others faces. We can share. I regard
myself as the facilitator of our Magical journey together, rather than the leader in any
hierarchical sense. I encourage each of you to develop your own personal power. I am open to
learning from you, just as much as you are from me. There is no guru in our Living a Life of
Magic community. We all have gifts to share.
The circle has been part of Magical tradition and ceremony since the birth of human
civilization. Its use unites and transcends all cultural boundaries. We see its power in ancient
Neolithic stone circles, in Buddhist Mandalas, in Native American circle dances, in modern
Pagan ritual circles, and in the powerful ritual symbolism of the wedding ring. The Ritual Circle
is seen as having different properties within different cultures and Magical traditions. Even
amongst modern Pagans, there are differences in how the circle is created, and what it's uses
are. I think it's best, then, that I'm very clear about what the Magical Circle means to me, and
how I use it in my ritual practice.
Any of you who have attended my live performances will remember that I begin most of my
concerts by casting a Magical Circle and welcoming in the Four Elements. I do this for a
number of reasons. Firstly, it reminds us that we are creating a ritual together a sharing of
energy between performer and audience, where both are affected by each other. It reminds us
too that music is a powerful way of raising Magical energy, and we can direct this towards
healing and love. And on a more personal level, casting a circle makes me feel centred, safe
and strong, no matter where I'm performing. Here's a link to a youtube video of me casting
circle at a concert in Minneapolis.
(Note: if youre printing this document rather than reading it on screen, remember that any
links we post will also be available directly from our Schoolgy page .)
And here are the Lunar horns again on this ancient Egyptian painting of Isis. Not only are they
the horns of the cow, but also the horns of the waxing and waning crescents.
Just as the lunar cycles lead us on a monthly journey from darkness to light, and back to
darkness, so too the energy of the Goddess encompasses all aspects of the Life / Death / Life
cycle. Within her great wholeness, life and death co - exist. She is beginning, completion, and
ending. Some cultural representations of the Goddess align with a particular phase of the
cycle. Others - such as the Greek Moon Goddess Selene - hold the energy of waxing, full and
waning Moon. In modern Paganism the Goddess is most often depicted as having three
distinct aspects - The Maiden, The Mother, and The Crone - which align with the New Moon,
the Full Moon and the Dark Moon (or waning crescent) . These three aspects are represented
by the symbol below, and together form The Triple Goddess
Lets take a quick look at the Goddess energy as it relates to the lunar cycles. Of course we
will have an opportunity to go into much more depth over the coming weeks as we move
through each phase.
(Demeter, Ceres etc) , and also as loving mother Goddesses such as the Egyptian Hathor,
mother of Horus.
The sexual aspects of this phase of the Moon are honoured in Goddesses such as Aphrodite
and Venus. Its interesting that in Christian mythology, the Mother and Lover are split into two
separate roles. Both are called Mary, a name which derives from the Latin root for sea (maris,
which gives us words such as marine and maritime). So we have Mother Mary, the beautiful
nurturing Madonna, and also Mary Magdalene, who many regard not as a whore, which the
bible suggests, but rather as the lover and partner of Jesus.
In popular culture, this archetype is celebrated by screen Goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe,
Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, and more recently Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie.
We will also honour Spirit in each ritual. I usually have a candle in the centre of my altar for this
purpose. You may like to add pictures, statues, etc.
Remember that it is ok to improvise when creating Altars. We are not practicing Ceremonial
Magic or traditional Wicca, where it is appropriate to follow an exact set of rules and traditions.
Living a Life of Magic is all about finding our own personal and creative connection with the
Magical Universe. So, if you dont have one of the objects that we suggest for your ritual altar,
substitute it for something that you do have around. Add anything that will help you to connect
substitute it for something that you do have around. Add anything that will help you to connect
with the energy of the Moon that we are working with.
I have made a short video, which you will find on our Schoology page, that takes you
through the process of creating an altar for this course.
In neolithic times, certain caves would become shrines and be painted with images of Gods,
Goddesses, and sacred animals. When we last visited Kakadu National Park, in the Northern
Territory of Australia, we were fortunate to be able to see some of these ancient works first
hand.
Even in our more secular modern Western age, our culture is still compelled to create grand
public shrines. Think of the Lincoln memorial, or Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance.
Although not dedicated to a Deity, they still resonate with a sacred energy, and are places of
pilgrimage.
But the shrine can also be somewhere very personal and private - an intimate place for prayer
and reflection. We find shrines such as these in quiet corners of grand Catholic churches, or in
a peaceful garden grotto, in dedication to Lady Mary. When Tim and I were in Ubud, Bali which is a deeply spiritual place - I took great pleasure in witnessing the daily ritual offerings at
each familys shrine. In every restaurant and workplace, on the dashboards of cars and the
steps of homes, beautiful offerings of colourful flowers and cooked rice are presented on
banana leaves. The offering below was left at a corner where two humble paths met in the rice
fields near our home. What a beautiful daily ritual to create connection with the Gods.
We can create our own personal shrines in our homes to honour Sacred Spirit. Maybe there is
a particular Deity that you wish to work with? Creating a collection of images and sacred
objects that align with that Deity is a powerful way to maintain connection, and gives a focal
point to our prayers, blessings, and other devotional acts. Creating shrines can become a
beautiful expression of our creativity. Choosing flowers and other offerings becomes an act of
devotion. Often these shrines can be very simple, and their sacred resonance only apparent to
yourself. This does not lessen their Magical power.
Kids naturally create shrines all the time. Youll see them arranging their bits and pieces, laying
them out in special ways that are somehow sacred for them. I remember that one of the ways I
created ritual with my son Reuben when he was little was to make a Faerie Shrine every Full
Moon. Wed find sticks and stones and shells and flowers, a feather if we were lucky, or
anything that wed found on a Nature Walk, and make a little house under a tree in the park
or backyard in honour of the wee folk. Wed then place a little treat of a biscuit, cake, or fruit
out for them. It was a lovely way of connecting us with the sacred energy of Nature. Similarly,
we can create small and sacred shrines in many areas of our homes and lives. I have a
disheveled dashboard shrine of feathers, silk flowers, and a caduceus, the symbol of my
patron God Mercury. Whenever Im in the car, Im reminded that travel is a sacred act, and that
Mercury helps and protects me.
CLEANSING OURSELVES
The day of our Ritual is a powerful and charged day. Our primary focus for the entire day
should be our sacred Ritual . Even if we are at work, in the back of our minds, and in every
interaction, we can hold an awareness of the specialness of the day. Just as we prepare the
space where we will perform our ritual, so too should we prepare our bodies. Id suggest eating
very simply and lightly on the day of our ritual. Avoid meat if possible, and focus instead on
fresh fruit and veggies. Avoid rich and processed food, and eat as lightly as feels comfortable
for you. Many people choose to fast on the day of ritual. This has never really worked for me. If
my blood sugar gets low, I get cranky and cant concentrate. But I also dont want to have a full
belly. A little bit of hunger can sharpen our senses. Experiment with what feels right for you.
Maybe fasting all day makes you feel fantastic, and psychically charged. Thats great, and go
for it. Ive learnt that its not for me. Instead, a clean and simple diet throughout the day, with
for it. Ive learnt that its not for me. Instead, a clean and simple diet throughout the day, with
minimal stimulants ( sugar, alcohol or caffeine, etc), definitely lets my body know that
something special is about to happen.
WHAT TO WEAR?
There is great power in dressing for Ritual. You may like to choose something in your wardrobe
that makes you feel special, or that reflects the particular energy or colour that we are working
with each month. I think its important to be comfortable, too. Often I choose something simple
and flowing. Id suggest not wearing anything with tight and restrictive waist bands, so that you
can breathe easily during the ritual. Over time, you may choose to make a special ritual robe of
natural fibre like cotton, linen or silk. Our clothing is definitely a creative expression, and we
can work with it to make each ritual have a unique and personal power. I think the most
important thing is to change out of the clothes that weve been wearing all day, and dress in
something that has been specifically chosen for the ritual. These could still be part of your
everyday wardrobe, but chosen specifically for the occasion. It might just be your favourite shirt
or skirt, freshly laundered.
SMUDGING
I would suggest purchasing or making a smudge stick, which is a bundle of tightly woven sage
(and sometimes other herbs) and using that to cleanse yourself and your space. Smudging, or
cleansing with smoke, is a Native American tradition that has been adopted by modern Magical
practice. The traditional herb for smudging is sage, but I have also had great success with
frankincense, lavender, and even eucalyptus. In fact, indigenous Australians use the green
leaves of eucalyptus in their rituals to cleanse and purify.
To start, light your smudge stick using a candle. This should be a separate candle from your
altar candles. It can often take a good while to really get the smudge stick going, and you may
need to place it in the flame a few times as it dies down.
Use a feather or fan, if you have one, to swoosh the smoke over your head and around your
body. Using your hand is also ok, though less effective at distributing the smoke. If you are
knowledgeable about the chakra system, make a point of blowing the smoke directly at each
chakra. If youre not sure about chakras, dont worry.We focus on the Chakra system in our
advanced 2nd year course. I also like to lift one foot at a time and cleanse under each foot.
Once you feel fully blessed and cleansed by the smoke, clearly state:
PREPARATION
Moon Water
For this ritual we are going to make some Magic Moon Water. This is very simple to do. Just
put some pure drinking water (spring water or filtered water is great) in a glass jar or covered
glass outside under the Moonlight the night before you intend to do your ritual. Leave it out for
the entire night. Make sure that you place it in the path of the Moons light - even if you cant
see the Moon due to clouds. Her energy will still reach through and charge up the water with
her glorious and loving light. We will be drinking this water during our ritual, so make sure that
the water and vessel are both clean.
Compass Directions
Youll need to know your compass point directions. Its ok to just go with the approximate
direction using the Sun as your guide (sunrise in East, sunset in West etc) or you can do as I
do and use a compass. If you dont have a physical compass, some phones have compass
apps on them. Last resort? Google maps always loads with North being at the top of your
screen, so just enter in your address and find your orientation that way.
Altar
Gather all the things you need for your altar: something to represent each of the 4 Elements,
and a candle to represent Spirit.
Cleanse your space, your rituals tools, and yourself in readiness for ritual. Create your altar in
a way that feels personal, creative and natural to you. As well as the objects to represent the
Elements and Spirit, you may also like to include beautiful things such as flowers, crystals,
statues of particular Goddesses, pictures of the Moon etc. Place your Moon Water in the
direction of West, to represent the Element of Water on your altar.
Music Player
Have your music player handy so that you can listen to the ritual recording - either on speakers
or headphones. Its good if you can have the controls within easy reach so that you can pause
if you want to take a little more time with any of the activities.
Pen and Paper
Have a pen and paper handy to write your gratitude lists during ritual
Smudge
Just before we start, give yourself a nice smudge cleansing with incense or sage.
Food and drink for after ritual
Ritual can be hungry work! I always like to have some healthy food on hand for directly after
the ritual to help me ground a come back to the Earth Plane. I also like to celebrate after ritual,
so you may like to include some special treats, a glass of wine etc. This traditional ending to
Pagan rituals is known as cakes and ale .
REFLECTION
Allow time after the ritual to reflect on the energy that we have raised together. If you wish,
write in your journal or book of shadows about your experience. What worked for you? What
didnt? Where did you feel at ease and in the flow, and where did you feel some resistance?
Keeping a journal of your ritual experiences is a great way to witness your magical process and
growth, both during this course, and beyond it.
I look forward to being in circle with you all
Blessings of Love and Magic
Wendy