Sacrifice and Strength: Rituals for the Harvest Moon
Balance light and dark as we step into the fall season
🌙 Welcome! 🌙
First off - I usually send this earlier in the day! My apologies for the late send today, some important family matters arose.
This week, we’ll embrace the powerful energies of the full moon in Pisces, celebrate the Fall Equinox in our own way, and prepare for the darker months ahead with a special ritual. Let’s dive into the cosmic currents and uncover the magic of the season together.
Weekly Affirmation:
“I am capable of creating order within chaos. I trust my ability to lead, to decide, and to simplify my life, moving forward with clarity and confidence.”
Mystery Button
Each week I add a mystery link to a little special extra gift for you
🌔 Current Moon Phase 🌔
Waxing Gibbous
We’re in the Waxing phase, a time of preparation and building momentum. The energy is increasing, just like your own projects and intentions. This is your window to refine, adjust, and get everything in place before the Full Moon. Don’t rush—this is about finessing what you’ve already started. Use this phase to perfect your craft and prepare for the big reveal.
🪄 Use this time to: Wrap up loose ends and focus on the details. Whether you’re working on a project or tweaking your spiritual practice, now’s the time to get everything just right before the Full Moon’s illumination brings things into full view.
Question: What are you working on or wrapping up? Comment below and share!
🌕 Lunar Look Ahead 🌕
Full Harvest Moon in Pisces
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
This Full Moon is special, being the Harvest Moon and closest to the autumn equinox. In Norse tradition, many events were tied to the lunar cycle, and this Full Moon aligns with our modern equinox celebrations perfectly. Pisces energy heightens intuition, spirituality, and emotional clarity, making it a perfect time to release what no longer serves you. Honor the fruits of your labor and prepare for the coming dark months.
Full Harvest Moon Ritual: Sacrifice for Winter’s Protection
In keeping with the ancient practice of aligning celebrations with the lunar cycle, we’re choosing the Full Harvest Moon to perform this ritual, just as the Norse did with their lunisolar calendar. This ritual is focused on making a sacrifice, symbolic or real, to ask the gods for protection during the dark months of winter. It’s an offering to align yourself with the energies of nature as the season shifts.
What You’ll Need:
For Air: Incense or dried or plants to burn for cleansing such as pine, birch, rosemary or sage.
For Fire: One black candle (for winter’s darkness) and one white candle (for the harvest’s light)
For Water: A bowl of water representing emotional cleansing. Ideally moon water, or water charged under the northern lights if you have access.
For Earth: A bowl of soil, and a seasonal harvest item such as an apple, grain, or vegetable
Blood Offering Options (Your chocie):
Animal blood (from a butcher)
Red wine (symbolic of blood)
Red string or cloth (symbolizing life force)
Sacrifice Item: Something meaningful you will go without during the winter—this could be a luxury, habit, or personal possession
Additional Tools: A fireproof bowl for burning your offering, and a horn or ritual cup for a blessing drink (optional)
🌀 Ritual Steps:
Prepare Your Sacred Space:
Arrange the four elements in your sacred space. Place incense for air, the black and white candles for fire, a bowl of water for emotional cleansing, and a bowl of soil with your seasonal harvest item for earth.Lighting the Candles:
Light the white candle to honor the light and abundance of the harvest, followed by the black candle to represent the coming winter.
Say:
“I honor the balance of light and dark. As the year turns inward, I prepare for the darkness of winter, giving thanks for the harvest and strength for what is to come.”Offering Your Sacrifice:
Take your sacrifice—something you’re willing to give up during the winter—and hold it in your hands. Focus on the meaning of this offering and what it symbolizes for you.
Say:
“In honor of the gods and spirits, I offer this sacrifice. I give up [name your item] as a sign of my devotion and my request for strength and protection through the dark months ahead.”You can choose to give up something for the remainder of fall, into the winter, or simply a few days - whatever is meaningful to you.
Place the item (or a written note symbolizing it) into the fireproof bowl and burn it. Visualize the smoke rising as the gods accept your offering.Blood Offering (For Life and Strength):
If you’ve chosen to offer blood, you can either pour a small amount of animal blood or red wine onto the soil. If using red string or cloth, place it on your seasonal offering or wrap it around your wrist.
Say:
“By this blood, I honor the gods and spirits. May they accept my offering and grant me strength and protection during the winter.”Bury the Offering:
Once the sacrifice has been burned, mix the ashes into the soil and bury your seasonal item in the earth, symbolizing the return of your offering to the cycle of life.
Say:
“I return this offering to the earth, where it will rest during winter’s dark. May the gods and the earth nourish and protect me.”Closing the Ritual:
If you wish, you can pour a blessing drink—wine, mead, or juice—into a horn or cup, lifting it as a toast to the gods and spirits.
Say:
“I offer this drink in gratitude for the protection and blessings of the gods. May they guide me through the winter months.”
Take a sip, and pour the remainder onto the earth as a final offering.Extinguishing the Candles:
Snuff out the white candle first, honoring the fading light of summer, and then the black candle, symbolizing the growing darkness of winter.
Say:
“The light fades, and the dark grows. My offering is made, my sacrifice accepted. I am protected as I move through the winter.”
Will you practice this harvest ritual? I’d love to hear about it on Threads or IG, if you post - please tag me @thewitchoftherunes .
🃏 Weekly Tarot Pull 🃏
Each week I will alternate between runes and tarot.
The Emperor (Upright, Aries, Mars):
The Emperor embodies authority, structure, and control, pointing to a need for strong leadership and decisive action.Two of Pentacles (Reversed, Capricorn, Jupiter):
The reversed Two of Pentacles signals overwhelm and imbalance, suggesting a need to simplify and focus.Eight of Wands (Upright, Sagittarius, Mercury):
This card represents fast-paced events, quick communication, and sudden shifts.
As we move through the Waxing Moon phase, the focus is on building momentum and refining plans. The Emperor’s appearance highlights the importance of taking control of situations this week. Whether it's in your personal life or on a larger scale, decisions must be grounded in logic and structure. Globally, we see a call for strong leadership, especially as many countries and organizations are faced with instability—whether political or economic.
The reversed Two of Pentacles shows that both individuals and societies are overwhelmed, struggling to balance competing priorities. This imbalance is evident in current economic concerns, from inflation to labor market instability. It's a reminder that in order to move forward, we need to simplify, prioritize, and ensure we aren’t overextending ourselves. For many, this could mean revisiting personal budgets, cutting unnecessary expenses, or scaling back projects that are draining energy without yielding results.
The Eight of Wands reminds us that events are about to speed up. Globally, this could manifest in quick changes in government policies, market shifts, or technological breakthroughs. For individuals, expect this to be a week of rapid communication—important messages, offers, or opportunities may come out of the blue, requiring immediate response. The energy of Sagittarius, ruled by Mercury, encourages a flexible, forward-thinking mindset. Don’t resist the pace—lean into it, but be careful not to rush decisions or overlook details.
The key this week is to find balance amidst the speed and intensity. The Emperor urges us to stay grounded, even as things start moving quickly. With the Waxing Moon approaching fullness, this is a time of preparation—solidify plans, set priorities, and get ready for awhat’s coming. We’re building toward a culmination, and while the pace is quickening, maintaining order will be essential to success.
🔮 Crystal of the Week: Blue Apatite 🔮
Why I Selected This Stone: With the Waxing Gibbous Moon pushing us toward refinement and completion, Blue Apatite’s energy is perfect for harnessing clarity and focus. Known for aiding in goal-setting, this crystal helps clear confusion and distractions, allowing us to fine-tune our actions as we prepare for the Full Moon.
Properties: Blue Apatite is a stone of manifestation, intellect, and personal growth. It stimulates the mind, enhancing creativity and helping you organize your thoughts. It's particularly helpful when you need clarity about your life’s path and assists in seeing the truth, without being clouded by emotions.
Incorporation:
Meditation Tool: Use Blue Apatite during meditation to gain insight into your goals and intentions. Hold it in your hand or place it on your Third Eye chakra to stimulate mental clarity.
Workspace Companion: Keep this stone on your desk to keep your focus sharp and your creativity flowing.
Full Moon Prep: Hold it during the Waxing Gibbous phase while journaling about what needs refinement in your life before the Full Moon.
🧘♀️ Wellness Boost: Grounding Walk Meditation 🧘♀️
Why I Selected This Practice: As the Moon waxes, the pace of life can pick up, leaving us feeling ungrounded. A grounding walking meditation connects you to the earth, aligns your energy with the present moment, and brings clarity as you fine-tune your intentions for the upcoming Full Moon.
Benefits: This practice helps reduce stress, calms the mind, and brings a deep sense of connection to nature. It’s an easy way to reset if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the busyness of life or the energy of the Waxing Gibbous Moon.
Instructions:
Find a Natural Space: Choose a place where you can walk uninterrupted for at least 10–15 minutes, whether it’s a park, forest, or quiet neighborhood.
Begin Walking Slowly: As you walk, focus on the feeling of your feet connecting with the ground. Imagine roots extending from the soles of your feet into the earth.
Breathe Deeply: With each inhale, draw energy up from the earth through your body. With each exhale, release any tension or scattered thoughts.
Mindful Observations: Notice the sounds, sights, and smells around you. As distractions arise, gently bring your focus back to the feeling of your feet connecting with the ground.
Close the Meditation: Once you feel fully present and grounded, offer a moment of gratitude for the earth’s support. Carry this grounded energy with you into the rest of your day.
🪓 Norse Roots and Wisdom: Fylgja 🪓
In Norse tradition, the Fylgja is a spiritual guardian or "follower" that represents a part of your soul, often taking the form of an animal or person. It is believed to guide and protect you throughout your life, offering insight into your inner self and destiny. Fylgja are deeply connected to your fate and can reveal themselves in dreams or visions, especially in times of great change or challenge.
The Fylgja is not just a passive companion—it reflects your spiritual strength and can act as a warning of danger or a sign of good fortune ahead. Some witches work with their Fylgja through meditation or dreamwork to gain a deeper understanding of their personal path. Discovering your Fylgja can offer powerful insight into your life’s journey and the energies that surround you.
🔮 Spread the Magic! 🔮
If this newsletter resonated with you or brought some extra magic into your life, don't keep it to yourself! Share the love and forward this to a friend, fellow witch, or someone who could use a little spiritual guidance right now. Together, we can build a community of spiritual workers ready to embrace use our forces to make the world a better place.
Until next time, may your week be full of clarity, intention, and a little bit of magic. 🌙✨