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New Moon Rituals The time of the new moon is a time of new beginnings. This period also represents the youthful aspect of the Goddess. In the form of the Maiden, she represents youth, change and a fresh start. Children can also be Named and Dedications can be made. New Moons are great times to move, start new projects or cast new spells. It is also a good time to shed your past ills and to refresh yourself for coming trials. The New Moon can be thought of as a time of learning. Don't be hesitant to try new spells at this time. You might also like to set in motion house protections or wards. Some Wiccans celebrate the exact night of Dark Moon by honoring the Crone aspect of the Goddess (such as Hecate), focusing on lessons they have learned in the past cycle and banishing negativity from their lives.   Artwork Copyright Joanna Powell Colbert

PREPARATION

Light the altar candle and the altar incense.
Take up the besom and walk widdershins around the circle sweeping from the center outward to cleanse the circle of negative energy. Recite this chant as you sweep from the center of the circle outwards:

"Sweep out evil, sweep out ill, Where I do the Lady's will. Besom, besom, Lady's Broom, Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom. 
Witch's broom swift in flight, Cast out darkness, bring in light. Earth be hallow, air be pure, fire burn bright, as water cures.
A sacred bridge this site shall be, As I will, so mote it be."


BLESS THE ALTAR AND TOOLS

Pick up the athame and draw an invoking pentagram in the air above the altar. Replace the athame and say this invocation:

"Blessed Be, Instruments of Light, Tools now of magick with power and might."

BLESS THE ELEMENTS AND SPACE

Hold your hand over each of the four Altar Elements and say for each one:

"Element of (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), I cleanse and consecrate thee in the names of the Lord and Lady. I bring their blessings upon you now. So mote it be."

Pass your hand over the element 3 times to banish, and then hold your hand steady to bless. Visualize a sparkling light surrounding and infusing the element. Take up that element and go once deosil around the circle. While walking, disperse the element while reciting the corresponding blessing below:

"Powers of (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), this circle grace. Purify, cleanse, and bless this space."


CAST THE CIRCLE

Face north. Hold your athamé or wand out at waist level. Walk deosil thrice around the circle perimeter charging it with this chant. 
Recite one verse for each of the three circles: 

Round and Round the Circle's Cast, Joining Present, Future and Past
A Sacred Place, A World Apart, Where Powers Merge and Magick Starts.

Round and Round the Circle's Cast, Joining Present, Future and Past
This Sacred Space shall now be Bound, As I cast this Circle Round.

Round and Round the Circle's Cast, Joining Present, Future and Past
Thrice is the Circle cast this Night/Day and now begins my Magick Rite/Way."


Once the circle has been cast, salute in the following way:

Take up athame and point it to the sky, while saying, "As above..."
Then lower athame to point it at the ground, while saying, "So below."


CALLING THE QUARTERS:

Starting in the North and moving deosil around to the West, light the corresponding elemental candle, and then invoke the quarter:

[North]
Hoofed One, Spirit of Earth, your child invites you here.
Come from the mountains of midnight, with new strength and vigor appear.
You are the field of my pleasure, you are the source of my might.
Hoofed One, Spirit of Earth, keep me strong through my rite.

[East]
Winged One, Spirit of Air, your child invites you here.
Come on the winds of the sunrise, give me your vision so clear.
You are the gentle spring breezes, you are the glory of flight.
Winged One, Spirit of Air, keep me wise through my rite.

[South]
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire, your child invites you here.
Come with your blazing noon passion, banish all sorrow and fear.
You are the flickering candle, you are the bonfire bright.
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire, keep me brave through my rite.

[West]
Swift One, Spirit of Water, your child invites you here.
Come on the waves of the sunset, bring to me joy and good cheer.
You are the well of deep comfort, you are the crashing waves height.
Swift One, Spirit of Water, keep me sure through my rite.


INVOKING THE CRONE GODDESS

Light the Black Crone candle:

"Oh Dark Mother hear my call. Hecate, Goddess of the Moon, 
your daughter (son) is in need your wisdom and strength on this night. 
Your child walks with shadows when they wish to walk with the light. 
Fears and negativity haunt me, sapping me of my energy and my strength. 
I call upon you this night of the dark moon to aid in the banishment of these shadows."


LIBATION AND OPENING TOAST

Pour some wine into the libation dish and say, "To the Lord and Lady!"

Fill the altar goblet with wine. Hold up the altar goblet and say, "I drink to the God and Goddess." 
Take a sip from the goblet, and say, "Blessed Be."


RITUAL OR SPELL WORK

Write down on a piece of paper those negative traits or problems you wish to be rid of. Then as you burn your paper concentrate on the things to be banished from your life. Feel the fear or negativity and then let it go as you cast it into the fire reciting:

"Hecate, Honored Crone of Night, I call upon you to put things right.
Transform these negative thoughts and pain and help my life be whole again."

Since you have created a void by banishing the negativity in your lives, you will need to fill that void.
Close your eyes and visualize a blue light washing over you, filling you.

You will now need to envoke laughter because that is the strongest banishment of all and the best protection. As you circle deosil, visualize the happiest moments in your life. Let the uninhibited child in you come out to play. Laugh. Even if it is forced in the beginning, it will come if you open the door. Let the laughter fill you.

CAKES AND ALE

Take up the plate with the cakes and say "May I never hunger." Take a bite, and then say, "Blessed Be."

Take up the wine and say "May I never thirst." Take a sip of the wine and and then say, "Blessed Be."

Give thanks for one thing that you are thankful for, and request assistance for one thing that you are in need of.


RELEASING THE QUARTERS

Starting in the North, and moving widdershins around the circle to the East, go to each element candle and say the following release:

[North]
Strong One, I bid you now hail and farewell.
Go by the powers that brought you, Go by the unweaving spell.
As thy bright pentagrams fade, Depart, 'ere the circle is gone.

(Blow out the Northern element candle before proceeding to the next quarter)

[West]
Sure One, I bid you now hail and farewell.
Go by the powers that brought you, Go by the unweaving spell.
As thy bright pentagrams fade, Depart, 'ere the circle is gone.

(Blow out the Western element candle before proceeding to the next quarter)

[South]
Brave One, I bid you now hail and farewell.
Go by the powers that brought you, Go by the unweaving spell.
As thy bright pentagrams fade, Depart, 'ere the circle is gone.

(Blow out the Southern element candle before proceeding to the next quarter)

[East]
Wise One, I bid you now hail and farewell. 
Go by the powers that brought you, Go by the unweaving spell.
As thy bright pentagrams fade, Depart, 'ere the circle is gone.

(Blow out the Eastern element candle before proceeding to the next quarter)


THANKING THE GODDESS

Say:

"I give thanks to the Goddess for guarding my circle and joining my rite. Hail and farewell." 

Extinguish the black candle.


CLOSING THE CIRCLE/SALUTE:

Take the Athamé or Wand and retract the energy of the circle back into yourself moving widdershins beginning in the north around to the east using the following chant:

"Circle Round, now be Unbound as I make my way around.
I now Dissolve this Sacred Space and send all Powers back to place.

Circle Round, now be Unbound as I make my way around.
Stay if you can, Go if you must, with Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Circle Round, now be Unbound as I make my way around.
My Work is finished for the Night/Day and now I End my Magick Rite/Way."

Once the circle is closed, say the following salute:

"The circle is open, but unbroken."