Blue Moon

Today (Aug. 31, 2012) is what many call a Blue Moon. This is second full moon in a month. This is calculated based on the Gregorian calendar that most of us (in the West) use to delineate the passage of time over a year.  Another definition of a full moon is the occurrence of a fourth full moon in a season.The twist is this calendar is based on a tropical year, and has it's start date on the winter solstice.

This is where some people get caught up in the “real or true” understanding of what constitutes a Blue Moon. I’ve seen full blown debates over who is right and who is not in their understanding of this somewhat rare occurrence.

In actuality the Blue Moon is no rarer than the solar leap year. There are approximately 11 more lunar days in a year than there are solar days. This is what brings about a Blue Moon approximately every 2 to 3 years. 

I doesn’t really matter how you determine a moon is blue or not. There are many calendars used throughout the world cultures that take in to account for the difference in lunar to solar days and insert an extra lunar month according to those traditions. 

The moon can appear somewhat blue if there's been a major volcanic eruption that put tons of particles in the air, but otherwise blue moons refer to multiple full moons in certain time frames.

I often work with Lunar or Moon energy when casting spells or setting intentions and tonight’s Blue Moon is no exception. I will set my intentions on this particular full moon, with an understanding that the occurrence of two full moons within one calendar month is something that happens less often than a regularly timed full moon. With this added energy associated with this moon, I will be spending much of the day in contemplation of what I wish to change in my life. 

Often I will use the full moon energy to work towards the elimination of something from my life, by setting the intention during the full phase and watch the energy of moon moving through its waning period; dissipate that which I no longer wish to have as part of my life’s experience.  

Today I will be adding intentions of what I wish to fill my life as well. Once something is removed it often is replaced with an energetically similar event, person, or other life experience. An example of this would be setting your intention to change your job, only to find that the new job is very similar to the one you just left. This is because often we forget to set our intentions to create the energy we want to have in place of that which we are ridding ourselves of. 

Sooo tonight cast away! Work your magick! But most of all remember to set your intentions in balance and know this moon will aid you in your request.

Have a Wicked Good Day!
Molly

Magickal Children

 

As the mother of five children, one granddaughter, and two more grandchildren due this month; children are an integral part of my life. Whether we currently are raising children, occasionally see our grandchildren or have no real contact with children; we were all children at some point in our lives. I know this is stating the obvious, but sometimes we forget how important childhood is in the development of adults.

As I kid I was raised catholic and had to attend CCD classes, which were designed to teach us how to be good Catholics. The material we learned with was usually age appropriate and designed by catholic educators. This made learning somewhat fun. 

As a Pagan/Magickal parent I really didn’t have any teaching materials available to offer my children. I looked for teaching material similar to the material I was given as a child growing up Catholic, but I never really found what I was looking for.  I do remember running across Lora Craig-Gaddis' Pooka Pages for Pagan Kids, but at the time my older children were in their teens and were not interested in the material and my youngest was an infant. I Loved Pooka and Elsie and their adventures, I wanted to share them with children, but like I said, at the time I didn’t have any in my life (who were interested) to share this material with. 
 

www.pookapages.com

Now that my youngest is showing an interest in my spirituality, I have found Pooka Pages once again. I am thrilled to see the familiar characters of Elsie and Pooka are still brewing up magickal stories that teach little ones. As my grandchildren come in to this world and grow, I hope their parents will let me share Pooka Pages and other similar materials with them.

Have a Wicked Good Day!

Molly

New Moon

 

Depending where you live, sometime last night or this morning was the apex of the New Moon.  The passing of the moon from Full to New and back again is often and integral part of magickal practices. Often times these practices are focused on fishing, planting, breeding, hunting, harvesting and birthing.

This information can be found in a number of Almanacs, ranging from the Farmer’s Almanac  to the Witches Almanac.

This is where the similarities seem to get a little thin. When talking with other magickal practitioners and reading the many different books, newsletters and blogs; I’ve found  the attributes associated with the different phases of the moon are slightly different from each other depending on the path followed or the individual practitioner's understanding. There are some who feel the moon has female qualities while others fee the moon carries male qualities. We’ve all heard of the Man in the Moon and Grandmother Moon. 

I feel the most empowering aspect of the moon is the way it feels as I stand beneath the beams of energy emanating from it. I often stand beneath the night sky and watch as the Full moon beams seem to stretch towards me. Other times, I feel a great sense that all obstacles are being drawn from my life and consumed by the dark moon; only to be transmuted into the bright beams I will feel, filling my being during the Full phase. 

There are many rituals and magickal practices associated with the moon. We offer ritual kits for either the New or the Full moon phase. These are great kits that can get you started on your journey of working with Moon energy.

Have a Wicked Good Day!

Molly