New Moon - New Lunar Cycle - Mercury Retrograde ends

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

1st Day of the 2nd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Persephone
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Luis/Rowan
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Beth/Birch
Moon Phase: New Moon - 2:12AM EST
Moon rises: 7:52AM EST
Moon sets: 5:51PM EST
Moon in Capricorn v/c 5:20AM
Moon enters the the Fixed Air Sign
of Aquarius at 12:17PM EST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The gift of mortality
Sun in Capricorn
Sunrise: 7:43AM EST
Sunset: 5:17PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Where
are you most vulnerable?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
January 15th, 2010

   New Moon - The beginning of a new lunar cycle. Keywords are:beginning, birth, emergence, projection, and clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead.
    A new lunar cycle starts in the dark - the New Moon is still shrouded by the dark but will emerge in the western skies in a few days after the setting sun - it will appear as a thin crescent. In the darkness there is a sense of expectancy within, a stirring , a striving toward energy and growth; the forming of  a tiny but brightly burning point of light.  From this hush comes forth excitement; the shaping of fresh ideas; anticipation of the emergence into lighter nights when impulses quicken  and creativity flourishes.  Hecate is withdrawing, making way for the Maiden moon who will seize our thoughts and push us toward outward activity once more. The tiredness and the drained feeling of the old moon will be replaced by an alertness that has yet to find structure and direction. Creative fire stirs toward a goal that has not yet found expression. It is as if the moon's closeness to the sun results in a quenching of her light but also the honing of her impulse to bring creative ideas into form. We are faced with possibilities from which we have yet to choose.

  Some Magick appropriate for the New Moon:

* Take a seed for each new goal you want to achieve during this lunar cycle. Hold them one by one in your cupped hands till you have thoroughly visualized each intention, then plant the seeds individually in a bowl of earth.

* Take a pure white candle, stroke it from base to center and tip to center with oil such as olive or almond. Be careful to avoid the wick or the candle will splatter when lit. As you dress it in this way, concentrate on a fresh new project that you wish to work on, then light the candle. Burn it every night at the same time till the moon is full.

* Think of a goal, then tie three knots in a silver cord or ribbon, voicing your magickal intention with each knot. Put it on your shrine or tie it in the branches of a tree in your garden till just before the next new moon, then untie the knots and cleanse the cord through the elements so that it can used again for future spells.

* Go outside when the new crescent moon is visible, and make a wish (but don't tell anyone else till it comes true!).

Dark of the Moon, new beginnings

Dark of the Moon, plant a seed tonight.

Dark of the Moon, what we envision,

Will come to be by the full Moon's light.

Go out in the cold. Go barefoot if you can.

Go skyclad if you dare. Breathe. Ground.

Call the elements. Call the Goddess.

Cast a circle. Go!

   Over the next few days, as the moon's crescent grows fuller, the general pace will settle to a steadier cadence. The airy, mental tempo of the very new moon will stablize, but at the same time emotions will more to the fore. Eventually a point is reached when the energies seem to pause briefly, while still holding a sense of excitement and optimism. Then the end of the new moon phase has been reached and the waxing phase is well under way.
 [Excepts from "Praise to the Moon" by Elen Hawke]

   This New Moon excitement will be further enhanced by the Moon being in Fixed Air Sign of Aquarius.  Moon in Aquarius says "I experience."  This transit for the moon through this zodiac sign is a transit of dealing with facts, organizing, political issues, desire to save the world through social action, connecting with others in social situations, scientific pursuits, detachment, and the need to come and go without restriction.
   The Aquarius Moon's monthly transit is a dramatic mood change. Where the transit through Capricorn the past few days was one which values tradition and caution, Aquarius indicates anything new, innovative, different or unconventional. Extremes of behavior occur during this moon transit, especially extremes of optimism and pessimism. Women feel the need to be friendly and social but don't want to be too personal or go too deep. Aquarius Moon can be detached or raitonal rather then emotional, and will change only if it's logical to do so.

   This lunar cycle for myself is also the lunar cycle of Luis/Rowan - Luis (LWEESH), rowan - The rowan, or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) is related to serviceberries. The red berries were historically used to lure birds into traps, and the specific epithet 'aucupari'a comes from words meaning "to catch a bird". Rowans thrive in poor soils and colonize disturbed areas. In some parts of Europe they are most common around ancient settlements, either because of their weedy nature or because they were planted. Rowans flower in May. They grow to 50 feet and are members of the Rose family (Rosaceae). They are cultivated in North America, especially in the northeast.  It is thought that the rowan got its name from the Norse word runa, indicating a 'charm.'  It has had an association with protection from ancient times, and is often found growing close to houses and churchyards to ward off evil presences. Traditions speak of the rowan as an espeically powerful protector against witchcraft, and to bind a piece of red thread around a twig of rowan can turn aside the strongest spell.


  And also some really good news for today - the end of Mercury Retrograde - we can begin to see our communications become more clear and less snarled.  We can begin to make plans to start new projects and this is so appropriate with the New Moon phase.