Once again we have the opportunity to draw amazing energy from the Full Moon.
There are many names for this moon. Neo-Pagans refer to this as the Awakening Moon. The name makes perfect sense when you think about everything that is awakening from winter.
Celtic's refer call this the Growing Moon. English Medieval call this the seed moon and Colonial American's used the term, Planter's Moon. If you've not done so already, now is the time to plant seeds.
While this is the 'growing moon', the time between Full Moon and New Moon is the time to plant root plants, whether they are vegetable of floral rhizomes, for productive growth. I also realize this is not the best time to plant above ground seeds for optimum growth but with illness and injury the past few weeks, if I wait until the next rotation everything will have too late of a start.
I have a trip coming up mid-month. Please send all the positive energy my direction as Bob will be in charge of keeping those little seedlings alive about 10 days. LOL Last time, he didn't do so well. He forgot to open the green house and let air in. He fried those poor little leaves. :-) But he tried. He's just never done any of this before and didn't know any better.
Use this time as an awakening of your spirit. Stand in a shower (I love to do this in a gentle rain) and let the past gunk that cluttered your life and body over the past few months wash away. As the symbolic dirt flows away, think of all the other things in your life you want to let go of. Make a plan. Me, I'm getting rid of a lot of my paperbacks. Not sure where they're going yet, but they're leaving my office.
Cleansing is the topic for this week. I thought this was appropriate as we begin Fall cleaning for Mabon. I hope you took time to enjoy Mabon however you chose to celebrate.
Mabon is all about balance. No wonder we Libran's thrive during this time! This is also the time to think about finding balance and cleansing your spaces. But what is cleansing? Why is the ritual important?
While a cleansing can help us center ourselves in preparation for spell work, cleansing of our tools and space is also important. The last thing you want to do is bring tools into a space full of negative energy. Keep that in mind when you purchase items for your space at thrift stores or estate/ yard sales. Eee gads!
Think of cleansing as preparing for company, but on a more relaxed scale.
First, you want to use your besom to clean your space from top to bottom. Hearthwitch just posted a great video for this.
Once your space is cleared, use a smudge stick bundled with Sage or Rosemary. If you're not sure what a smudge stick is, it is a bundle of herbs used to create smoke for spiritual cleansing, healing, protection and purification of spaces, objects and people from negative energy. You can tire your bundle with coordinating colors of fabric strips, or string to match your intention.
Some also refer to this as SMUDGING. The practice has been around for centuries. The Native Americans as well as Egyptians and other countries have been smudging their entire existence and often cleanse themselves by using a sweat lodge with a center fire consisting of woods and herbs.
After using your besom, you can walk from room to room, letting the smoke get into corners and over objects. If smoke of any kind bothers you, a bowl of the herbs sat in the room can also help though IMO not as affective. You can also light incense, such as Myrrh, then walk away. The smoke will do the work and dissipate. Better Homes & Gardens has Sea Salt & Sage wax melts. I also purchase 'back flow' incense cones in White Sage from Walmart.
Cleansing tools such as athames, charms, singing bowls, chimes, cups, etc can also be cleansed in the same way. Stones, too, though I prefer to put them out on Full Moon nights. They'll cleanse then absorb all the good energy. Remember, from Full Moon to New Moon is the perfect time to cleanse anything you don't want the negativity to return or re-attach. Then, use the New Moon to Full Moon period to attract all the positive energy into your tools. I do this with my crystals.
This takes some planning. If you know what workings you're going to want to do, which tools/ crystals you'll want to use then cleanse them ahead of a New Moon then let the Full Moon charge them for your spell work. I'm still working on my book connecting to this planning but you can use the Llewellyn Calendar, the Farmer's Almanac or The Real Witches' Year by Kate West.
By the way, that link to the Llewellyn calendar is for the 2026. Order your copy then spend some time thinking ahead to rituals in the new year. Remember, our New Year is Samhain... just over a month away. Where does the time go?!
Also, there may not be a post on the 30th. I will just be home from a 3 day crafting retreat, followed by a 6 day writing retreat. Trying to finish Book 2 in my Planned to perfection series. If you like Hallmark movies and sweet contemporary romance then I think you'll enjoy An Ozarks Christmas - set in Eureka Springs Arkansas.
The Buck Moon peaks tonight. I'm ready to recharge my soulful batteries and continue with pitching more from my studio. A good cleansing is needed.
We still have heat here in southern Missouri.
If you've not prepared for tonight, here are a few things to keep in mind:
*A Full Moon is great for charging crystals, charging boards (a board used to absorb energy outside so you can charge items inside the home if needed)
* Start a gratitude journal. Sometimes we get so busy focusing on all the garbage in our live, we forget all the good things we can be thankful for.
* Cleanse your space (and your personal entity) with sage.
* Have something you on your mind you need to extinguish? Write the thought on a piece of paper and burn in your cauldron, adding a little incantation to send the problem on it's way.
* Dance in the moonlight, freeing yourself of all the things that are weighing you down. (skyclad is an option) This will help ground you to the earth.
* Light a candle. Thank the Earth Moon for providing you with the cleansing energy, allowing you to move forward.
* Fill a bottle with spring water (preferably) and place in the moonlight for future ritual purposes.
* Meditate. I love to light a candle and meditate with the flame.
