Waning Crescent Moon Ritual
Ingredients: Chamomile, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Black salt, Cinnamon, Burdock, Black tourmaline, Selenite, The Star tarot card, Rosemary frond (optional)
A note - please don’t use white sage unless you are of Native American descent. It is becoming rare and the peoples that traditionally use this plant are finding it more difficult to find it as it has become popular in the west. Our native sage works just as well, and doesn’t take anything away from anyone else.
Ground and cleanse yourself and your space, in whatever way feels right. You can go for a walk, smudge, use a cleansing spray, sprinkle salts, meditate, drum, chant, sing, dance, whatever works best for you and the space that you’re in. If you have a shrine or altar, or work in a place in nature, then perhaps you don’t need to cleanse the space. However, you should always ground yourself and prepare the space for working in some way, to get yourself in the right frame of mind and let the spirits know that you are ready to work, as well as raise power and energy to direct into your work.
If you work with circles, then you can cast a circle, however I can also suggest that if you are worried about attracting unwanted attention, you can drum, rattle, clap, sing or dance a circle of power that gives you strength to deal with anything that comes your way. Personally, I have never experienced unwanted presences in any of my workings, rituals or ceremonies.
Throughout working with herbs and crystals, you should connect with them in some way. I like to breathe on them, sometimes hold them in my hands and clap, which works well with oils, and focus my thoughts on them of what I want them to do. Many have a variety of properties and you will get better results from them if you respect them and tell them what you are looking for.
You can make a cleansing water to sprinkle around your house, a low-key alternative to smoke. Put chamomile, lavender, sage and rosemary, a strong, yet gentle and peaceful mix to cleanse without stripping everything out! Place them in a large pot, taking time with each herb, and fill the pot with hot water if fresh, boiling water if dried. Stir in your intention, a clear and fresh house. Let it sit and brew and cool.
You can use the same mix as an incense, or even make your own smudge sticks with sage, rosemary and lavender. These do take a few weeks to dry though, so if you want to use them, I recommend making some regularly, so there is always one dry enough to use.
After you cleanse, it is a good idea to protect that calm and peaceful feeling you have created. Protection salts to sprinkle at doorways, windowsills and gates is a good way to set a general barrier against ill luck, sickness and negativity. Making black salt is a great way to use left over ashes from a charcoal disc and incense., mix these in with good sea salt to create powerful protection salts. Black salt can also be used in a variety of other workings and ceremonies, so it’s a good idea to keep some on hand. Mix in the sage, rosemary, cinnamon and burdock for protection, taking time with each herb, and stirring them in anti-clockwise, to push energy away.
Sit and connect with the energy of the waning crescent with breathing, meditation and chanting. When the water has cooled, move around your space, sprinkling with your fingers, or using a frond of rosemary. Make sure to get into all the corners, high and low. Your space should actually be clean and clear too - energy can get stuck behind piles of clothes or washing up! You can play some music or sing while you do this, positive sound can really help clear a room. Burn your incense or smudge as you go too, expelling all stuck or negative energy. Place The Star tarot in a prominent place, inviting in the balance and hope of the card.
When you’ve finished, walk anti-clockwise around your space or property, sprinkling the salts over all thresholds, anywhere that energy can get into the house. I even sprinkle over plugholes and in toilets! Visualise a barrier going up that repels negativity, but allows in anything positive. Protection can go too far and allow things to stagnate if nothing can flow. Selenite placed at doorways can help you to not bring in negativity from the outside when you come home too, and black tourmaline can reinforce protection if you feel you need an extra level.
