Moon rituals can be a powerful experience to cleanse and release the old and begin or invite something new. Moon rituals have been a part of ancient cultures for centuries and are still a part of many cultural practices. The Hindus have rituals for both the new and full moon. The new moon offers peace, prosperity, and good health. The full moon offers protection and wealth.
The Vedas describe the moon as symbolic of rebirth, creation, and our connection to our ancestors.
In Pagan beliefs, the moon symbolizes the cosmic rhythm of life, and the waxing and waning moon is connected to the land of the dead(other side), where the soul ascends after death and our soul’s rebirth.
From a spiritual point of view, which encompasses the melting of many ancient beliefs, the new moon is about starting new things, moving into action, or new beginnings. It is an opportunity to start again and clear the slate for rebirth!
The full moon is about completion, endings, and transformation. It is an opportunity to end or finish something we started and, in that way, bring abundance into our lives.
Here is a link to the full and new moons for 2023
Here is a ritual you can try for the New Moon:
The New Moon is about inviting new beginnings, moving into action (about a job, something you have been meaning to do but haven’t) or rebirthing. Clear a space and set some time aside in the evening where you can set an intention for your ritual.
Have a few things ready ahead of time:
A candle
A piece of paper and a green pen
A bowl or somewhere to keep your intention paper
A flower or branch with leaves to symbolize growth
Sit quietly and sense into your intention, see what your body feels about it, what your mind tells you and what is within your heart, think of this as a meditation and intention-setting
Light your candle with this intention in mind to bring it to the light or into life!
Have your vase/bowl with your flower or branch near you so you can acknowledge its symbolism and you can say something like this “ Just as you grow from a seed into a plant/tree/flower, I acknowledge you and the gift you offer me of growth, may your ability to grow remind me of my own ability to grow. Thank you for being my teacher” Then bow your head to acknowledge the flower or plant
Begin to write down everything using your green pen that you want to manifest, give birth to- this includes new ideas
Take a moment to read what you have written, then fold your paper and place it in a bowl
When you feel complete blow out your candle, you have completed your ritual
Preparing for the ritual for the Full Moon
Full moons are about completion, endings and transformation. What do you want to end, transform or complete?
Have a few things ready ahead of time:
A candle
A piece of paper and a red pen- red symbolizing what you want to release, let go of or end
A bowl to burn your intention paper
Sit quietly and sense into your intention, see what your body feels about it, what your mind tells you and what is within your heart, think of this as a meditation and intention-setting
Light your candle with this intention in mind to release, end or close whatever you have intended
Write down everything you want to release, let go off, transform or complete in red
Then you can say out loud “ I release all that no longer serves me and as I burn this paper I ask my guides and angels to clear and transmute all negative energy into healing energy for the earth (we don’t want to dump our fears, negativity etc into the earth’s auric field, so it is better to ask for it to be transmuted into healing energy for all)
Then sense how your body, mind and heart feels now that you have released this?
Then blow out your candle
The ritual of burning your thoughts is not only cathartic but cleansing. Our minds get so cluttered with the myriad of thoughts that come in and go out that writing them on paper is the first step to shedding them, then the act of burning the paper is the releasing and cleansing of these thoughts that no longer serve us.
I hope you find these rituals helpful for more about paper burning rituals, meditations and classes I teach, contact me at hemla@7raysholisticcenter.com