Thirteenth Lunation: Waxing Moon Cycle
Days 1–15
Day of Silence
A key to the Perfection of Speech is deep listening. It is an incredibly powerful gift to give someone your whole-body-listening attention. Of course, you want to make sure that you’re not coming across as too intense, but maintaining full awareness while listening allows a speaker to feel fully heard. It is a healing practice for both you and the speaker.
Today, as you observe silence, practice listening to what others have to say in this deep manner.
Magic Squares: Creating Your Sigil, Part 1
Magical Purpose: Making a magical symbol that contains your personal energies.
A sigil is an inscribed image that holds magical power. The use and creation of the sigil was at its height during the Renaissance period. One of the most influential magical practices coming from Agrippa and the Renaissance period is the use of magic squares (also called kamea in Hebrew, which means “talisman”) as the foundation for creating magical sigils. A magic square is a square that is divided into smaller squares, each containing a number. The figures in each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal row of the magic square add up to the same value.
In his Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Agrippa put forward seven magic squares that he aligned with the seven then-known astrological planets: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. (There are obviously more than seven celestial bodies, but these were the ones that ancient astrologers could readily see with the naked eye.)
For the next days, we’ll be working with sigils and the planetary kameas, all of which are important for your magical work now and in the future. The first step is discovering the sigil that relates to your personal energy system, which is your personal power. This personal sigil is like your magical thumbprint. It will be different for each person, as each design aligns itself to the kamea that corresponds to a person’s unique energy system.
Making the sigil of power is an important task, because every spell, every candle, and every tool will benefit from the magical control you’ll exert by inscribing on them this “magical DNA.”
The method for creating the sigil combines ancient astrology, numerology, and Agrippa’s planetary kameas. The first step is to find the sign the Moon was in when you were born. This is your Moon sign. For this, you’ll need to know your date, exact time, and city of birth. There are many free online Moon sign calculators that can help you determine which sign the Moon was in when you were born.
A Word to the Wise: The reason that we base our calculations on the Moon is because not only in Wicca but also in traditional astrology, the Moon governs magical activity. Knowing the exact sign that the Moon was traveling through at the time of your birth lets you know your unique magical abilities and affinities.
Once you know your Moon sign, you then must know the planetary ruler of the sign. Here is a chart that gives the planetary rulers of each sign in ancient astrology:
|
Planetary Glyph |
Planet |
Sign(s) It Governs |
|
|
Sun |
Leo |
|
|
Moon |
Cancer |
|
|
Mercury |
Gemini, Virgo |
|
|
Venus |
Libra, Taurus |
|
|
Mars |
Aries, Scorpio |
|
|
Jupiter |
Sagittarius, Pisces |
|
|
Saturn |
Capricorn, Aquarius |
Planetary Rulers
The planet that rules your Moon sign tells you which planetary kamea is attuned to your magical system. It also tells you the powers that come naturally to you. The planetary kameas are shown here. Take a look at the one that is specific to your energy system.
Today, if you have a computer, find your kamea for free by searching “Agrippa magic squares” in any search engine. Copy and paste the proper image (check the numbers carefully to match those on the pages of this book) onto a blank piece of paper. If you have any technical expertise with graphic editing, you can add extra oomph to your magic square by adding the appropriate color combinations. Please note that it isn’t a necessity to color the magic square. The square will work just fine in black and white, although color can add a vibrational kick:
Saturn: White numbers, black background
Jupiter: Orange/bronze numbers, blue background
Mars: Green numbers, red background
Sun: Red numbers, yellow background
Venus: Yellow numbers, forest green background
Mercury: Purple numbers, light yellow background
Moon: Yellow numbers, dark blue background
Here are the magic squares:
Magic Squares:
Creating Your Sigil, Part 2
Magical Purpose: Making a magical symbol that contains your personal energies.
Now that you know which planetary square is aligned with your personal Moon sign, you will plot your magical name (translating it into numbers) onto your corresponding planetary square. Use this alpha-numeric chart to help translate your magical name into numbers:
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
|
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
|
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
Alpha-Numeric Chart
Let’s look at the magical name “Juno” and see how this works. We will assume for this example that Juno’s Moon sign is aligned with Saturn’s planetary kamea. I will first translate each letter of Juno’s magical name into a number. Looking at the alpha-numeric chart, I see that J is a 1, U is a 3, N is 5, and O is 6. So I now have this alpha-numeric “map” of the name Juno to guide me:
|
J |
U |
N |
O |
|
1 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
Using the planetary kamea for Saturn, I will draw lines from one number to the next, starting the whole process by putting a small circle on the very first number in the square. The first letter in Juno is 1, so I put the small circle in the square with the number 1 in it, like this:
Next I draw a straight line from 1 to the next letter/number in Juno. The next letter is U, which is 3:
I continue this process until I go through all of the letters/numbers of the name Juno, which are 1, 3, 5 and 6:
The final step is to make a small hash mark to indicate where the sigil stops in the square containing the final letter/number, which is 6:
Minus the planetary kamea itself, this is the final image, the sigil that represents you in your magical work. Take time today to inscribe your own sigil onto magical tools or other items that have magical significance for you.
Magic Squares: The Sun
Magical Purpose: Creating magic with the solar magic square.
What you’ll need:
• A yellow candle
• Sun magical condenser
• Kamea of the Sun
• Your circle-casting tools
• Sun Incense and Oil
• White tissue paper (the kind you use when wrapping gifts)
• Plain white computer printer paper
• A computer printer
• A blow dryer
• Scissors
• Wax paper (the kind you use in your kitchen)
Before working with the Sun’s kamea, we must first understand what the Sun governs, so that we may choose a magical working that aligns with solar powers.
Under the Sun’s Influence
Authority, dignity, energy, father, health, high office, husband, identity, leadership, masculine principle, men, principles, progress, rank, success, titles, vitality, whatever you want to “shine.”
Since we will be practicing the same image-transfer process you used earlier in the book, I have provided a review of the steps for you in brief:
• Locate the Sun’s kamea online.
• Tape tissue paper to regular printer paper and print the kamea on the tissue in black ink (since you are already using a yellow candle). Size the kamea properly to fit your pillar candle.
• Cut out the kamea and trim the image close to the borders.
• Select an area of magical interest to you that aligns with the Sun’s energies.
• Distill your intent/focus into a single word.
• Translate that word into numerals using the alpha-numeric chart.
• Plot the numbers on the Sun’s kamea in yellow ink to make a sigil.
• Take the trimmed kamea with the inscribed sigil and place it image-outward on the candle surface. Wrap this tightly with wax paper. Use a blow dryer on the hottest setting to melt the image onto the candle surface.
• If you do not have a computer printer, hand-draw the kamea and the sigil using yellow ink on regular white paper. You will learn where to place the kamea for this working later on. For now, simply copy it and retrace it with your yellow ink.
Sun’s Kamea
In the hour of the Sun, cast a magic circle (see the planetary hours charts in days 11–12 of the second lunation).
If you have not used a printer for this procedure, use your white-handled knife to inscribe the Sun sigil on the side of your yellow candle.
At the bottom of the candle, inscribe your personal sigil. Anoint the candle with Sun Oil, starting at the bottom of the candle and working up to the top. Now do the same thing using your Sun planetary condenser. Light Sun Incense and place this on your altar. Hold the candle in your hands and visualize the final result of your magical working. Imagine that the visualization transfers to the candle. Stand the candle near the incense and light it. If you have hand-printed the kamea, place the candle atop the kamea you’ve drawn.
Close your circle.
Magic Squares: The Moon
Magical Purpose: Creating magic with the lunar magic square.
What you’ll need:
• A white pillar candle
• Moon magical condenser
• Kamea of the Moon
• Your circle-casting tools
• Moon Incense and Oil (recipes follow)
• White tissue paper (the kind you use when wrapping gifts)
• Plain white computer printer paper
• A computer printer
• A blow dryer
• Scissors
• Wax paper (the kind you use in your kitchen)
Before working with the lunar kamea, we must first understand what the Moon governs, so that we may choose a magical working that aligns with lunar powers.
Under the Moon’s Influence
Brewing, desires, feelings, female principle, fluctuations, growth and fertility, habit patterns, instincts, liquids of all kinds, magic, magnetism, moods, mother, needs, nursing, personal interests, phases, receptivity, reflexes, sailing, tides, trade and commerce, unconscious processes, wife, women in general.
Follow the same procedures you followed for transferring the Sun’s kamea to the pillar candle. Here are the steps in brief:
• Locate the Moon kamea online.
• Tape tissue paper to regular printer paper and print the kamea on the tissue in black ink. Size the kamea properly to fit your pillar candle.
• Cut out the kamea and trim the image close to the borders.
• Select an area of magical interest to you that aligns with the Moon’s energies.
• Distill your intent/focus into a single word.
• Translate that word into numerals using the alpha-numeric chart.
• Plot the numbers on the Moon kamea in silver ink to make a sigil.
• Take the trimmed kamea with the inscribed sigil and place it image-outward on the candle surface. Wrap this tightly with wax paper. Use a blow dryer on the hottest setting to melt the image onto the candle surface.
• If you do not have a computer printer, hand-draw the kamea and the sigil using silver ink on regular white paper.
Moon’s Kamea
Moon Incense
What you’ll need:
• 1 tablespoon gum mastic
• 1 tablespoon dried poppy
• 1 tablespoon dried willow bark
• 3 tablespoons dried sandalwood powder
• 7 drops water lily essential oil
• 1 ounce vegetable glycerin
• A container with a tight-fitting lid
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the essential oil into the glycerin, then add this to the dry ingredients. Mix until fluffy-looking. Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Moon Oil
What you’ll need:
• 7 drops water lily essential oil
• 3 drops rose essential oil
• 2 drops poppy essential oil
• 1 ounce vegetable glycerin
• A clean, airtight glass bottle with a tight-
fitting lid
Mix the ingredients together and store in a clean, airtight glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
In the hour of the Moon, cast a magic circle (see the planetary hours charts in days 11–12 of the second lunation).
If you have not used a printer for this procedure, use your white-handled knife to inscribe the Moon sigil on the side of your yellow candle.
At the bottom of the candle, inscribe your personal sigil. Anoint the candle with Moon Oil, starting at the bottom of the candle and working up to the top. Now do the same thing using your Moon planetary condenser. Light Moon Incense and place this on your altar. Hold the candle in your hands and visualize the final result of your magical working. Imagine that the visualization transfers to the candle. Stand the candle near the incense and light it. If you have hand-printed the kamea, place the candle atop the kamea you’ve drawn.
Close your circle.
Magic Squares: Venus
Magical Purpose: Creating magic with the Venus magic square.
What you’ll need:
• A green pillar candle
• Venus magical condenser
• Kamea of Venus
• Your circle-casting tools
• Venus Incense and Oil (recipes follow)
• White tissue paper (the kind you use when wrapping gifts)
• Plain white computer printer paper
• A computer printer
• A blow dryer
• Scissors
• Wax paper (the kind you use in your kitchen)
Before working with Venus’s kamea, we must first understand what Venus governs, so that we may choose a magical working that aligns with Venusian powers.
Under Venus’s Influence
Aesthetics, appreciation, art, beauty, charm, color, culture, dance, disposition, drama, emotions, good taste, harmony, jewelry, love, luxury, marriage and unions, moral character, music, painting, partners, pleasure, poetry, possessions, sensuality, sentimentality, singing, social endeavors, sweets/sugar, tenderness.
Follow the same procedures you used for transferring the Sun and Moon kameas to the pillar candle. Here are the steps in brief:
• Locate the Venus kamea online.
• Tape tissue paper to regular printer paper and print the kamea on the tissue in black ink. Size the kamea properly to fit your pillar candle.
• Cut out the kamea and trim the image close to the borders.
• Select an area of magical interest to you that aligns with Venus’s energies.
• Distill your intent/focus into a single word.
• Translate that word into numerals using the alpha-numeric chart.
• Plot the numbers on the Venus kamea in green ink to make a sigil.
• Take the trimmed kamea with the inscribed sigil and place it image-outward on the candle surface. Wrap this tightly with wax paper. Use a blow dryer on the hottest setting to melt the image onto the candle surface.
• If you do not have a computer printer, hand-draw the kamea and the sigil using green ink on regular white paper.
Venus’s Kamea
Venus Incense
What you’ll need:
• 1 tablespoon dried elder
• 1 tablespoon dried peppermint
• 1 tablespoon dried yarrow
• 3 tablespoons dried sandalwood powder
• 8 drops apple essential oil
• 1 drop musk essential oil
• 1 ounce vegetable glycerin
• A container with a tight-fitting lid
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the essential oils into the glycerin, then add this to the dry ingredients. Mix until fluffy-looking. Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Venus Oil
What you’ll need:
• 8 drops apple essential oil
• 2 drops musk essential oil
• 3 drops pear essential oil
• 1 ounce vegetable glycerin
• A clean, airtight glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid
Mix the ingredients together and store in a clean, airtight glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
In the hour of Venus, cast a magic circle (see the planetary hours charts in days 11–12 of the second lunation).
If you have not used a printer for this procedure, use your white-handled knife to inscribe your Venus sigil on the side of your green candle.
At the bottom of the candle, inscribe your personal sigil. Anoint the candle with Venus Oil, starting at the bottom of the candle and working up to the top. Now do the same thing using your Venus planetary condenser. Light Venus Incense and place this on your altar. Hold the candle in your hands and visualize the final result of your magical working. Imagine that the visualization transfers to the candle. Stand the candle near the incense and light it. If you have hand-printed the kamea, place the candle atop the kamea you’ve hand-printed.
Close your circle.
Magic Squares: Mars
Magical Purpose: Creating magic with the Mars magic square.
What you’ll need:
• A red pillar candle
• Mars magical condenser
• Kamea of Mars
• Your circle-casting tools
• Mars Incense and Oil
• White tissue paper (the kind you use when wrapping gifts)
• Plain white computer printer paper
• A computer printer
• A blow dryer
• Scissors
• Wax paper (the kind you use in your kitchen)
Before working with Mars’s kamea, we must first understand what Mars governs, so that we may choose a magical working that aligns with Martian powers.
Under Mars’s Influence
Accidents, ambition, animal nature, animals in general, burns, competition, construction, courage, cuts, death, desire, domination, disruptive events, force, healing, heat, inflammation, iron and steel, power, scalds, sexuality, strength, strife, sudden events, surgery, tools, violence, war, weapons, work, wounds.
Follow the same procedures you’ve been using for image transfers to candles. Here are the steps in brief:
• Locate the Mars kamea online.
• Tape tissue paper to regular printer paper and print the kamea on the tissue in black ink. Size the kamea properly to fit your pillar candle.
• Cut out the kamea and trim the image close to the borders.
• Select an area of magical interest to you that aligns with Mars’s energies.
• Distill your intent/focus into a single word.
• Translate that word into numerals using the alpha-numeric chart.
• Plot the numbers on the Mars kamea in red ink to make a sigil.
• Take the trimmed kamea with the inscribed sigil and place it image-outward on the candle surface. Wrap this tightly with wax paper. Use a blow dryer on the hottest setting to melt the image onto the candle surface.
• If you do not have a computer printer, hand-draw the kamea and the sigil using red ink on regular white paper.
Mars’s Kamea
In the hour of Mars, cast a magic circle (see the planetary hours charts in days 11–12 of the second lunation).
If you have not used a printer for this procedure, use your white-handled knife to inscribe your Mars sigil on the side of your red candle.
At the bottom of the candle, inscribe your personal sigil. Anoint the candle with Mars Oil, starting at the bottom of the candle and working up to the top. Now do the same thing using your Mars planetary condenser. Light Mars Incense and place this on your altar. Hold the candle in your hands and visualize the final result of your magical working. Imagine that the visualization transfers to the candle. Stand the candle near the incense and light it. If you have hand-printed the kamea, place the candle atop the kamea you’ve hand-printed.
Close your circle.
Full Moon Ceremony
For this lunation, please incorporate the following components into your ceremony:
• The Cabalistic Cross (which you should do before Drawing Down the Moon)
• Use of Supplication Incense and Oil prior to Drawing Down the Moon
• Drawing Down the Moon
• Aspecting the Goddess and speaking her words
• Reading the Charge of the Goddess
• Select a meditation as your main working. Alternatively, you can engage in a magical working that you inadvertently skipped or intentionally skipped so as to reserve it for the full moon.