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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Black Moon Rising

Saturday, July 30th at 2:40pm (EST) will be July’s second New Moon. The first New Moon was on July 1st. Although the most common name for the second New Moon in a month is the Black Moon, the follow names have also been attributed to it: Moon of Rest and Beginnings, Secret Moon, Finder's Moon and Spinner Moon.


On the Mundane Side of Things:

She rises around dawn and sets around sunset and we don’t actually see Her too often, yet Her pull is felt by all with an inclination for such things. Because She is between the sun and the Earth, very little is reflected and for a few days the moon is lost in all the Sun’s bright and glorious splendor. Since the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth, the pull on us is the strongest. Because the Sun, Moon and Earth are all in a straight line this creates a time when the high tide is higher and the low tide is lower than usual.

The original meaning of the phrase ‘New Moon’ was the first visible crescent of the Moon, after conjunction with the Sun. This takes place over the western horizon in a brief period between sunset and moonset, and therefore the precise time and even the date of the appearance of the new moon by this definition will be influenced by the geographical location of the observer. The astronomical new moon, sometimes known as the Dark Moon to avoid confusion, occurs by definition at the moment of conjunction in ecliptic longitude with the Sun, when the Moon is invisible from the Earth. This moment is unique and does not depend on location, and under certain circumstances it is coincident with a solar eclipse.


On the Magical Side of Things:

We have all spent our time gathering under the light of a Full Moon and even under the light of a Blue Moon, the second full moon to fall with one month’s time, but most of the world doesn’t even notice the New Moon. It hangs darkly in the sky challenging us to begin anew each month and unless you are an astronomer or you follow some sort of nature based religion, you probably don’t pay a whole lot of attention to New Moons.

That's not to say that New Moons aren't important to non-astronomers or Pagans. To the world's Muslims, the date of New Moon is of great interest, since the Islamic calendar is governed by the phases of the Moon. The start of each month is marked by the first sighting of the New crescent Moon. Perhaps that’s why it’s on the flag for the Nation of Islam.

We all know that the New Moon is the time for self-improvement, change, new beginnings, banishings, cleansings, among other things. This period also represents the youthful aspect of the Goddess. In the form of the Maiden, she represents youth, change and a fresh start. Children can also be Named and Dedications can be made. New Moons are great times to move, start new projects or cast new spells.

The New Moon can be thought of as a time of learning. Don't be hesitant to try new spell work at this time. You might also like to set in motion house protections. Some Wiccans celebrate the exact night of Dark Moon by honoring the Crone aspect of the Goddess (such as Hecate), focusing on lessons they have learned in the past cycle and banishing negativity from their lives.

The Black Moon is just like the New Moon with one exception, the Black Moon is stronger and more potent than the New Moon. So when you’re doing your New Moon Ritual at the end of this month, remember that any energy you raise is doubled.



Miscellaneous Attributes:

Workings on this Day are for: addictions, banishing, beauty, beginning of or renewing of something, bringing things in, change, cleaning, divorce, giving thanks, goal setting, health, job hunting, justice, love, new beginnings, new growth, obstacles, personal cleansing, planning, psychic abilities, quarrels, regeneration, releasing the old, removing unwanted Negative energies, rest, reversing circumstances, romance, scrying, self-improvement, separation, starting new ventures, stopping stalkers and theft, weight loss, wisdom.

Time: From Dark Moon to Waxing Moon (the day of the New Moon to 3 ½ days later)

New moon - The magic should be performed between dawn and sunset for the best use of this magic.

Dark Moon - The strongest pull of the dark moon is around 10:00 a.m.

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan.

Location: moon is 0 - 45 degrees ahead of the Sun It is in alignment, directly between the earth and the sun, therefore hidden. The New Moon is the only Time the eclipse of the sun can be seen.

Pagan Festival: Winter Solstice

Goddess Name: Rosemerta's Moon- Rosemerta was a Gaulish-Celtic Goddess of fertility, warmth and abundance.

Goddess Energy: Goddesses of growth

Offering: Milk and Honey

Theme: Abundance

Rune: Fehu for abundance, Kenaz for openings, Gebo for love

Tarot Trump: the Fool

Goals: Time to set new goals and review old ones for both the long and short term. Relates to the planting of the seeds.

Just keep this in mind: The second New Moon in a month is a time of great power within the spiritual world and any magic worked during this time is especially powerful.

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