Moon Magic – A Guide to Aligning your Magic with the Power of the Lunar Cycles

One way you can make your magic more powerful is to align it to the tides of the moon. In this article I want to give you a quick introduction to moon magic, and how you can use it as a witch.

Gravitational pulls control the tides of the oceans and the tides within us. There is a daily ebb and flow, but also a monthly one which follows the moon cycle. As the moon travels around the earth it shows to us just a small part of itself at any given time. A small amount illuminated by the light of the moon. A reflection of one of its aspects.

Even just being aware of the lunar cycle is a magical act. In fact one of the very first exercises I recommend to new witches is to go outside every night and track the moon. Just look up and see what it is doing. You will soon find yourself naturally aligning with the cycles. This is the easiest moon magic you can do – but its also VERY powerful.

But it is important to know not just what phase it is, or what the best type of magic during that phase is, but also how it ACTUALLY feels. And by that I mean how it feels to YOU.

So the second part of that exercise is to write in a journal how you feel. What emotions have been prevalent that day? And how you feel when you just gaze up at the moon?

Watching the moon is better than an app.

Better than any almanac or dates added to a diary.

It will do something for you that I cannot explain.

It will align you to one of the most powerful sources of energy available to a witch.

And whilst it may seem difficult to know which exact phase its in then there are clues. The shape of the moon. The direction in which the horns point. The times its visible – they all go together to build up a picture. I’ve added these clues to the quick run through of phases below.

But know this – how the moon affects you and makes you feel should be the very basis of your own personal moon magic. Dont fight the tides which move through you – jump in. Enjoy! That’s what witches do best.

New Moon

The moment the moon begins to grow – to wax. It marks the beginning of the cycle.

So its good for moon magic designed to begin things. New projects. New phases in your life. New Starts.  Its also a great time for magic to help you see things afresh, from a new perspective. It brings clarity and focus of thought. As the tiny silver of light appears, so concentrated on a tiny point, so your thoughts can be trained into that razor sharp focus.

When you plant the seeds of change they will manifest through the lunar cycle – and indeed it is a lovely way to mark the new moon to plant seeds as part of your spell work. 

Another definition is the moment at which the moon becomes visible in the sky again – which is slightly later, but is possible to note without recourse to almanacs or online apps.

If you are interested in moon gardening then this is the time when the waters are low in plants too. The power concentrated in the roots. So as well as planting then gathering roots at this time is very potent.

Waxing Crescent

The first phase of the (apparently) increasing moon. Less than half the moon is lit – and in the Northern Hemisphere it grows from right to left. Meaning the horns of the crescent point left.

During this phase it rises in the day – around lunchtime, and so it sets early in the evening too. You probably won’t see it if you are looking for it in the early hours of the morning. Easiest time to see it is shortly after it gets dark.

An easy way to tell the moon phase is the time of day you see the moon in the sky! If its in the afternoon it’s a waxing moon!

Like the new moon which kicks off this phase, it is the perfect timet for moon magic to for new projects, to nurture new ventures to give them a strong start. A spell started at new moon can be boosted during this time and encouraged to start growing strong roots.

First Quarter

The point at which the moon is half way between dark and full. An exact semi circle to our eyes. This lasts just a moment really – but to our eyes it appears to be a couple of nights.

Waxing Gibbous

The second week broadly of the cycle and lasts until Full Moon. Still growing in the amount of light and building of energy.

Continues growing right to left. Starts to set later each night – so you will start to see it in the sky after midnight during this phase.

Full Moon

This one is the easiest to recognise – a full bright silvery circle of light! But judging the exact moment of fullness by eye alone isn’t easy. For this reason most witches utilise a 3 day window around the exact point to work their magic

The moment of fullness may also not be at night! So, timing your rituals becomes a matter of personal compromise. Personally I cant get into the mood to do any moon rituals when it is still light! So midnight is always the time I choose. Either the day of or the day before if possible.

At this point in the cycle its generally rising in the sky around sunset and setting with the following dawn. So visible all night.

This is the most common time for witching! It’s the time that really pulls on us. The height of the moon tide – and indeed the ocean tides which the moon controls. As they rise so do the waters within us. It pulses and the energy is unmistakeable once you have experienced it.

Its traditionally a time for celebrating the Divine – commonly in pagan circles this is often the Goddess as the moon is seen as female. However in traditional craft many see the moon as Male. Its something you have to decide for yourself. But years of conditioning from the mainstream can make it difficult to really perceive for yourself.

You can do just about any magic at this point – anything which requires a serious punch of energy! It’s a great time to bring things to fruition – either long term projects or the things you began at the new moon. Dream work is also powerful at this time so get your journals out.

Also a good time to consecrate and make magical/sacred your tools. You can charge tools that you want charging with moon energy. But think carefully on this. It adds MOON energy – and not everything needs that kind of energy. (For example I don’t really understand the craze for charging cystals at the Full Moon. They are surely the very epitome of earthly energy not heavenly……)

Plus you only need to recharge tools which lose or have used the energy previously charged into them.

If you are moon gardening, with the high tides of water and sprowl, the leaves and flowers of plants are the best to gather in at this time.

Many witches report an increase in sex drive at the full moon! So if your partner (if you have one) is doubtful of the benefits of your path here’s your chance to influence them to positive ways of thinking!!!!

For ideas for celebrating the full moon check out this post:

10 Ways to Celebrate the Full Moon

Waning Gibbous

As soon as the full moon begins to wane, or to begin its apparently reduction in size, the wanning gibbous phase begins.

During this period you won’t see it in the sky until late – probably after midnight.

But you may see it in the sky after sunrise. So the moon in morning sky means its waning!

The light reduces from right to left.

Magic turns to reduction, decreasing and removal. If you have something to let go of now is the time to start lessening its grip on your life. To begin the process of saying goodbye.

It’s a good time for slow removals – of things which take time, or you need time to adjust to.

Waning Crescent

The final quarter of the cycle – about week 4. Sometimes in traditional craft known as the old moon.

The horns of the crescent start to appear again. This time pointing towards the right.

The energy builds again – but very different from the energy whilst built in the second half of the waxing phase. It is becoming more internal  the feel it in your gut ype of energy. The energies start to concentrate in you pushing inwards instead of outwards.

Things to focus on – spirit communication, work with ancestors, endings that need to be slightly quicker (including banishing) and really focused on removal.

Dark Moon

Moon not visible in the Sky.  Concentrated energies – spirit travel, crossing the hedge, shadow work, protection and curse. Operating under a cloak of darkness

A time for rest – withdrawal from the outside world.

When the moon is dark, we see what is behind. The lack of light reveals as much as the full moons light reveals – and for me that is the Lord of the Greenwood.

I prefer to look up into the sky to discover the moon phase I am in, I guess I am just an experiential, action focused kind of witch! My moon magic starts with my direct connection and interaction with the moon. But some people like to get more scientific, and if thats you then the website lunarium is one of the best and easiest to use moon calendars about! (And it has some great articles of all the intricacies of science!)

https://www.lunarium.co.uk/calendar/universal.jsp