Black Moon
By Ariana Silver
© 2003 May
Updated 2009 July
To reprint this article contact author for written permission at csolarwolf1@aol.com
What is the Black Moon, is it another term for Dark Moon? No. Black Moon is when two Dark cycles occur in one given month. It is believed that the time of a Black Moon is a time of great power within the spiritual realms and any magic worked/cast on this night is especially powerful. Black Moons occur once every six to eight years and vary at the time of the year when they appear. The last Black Moon occurred in 2003 May 1st and 30th are the days of the two dark cycles. Previous years are December 1986, June 1992, and October 1997.
This year the Black Moon occurs under the sun sign of Taurus, as well as the Moon rising of Taurus. What does this mean? Well, that magic performed on this night needs to focus on characteristics of Taurus magic. Earth Element, The Bull, Venus, the colour green and Gaia, Isis and Osiris, Cerridwen, Bull of Minos, and Hecate who is ruler of the darker aspects of magic. Hecate is also the ruler of the Underworld who commands death and reincarnation and is the primeval dark mother.
Magic performed in a Black Moon is much of the same as the Dark Moon, only you are performing with a higher level of spiritual energy. So what magic can be performed under a Taurus Black Moon? Well, spells for prosperity, security, love, music and the arts all work good in this moon. Taurus also rules bindings, strength, endurance, and patience. Planting and Farming are good as well as consecrating ones pentacle. Now, magic worked under a Taurus Moon is best performed on a Full Moon, but in the case of the Black Moon you would perform this magic in the opposite of gaining, but releasing anything that is hindering you in these areas of your life. All things associated with our earthly nature are ruled under Taurus. So, if you are having issues with your sex life, this would be a good time to banish or bind the negative energies that surround your life in this area. Work spells that call upon dealing with intimate sexual issues, and physical connection, physical possessions, greed and wealth. Focus on removing what is hindering you in these areas, be it that you are in need of bettering your circumstances or removing circumstances that are in your way and not benefiting you at this time.
The next Black Moon shall occur in the year 2011 during the month of July, the first of the Black Moon’s shall be on the 1st day of July ruled by a Gemini Moon and the second New Moon making it a Black Moon shall be on the 30th day of July, ruled by the Moon in Cancer. Typically, the New Moons are ruled by the same as the ruling Sun in this case the New Moon on the 1st of July should actually be in Cancer not in Gemini as this is during the time of the Sun Sign of Cancer and the second New Moon {Black Moon} is ruled by Cancer Moon when it is during the Sun Sign of Leo, suffice to say that the New Moon of the 1st should be ruling Moon Cancer and the Black Moon of the 30th should be ruling Moon Leo, yet when we look at the Ephemeris both days are ruled by a Cancer Moon.
Yet, one must be wise and careful when working magic during this time, as too in Astrological terms the Black Moon is associated with L—-h, in which we do not speak or spell her name, so during this time it is best as with the Cancer energy in Sun and Moon to be watchful of your health, your children, pregnant women to be protected and to protect from fascination and temptations. Astrologically, depending with which planet she sits within shall determine her nature and what you need to watch out for as far as omens and portends.
Within the 2011 July Black Moon, she will sit in Pisces Retrograded, Pisces being ruled by Jupiter traditionally, in which normally would rule the energy of religion and the higher mind, however, the Black Moon is retrograded, which means that the energies shall be darker and more harmful with the energy being of darker, black magic being cast out into the universe. Sitting first on the 1st day of July in the fifth house, this house represents the children born, aunts, uncles, mothers, however, L—-h’s promise is to harm the children of the Adam and with it being in the child house denotes it is important to protect your children and keep them close by and away from strangers. Here too, she sits in the fixed star Mater, which is translated to mean Hollow Section, meaning no soul, this being where all evil resides.
On the 30th of July, she will sit in the fourth house which represents, the Father, families and those things associated to the those things that occur in the family structure. Here she sits in the fixed star Azelfafage also known as Pi (π) Cygnus, Azelfafage, is a star in the tail of the Swan. As we know this was one of Zeus shape shifted forms in order to lie with Leta and from this she bore twins, one child being the seed of Zeus and the other the seed of her husband, creating Pollux and Helen of Troy and the Constellation Gemini and Castor.
With this specific placement it portends to watch for those things in which are false in appearance that what you are seeing may not be what it really is false words and hidden agendas. Here Jupiter/Zeus is seen as the Dark Warrior where all the residence of dark and darkness resides. Be wise during this time. Protect your children and do not allow strangers into your life or home and watch closely those who try to drive a wedge between relationships, as throughout the entirety of the month she will move throughout all the houses created chaos and havoc.
Specific Lunar Magic
Magic in which can be performed when the New Moon is in Gemini cusp of Cancer is healing to lungs, work on anxiousness, nerves and shoulders. Also, here too is a Cazimi with the Sun and Moon, with Mercury in the same house there shall be throughout the month a change in humanity and their views about Religion. When the Black Moon is in Cancer focus on healing and balancing of moods, breasts, stomach and weight issues, here work on releasing unwanted feelings and emotions. The Moon being in the ninth house on the 1st of July here focuses on psychic workings, dreams and there will understand of the planets through mind communications as well as visions and dreams of beautiful places and positions of prestige. The Moon again on the 30th shall be in the ninth house in Leo and again with Mercury, the Sun and Venus, in which the Sun, and Venus are Cazimi which denotes a time of Prophecy and divination to occur and with Mercury and the Moon too here, shows where humanity shall be affected by Religion to some degree.
Born Old
There is a term “Born Old”, this means that one who is born old is born having learned all lessons that one is to learn in his/her lifetimes. This of course is accomplished through many lifetimes and not just one. Born old persons are born on a spiritual veil, so there powers will be easier obtained through out one’s life. One might consider that, being born old could be a time of the Black Moon, as well as either Samhain or the Winter Solstice, these are times when the veil is the thinnest and spiritual powers and energies are at the strongest.
And one will notice that these are the darker times of the station wheel, so Hecate would rule over one that was Born Old.
Herbal Associations to Hecate:
Garlic, Mandrake, Willow, Aconite, Almond, Lavender, Myrrh, Cypress, Opium Poppy, Mugwort, Hazel, Cardamon, Belladonna, Hemlock, Mint, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Hellebore, and Yew.
Familiar Associations to Hecate:
Bull, with the allies of the crane and the bee. Oak, mistletoe and yew. Earth and Fire, South and North, Caomhain and Yule. Bull’s Blood [black bulls wreathed in yew were sacrificed to Hecate], Dog, with the allies of the vine, earth, North East, and Samhain, also associated with lunar goddess. Frog, also called Puddock and associated allies of horsetail, stonechat, horse, and water serpent, water, West and East, Herfest and Ostara. Hare, with associated allies of broom and gorse, cat and stag, earth and fire, East to South East, Ostara and Beltaine. Owl known for wisdom, with the allies of ivy, air, Northwest, and Samhain. Toad, with the allies of sow thistle, horse, earth and North. The toad is associated with abundance and fertility. Ii is both connected lunar and Underworld. Wolf, with allies of hop, blackthorn, rowan, earth, North West to North East, Samhain to Imbolc. Hecate was also know to shapeshift into a wolf.
Now being that this year the Black Moon falls in May and is associated with Beltaine, and new beginnings, growth of seeds planted both in the earth and within ourselves. We can work magick for renewal, procreation, and fertility. This is time for those of us to begin a new journey within this station on the wheel.
In all things when working with the Other Worlds it is best if you do not know what you are doing to leave well enough alone, and when natures and energies are like this it is best to work the opposite to defeat the negative and evil with the power of the Light and Sun.
Bibliography
Knowledge gained from my Personal Studies
&
Familiars; Animal Powers of Britain, and Herb Craft; A Guide to the Shamanic and Ritual Use of Herbs, by Anna Franklin
Witches Date Book 2002, Published by Llewellyn
Secrets of Western Sex Magick, by U.D. Frater
Phases of the Moon, U.S. Naval Observatory
The Asteroid Ephemeris 1900-2050 Including Chiron and the Black Moon L—h, by Neil F. Michaelsen, Revised by Rique Pottenger
*Featured in Silver Wheel Magazine in 2003