Important Dates in this Lunar Month
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Please note that this table is now corrected. I had originally reversed the data, with the UTC times in the PT column and vice-versa. |
Mark your calendars for Solstice (Grianstad in Gaelic) !
The Winter Solstice, aka Yule, and The Summer Solstice, aka MidSummer or Litha, arrives:
Thursday, December 21 @ 8:27 am PT / 16:27 UTC
and celebrate the HerStories in your family on
Nollaig na mBan (Women's Little Christmas)
Saturday, January 6th, 2018
Moon Phase Dates
Please note that each source may vary the exact time of each phase by a minute or two. I use the Moon Phases tables in TimeAndDate.com as a standard reference. This is a great source, and can be customized for your location.
Please note that each source may vary the exact time of each phase by a minute or two. I use the Moon Phases tables in TimeAndDate.com as a standard reference. This is a great source, and can be customized for your location.
The major phases of this lunar journey are noted above, and you may want to note these in your Moon Chart or journal.
Introducing the Moon Mná Diary Journal
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One of the constant companions in my soul work throughout the year is my Moon Mná Diary Journal, created by Karen Ward and Bernie Sexton.
This beautifully designed Diary-Journal has 272 pages with lots to read – practical tips, inspiring women’s stories, Irish language proverbs, quotes and affirmations, as well as 12 mindful colouring-in pages. I was delighted when Karen asked me to contribute a short piece to the 2018 edition. As a graduate of Karen's Moon Mná Women's Celtic Circle facilitation program, I was honoured and, of course, contributed! The 2018 is now available to order and can be shipped worldwide! Click HERE to order your copy today!
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Follow the Inner Journey Events blog for insights into the
Wheel of the Year and the ways of the Wise Woman
including rituals, Soul Work and more.
Exploring the theme of Celebration
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This festive season is a time for Celebration: the end of the calendar year, with much to be grateful for. Even in difficult times, there is always something for which we are thankful: friendships, family, new possibilities, and more. It is a time to light candles, share gifts and tasty treats with friends and family, remind ourselves of the importance of Joy and celebrate our very existence and all that WE have birthed throughout our lifetime. What are YOU celebrating this year? Some of my pagan ancestors celebrated the Solstice with the dual aspects of the Oak King and the Holly King, dual aspects of the Horned God. At Yule (Winter Solstice), we welcome the rebirth of the Sun (the Oak King) and at Litha (Summer Solstice), the Holly King reigns supreme. But for many it was a celebration of the return of light, a successful harvest and the promises of a new year. And this was not a one day event. No, they celebrated for 12 days. No work was done during this time and eventually these days of celebration merged into many Christian traditions, such as the 12 Days of Christmas. In contemporary Christian tradition, these days of celebration often start on Christmas Eve (also known as Mother's Night), ending at Epiphany on January 6th, also celebrated in some parts of Ireland and Great Britain as Nollaig na mBan (Women's Little Christmas in Irish Gaelic). There is some evidence that each day of the twelve was marked with a special significance, beginning on the First Day of Solstice (also known as Mother's Night) and ending on Yule Night. You could use the 12 days quite simply, perhaps as a reflection of each of the previous twelve months or to look forward to the coming twelve months. |
The Sunrise at Newgrange in Ireland on Winter Solstice.
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In one tradition (source: The Pagan's Path), the twelve nights honour the Triple Goddess (Maiden-Mother/Woman-Crone) and Father Sun/Spirit. In Norse traditions, various gods and goddess of the Norse pantheon are celebrated.
Consider using these correspondences in your soul work over the twelve days, or create your own in a way that is unique to your beliefs and spirituality:
TRIPLE GODDESS
NORSE TRADITIONS
Consider using these correspondences in your soul work over the twelve days, or create your own in a way that is unique to your beliefs and spirituality:
TRIPLE GODDESS
- Dec. 20 to Dec. 23. During the 1st 3 days: The virgin Maiden Goddess is honored as your guide for moving forward into the new year, to set you on the right and positive path.
- Dec. 23 to Dec. 26. The 2nd set of 3 days: The Mother Goddess is honored for fertility and all your coming endeavors.
- Dec. 26 to Dec 29. The 3rd set of 3 days: These 3 days are set aside for the rebirth of the God(s), and honoring his guidance through the physical world.
- Dec. 29 to Jan. 1: The final set of 3 days The last 3 days are set aside for the Old Crone Goddess who is honored for wisdom and as your teacher into the cosmic lessons of life and spirit. In modern times, under the solar calendar, she might also be honored as the waning year giving way to the new year.
NORSE TRADITIONS
- Mother's Night / Modranecht
- Wild Hunt
- High Feast of Yule, sacred to Thor and Frey
- Sacred to Ægir, Njörðr & Freya (or sacred to the Vanir)
- Sacred to Community
- Sacred to Eir and Healing
- Sacred to Thor
- Sacred to Skadi & Ullr
- Sacred to Odin
- Sacred to Sunna & the Ancestors
- Sacred to the Goddesses & Valkyrie
- Oath Night
Solstice Energy
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The Winter and Summer Solstices mark turning points in the year and each contains the seed of the opposite Solstice, each the complementary Yin and Yang of Daghda, Father Sun. Both are celebrated with Fire. . . and perhaps a plea to the Sun to stay with us a little longer? At Yule, the Winter Solstice, we experience the shortest day and the longest night. Mama Earth in deep rest and stillness, the harvest complete. From that point, Father Sun is waxing, the days begin to lengthen, heralding the coming Spring and Summer. At Litha, Summer Solstice, we have the longest day and the shortest night. Glorious summer — the peak of energy, Mama Earth blooming and growing. And from that point, Father Sun begins his waning cycle, the days get slightly shorter and we know that the first harvests of Autumn are coming. “Light though thou be, thou leapest out of darkness; but I am darkness leaping out of light, leaping out of thee!”
— Herman Melville, Moby Dick
On Solstice, I reflect on my own light and my own darkness.
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Soul Work for the New Moon
At the New Moon, I reflect on the past lunar journey and note my reflections in my journal. And over the three days of the New Moon, I typically start a new monthly Moon Chart and pull oracle/tarot cards for the month, often using the New Moon Medicine Wheel layout or other spreads.
If I haven’t already chosen a theme for the month, this also supports that decision. But this month, I had already selected CELEBRATION as my theme. Perhaps this resonates with you, or perhaps your own New Moon soul work will guide you to a choice that resonates even more strongly with you.
You may also find that this leads to choosing your WORD OF THE YEAR for 2018. Mine is still bubbling under the surface and I often don’t finalize it until January . . . or even Imbolc!
This New Moon is in Sagittarius, the hunter, a sign full of fire and passion! You may experience its lively energies of optimism, confidence and expansion, but take note that this can also verge on doing too much! This is the time for:
In this deep reflective energy of the Dark / New Moon, go to sleep with the intention of connecting to that deep subconscious wisdom and to remember your dreams upon waking. Set an intention each night before you sleep, inviting your guides, ancestors and Wise Self to communicate in your dreams, with information for your highest good and direction for your next adventure!
Upon awaking, note your dreams into your journal, or simply reflect on these questions:
🌞 What questions - or answers - came up in my dreams?
🌞 What resonated with my heart and soul?
🌞 What symbols or messengers were given by Spirit or by my guides?
🌞 What wisdom emerged about new goals, new directions, new ways of interacting with the world in this New Moon energy?
🌞 What am I celebrating in my life?
If I haven’t already chosen a theme for the month, this also supports that decision. But this month, I had already selected CELEBRATION as my theme. Perhaps this resonates with you, or perhaps your own New Moon soul work will guide you to a choice that resonates even more strongly with you.
You may also find that this leads to choosing your WORD OF THE YEAR for 2018. Mine is still bubbling under the surface and I often don’t finalize it until January . . . or even Imbolc!
This New Moon is in Sagittarius, the hunter, a sign full of fire and passion! You may experience its lively energies of optimism, confidence and expansion, but take note that this can also verge on doing too much! This is the time for:
- making big hairy goals!
- seeking truth
- working with confidence and generosity
- creating adventure and exploration
- opening your consciousness
In this deep reflective energy of the Dark / New Moon, go to sleep with the intention of connecting to that deep subconscious wisdom and to remember your dreams upon waking. Set an intention each night before you sleep, inviting your guides, ancestors and Wise Self to communicate in your dreams, with information for your highest good and direction for your next adventure!
Upon awaking, note your dreams into your journal, or simply reflect on these questions:
🌞 What questions - or answers - came up in my dreams?
🌞 What resonated with my heart and soul?
🌞 What symbols or messengers were given by Spirit or by my guides?
🌞 What wisdom emerged about new goals, new directions, new ways of interacting with the world in this New Moon energy?
🌞 What am I celebrating in my life?
Using the New Moon Medicine Wheel Spread
Using the basic four questions in the New Moon Medicine Wheel Layout (a practice I learned from Karen D Crane), I invite you to create your own Soul Questions for this Lunar Journey, based on the Four Directions and Elements and keeping in mind the theme of Celebration.
Intuitively choose one or more oracle or tarot deck(s) for this reading. First choose a card as a Signifier, to represent YOU in this journey, then choose four more cards, starting in the East to answer these basic Soul Questions.
🌀 In the Centre: Who am I? How can I use the wisdom and guidance of the Crone to guide and transform my journey this month?
🌓 In the East, Air, First Quarter Moon: What is beginning?
🌕 In the South, Fire, Full Moon: What is flourishing?
🌗 In the West, Water, Third Quarter Moon: What is transforming?
🌑 In the North, Earth, Dark/New Moon: What is the lesson?
At each new phase of the moon, pull additional cards to expand and illuminate the wisdom. At each phase, journal your observations, feelings and wisdom gained in this lunar journey that began with the New Moon in Scorpio. Revisit the spread at the next New/Dark Moon, and use the wisdom and insights gained to prepare for your next lunar journey.
Intuitively choose one or more oracle or tarot deck(s) for this reading. First choose a card as a Signifier, to represent YOU in this journey, then choose four more cards, starting in the East to answer these basic Soul Questions.
🌀 In the Centre: Who am I? How can I use the wisdom and guidance of the Crone to guide and transform my journey this month?
🌓 In the East, Air, First Quarter Moon: What is beginning?
🌕 In the South, Fire, Full Moon: What is flourishing?
🌗 In the West, Water, Third Quarter Moon: What is transforming?
🌑 In the North, Earth, Dark/New Moon: What is the lesson?
At each new phase of the moon, pull additional cards to expand and illuminate the wisdom. At each phase, journal your observations, feelings and wisdom gained in this lunar journey that began with the New Moon in Scorpio. Revisit the spread at the next New/Dark Moon, and use the wisdom and insights gained to prepare for your next lunar journey.
Activities for the New Moon
I always suggest starting the month in a couple of ways:
- draw cards for the New Moon Medicine Wheel layout, or any new moon layout your prefer. And this Dark Moon/New Moon also is the time to complete the PREVIOUS month’s journey . . . your own Moon Lodge of reflection on the journey, and noting the wisdom gained.
- begin a Moon Wheel Chart to track your energies/flow (and other markers that are important to you) throughout the lunar journey. You can read Shekinhah Mountainwater's original Moon Wheel Calendar here.
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And there are many other ways to celebrate the New Moon, the new lunar journey. For instance, I start many new herbal medicines at the New Moon, to use La Luna's rising energy to extract as much as possible from the plant.
You could also:
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My Moon Bowl at the New Moon
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Do YOU have any Moon practices you would like to share?
Join our private Facebook group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle (for those who identify as women),
or the Bean Gealach Circle (open to all) page on Facebook to share your thoughts.
In the Circle, we go into this work much more deeply throughout the month and the year.
Join our private Facebook group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle (for those who identify as women),
or the Bean Gealach Circle (open to all) page on Facebook to share your thoughts.
In the Circle, we go into this work much more deeply throughout the month and the year.
Activities for the Full Moon
The Full Moon is associated with the magick of completing, healing and empowering. . . and for creating the magickal life you want.
Many practitioners choose to do a Release Ritual on the Full Moon, although my personal preference is to release when Grandmother Moon is firmly in the Waning Phase of her journey. But if it feels right for you, do it. Sometimes we need that Full Moon power to energize our release!
The Inner Journey Events blog has several posts on Release Rituals using the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. I change it up throughout the year, sometimes using the element of a particular season (Water in Autumn, for instance) or aligning with the element associated with the zodiac sign of that particular day.
Many practitioners choose to do a Release Ritual on the Full Moon, although my personal preference is to release when Grandmother Moon is firmly in the Waning Phase of her journey. But if it feels right for you, do it. Sometimes we need that Full Moon power to energize our release!
The Inner Journey Events blog has several posts on Release Rituals using the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. I change it up throughout the year, sometimes using the element of a particular season (Water in Autumn, for instance) or aligning with the element associated with the zodiac sign of that particular day.
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What else can you do at the Full Moon?
Remember that the Full Moon energy is with us 2-3 days either side of the actual Full Moon, so there is plenty of time to fit in any of these activities. If you are a solitary practitioner:
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The Sacred Circle, by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
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If you are celebrating with others or want to bring a little magick and divination to the occasion:
- enjoy a feast with friends
- get creative (the Full Moon is a potent time for creativity!) and make a Moon Candle for your altar or rituals. This can be as simple as carving the phases of the moon onto a white pillar candle, anointing your candle with a blessing oil, making a collage on a prayer candle (the kind with a glass column)... or wherever your creativity takes you.
- connect with the Moon with a Drawing Down the Moon ritual (I love this one!). This can be done alone or with others.
- attend a Full Moon Esbat
- celebrate with divination . . . make a pot of tea and share tea leaf readings . . . get out a favourite tarot or oracle card deck and get some inspiration to "shine a light" on any challenges in your life.
- follow up with a little magick or spellcrafting. The Full Moon is ideal for spells for completing, healing, empowering and banishing unwanted influences.