Seasons of Wicca: The Essential Guide to Rituals and Rites to Enhance Your Spiritual Journey - Ambrosia Hawthorn 2020
July Moon
Moon Celebrations (Esbats)
Rituals to Enhance your Spiritual Journey
Gregorian Calendar: The July moon is often called the blessing, wort, hay, thunder, or buck moon. During this full moon, work on magic relating to divination, dreamwork, and psychic abilities.
Celtic Tree Calendar: The Oak moon is celebrated until July 7 and the Holly moon is celebrated from July 8 to August 4. The Celtic name for holly is tinne, pronounced chihnn-uh. The Oak moon is associated with cleansing, strength, self-confidence, and optimism, and the Holly moon is associated with beauty, protection, luck, and dreams.
DIVINE BLESSINGS ESBAT
July’s full moon is an ideal time to slow down and reflect, and it’s also useful for rituals involving blessings. This ritual, which can be performed outdoors under moonlight, will help you create a bowl of water and stone charged by the energy of the full moon.
Ritual Setting
Altar or outdoors under the full moon
Tools and Supplies
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
1 moonstone, or other white crystal or stone
1 pillar or votive candle—silver or white (to represent the moon)
Fire-safe plate or candle holder
Bowl of water
Lighter or matches
Offering of choice—baked goods, crafts, or foraged items
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
1.Shower or bathe, visualizing all old or unwanted energies leaving your being.
2.Cleanse the ritual areas.
PREPARING THE ALTAR
Place the tools and supplies on the altar. Place the elemental representations in a pentacle configuration. Place the deity representation at the top of the altar. Place the crystal, candle (on the fire-safe plate), and bowl of water in the center of the pentacle.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Invoke the God and Goddess or deity of your choice by saying something like: “Goddess of the Blessing Moon, I invite you to my circle tonight.”
3.Light the candle and say: “Great Moon Goddess, Queen of the Night, help illuminate my path and light my way forward into the future.”
4.Place the moonstone in the bowl of water and lift it up, saying: “Blessing Moon, bringer of the light that shines on the earth tonight, I honor you with this water symbol of the changing tides. I cherish your insight, love, and light.”
5.Take a few moments to allow yourself to feel the energy of the moon. Meditate on your achievements and what you still want to achieve this year.
6.Thank the deity and leave your offering: “Goddess of the Blessing Moon, I thank you for your presence tonight. I hope you accept my offering. Go if you must or stay if you’d like.”
7.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
8.Extinguish the candle. Leave the offering on the altar. Leave the bowl of water with the moonstone under the full moon overnight. The water and stone will be charged by the full moon.
DREAM SCRYING ESBAT
In July, you can use the full moon’s energy for scrying and enhancing your psychic abilities. Scrying, discussed here, involves gazing into an object or surface with unfocused eyes, allowing you to reach a state of perception where you can receive images or messages.
Ritual Setting
Altar or outdoors under the full moon
Tools and Supplies
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
Dark bowl filled with water
3 pillar or votive candles—silver or white (to represent the moon)
1 cone or stick incense—frankincense, lavender, rose, or jasmine
Fire-safe plates or candle holders and incense holder
Device to play meditation or relaxation music
Lighter or matches
Journal and pen
Offering of choice—baked goods, crafts, or foraged items
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
1.Shower or bathe, visualizing all old or unwanted energies leaving your being.
2.Cleanse the ritual areas.
PREPARING THE ALTAR
Place the tools and supplies on the altar. Place the elemental representations in a pentacle configuration. Place the deity representation at the top of the altar. Place the bowl of water in the center of the pentacle. Place the candles and incense on fire-safe plates intuitively around the altar space.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Invoke the God and Goddess or deity of your choice by saying something like: “Goddess of the July Moon, I invite you to my circle tonight.”
3.Turn on the music. Sit comfortably in front of the altar. Light the candles and incense.
4.Begin scrying by closing your eyes and allowing yourself to feel the energy around you.
5.Open your eyes and say: “Water of wisdom and insight, show me the mysteries of the moon.”
6.Stare into the bowl of water. Look for patterns, symbols, or images. Write down what you see. Spend as much time scrying as you’d like—from a few minutes to over an hour.
7.Thank your deity of choice and leave your offering: “Goddess of the July Moon, I thank you for your presence tonight.”
8.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
9.Dispose of the scrying water by pouring it into the earth.
10.Extinguish the candles and incense. Leave the offering on the altar.