The Book of Shadows of a Broom Closet Dweller *EDITING*

The Moon

The moon is the most important heavenly body to consider when casting spells. It exerts enormous influence over the earth, governing the tides, crops and certain aspects of the human body. Therefore, it has a strong influence on magic. By monitoring the moon's phases, you can cast a spell to use the moon to your advantage.

The moon steers the tides and provides gentle, yet haunting light during the night. Ancient humans used the moon's lunar cycles as a rudimentary calendar, and the full moon has long been thought to induce insomnia and mild levels of insanity (hence the term 'lunatic' (lunar)).

It won't surprise you to know that Wiccans associate the moon with the Goddess and divine feminine. The moon's associations with women and femininity are rather obvious; the average menstrual cycle is around 28 days, the same as the moon's lunar cycle. The uterus ebbs and flows like the moon waxes and wanes. Lunar folklore has always been steeped in mystery, taboo, and the unknown. It's comparable to woman's history; always working from the shadows, outshined by overbearing sunlight.

🌕 We are fascinated by the moon because we see our own feminine-selves within it; we feel the depth of its mystery, we fear its power, and we are beckoned into its unknown. 🌕

It is no wonder, then, why the moon is considered the most powerful celestial object in witchcraft. The sun is inherently attached to mundane, physical experience; most people live their entire waking lives during the daytime - going to work, school, exercise, entertainment, and socialising during sunlight hours. The moon, on the other hand, is inherently connected with the spiritual realms, occult, and magick.

When the sun sets and the moon rises, most people go to sleep. The plane of existence in which our dreams take place is very close to the spiritual realms, and its often easiest to communicate with passed loved-ones and spirit guides in our dreams. It is also much easier to enter altered states of consciousness when your surroundings are lit only by candlelight or moonlight. Because of these reasons, the moon is ideal to work with when performing most acts in witchcraft.

Humans have such an instinctive fear of night time and darkness. So much of our language describes the dark as "bad". Think, "dark urges", "code black", "grim dark", "shadow traits". But if you think about it, humans only fear the dark because we evolved to see better in the daytime as our other senses gave way to our intelligence and language acquisition. The moon rules the darkness, so there is an innate and cultural fear of it. But there is no reason to fear the moon if you're willing to brave it, just like witchcraft - no wonder witches have such an affinity for the moon!

Magickal associations of the moon

Female mysteries, psychic knowledge, psychology, dreams, imagination, reincarnation, women, birth, children, domestic concerns, emotions, spirituality, nursing, initiation, healing, instinct, memory, virginity, purity, protection, intuition, beauty, thoughts, emotions, cycles, revealing secrets, the subconscious, finding a path, hidden intentions, shadow work, divination, counteracting Mars & Sun influences, menstrual cycles, divine feminine, your feminine side.
💎 Stones/Crystals/Metals: silver, moonstone, pearl, white quartz, clear quartz
🌿 Plants: Lunar plants are typically juicy, lightly sweet, & have a sweet (sometimes cloying) fragrance. Watery fruits, or have succulent leaves. Any herbs that help to balance hormones, relieve pain, or induce sleep. Many lunar plants open at night and close during the day, or release their scent at night. Moon plants often grow near water. Examples: moonflower, lotus, Evening Primrose, Night Jasmine, cucumber, melon, bitter melon, almond, agave, moonwort, milkweed, passionflower, mallow, Willow, poppy, Gooseberry, Goat's beard, Mugwort, Wild Yam, Iris.
🖐️ Body parts: lymphatic and endocrine systems
📆 Day: Monday
♋ Zodiac: Cancer
🌈 Colours: white, silver, grey, iridescence
🛐 Deities: Triple Goddess, Brigit, Artemis, Selene, Thoth, Khonsu, Tsukuyomi, Diana, Hecate, Luna, Máni