The Planet: The Moon
(Sources : The White Goddess, The Moon Priestess and Anon)
(Picture by celticpagan.blogspot.com)
The Earth and Moon form a double-planet system.
The Moon, the closest astral body to the Earth, has had the most profound influences on mankind than any of the other heavenly bodies.
The moon provided ancient man with their first calendar.
Many of its surface features are visible to the unaided eye.
Lunar Months.
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth.
It was called Luna by the Romans, Mani by the Norse, and Selene by the Greeks.
The Old English word mõnath, is thought to mean month and a month is defined as the time taken for one revolution of the moon.
The word moon is probably connected with the Sanskrit root word men, meaning 'to measure', because time has long been measured using the phases of the moon.
Similiar words occur in most of the Germanic languages, Gothic - mena, Old Frisian - mona, Old Norman - mane, Old English - mõna, German - mond, Dutch - maan and Swedish - mån.
Derivations of the Latin Luna can be found in French - Lundi, Italian - Lunedi and Spanish - Lunes.
The moon is called triform, because it presents itself as either round, waxing, when the horns face East (West in S.H), or waning when the horns face the West or (East in the S.H).
'...as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights in darkness, so the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death.'
The Moon revolves around the Earth 13 times a year.
The lunar month is the period of one revolution of the moon.
The mean length of the lunar month lasts 28 days, which if you multiply by 13 gives you 364, 1 day short of a calendar year.
Or the proverbial, witches year and a day.
The Metonic Cycle
So called, from the name of the discoverer Meton of Athens in the 5th century BC.
It is a period of 19 years, at the end of which the phases of the moon repeat themselves on the same days as they did 19 years previously.
The Callipic Period
This was a correction to the Metonic Cycle, by the 4th century BC Astronomer Callipus.
It was to remedy a defect in the cycle, Callipus quadrupled the period of Meton, making a cycle of 76 years, and then deducted a day at the end of it.
He calculated that the new and full moons would be brought round to the same day and hour.
However, his calculation is not absolutely accurate, as a one day is lost every 533 years.
Mythology
In the Edda, the son of Mundilfoeri is Mani, meaning Moon, and daughter Sol, meaning Sun.
In classical mythology, the moon was commonly known as Hecate, before she had risen and after setting.
As Astarte, when the moon was crescent, as Diana or Cynthia, she who hunts the clouds, when in the open vault of heaven.
In the guise of Phoebe, she was seen as the sister to the sun, Phoebus, and was personified as Selene or Luna, the lover of the sleeping Endymion, the moonlight on the fields.
Moon Folklore
The moon has given rise to many myths, folklore and supersitition, eclipses, when the shadow of the Earth falls across the moon's surface, were once thought to be an expression of anger by a stellar deities, causing insanity, disasters and ill-omens.
The Senaca Indians believe that the moon was created from a wolf spirit, hence the reason why wolves howl at the moon.
Faery rings are supposed to be at their most dangerous under a full moon, and humans caught in the land of the Faery at this time would be unable to escape.
Harvest Moon
The full moon nearest the Autumnal Equinox, which rises for several days at about the same time, around sunset, resulting in a longer period of moonlight hours than usual.
Lunar Influences
Moons are celestial globes who do not have their own orbit, but who circle around a planet.
Therefore the symbolic meaning of the Moon is receptivity, reaction and reflection (the Moon mirrors the sun-light, and a mirror is a glass plate with a thin silver layer!)
The Moon has monthly phases, Waxing to Full Moon and Waning to New Moon, and that her magnetism is related to the rhythms of ebb and flood of the tides.
The Moon is further related to femininity, motherliness, cycles and (changeable) emotions.
The Moon's astrological house is the sign of Cancer; it has an influence on domestic and nurturing issues.
It represents the unconscious, the habits and instinctual behaviour patterns we drift into when we are not operating from the realm of ego and consciousness.
The moon is associated with the Goddess, who is often represented in her three aspects: Maiden, Mother and Crone, and her corresponding sacred colours white, red, black.
These aspects are mirrored in the phases of the moon: waxing, full and waning.
The Maiden - Mother - Crone, all aspects of the Triple-Goddess represent different types of healing and growth.
The table of the Moon is a Nine square, containing 81 numbers each adding in any direction, to 359 with its sum being 3321.
Silver
Use the metal or the colour silver in rituals, spells or talismans concerning the Moon, Moon Goddesses, the female force, cycles, emotional and/or hormonal imbalances, reflecting or neutralizing negativity, dreams and intuition, psychic work and psychic abilities.
Wear silver jewellery to improve fertility, emotional and hormonal stability.
Drawing Down The Moon
A Witches ceremony held on or near the 12th December, when the magic of the moon is invoked in drinking and dancing.
The rite is dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine and fertility.
Correspondences.
Magical Intent: Love, Reconciliation, Scrying, Safe journeys.
Day of the Week: Monday, 1st. hour after sunset on a Thursday.
Colours: Silver, White
Element: Water
Metal: Silver
Gem: Pearl, Quartz crystal, Moonstone
Plant: Hazel, Peoney, Mugwort, Almond.
Incense: Jasmine, Frankincense, Sandalwood
Goddess: Selene, Artemis. Hecate, (The Crone -dark of moon), Isis
Spirit Of The Air: West Wind Moon Phases in Magic
Dark of the Moon:
This phase marks the end or the beginning or ritual works.
Waxing Moon:
This phase marks growth, the energy is positive.
This is a time for spells that attract, that bring positive change, spells for love, good luck, growth.
This is a time for new beginnings, to conceptualize ideas, to invoke.
At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Maiden aspect, give praise to Epona, Artemis or one of the other Maiden Goddesses.
The Maiden represents youth, emerging sexuality, the huntress running with her hounds.
Full Moon:
This phase marks the peak of power.
All things are focused and concentrated.
This is a time of strength, love and power.
At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Mother aspect, give praise to Cerridwen, Isis or one of the other Mother Goddesses.
The Mother symbolizes feminine power, fertility, and nurturing.
Waning Moon:
This phase marks negative and destructive energies.
This is a time of deep intuition and a time for divination.
At this time the moon represents the Goddess in her Crone Aspect, give praise to Hecate, Morrigan or one of the other Crone Goddesses.
The Crone is wisdom, the compassion which comes from experience, and the one who guides us through the death experience.
New Moon:
The Moon is not illuminated by direct sunlight.
Waxing Crescent:
The visible Moon is partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is increasing.
First Quarter:
One-half of the Moon appears illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is increasing.
Waxing Gibbous:
The Moon is more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is increasing.
Full Moon:
The visible Moon is fully illuminated by direct sunlight.
Waning Gibbous:
The Moon is less than full, but more than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is decreasing.
Last Quarter:
One-half of the Moon appears illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is decreasing.
Waning Crescent:
The Moon is partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is decreasing.
Astrological Correspondences.
Moon in ARIES is the best time for spells involving authority, rebirth, leadership; healing spells of the face and head.
Moon in TAURUS is the best time for spells involving love, money, acquisition; healing spells for the throat and neck.
Moon in GEMINI is the best time for spells involving communication, writing, travel; healing spells for the arms, hands, and lungs.
Moon in CANCER is the best time for spells involving the home and for honouring lunar gods and goddesses; healing of the chest and stomach.
Moon in LEO is the best time for spells involving authority, courage, fertility; healing of the upper back, spine, heart.
Moon in VIRGO is the best time for spells involving employment, health, diet; healing of the intestines and nervous system.
Moon in LIBRA is the best time for spells involving justice, unions, balance (spiritual and otherwise), artistry; healing of the lower back and kidneys.
Moon in SCORPIO is the best time for spells involving power, psychic growth, sex; healing of the reproductive organs.
Moon in SAGITTARIUS is the best time for spells involving travel, sports, truth, horses; healing of the liver and thighs.
Moon in CAPRICORN is the best time for spells involving organization, ambition, career, politics; healing of the knees, bones, teeth, skin.
Moon in AQUARIUS is the best time for spells involving science, freedom, friendship, breaking bad habits or addictions; healing of the calves, ankles, blood.
Moon in PISCES is the best time for spells involving music, art, telepathy, dreams; healing of the feet and lymph glands.
Astronomical data:
Mean distance from Earth: 384,400 km
Diameter: 3,476 km
Mass: 0.0123
Earths Density: 3.34 grams per cubic cm
Surface temperature: 248 F to -274 F
Orbital period (Synodic): in mean length 29 d. 12 h. 44 m. 2.87 s.
Orbital period (Nodica): in mean length 27 d. 5 h. 5 m. 36 s.
Orbital period Sidereal): in mean length 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 11.5 s.
Orbital period (Anomalistic): in mean length 27 d. 13 h. 18 m. 37.4 s.
Orbital period Tropical): in mean length 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 4.7 s.
Orbital period (Solar): in mean length 30 d. 10 h. 29 m. 4.1 s.
Rotational period: 27.3 days
The Synodical Month, or period from one new moon to the next.
The Nodical Month, or time of revolution from one node to the same again.
The Sidereal, or time of revolution from a star to the same again.
The Anomalistic, or time of revolution from perigee to perigee again.
The Tropical, or time of passing from any point of the ecliptic to the same again.
The Solar month, the time in which the sun passes through one sign of the zodiac.