During the ages, cultures from Europe to North America have kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon, meaning a new name every month. There are many reasons for different cultures having different sets of names, like being in wildly variable regions where weather is not concurrent between places, and the timing of seasonal changes may be skewed. This guide specifically explains the English moon names, beginning in January and ending in December.

January is the Hunger moon, named for the European harshness of winter during the beginning of the year. Wolves during this time roam the countryside looking for food, which is hard to find, not only for wolves but, for everyone. This month is a time to plan ahead from a spiritual perspective.

February is the Snow moon, as certain parts of the world are blasted by thick blankets of it during this time. This is a good time to bolster your spells for the home and family.

March is the Sap moon, for this is when tree sap first begins to bleed from the bark. Magic that heals is made best this month.

April is the Pink moon, mirroring the nubile beginnings of the flowering season. This is the time to foster relationships.

May is the Flower moon for obvious reasons. Spring is under way, and such is the time to turn those fostering relationships into commitments.

June is called the Rose moon, or “la lune rose,” as cited by the French. Half of the year has now passed away, and this is the point in time where it is good to be proud of your accomplishments so far. Also it would be wise to begin pondering on what is left for you to do before the rest of the year is gone.

July is the Buck moon. Moose and deer grow their first antlers during this time. This is when one works on physical things, like the body, or handiwork.

August takes the name of the Sturgeon moon, named after the fish, which it is now the season of. Give thanks this month to the Great Spirit, and to yourself.

September is the Corn moon, or the late Harvest moon if it does not show itself during August. Clear up life’s issues now, for it is a good time.

October details the Hunter’s moon. At this time align yourself with the natural world.

November is called the beaver moon. The cold sweeps in, and culture dictated that this was the time to gather beaver pelts to keep warm for the coming frost. Set protection for yourself and others this month.

December is the final moon, the Cold moon. This is when you stay indoors and turn your attention to home, especially your ritual space, for the new year comes upon you soon, and the cycle begins anew.

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Wiccan Imbolc 

Imbolc, also called the Feast of Brighid, is a ritual and a festival that celebrates the coming of spring. Held at the half-way point of winter, there is no specific date for Imbolc but it is usually celebrated sometime between January 29th and February 3rd. Many practitioners and covens celebrate on February 1, which is halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Solstice, but some Wiccans wait for a sign, such as the sprouting of crocus to tell them when to celebrate Imbolc. The Feast of Brighid has made it into secular culture and is celebrated as Groundhog Day. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.

This is a festival that heralds the beginning of spring and the Goddess as Maiden. During this time, the Goddess prepares for renewal. It is during this time that seeds and agricultural equipment are blessed in preparation for planting and livestock have had or are soon to have their first offspring. Think of Imbolc as near-spring or last-winter, meaning the dark and the cold are receding, and the earth is stirring from a long sleep. This is the time that the Goddess prepares for the growing season.

One popular way Wiccans celebrate Imbolc as a group is by standing in a dark room, or outside at night if it is dark enough. There is one lit candle in the room and everyone holds an unlit candle. One after the other, each person present with light the candle they are holding from the flame of the lit candle until the group is bathed in light and warmth. Prayers are then offered for a kind and prosperous spring and that the reserves of money and provisions that supported the group through winter will last until the first spring crops. After the ritual, there is a big feast, traditionally put together by determining which provisions will not last until the first crop and which things you have an excess of. These provisions are shared with everyone present during the Imbolc ritual as well as with people in the community.

Imbolc is the time of year that Wiccans scrub their homes from top to bottom and finish up all business left over from winter such as unpaid bills or debts owed. It is important to use this time of preparedness to wrap up old business so that nothing interferes with the rebirth of the Goddess as Maiden and the coming spring. Once you have completed cleaning, place a fresh besom above your front door as a symbol that you have swept out the old business and energy of winter and are welcoming the renewing energy of spring. As you’ve probably guessed, Imbolc has been absorbed into secular culture as Spring Cleaning. Bud Norris Authentic Jersey

Wiccan Midwinter/Yule

Wicca is a religion where the past and the present collide in a harmonious manner. It’s a modern religion that’s based on ancient witchcraft and pre-Christian traditions. Many of these traditions originated in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Witchcraft is part of Wicca, but in a positive way, as that of using its powers to heal, restore, and be in communion with the world around.

Wicca is known to be older than Christianity, as witchcraft. It predates Christianity by 28,000 years and is still part of world history. Many of the holiday festivities that the world celebrates are based on Wiccan, and in turn pagan, traditions.

One of those celebrations is the Wiccan midwinter/yule. The date varies, it can be from December 20 to the 23rd. This celebration marks the return of the sun and the longevity of days. It’s the rebirth of the sun. The Sun King, the Oak King, and the Giver of Life are worshiped during this celebration. It enables Wiccans to be in tune with nature and all that nature represents.

Evergreen plants decorate the homes of Wiccans, giving color and style; a pagan practice enabling Wiccans to celebrate midwinter Yule. It was believed that the evergreen plants and boughs were a haven for good spirits during the winter season. The Christmas tree, adopted from pagan traditions, is a Christian symbol of Christmas. This is one way where Wiccan influences Christian tradition today.

The celebration of the Wiccan midwinter/Yule is as much of a rebirt. Just as the apples and oranges represent the sun, and the green boughs represent immortality.

The highlight is the yule wooden log. According to tradition, the log must have been harvested or given as a present. It’s placed in the fireplace or another place where there’s an organized burning, then decorated with some green leaves, doused with either ale or cider (both are excellent fire conductors). Then it’s set on fire with parts of the log from the year before.

This is an out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new celebration. A rebirth from an old life into a new, rejuvenated life, making this the most important of all Wiccan celebrations.

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How do Wiccans “raise energy.”

The principal method of raising energy involves concentration and visualization. In these practices, energy is seen as a ball or sphere located in the solar plexus, and with the eyes closed a Wiccan concentrates this energy, a warm yellow light, and visualizes it traveling down the arms and legs, and through the hands, and back through the nostrils, to center again in the solar plexus.To draw on the energy of mother earth, the practitioner visualizes his own moving down through the lower limbs and returning enhanced by the earth’s energy, which may be of different hues. Caution must be exercised when practicing these techniques, because the Earth power is far greater than that of a single human, and must be dealt with with respect. Chanting, drumming, and dancing can also be a part of this process. These practices may be done individually or as part of a group.Having an excess of energy can be a problem and cause light-headedness and other symptoms, which is why raising energy must be balanced with effective grounding. One grounding technique is to squat down and place the palms flat on the earth, until stability returns. These and visualization methods ensure that energy stays in balance.

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Developing the Mind

First, it is important to be able to visualize things so clearly in your mind, that it is is almost as real as in the physical world. Well developed visualization can help yield better results, in regards to attracting certain people and situations in your life, for example. Start out simply, and then progress on to harder challenges. Try picturing in your mind’s eye, a small ball in one color, or a specific shape. Hold the image in your mind for 30 seconds, or as long as you can. The most important thing is not to lose the image, not to be distracted by outside noises, thoughts, or think of another image. It is a tough challenge, but with enough practice and patience, it can be achieved!

Another task to develop your mind, is to meditate. Try to meditate daily anywhere from 20 minutes up to a couple of hours a day. Meditation, like visualization help to rid the mind of clutter,and negative outside influences. Start out by focusing on a simple mantra, or on the movements of your breath. It is critical that you do not let your mind wander, and stay focused on the task at hand.

You can also play psychic games with yourself. Try to guess what someone else is thinking, predict things before it happens, or try to influence others with your thoughts. You might surprise yourself, that certain psychic phenomenon may develop, in accordance with the strength of your will, and how often you successfully practice visualization and meditation.

Working successful magic, practicing paganism, and other esoteric practices rest on one foundation, the power of the mind. It is important to develop your mind to be focused, aware of what is within and about you, and strong. Practicing visualization and meditating regularly will help sharpen your mind, and sharpen your abilities.

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Why Meditate

Meditation, the form of focusing the mind in order to better yourself or to simply make amends is recommended by many mental health specialists. There isn’t anything physically happening when you meditate but it can help organize your life in order to reduce stress and obtain peace. Meditation can also be a quick process done on a daily schedule or it can be done for longer periods of time less frequently. Depending on what you are trying to achieve you will be able to find the right mode of meditation and the right techniques as well.

In general meditation is used to bring out the best of your mind. By focusing on a certain emotion you can eventually generate a blissful attitude. This attitude can not only make you happier but it can also improve general productivity and your relationship with others. Depending on the technique used it can involve the repetition of a certain mantra over and over to truly understand the meaning. The culmination of all of these thoughts and actions will result in true self-awareness that can be used to better understand the world as you see it. The “third eye” effect is seeing things differently than how you had before and being better off because of it.

While meditation has historically been seen as a religious practice it has become more mainstream with spirituality. In prehistoric times many chants and meditation practices were used in order to please their Gods or whatever they saw fit. These meditation techniques still exist but there are is much more variety. Spirituality is very into the art of finding yourself and thus meditation. Now, these practices differ so much that it is tough to call them the same thing but it is how it is. By searching through these different techniques you can find the one that will help you the most. If you are already religious you may look into meditation techniques that are acquainted with your religion. If you are not then there are many simple spiritual meditation techniques available that can make a difference. Give it a shot, the self awareness that meditation causes will give you insight to things that weren’t visible beforehand.

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