Blood Moon Blessings
NOTE ON HURRICANE SANDY: Here in the Charmless City Outside Charm City, things have been pretty crazy, but the worst still hasn't hit us yet, unfortunately. A swath of destruction has woven through the state already, destroying homes and causing mass evacuations.
I bring this up because it's beyond redundant as this point to stress safety and responsibility to my fellow East Coasters. Given that the full moon and Hallows are so close together this year, let's focus that energy on healing and protection from harm and/or further harm. Not only does that give you an outlet from sitting around and worrying about yourself or loved ones on the East Coast, it's a chance to actually help out. Many have already built "hurricane altars" for healing and protection and it's a great idea. Also, if your power goes out (ours has a few thankfully brief times), you've probably got candles out anyway, so why not focus some energy whilst you're lighting the flame?
NOTE ON THIS MOON: Given that the Moon is void of course until Hallows and that a full moon so close to Halloween is actually pretty rare, I'm waiting to honor this Moon until then in a double Ritual.
Also Known As: Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Falling Leaf Moon, Ten Colds Moon, Moon of the Changing Season, Shedding Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, Reed Moon, Blackberry Moon, Moon When Quilting and Beading is Done
Element: Air
Nature Spirits: frost faeries, plant faeries
Herbs: pennyroyal, thyme, catnip, uva ursi, angelica, burdock, apple blossom, mint family, Sweet Annie
Colors: dark blue-green, dark blue, black, purples
Flowers: calendula, marigold, cosmos
Scents: cherry, strawberry, apple blossom
Stones: opal, tourmaline, beryl, turquoise, obsidian, amethyst
Trees: yew, cypress, acacia, apple
Animals: stag, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion
Birds: heron, crow, robin
Deities: Ishtar, Astarte, Demeter, Kore, Lakshmi, Belili, Hathor, Herne, Apollo, Cernunnos, Mercury
Power Flow: to let go; inner cleansing. Karma and reincarnation. Justice and balance. Inner harmony.
Mantra: My mind is alert, I observe with keen insight.
Info on This Moon From About Dot Com: In October, we see the Blood Moon travel through the sky. This moon is also called the Shedding Moon or the Falling Leaf Moon. Coming right before Samhain, it's a time when the nights are crisp and clear, and you can sense a change in the energy around you.
This is the time when the veil between our world and the spirit world are at its thinnest. Use this time for spiritual growth -- if there's a deceased ancestor you wish to contact, this is a great month to do it. Hold a séance, work on your divination, and pay attention to messages you get in your dreams.
BY THE BOOKS
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft by Denise Zimmerman and Katherine A. Gleason
The Blood Moon is sometimes called the Falling Leaf of Hunter's Moon. It is a Moon of new goals, protection, resolution, and spirituality. The night of the Blood Moon is a great time for divination of any kind. At this time of year, all of nature is making ready for the winter. Animals that hibernate are gathering the last scraps of food. Birds are heading south. In primal societies, this used to be the time when we turned from agriculture to the hunt as our means of sustenance. This is the time to reflect on what you did during the year and to evaluate your accomplishments.
You might also want to check to see how you will survive the coming months. Make sure that you have enough money in the bank. If your work is seasonal, you might want to do some magick to find other ways to support yourself. If you work outdoors, do magick to help you survive the cold months ahead. You also want to check on things that are important to your safety and survival. How are the tires on your car? And what about that smoke alarm in the kitchen? Because the holidays are fast approaching, you also might want to do some work to remove stress and negative energy from your surroundings.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism by Carl McColman
OCTOBER (Blood Moon)-- Let go of what is unnecessary, prepare for the coming cold.
The Craft - A Witch's Book of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison
Name: Blood
Cakes & Ale: red apple cider and ginger snaps
Colors: red, wine, and scarlet to commemorate lives lost so we may live
Altar Decor: red candles, Indian corn, autumn leaves, pumpkins, animal pictures
Incense cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger
Esbat Purpose: Celebrate hunting; this is a time of thanksgiving, give thanks as to the animals and plants that give their lives to feed you
Try Drawing the Circle With: apple seeds
Witch's Brew: Good Spells for Peace of Mind by Witch Bree
October brings the great Hunter's Moon when we think ahead to winter needs and seek physical nourishment.
Witches Datebook (2002) by Edain McCoy
The Reed Moon is connected to the solar festival of Samhain, the time when we are open to contact with ancestor spirits, strengthen our family ties, and gather in supplies for the winter ahead.
First, take time to collect items you feel link you to your ancestors and place these objects on an altar. Light a candle for each spirit whose name you call aloud, then light one more for friendly wandering spirits. Once you sense their presence, offer them food and drink.
Thank the spirits for making sacrifices that made your world a better place, and for giving you stamina to cope with adversity. Think of all the positive aspects of yourself and honor them with blessings. For example:
Blessed be they who made me tall and redheaded.
Blessed be they who made me smart and patient.
Blessed be they who gave me artistic talent.
Blessed be they who gave me a sense of humor...
Witches Datebook (2003) by Edain McCoy
The Reed Moon means winter is approaching. It is a month of turning our energies toward hearth and home. The tree symbolizes family, fidelity, and trust. The wood was burned to honor household spirits and a family's patron Deities, and in ancient Scotland a broken reed was an omen of familial betrayal.
As the Reed Moon begins, you should bring reeds into your home and weave them into decorations or altar adornments. Place them in your hearth or kitchen area.
As you go through your home putting the reeds in place, chant a charm to empower them as talismans of protection and trust. They will impart the blessings of unity and purpose to your family this winter.
Reed so slender, so sturdy and tall,
Impart your protection to one and all;
Beneath this roof shall fealty reign,
Love and security is ours again.
Witches Datebook (2004) by Edain McCoy
There is an old saying in Ireland that the reed can stand where mighty oaks have fallen. Slender, sturdy, and sharp, the reed reminds us that it's not always the biggest guy who withstands the storms of life, but the smartest.
Call upon the energies of the reed during its Moon to help you stay calm-- and to help you remain standing through whatever storms life throws your way.
Gentle reed, slender and tall,
No gale or cyclone makes you fall;
Tip as sharp as an arrowhead,
Fells your enemies, blesses your dead.
Grant to me your steady calm,
Be unto my soul a balm;
Keep me standing, keep me strong,
Through wind and calm, right and wrong.
Witches Datebook (2006) by Edain McCoy
The name Blood Moon comes from the act of slaughtering animals for winter food, and from the reddish cast often seen shadowing the Moon on cool October nights. In Celtic traditions, this is the Ivy Moon, and one of its correspondences is binding magic. They are perfect complements to one another at this season, when we are compelled to bind the blood of the sovereign Lord to the land he rules.
Even in the festive circle of October's esbat we are aware that the solar year is marking the death of our God, and we put ourselves into the care of the wise, but icy, crone Goddess. The Goddess, who is the land, will soon be in her virgin aspect once more, and must bestow sovereignty over the land to the most fit and able man.
Blessed crone of our dark, cold night,
Give us your moonglow as our guiding light;
His blood into Earth, your Earth into womb,
Waiting for Yuletide to break open his tomb.
Witches Datebook by Dallas Jennifer Cobb
Traditionally, under the October Full Moon animals were slaughtered, their hides tanned, and meat stored. Working late under the light of the Moon, the last of the harvest is gathered. Pause and remember: the fertile cycle is coming to an end, the wheel of the year turning like the cycle of life and death. Put yourself and your life in order, letting go of what is unnecessary, for death is upon us. Prepare for the cold dark months ahead. The veil between the worlds is thin. Honor your ancestors, invoking their guidance and protection, then ask their spirits to guide you through the underworld. Light candles and lanterns to invoke justice, balance, and inner harmony, and welcome the dark as a place of stability and reflection.
Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Moon of Changing Season,
Life ebbs and flows with infinite reason,
Demeter, Horned God, Lakshmi see,
Memory and karma burn bright within me.
Witches Datebook by Ellen Dugan
The Full Moon in October is often called the Hunter's Moon. During ancient times, hunters were respected as the tribe's life-givers for they supplied the food. In Britain, Herne the Hunter is a deity of the "Dark Forest." Lord of the woodlands and its animals, Herne oversees all of nature and the results of fertility for both the natural world and men. Herne, described as a large, virile man crowned with the antlers of a stag and purportedly wears furs and carries a wooden bow, is often accompanied by a pack of hunting dogs.
As our nights grow noticeably longer and autumn commences, consider working with Herne for courage and the ability to "hunt down" your path in life. His wisdom is vast, and, if you listen, he can help you find your way while traveling along your own magical path, even in the darkest of times.
As the Hunter's Moon lights up the October sky,
Herne protect me, the dark time of the year is nigh.
Help me to find my own path, and to gain knowledge true,
May I walk with wisdom and strength in all that I do.
Witches Datebook by Elizabeth Barrette
To the Cherokee, October is the Harvest Moon, as this is when people gather and preserve most of their food. To the Choctaw, this is the Blackberry Moon. In warmer regions, late cropping berries ripen now and are often dried or preserved for winter use. The Dakota Sioux call this the Moon When Quilting and Beading is Done. These creative pursuits take many hours, so people favor them when less outdoor work can be done but enough daylight still remains to see fine details.
October closes the harvest season as the last grains and other crops come in. Food storage occupies people's attention. Although modern supermarkets are an option, many benefits from growing and preserving your own food. Likewise, magical artifacts crafted by the user tend to hold more power than purchased ones. This is also a good time to craft sacred and magical decorations to prepare for winter celebrations.
Rituals often feature the harvest-- honoring the fruits of our labors, giving thanks for what we receive, and requesting a bountiful yield. Magically, gather friends for craft workshops to make items for ceremonial use.
A safe and happy holiday to all who celebrate~!
I bring this up because it's beyond redundant as this point to stress safety and responsibility to my fellow East Coasters. Given that the full moon and Hallows are so close together this year, let's focus that energy on healing and protection from harm and/or further harm. Not only does that give you an outlet from sitting around and worrying about yourself or loved ones on the East Coast, it's a chance to actually help out. Many have already built "hurricane altars" for healing and protection and it's a great idea. Also, if your power goes out (ours has a few thankfully brief times), you've probably got candles out anyway, so why not focus some energy whilst you're lighting the flame?
NOTE ON THIS MOON: Given that the Moon is void of course until Hallows and that a full moon so close to Halloween is actually pretty rare, I'm waiting to honor this Moon until then in a double Ritual.
Also Known As: Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Falling Leaf Moon, Ten Colds Moon, Moon of the Changing Season, Shedding Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, Reed Moon, Blackberry Moon, Moon When Quilting and Beading is Done
Element: Air
Nature Spirits: frost faeries, plant faeries
Herbs: pennyroyal, thyme, catnip, uva ursi, angelica, burdock, apple blossom, mint family, Sweet Annie
Colors: dark blue-green, dark blue, black, purples
Flowers: calendula, marigold, cosmos
Scents: cherry, strawberry, apple blossom
Stones: opal, tourmaline, beryl, turquoise, obsidian, amethyst
Trees: yew, cypress, acacia, apple
Animals: stag, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion
Birds: heron, crow, robin
Deities: Ishtar, Astarte, Demeter, Kore, Lakshmi, Belili, Hathor, Herne, Apollo, Cernunnos, Mercury
Power Flow: to let go; inner cleansing. Karma and reincarnation. Justice and balance. Inner harmony.
Mantra: My mind is alert, I observe with keen insight.
Info on This Moon From About Dot Com: In October, we see the Blood Moon travel through the sky. This moon is also called the Shedding Moon or the Falling Leaf Moon. Coming right before Samhain, it's a time when the nights are crisp and clear, and you can sense a change in the energy around you.
This is the time when the veil between our world and the spirit world are at its thinnest. Use this time for spiritual growth -- if there's a deceased ancestor you wish to contact, this is a great month to do it. Hold a séance, work on your divination, and pay attention to messages you get in your dreams.
BY THE BOOKS
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft by Denise Zimmerman and Katherine A. Gleason
The Blood Moon is sometimes called the Falling Leaf of Hunter's Moon. It is a Moon of new goals, protection, resolution, and spirituality. The night of the Blood Moon is a great time for divination of any kind. At this time of year, all of nature is making ready for the winter. Animals that hibernate are gathering the last scraps of food. Birds are heading south. In primal societies, this used to be the time when we turned from agriculture to the hunt as our means of sustenance. This is the time to reflect on what you did during the year and to evaluate your accomplishments.
You might also want to check to see how you will survive the coming months. Make sure that you have enough money in the bank. If your work is seasonal, you might want to do some magick to find other ways to support yourself. If you work outdoors, do magick to help you survive the cold months ahead. You also want to check on things that are important to your safety and survival. How are the tires on your car? And what about that smoke alarm in the kitchen? Because the holidays are fast approaching, you also might want to do some work to remove stress and negative energy from your surroundings.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism by Carl McColman
OCTOBER (Blood Moon)-- Let go of what is unnecessary, prepare for the coming cold.
The Craft - A Witch's Book of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison
Name: Blood
Cakes & Ale: red apple cider and ginger snaps
Colors: red, wine, and scarlet to commemorate lives lost so we may live
Altar Decor: red candles, Indian corn, autumn leaves, pumpkins, animal pictures
Incense cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger
Esbat Purpose: Celebrate hunting; this is a time of thanksgiving, give thanks as to the animals and plants that give their lives to feed you
Try Drawing the Circle With: apple seeds
Witch's Brew: Good Spells for Peace of Mind by Witch Bree
October brings the great Hunter's Moon when we think ahead to winter needs and seek physical nourishment.
Witches Datebook (2002) by Edain McCoy
The Reed Moon is connected to the solar festival of Samhain, the time when we are open to contact with ancestor spirits, strengthen our family ties, and gather in supplies for the winter ahead.
First, take time to collect items you feel link you to your ancestors and place these objects on an altar. Light a candle for each spirit whose name you call aloud, then light one more for friendly wandering spirits. Once you sense their presence, offer them food and drink.
Thank the spirits for making sacrifices that made your world a better place, and for giving you stamina to cope with adversity. Think of all the positive aspects of yourself and honor them with blessings. For example:
Blessed be they who made me tall and redheaded.
Blessed be they who made me smart and patient.
Blessed be they who gave me artistic talent.
Blessed be they who gave me a sense of humor...
Witches Datebook (2003) by Edain McCoy
The Reed Moon means winter is approaching. It is a month of turning our energies toward hearth and home. The tree symbolizes family, fidelity, and trust. The wood was burned to honor household spirits and a family's patron Deities, and in ancient Scotland a broken reed was an omen of familial betrayal.
As the Reed Moon begins, you should bring reeds into your home and weave them into decorations or altar adornments. Place them in your hearth or kitchen area.
As you go through your home putting the reeds in place, chant a charm to empower them as talismans of protection and trust. They will impart the blessings of unity and purpose to your family this winter.
Reed so slender, so sturdy and tall,
Impart your protection to one and all;
Beneath this roof shall fealty reign,
Love and security is ours again.
Witches Datebook (2004) by Edain McCoy
There is an old saying in Ireland that the reed can stand where mighty oaks have fallen. Slender, sturdy, and sharp, the reed reminds us that it's not always the biggest guy who withstands the storms of life, but the smartest.
Call upon the energies of the reed during its Moon to help you stay calm-- and to help you remain standing through whatever storms life throws your way.
Gentle reed, slender and tall,
No gale or cyclone makes you fall;
Tip as sharp as an arrowhead,
Fells your enemies, blesses your dead.
Grant to me your steady calm,
Be unto my soul a balm;
Keep me standing, keep me strong,
Through wind and calm, right and wrong.
Witches Datebook (2006) by Edain McCoy
The name Blood Moon comes from the act of slaughtering animals for winter food, and from the reddish cast often seen shadowing the Moon on cool October nights. In Celtic traditions, this is the Ivy Moon, and one of its correspondences is binding magic. They are perfect complements to one another at this season, when we are compelled to bind the blood of the sovereign Lord to the land he rules.
Even in the festive circle of October's esbat we are aware that the solar year is marking the death of our God, and we put ourselves into the care of the wise, but icy, crone Goddess. The Goddess, who is the land, will soon be in her virgin aspect once more, and must bestow sovereignty over the land to the most fit and able man.
Blessed crone of our dark, cold night,
Give us your moonglow as our guiding light;
His blood into Earth, your Earth into womb,
Waiting for Yuletide to break open his tomb.
Witches Datebook by Dallas Jennifer Cobb
Traditionally, under the October Full Moon animals were slaughtered, their hides tanned, and meat stored. Working late under the light of the Moon, the last of the harvest is gathered. Pause and remember: the fertile cycle is coming to an end, the wheel of the year turning like the cycle of life and death. Put yourself and your life in order, letting go of what is unnecessary, for death is upon us. Prepare for the cold dark months ahead. The veil between the worlds is thin. Honor your ancestors, invoking their guidance and protection, then ask their spirits to guide you through the underworld. Light candles and lanterns to invoke justice, balance, and inner harmony, and welcome the dark as a place of stability and reflection.
Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Moon of Changing Season,
Life ebbs and flows with infinite reason,
Demeter, Horned God, Lakshmi see,
Memory and karma burn bright within me.
Witches Datebook by Ellen Dugan
The Full Moon in October is often called the Hunter's Moon. During ancient times, hunters were respected as the tribe's life-givers for they supplied the food. In Britain, Herne the Hunter is a deity of the "Dark Forest." Lord of the woodlands and its animals, Herne oversees all of nature and the results of fertility for both the natural world and men. Herne, described as a large, virile man crowned with the antlers of a stag and purportedly wears furs and carries a wooden bow, is often accompanied by a pack of hunting dogs.
As our nights grow noticeably longer and autumn commences, consider working with Herne for courage and the ability to "hunt down" your path in life. His wisdom is vast, and, if you listen, he can help you find your way while traveling along your own magical path, even in the darkest of times.
As the Hunter's Moon lights up the October sky,
Herne protect me, the dark time of the year is nigh.
Help me to find my own path, and to gain knowledge true,
May I walk with wisdom and strength in all that I do.
Witches Datebook by Elizabeth Barrette
To the Cherokee, October is the Harvest Moon, as this is when people gather and preserve most of their food. To the Choctaw, this is the Blackberry Moon. In warmer regions, late cropping berries ripen now and are often dried or preserved for winter use. The Dakota Sioux call this the Moon When Quilting and Beading is Done. These creative pursuits take many hours, so people favor them when less outdoor work can be done but enough daylight still remains to see fine details.
October closes the harvest season as the last grains and other crops come in. Food storage occupies people's attention. Although modern supermarkets are an option, many benefits from growing and preserving your own food. Likewise, magical artifacts crafted by the user tend to hold more power than purchased ones. This is also a good time to craft sacred and magical decorations to prepare for winter celebrations.
Rituals often feature the harvest-- honoring the fruits of our labors, giving thanks for what we receive, and requesting a bountiful yield. Magically, gather friends for craft workshops to make items for ceremonial use.
A safe and happy holiday to all who celebrate~!