APOD from 2022-01-07
Ecstatic Solar #Eclipse
During the Dec 4 solar eclipse, an Adelie penguin in Antarctica performed an Ecstatic Vocalization to claim territory. Captured in silhouette, this behavior occurred at Cape Crozier, home to a large penguin colony studied for over 25 years. The eclipse reached 80% totality there.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220107.html
Magickal Timing: Why the Moon Phase Matters
Home » Magick » Basics » Timing » Why the Moon Phase Matters
In the realm of magickal timing, nothing seems quite as foundational as the Moon. Out of all the possible ways to plan, it’s one of the most obvious—literally, a giant, glowing ball in the sky. All you have to do is look up at night to see what it’s doing.
But to some, that might feel like a cosmic mood ring that needs decoding.
The shifting face of the Moon—from invisible to fully bright to invisible again—is what gives rise to the the cycles and phases that many magickal or spiritual traditions have been working with for thousands of years. They have an impact on just about everything… tides, sleep cycles, inner rhythms, even our emotional states. And with just a little bit of knowledge, you’ll be able to translate those cycles for yourself.
Science and Math First
While ancient humans may have not understood exactly what was going on in the sky, we know quite a bit more about it today. Thus, we have determined that the Moon is a giant space rock. And it orbits a larger space rock (the Earth)… which itself orbits a much larger ball of fire (the Sun). Does that sound about right?
Relative to the position of fixed stars, it takes the Moon about 27.3 days (a sidereal month) to orbit the Earth; however, since the Earth is also moving on its own trajectory, a full lunar cycle is about 29.5 days (a synodic month – the time between one new moon and the next new moon). Those extra ~2.2 days give the Moon enough time to “catch up” and return to the same position, relative to the Sun.
The Moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical, but it rotates on its axis at the same rate. This is called synchronous rotation and causes us to always see the same side.
In any given year, there are 12 or 13 moon cycles. A year is 365 days and change, so this math works out to [total days / synodic month], or 365.25/29.5 = 12.38 cycles per year. Most years have 12 full moons, but that extra 13th full moon that sometimes occurs is called a blue moon… hence the phrase, “once in a blue moon” aka “once in a while” (or, in reality, about once every 2-3 years).
Phases
Exactly one half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun, just like one half of the Earth is always lit by the Sun. Earth’s relative position to the Moon, however, causes us to see varying amounts of these light and dark sections, which results in the Moon phases.
You can watch the cycle progress throughout the month just by paying a little attention to the night sky. Over the course of a couple of weeks, light stretches across the dark face of the Moon, growing gradually until it is fully lit. For the next two weeks, the reverse happens… light fades away, eventually leaving a dark moon behind.
Interestingly, the apparent movement of light across the surface of the Moon swaps direction based on the hemisphere from which you observe it. In the Northern Hemisphere, light grows (or waxes) from right to left, then fades (or wanes) from right to left. In the Southern Hemisphere, light grows from left to right, then fades from left to right. Since I live in the Northern Hemisphere, most of my diagrams and references will reflect that.
We divide this cycle up into 8 main points, which we’ve assigned names: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent (which takes us back to the start and the cycle starts anew).
Let’s talk about each of those…
Crescent moons occur when a small section of the Moon is lit, but the majority is dark. There is a waxing crescent in the beginning of the cycle, when the light is just starting to grow, and a waning crescent at the end of the cycle, when the light is shrinking to almost nothing. The term “Quarter” refers to the phase in respect to the entire cycle, starting from the New Moon, so “First Quarter” does not mean 25% lit, it means 25% of the way through the entire cycle. Both the First and Third Quarter Moon phases are half moons. Gibbous moons occur when the majority of the surface of the Moon is lit, so they lead directly into and our of the Full Moon.
Some people hear the term new moon and think that “new” must mean something like “whole,” so they equate new and full, confusing both terms. When you hear New Moon just think “no moon.” It’s when there’s no light from the Moon. It’s the same as a dark moon. It’s the opposite of a full moon.
Isn’t all of that fun? Now let’s actually apply the knowledge…
Want to hear about future posts? Subscribe to get notifications delivered straight to your inbox.
Magickal Correspondences
Each of the Moon phases can have a direct relation to the type of magick we plan to do at that time. Check out this chart to see what type of work is appropriate for each part of the journey
PhaseWhat You SeeSuggested MagickNew Moon / Dark MoonNothing. The side of the Moon facing Earth is completely dark.New beginnings, rebirth, setting intentions, shadow work, divination, planting seedsWaxing CrescentA thin sliver of light on the right side, slowly growing.Growing goals, attracting, building momentum, success, increasing energy, taking small stepsFirst Quarter / Half MoonThe right half of the moon is lit, the left is dark. Overcoming obstacles, taking decisive action, motivation, decisions, building courageWaxing GibbousThe majority of the moon is lit, but it’s not quite fully there yet.Refinement of goals, honing strength, increasing power, enhancing existing magick, self-loveFull MoonEverything. The side of the Moon facing Earth is completely lit.Peak energy, all forms of magick, clarity, illumination, charging things, gratitude, manifestation, healingWaning GibbousThe light begins to shrink, a sliver on darkness on the right side grows.Reflection, gratitude, tying up of loose ends, fine-tuning, releasing, banishing negativityThird Quarter / Half MoonThe right half of the moon is dark, the left half is lit.Releasing, purification, banishing bad habits, cutting cords, ending cycles, clearing stagnancy Waning CrescentA thin sliver of light on the left side, slowly fading.Rest, introspection, preparing for new cycles, calming and relaxation, energy work for renewalsIf you want to simplify this, just think of it like this: if you want to bring something in (manifesting), do magick while the Moon is getting bigger. If you want to get rid of something (banishing), do magick while the Moon is getting smaller.
And if for some reason, the Moon phases aren’t quite making sense yet, just think of them in terms of the life of a plant:
Yes, I know that plants don’t bloom and die within the span of one moon cycle. It’s a metaphor, guys.
A Ritual Map
With this knowledge applied and extended, we can actually stretch different parts of a ritual across the entire Moon cycle. Or at the very least, we can map out what type of mental work we should be doing along the way. That might look something like this:
That’s just an idea, of course. You can do whatever you want. And while some rituals might span across several weeks, most do not. Consider, however, that there’s lots of work required for magick other than the ritual itself. You have to figure out what you want, plan the working, and gather supplies if necessary. Some magick also required us to do mundane work either before or after the magick, like filling out job applications for a spell regarding new employment.
The point is that there’s a whole spectrum of processes that might just line up with lunar timing, should you plan it that way. And there’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with syncing your endeavors to systems of timing that are way bigger than you. If you don’t believe me, try it and see!
Inner Reflections and Shadowy Stuff
Speaking of that “whole spectrum of processes,” many of them happen internally.
And the Moon, according to many traditions, governs emotions. For that reason alone, shouldn’t we pay special attention to it? Adding to that fact, the Moon also has keywords like “shadow” or “inner wisdom.” The dark moon, especially, is associated with things that are hidden.
Internal processes… shadows… emotions… inner wisdom… things that are hidden…
You can see where I’m going with this, right?
The dark moon is the perfect time for shadow work. As above, so below. When the moon goes dark, we can focus on the dark side of our selves.
Shadow work is its own topic, but if you need a primer, you can check what I’ve written about it so far in this article.
Full Moon, Full Charge
Charging crystals, making moon water, celebrating with ritual… there are countless things to do under the full moon. Seriously, it’s like the height witchy power. At the very least, you should mentally mark the time and recognize that a full moon is taking place.
If you’re a witch and you don’t know that the moon is full (at least approximately), then there’s probably something going on in your life.
Our coven plans most of our rituals around full moon dates. That’s pretty typical for many other covens as well.
Here’s some real actions that you can try next on the next full moon:
Eclipses
If you were paying attention earlier, I mentioned that with a new moon, the Moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun. I even made a handy graphic for it. Go ahead, scroll back up on the page. Likewise, a full moon happens when the Moon is fully on the opposite side.
So then… why don’t we have some sort of eclipse every couple of weeks?
Don’t miss out. Here’s what’s coming up…
More InfoThe answer is because… we’re not on a completely flat plane of orbits. The Moon’s orbit is actually tilted 5 degrees in relation to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Sometimes, however, everything does line up—literally, the Sun, Earth, and Moon form a straight line. And when that happens, we get a lunar eclipse! On average, there are between 2 and 5 lunar eclipses each year, but a total lunar eclipse only happens about once ever 2.5 years.
A total lunar eclipse, which can only happen during a full moon, doesn’t actually remove the Moon from the sky or anything—it just gives it a red hue. Why? Because science. The Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters light from the Sun, causing blue wavelengths to be scattered, but allowing longer red wavelengths to pass and illuminate the moon.
Energetically speaking, eclipse energy is potent and transformative. If there’s one coming up, don’t waste it! Do something cool. Some people will caution you, however, that the energy is slightly unpredictable. That’s never stopped me, though… and we keep a few bottles of eclipse water around to use during most rituals (for the consecration of the elements).
Astrology
The Moon gets tied into astrological energy because it passes through the twelve signs of the zodiac.
Okay, it doesn’t literally pass through them—more like it visibly enters into regions of the sky that are associated with certain constellations.
So we say things like, “the Moon is in Cancer” or “the Moon is in Aries.”
Astrological timing, such as this, merits its own article, so I won’t discuss it further here. I’m only bringing it up so that I can tell you about this next part… the thing that can happen when the moon is “between” signs.
Void of Course
The Moon is said to be “void of course” after it has made its final aspect in one sign, but before it has entered the next. As I stated a moment ago, the simple way of thinking about it is that the Moon is between two zodiac signs—it has excited a sign, but not yet entered another—like it’s floating in empty sky.
Since there’s no constellation associated with the Moon at these times, it’s like there’s no lens to focus the energy. Magick is widely regarded as being ineffective, or erratic, during Void of Course.
Since the Moon’s transit causes it to change signs roughly once every 2 – 2.5 days, Void of Course can occur multiple times per week. It frequently only lasts for short a duration, but can sometime stretch up to several days. You can check for this using a lunar calendar or an app. I use something called Deluxe Moon on my phone and it’s worked out pretty great for me—I think I might have paid for it once like 10 years ago, but there’s also a free version that will tell you about phases, astrology, void of course dates, and other cool stuff.
As far as magickal timing is concerned, just avoid the void.
Tools, not Chains
Remember that correspondences and timing charts are only supposed to be tools. They’re meant to help inspire or guide you on your journey, not to restrict you or prevent you from getting what you need done.
It’s good to try these things out and see how they feel. I know it can be overwhelming sometimes to try to fit everything in the right boxes, especially when you’re first learning, but I promise you that it will soon become second nature. You’ll be saying “oh, it’s a full moon tonight, let’s do __________.”
A Pretty Chart. You love charts.
I made a pretty chart to help you out. Click on it to make it bigger.
By the way, it’s also worth noting that you don’t have to be exact with this stuff, like “oh geez, I have to start my ritual at 9:15 specifically because according to my app, that’s the precise time that the Moon turns full!”
Give yourself some leeway. If you’re within three days of the full moon, just treat it like a full moon. The universe understands.
Lunacy
The term lunacy refers to mental derangement or intermittent insanity, which was once thought to be the result of the Moon. It comes from the Latin lunaticus (“of the moon” or “moonstruck”), but the key word there is luna… AKA: THE MOON.
Basically, if someone was acting crazy and you called them a lunatic, you were saying that the moon was causing them to act crazy.
“It must be a full moon tonight…” -Someone, while something crazy was happening
Numerous scientific studies have been conducted to see if there is any correlation between Moon phases and an increase of things like violent crimes or hospital admissions. The overwhelming consensus is that there is no significant link; moreover, any perceived effects are usually do to flawed observation.
Well, perhaps science and I will agree to disagree here. As flawed as my observations may be, people just tend to act crazier during full moons.
Either way, it’s a fun word. At Turning the Tide one year, we had a “Lunatic Ball” with flashing lights and UV paint. I played a concert and threw in a couple of moon-themed songs. Good times were shared by all. And yes, we might have been acting just a little bit crazy.
Also, since we’re talking about words, you should know that the rules of language dictate the following terms of capitalization:
Sorry for the random language digression, but I have had a very special amount of fun trying to follow those rules throughout the course of this article. Feel free to point out any errors.
Conclusions
The moon gives us some very actionable correspondences for planning our work. With magickal timing, this is where most people start. If you’d like to spice things up a bit, check out Planetary Days and Hours — and you know what? You can combine the two!
Let me know your favorite way to celebrate the full moon!
#astrology #correspondences #eclipse #fullMoon #lunacy #magick #moon #moonCycles #moonPhases #ritual #science #timing #voidOfCourse #witchcraft
One of my favorite ornaments 🎄 from one of my favorite moments... 🌑 🥹
August 2, 2027, to save you a click. #SolarEclipse #eclipse #NASA #sun #moon https://www.wired.com/story/the-longest-solar-eclipse-for-100-years-is-coming-dont-miss-it/
The Longest Solar Eclipse for 100 Years Is Coming. Don’t Miss It
Glassfish 7.1.0 is out…
#eclipse #glassfish #jakartaee #java
https://github.com/eclipse-ee4j/glassfish/releases/tag/7.1.0
😂 You (and your ancestors) have only 160 years to plan. Who writes this stuff? 🌑 #eclipse
Day set to turn into night as ...
Humanity’s earliest datable record for a total #solar #eclipse allows scientists to derive accurate measurements of Earth’s ancient rotation speed and provides independent validation of solar #cycle reconstruction in the 8th century BCE.
#Astrophysics #Astronomy #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2025/12/asph12052501.html
Cannot see icon for Eclipse application #softwareinstallation #icons #eclipse
✨ 🌘 Éclipse aux choupinettes étoiles. 🥐 🥧 🍞
#mardiPâtisserie #myrtille #abricot #pain #astronomie #éclipse
APOD from 2008-08-31
#Eclipse over the Great Wall
The Great Wall of China isn't visible from the Moon, but during the total solar eclipse on August 1, viewers at the wall witnessed the Moon obscuring the Sun. The event revealed a glowing corona and planets against a dark sky, with Jiayuguan Fort silhouetted in front.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080831.html
APOD from 2015-03-15
A Total #Eclipse at the End of the World
In 2003, eclipse chasers gathered in Antarctica to witness a total solar eclipse. A composite photo captures the event as seen by the human eye, with the Sun's corona visible around the Moon and an accidental cameo of another photographer. The next eclipse will be visible from the north Atlantic.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150315.html
APOD from 2017-03-01
A Solar #Eclipse with a Beaded Ring of Fire
On Sunday, a partial solar eclipse was visible in Earth's southern hemisphere, with some regions witnessing a rare annular eclipse. The "ring of fire" effect occurred as the distant Moon didn't fully cover the Sun. A "Baily's bead" or "diamond ring" phenomenon was also captured in Argentina.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170301.html
Am Wochenende durften wir das 10. Mainzer Brett mit euch verbringen. 😊 Danke an alle, die ihre Freude, Brettspiele miteinander zu spielen, mitgebracht haben. Es war ein sehr schönes Jubiläum. 🙏🤗 Bis im nächsten Jahr! 🀄♟️🎲
.
#mainzerbrett #brettspieltag #brettspiele #spieletag #games #boardgames #mainz #meenz #mainzgefühl #mainzerneustadt #hartenberg #rheinmain #rheinhessen #eclipse #kemet #cascadia
En espérant que ce ne soit pas un pouet tarte à la crème.
🌘 Éclipse pâtissière. 🥧🍞
Gandal explains Hydargos what happens on Earth during a solar #eclipse 😄 #goldrake #infographics @pomarede
The design and reconstructible history of the Mayan eclipse table of the Dresden Codex: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt9039 -> Scientists found the key to accurate #Maya eclipse tables: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/10/maya-astronomers-predicted-solar-eclipses/ and https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-reveal-how-the-maya-predicted-eclipses-for-centuries and https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-ancient-maya-used-the-dresden-codex-to-predict-solar-eclipses-with-impressive-accuracy-48217 and https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/study-how-the-maya-created-such-accurate-eclipse-tables/ - #eclipse tables in the #DresdenCodex were based on lunar tables and adjusted for slippage over time.
