Dernière modification le 11/11/2026.

The moon and its phases influence the magical arts, so much so that we can speak of lunar magic to take this into account.

Introduction

Regardless of the type of magic practiced, the moon remains important in the practice of the magical arts. Since ancient times, its phases have been taken into account, and it is a key element in rituals. In everyday magical practice, the moon influences spells depending on its current phase. It is even more important when invoked for a ritual. Ancient deities of magic are often associated with the moon, such as Hecate in Greek mythology.

Description

The Phases of the Moon

Thus, the new moon is conducive to new beginnings, in the sense that the spell brings about change. Therefore, it is a key moment to cast a spell that will last for some time.

The so-called waxing moon is the one that is moving toward the full moon. It encourages the creation of new spells and, therefore, inventiveness. This is the main period of research for mages.

The full moon is when magic is at its most powerful. Wizards take advantage of this time to cast their most powerful spells, honor the goddesses of magic, or simply pay homage to the moon itself. This is what witches commonly do during their nighttime gatherings, when they come together to pay tribute to the moon.

Last comes the waning moon, the one leading up to the new moon. As its brightness wanes, it favors all spells that drain energy, take something away, or create distance.

Special Cases

There are, however, times when the moon increases the risk of spells failing. According to astrologers, this is the case when the moon is between two zodiac signs. It is said that the moon is void of course and therefore brings no benefit. These periods last between two and three hours on average (ranging from one minute to one day in extreme cases).

It should be noted that it is also said that one should avoid casting a spell when Mercury is retrograde (when its orbit is shorter than that of Earth), except in cases of emergency or if it coincides with a key moment (the beginning or end of a magical contract). This happens three or four times a year and lasts three weeks. Other planets can negatively influence spells; however, while these periods can be quite long, the effects are less significant.

The moon associated with a deity

In some cases, a ritual may be linked to a deity and to each phase of the moon associated with that god in the corresponding mythology. This therefore adds another factor for the mage to consider if he wishes to gain the favor of the god in question. This association of the moon’s phases with a god can be found, for example, in Babylonian mythology through certain texts.

“From the first to the fifth day of the month, the moon is a crescent, ruled by the god Anu.

From the sixth to the tenth day—for five days—the moon is the kidney of the god Ea.

“From the eleventh to the fifteenth day of the month—for five days—the moon is crowned with a shining halo, placed under the sign of the god Enlil.”

Akkadian text

Every mage must therefore have a knowledge of astrology if they wish to optimize their spells and their practice.

The Monthly Names of the Moon

In traditional culture, the moon is given a different name depending on the month of the year:

• January: Wolf Moon
• February: Storm Moon
• March: The Moon of the Worm
• April: Pink Moon
• May: Flower Moon
• June: Strawberry Moon
• July: Moon of the Meadows
• August: Red Moon
• September: Harvest Moon
• October: Blood Moon
• November: Frost Moon
• December: Cold Moon

References

Image: lenycherry_aiart

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