Calendar of the Moon Dark Moon Night Colour: Black Element: Air Altar: Upon a black cloth set a single black candle, incense, an iron sickle laid to mimic the direction of the waning moon, a cup of water, a lock of silver hair, and a white bone. Offerings: Bones. Stones. Menstrual blood. Give something up. Daily Meal: Soup of some sort, cooked in a cauldron, eaten in silence. Dark Moon Invocation At this time, in the dark of the moon, When the Silver Lady ages To an old woman in the dark, Haunting crossroads, working magic, Stirring her cauldron Of poison that heals, Grandmother Moon of sorcery And wisdom, who sees all And reveals little to our searching eyes. Moon of Death, Moon of mystery, Moon of silence who hides her face, Let us learn silence from your averted gaze Let us learn patience from your aging face Let us feel for the dark places within us And find our way down your path in the darkness Which is utter and complete But not impenetrable. As darkness wraps us, So silence heals us. As darkness finds us, So silence guides us. As darkness speaks, So silence falls. (The candle is blown out, and all leave in silence. From the beginning of this rite at Hesperis until the dawn, silence will rule in the house. Talking must be done only in whispers, and between no more than two people, and only for that which is necessary. Long meditation is encouraged, and all work must be done quietly if possible. The evening meal should be eaten by candlelight, and only candles may light the house, except for the sake of certain important work.)
[Source:paganbookofhours.org]