The Full Moon in Leo is blessing us with its presence on February 9. So, I thought I'd take the time to outline the magickal associations of this moon, full moons in general, and ritual ideas you can engage in to celebrate this esbat.
In Wicca, there are eight sabbats (including Samhain, Yule and Imbolc), which are holidays based on the sun's year-long journey, and the traditional harvest times for ancient agricultural Celtics (unfortunately, climate change makes their timing a lot less agriculturally applicable nowadays). Esbats, each Full Moon of the year, are also observed. Lunar events are celebrated in pretty personal ritualistic ways, varying from witch to witch, while sabbats have more definitive traditions and lore surrounding them.
This Full Moon is in Leo, a lively and fiery sign. This esbat is largely about taking action on your desires, taking the next step to make that happen without fear. Since Leo is a fire sign, the element that is all about transformation and action, I think rituals having to do with burning objects or using candles will be most effective. Folks who have Leo sun, moon and/or rising signs, take note: this is an especially powerful time for you to get shit done and do some spellwork!
The Full Moon represents a time of completion, as it is the natural conclusion of the Waxing Moon phase. During this time, we take stock of what we have accomplished, and assess what needs to be released to manifest further abundance in the next Waxing Moon phase. During the Full Moon of each month (though, sometimes there is two in a month), I feel the most emotional and raw in both negative and positive ways. Full Moons supercharge the Earth with energy, stimulation and emotion; therefore, esbats are a great time for casting spells that need a little extra oomph.
If you are like me and you live with mental illness and/or are highly empathic, carving out time alone on the Full Moon is preferable in order to nurture yourself and make some magick. This is why I absolutely always celebrate esbats alone. But, if you tend to feel less raw during this time, group rituals will work!
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, the following ritual ideas are completely adaptable for both solitary and group rituals.
If you wish, try out one (or more) of these activities on this week's Full Moon in Leo:
Do Some Shadow Work
When the moon is at its fullest, we are provided with an excellent opportunity to shed some light (literally) on our shadow self. Shadow work involves questioning and exploring the darker parts of ourselves, as well as utilizing the practice of scripting to get to the bottom of negative beliefs or fears. You should definitely check out Anais Alexandre's video, Shadow Work 101, because she can take you through the scripting process. Also, I've included a video by Molly Roberts, who talks about digging deeper into the shadow self using artistic and creative strategies.
Do a Release Ritual
There are many ways to conduct a release ritual. Using bits of paper, I prefer to write down things/situations/people from the past month that no longer serve me, and set them on fire in a fire-safe bowl; sometimes, using the same ritual, I'll write down general negative beliefs about myself that I want to release. If burning objects is less accessible to you, you can also rip, bury or flush the pieces of paper. It all has the same effect, as long as your intention remains fixed on releasing.
You can also use candle magick to release things that no longer serve you. To do this, carve a symbol or word on a candle that represents the thing you are releasing; light the candle and let it burn completely.
Make A Wish
After I release, I will sometimes follow it up with a wishing spell, though you don't have to do a release ritual before trying this one out. To execute a Bay Leaf Wishing Spell, write down something you want to manifest in the next month on a bay leaf, and burn it in a fire-safe bowl. As it burns, imagine your desire manifesting in detail.
Smoke Cleansing
Since the Full Moon is essentially a time of reset, it is helpful to cleanse yourself and your space of any unwanted or stagnant energies that may interrupt your goals, helping you invite more positive and constructive energies into your space. I like to burn Palo Santo, juniper, lavender or mugwort smudge sticks, using them to bless and cleanse my body, my altar, and my home. While doing this, you can recite an intention, such as, "with this smoke, I remove all negativity and blocks from myself and from this space."
Bear in mind: if you are not a person of indigenous or Native American descent, it is considered disrespectful and unethical to burn white sage or to call the burning of the herb of your choice "smudging." This is why I call smudging "smoke cleansing," and I strive to find herbs to burn that are more relevant to my Celtic roots (Celtic goddess correspondences such as juniper and mugwort) out of respect for native cultures. I encourage you to do the same.
Moon Charging
Lastly, you can create moon water by leaving a container of water in the moonlight overnight, preferably outside. I like to save and use this water for ritual purposes, but you can also just drink it to infuse yourself with lunar energy.
You can also leave magickal tools, like crystals, sigils or candles, out overnight to charge them with the moon's energies. Just make sure the way you intend to use these tools are compatible with the energies of this Full Moon in Leo.
Let me know if you try any of these, sick witches. Merry Full Moon!
Comments