The Solar Eclipse and A New Moon
Lately it seems that every Esbat has taken on a deeper, more symbolic meaning than the obvious moon-phase effect we expect. The Full Moon on September 7th, coinciding as it did with a Lunar Eclipse, provided some powerful lunar energy indeed, pressing us to look more closely at the needs, lacks, and wants in our lives. The effects from that event are dovetailing into tomorrow's Solar Eclipse and New Moon. Add to the mix Saturday's Autumnal Equinox - our celebration of the Sabbat Mabon - and we get a magickal trifecta.
floral eclipse, © 2004-2006 ~ introversive at deviantART
There have been many forces at work to suggest that this is no ordinary September. Things are vibrating with a powerful energy that either is different from years past or simply coming to my attention for the first time. The confluence of these events is more interesting to me right now than a simple discussion of how to use this New Moon energy for spellwork (for those of you who like my timing and correspondence information, I have included them after the fold). Maybe it's just me, but it feels like something significant is about to break.
The New Moon on Friday, September 22nd arrives in the sign of Libra. A Libra New Moon brings up relationship issues, activities involving teamwork and cooperation, activities that involve self-examination, and activities related to beauty. We use New Moon energy to begin a new project or life phase, or to try to break out of old patterns. This is the time of the month when we should attempt to start or do these kinds of things. The New Moon is a time of looking within to locate the resources we need to affect the change we want for ourselves.
An Eclipse is a far more potent astrological event. Many people tend to fear eclipses, simply because they tend to bring about crises that lead to significant events or change. As we know from working with New Moon energy, this change can be very beneficial. Eclipses usually ask us to see that we are the ones to precipitate or attract change because our inner selves know that we need it. Human beings are progressive by nature, and although we might stay in situations that are making us miserable for longer than we should, deep down inside we know that change is necessary for growth.
Cafe Astrology has a terrific, detailed article on this Solar Eclipse, including how to interpret the affects of the Eclipse depending on where it falls in your personal astrological chart.
A Moon in Libra passing over the Sun seems like the perfect example of the balance between yin and yang, feminine and masculine, night and day. A moment of balance and harmony, but also of duality. The energies of this Moon and this Eclipse come together to highlight major themes of introspection, growth, change, letting go, and rebirth. Mabon, a stop on our journey around the Wheel of the Year, marks one of our celebrations of a bountiful harvest, of putting away food so that we can survive the winter to come, so that we - and the year - may live to see a new beginning in the Spring. So too, this New Moon gives us an opportunity to examine what we have experienced in the past year so that we can let go of what needs to be released in order to make room for new things. It's what the Wheel of the Year is all about. Life moves on in an ever-renewing circle. The Sun and the Moon are the beacons that show us the way.
Spell Work
For any of you who plan to use the Dark of the Moon to perform banishment spells or rituals, you'll want have things wrapped up before 7:45 tomorrow morning. Midnight would be perfect. The Moon will be void of course from 7:45 am until 9:06 am EDT Friday, when it makes its move into Libra.
The New Moon happens at 7:45 am. After that time, the Moon will move into its Waxing phase, which is the best time to perform all types of magick for healing, attracting good luck and increasing or advancing things. Some people believe that you shouldn't work any magick while the Moon is void-of-course, so you may want to wait until after 9:06 to perform your New Moon spells.
This New Moon is in Libra, which is ruled by Venus. The Libran nature is to search for harmony and balance, making this a good time for forming partnerships (friendships, marriage, business). It is an excellent time for artistic work and anything to do with affection, sentiment, sympathy, romance, friendship, beauty, pleasure, music, manners, art, attractiveness, values, appreciation and a sense of aesthetics. The New Moon gives us an opportunity for a fresh start. Once the Moon moves into its Waxing phase, it will be an excellent time to perform spells to increase any of these qualities in your life. Libra rules the kidneys, lower back, adrenal glands and ovaries. This also is a good time to do healing work for these parts of the body.
Correspondences
Color correspondences for a New Moon are silver or white. Goddesses with particular New Moon associations are Artemis and Nimue.
Libra correspondences:
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Incense: galbanum
Colors: pastel green, royal blue, cerulean, black
Metal: copper
Crystals: opal, lapis lazuli, beryl, sapphire
Flowers: violet, white rose
Trees: almond, walnut, plum, myrtle
Birds: dove, swan, sparrow
Posted by Angela-Eloise at 11:23 PM
Comments
Excecellent post! I learned a lot from it..Thank you
Posted by: Autumn | September 22, 2006 8:28 AM
Interesting, here is the first place that has mentioned the New Moon going into Libra, everywhere else I've read has focused on the fact it's still barely in Virgo at the time of the New Moon.
The lunation chart at that site has me a bit mixed up, it's "backwardness" compared to my solar chart is the source of confusion. But then working with current influences is a new experience for me.
But you are right, something's brewing.
Posted by: Steph | September 22, 2006 8:33 AM
Steph, to address your question about Libra vs. Virgo:
According to the lunar calendar and ephemeris I use - by Jim Maynard - the exact moment that the Moon is New is 7:45 am EDT which is when the Moon goes void-of-course. Technically, the Moon is Waning in Virgo until then. Some astrologers may be looking at degrees and minutes and say that there is a flicker of a moment when the New Moon is in Virgo, but I'm going by the source I know. Maybe someday I'll be a good enough astrologer on my own to be able to give you a more precise answer!
From a spellcraft and magickal point of view, however, the timing of the void-of-course is important. Virgo's energy could be used for banishing spells using the Dark of the Moon any time leading up to 7:45 am EDT. Until 9:06 am, when the Moon moves into Libra, it's best not to work any magick. Most New Moon spells are technically cast during the Waxing phase anyway, after the Moon has gone from Waning to New. So waiting an hour and 16 minutes so the Moon is not moving void-of-course seems the better choice. And by then, the Moon will be in Libra.
Posted by: Angela-Eloise | September 22, 2006 10:25 AM