Moon Magic
by JoAnne Dodgson
mentor at the Wise Woman University
Author of Walking the
Spiral Path - Awakening Power and Passion
The Moon speaks the language of the feminine spirit, emanating
reflective, contemplative, passionate energy. The Moon glows
in celebration of unfolding cycles, empowered by trust in
her own transformation as she dances across the sky. She
holds ancient stories in her radiant being and resonates
with the knowing of mystical, magical ways. She is beautiful
in all of her phases, carrying no judgments about where
she is nor regrets about where she’s been nor fears
that she’ll never get to where she wants to go.
The harmony and balance in the Moon’s transformational
dance invite us to trust the process of change and honor
the recurrent cycles of birth and death and rebirth in our
own transitions and growth. In the light of the Moon, we
can more fully embrace our reflective, intuitive nature.
Our softness. Our fullness. Our passions. The Moon is an
ever present reminder to be attentive to the Now, to be
aware of and choiceful about the energy we’re radiating
into the world in all that we say and do.
The
time of New Moon or “dark moon” offers an invitation
to explore rich fertile darkness, the void, where all potentials
exist. The New Moon resonates with the energies of winter,
of an inward movement for nurturance, rest and clarity.
This part of the cycle offers a wonderful opportunity for
quiet reflection, for clarifying our intentions about what
we want to manifest in our lives. The New Moon is a potent
time for ritual and ceremony to honor new beginnings.
During the Waxing Moon, we witness the “growing”
of the crescent moon. This phase resonates with the energy
of springtime, the building of momentum, the seeds reaching
up through the dark soil and into the light.
The Waxing Moon invites us to be aware of the focus and
direction of our energy and attention. What are we nourishing
and growing in our lives? What are we feeding with our energy
and attention? Are we getting distracted from our intentions
and commitments? The Waxing Moon teaches us about sacred
pace in the unfolding, about being at peace with who we
are right where we are, honoring the beauty and purposefulness
of all that is as we learn and heal and grow.
The Full Moon resonates with mystical and passionate energy,
the energy of summer, of shining brightly. Emotional energies,
be they peaceful, creative, or stressful, get amplified
during this phase of the Moon’s cycle. 
Full Moon teaches us about honoring our wholeness, about
fully expressing who we are, about celebrating all that
has blossomed and come into fruition in our lives. The radiance
of the Full Moon invites us to let go of old beliefs, limited
self-concepts and addictive patterns that keep us small,
silenced and disempowered in some way.
This part of the cycle invites us to explore and experience
the pleasures and delights of our senses, to express our
passions, and resonate in the beauty and radiance of our
whole being ~ body, mind and soul. In the light of the Full
Moon, we honor ourselves and all others, reaching out to
connect with understanding, celebration and unconditional
love.
The Waning Moon resonates with the energy of the ancients,
the elders, the wisdom and knowingness of the crone. As
we witness the Moon’s diminishing crescent in the
sky, we are invited to explore death and letting go. It
is in the letting go that we create sacred space for the
new. Without fears about walking through the doorway of
death, there is unshakeable trust in our journey. The Waning
Moon reminds us that death is a doorway to renewal and transformation,
like trees dropping leaves and snakes shedding old skins.
The Waning Moon is a beautiful time for letting go with
compassion and gratitude, releasing old patterns and attachments
to the past, clearing away what is ready to be released
as we move once again into the New Moon.
Copyright © 2005 by JoAnne Dodgson
Stories by JoAnne Dodgson
Each lesson offers discussion of unique aspects of the shaman's path such as bridging the varied dimensions of reality, living in balance with natural cycles and creating sacred ceremony. Each lesson guides you in opportunities to discover and enrich your innate connection with the web of life on the mother earth and in the world of the spirits. 
