Witchy Whims

As summer nears to an end, or as autumn begins a new you will find the Full Moon that adorns the sky to be lit with the powers of the Harvest. The Harvest Moon generates its name from the belief that the timing of its rise allows for farmers to have more time to finish their final harvest of the summer season. It is associated with the autumnal equinox and is sometimes seen as the true day to celebrate the holiday Mabon. It is the full moon of September – which occasionally falls in October – and falls within the sign Aries. Just as all full moons are enchanted with metaphysical properties that spiritualists and witches can take advantage of, the Harvest Moon draws our corporeal bodies closer to divine energies. 

Properties: 

You may notice that the Harvest Moon shares many properties with the Harvest Festival Mabon. Because Harvesting is also a property of the waxing gibbous moon, this full moon extends the properties of its previous phase. 

1. Abundance and Prosperity – The Harvest Moon as a time for gathering crops, still holds the properties of collecting abundance. This makes it an optimal time for manifestation, vision boarding, daydreaming, and job applications. 
2. Settling Debts – Although you’re generating abundance during this time, this abundance is not meant to provide you with luxury. Instead, it is a time to use what you have generated to settle your existing debts. For witches, the new year is merely weeks away, and it is never good to bring the debts of the previous year into the new one. 
3. Transformation – The Harvest Moon is a time for life, when crops are finally ready for the harvest, however, it marks the beginning of the end for fertility and life. This double-edged sword of life and death shows a time of transition. During times of transformation, it is good to schedule big moves, job switches, end friendships/relationships, make new friends, perform shadow work, or begin a new regimen. 
4. Release – In order to welcome all the abundance that this moon promises, it is important to let go of any baggage you are harboring. Release negative energies, remove energy vampires, and let go of grudges. 
5. Gratitude – Just like the holiday of Mabon that falls near this moon, the Harvest Moon is a time to thank the universe for all you have received. Look back on the last 12 months and see all that you have gained. 
6. Grounding – As a moon of the Earth, the Harvest Moon easily reaches into our corporeal being, which allows for us to ground and center ourselves. 

Rituals

1. Harvest Moon Moon Water Cleansing – Use the light of the moon to charge the cleaning fluids of your home, including water. Once charged use the items to perform a full cleanse of your home, both your personal and witchy spaces. Doing this will help you remove the negativity that your space has gathered while also welcoming in the abundance and prosperity you want. 

2. Abundance Meditation – Gather cloves, basil, bay leaves, and oregano into a container or cauldron. If the weather allows it, light them in a campfire or burn in a cauldron, if not, add some water to a jar and mix the herbs. While the herbs are mixing with one another, sit cross-legged in front of the herbs and close your eyes. Recite the following incantation: 

I Harvest the power of the moon, whose elegance illuminates my night sky.

As I perform this spell may our power be intertwined. 

Let the cloves banish all evil cast upon me by my own inner demons or that of another soul. Let them attract wealth and luck into my life. 

May this basil remove the grudges and hatred that plague my mind and body. May the prosperity it grants me keep me from strife. 

Bay leaves protect, cleanse, and purify. May our energies grow close and intertwine. 

Oregano brings happiness and joy, let its power strengthen mine. 

All at once, together these powers will act. 

Bound by the element, the energy remains intact.

So Mote it be. 

3. Universe’s Love Letter – Write a reflection of all the good that you have seen the past year, both big and small moments you are happy you lived to see. Thank the Universe for providing you with these moments.