New Moon Spells and Rituals

New Moon Power

What is the New Moon, and what is its meaning? The New Moon is the first lunar phase, and during this time, the sun and moon are aligned.The moon is also positioned between the earth and the sun, and is not noticeable to the naked eye during the New Moon.

Soon after the New Moon begins, the moon is waxing or growing, and it first becomes noticeable as a small sliver in the sky. It waxes until the Full Moon, and after the moon is full, it wanes, or shrinks in visibility. During all these moon phases, it is believed different magic is more effective when using the energy of the moon.

New Moon magic is believed to have the most power on the day the moon is new, the day before, and the day after. This allows people to use special New Moon magic for up to three days, allowing plenty of time to harness the power of that moon phase. Some people don’t believe it is practical to spread their New Moon magic for that long, and instead, they watch moon guides for the exact days and times when the moon is new.

They do their magic as close to the exact moment the moon is new, and don’t do New Moon Magic any other time if they can help it. Some people focus on doing magic when the moon is full, because of a special poem called The Charge of the Goddess. Because of this, some people only work magic on the Full Moon.

Other people choose to do their most powerful magic during the New Moon, because it is believed when the moon is in its first phase, it is the best time to do magic for new beginnings. People will set their intentions for goals they work towards until the next New Moon and use the energy of this moon phase to help give them the desire, drive, and strength to succeed.

There are countless ways to do this kind of magic, and while some people prefer to do their magic on the New Moon by themselves because it is so personal, others prefer to share their magic with a group. You will have to decide if circling with other people is right for you, or if you prefer to do personal rituals or simple New Moon spells.

New Moon Circle

There are different groups of people who gather for New Moon Circles, and oftentimes, they have a set way of doing their New Moon magic. If you belong to a group, but you don’t already have a New Moon ritual in place, you can always use the following simple ritual. Begin by building an altar, next cast a Circle, and then use the power of the moon.

Build an Altar

Begin by setting up an altar, or ritual working space with the five elements of magic which are Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit. Your altar can be a table or just a spot on the ground. Just make sure to set up your altar someplace where you will not be disturbed during your ritual. Public spaces surrounded by strangers are a bad idea, but a quiet corner of your backyard can often work well.

You can also reserve private spaces at parks or even do your ritual indoors for added privacy. Some people don’t want to do moon magic indoors, but the weather might be cold, rainy, or extremely hot, but the moon still shares its energy, even if you are under a roof.

East Side of a New Moon Altar

You should have something that represents the element of Air at the East side of the altar. This can be something as simple as a stick of incense or a feather. It can also be glass, which contains nothing but air.

South Side of a New Moon Altar

On the South side of the altar, there should be something that represents the element of Fire, and this can be a red candle or even an electronic candle if having a fire is not a good idea.

West Side of a New Moon Altar

On the West side, there should be something that represents the element of Water, and a small bowl of water or even a seashell can work for this.

North Side of a New Moon Altar

Finally, in the North, you should have something that represents the element of Earth. Many use some salt, soil, a piece of moss, or even a live plant for this.

Cast a Circle

Next you’ll want to a cast a circle. Casting a Circle can be done with a simple blessing of the space, such as “We bless this space with the power of our own magic as we stand upon this sacred earth and reach out to the moon together. May the elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth protect us, and combine with our energy and the power of the moon to create powerful magic.”

How to Close the Circle

Some people prefer to close the Circle, and that can be done in a very simple way. Pick up the representation of the element of Air, and at the East, begin to walk clockwise in a circle around the altar with it saying, “I cast this Circle with the power of Air, the breath of life that is within everything.” Make sure to walk in a large enough circle to provide ample space for all attendees to move around comfortably as you do this.

Replace the air representative when you return to the spot where you began and pick up the representation of the element of Fire, and just like you did for air, walk clockwise beginning at the East, and say, “I cast this Circle with the power of fire, the passionate life giving bringer of magic.”

Then replace that when you finish and pick up the representative of the element of Water and again starting at the East walk clockwise with it and say, “I cast this Circle with water, the power of love and emotions that nourishes the earth and our very souls.”

Replace that when you finish and pick up the representation of the element of Earth, walking clockwise just as you did for the other three elements, and say “I cast this Circle with the power of earth, the planet where all life exists and that which gives us the determination to manifest our magic.”

The purpose of doing a closed Circle is to have complete control of the energy and spirits that may enter your space and join you. Casting a Circle creates an invisible energy boundary that nothing can cross without your permission.

Whichever way you prefer is the best way for you to do it. Once your altar is built, you know your intent, and you cast your Circle or have your open Circle blessed, it will be time to channel the magic of the moon.

Harness the Moon

There are different ways to draw the power of the New Moon to you. The simplest way is just to believe the moon is powerful, and its energy is everywhere, so calling the moon’s magic would not be necessary then. Some people prefer to ask the New Moon for its energy to come to them.

When you have welcomed the energy of the New Moon to your ritual working space, take turns speaking your magical intention. As you state your intention and goal, focus on the energy of the New Moon filling you with strength and giving you an extra boost of energy and magic to help you be successful.

Once everybody has taken their turn, you can take down your circle by saying, “We thank the power of the New Moon for sharing its magic with us and empowering us to be our best selves, so we may be victorious. We thank the powers of the elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth for being in this circle.” Afterward, a gift to the moon of some water or wine poured into the ground can be given to express your gratitude.