Celtic Lunar Year

The Celts reckoned the months from Dark Moon to Dark Moon (The month having a Light and Dark half.... the Light half being the waxing Moon and the Dark half being the waning Moon). This treatment of months is no different than how they viewed the days and the years as well (Day began at sundown, dawn marking the second half of the day. The year began and ended at Samhain (End of October) with Beltane marking the midpoint of the year.)

Most of the calendars that I've seen only give hints at what the names of the Months (Moons) were. Some ideas can be found within an ancient Gaulish calendar called the Coligny Calendar. The names in this calendar were:

• Samonios - Summers end (Oct/Nov)
• Dumannios - Dark time (Nov/Dec)
• Riuros - Frost time (Dec/Jan)
• Anagantios - Indoor time (Jan/Feb)
• Ogronios - Time of Ice (Feb/Mar)
• Cutios - Time of Winds (Mar/Apr)
• Giamonios - Winters end (Apr/May)
• Simiuisonos - Time of Brightness (May/June)
• Equos - Horse time (June/July)
• Elembiuios - Claim time (July/Aug)
• Edrinios - Arbitration time (Aug/Sept)
• Cantlos - Song time (Sept/Oct)

Full Moon Ritual (Esbat)

Materials needed: Two white candles, A bell or chimes White Wine, Apple Juice, or other pale liquid, Chalice, and remember to add anything you’ll need for any spells you plan on doing afterwards.

Open your Circle. Stand facing North and say: “This is the time of the full moon, a time of great power for positive manifestation, a time of increasing and gaining. The tide of Moon-power is strong. I am of the Goddess. I stand before You at Your altar, in love and adoration. Be with me Goddess. Let me feel your presence here tonight."  Ring the bell three times.  Repeat this at each point, or until you feel centered.

Return to face north, and raise your chalice with the fruit juice or wine in it and say

            "Hail Goddess! Moon Mother, Lady of Light, Mistress of Magick and Animals. You are the white light of the Moon upon the Earth. You are at the beginning and ending, the One who creates and takes away. Within You, I see myself and all of your children.  In this right and ready hour come to fill me with your power."

Repeat this until you feel centered and at one with Her.  When ready, sit facing North and use the moment to commune with Her, share you life with her and ask for advice.  When you are finished  raise the chalice and say: “All honor and love to the You, for You are the power behind all powers, the Goddess behind all gods, the Eternal Life behind death. I see your loving face within the moon and rejoice. All Hail Queen of the heavens and the earth, the eternal one of Wisdom!"

After this ritual, it is a perfect time to do all forms of spell work and divination.

Drawing Down the Moon or the Sun

A highly powerful Ritual in which the Goddess is requested to enter the body of the caster and speak through her.   It can also be seen as an extremely strong way the to connect with the Goddess, and to raise energy for any spell work or Ritual. Men can do this as well, but it is called drawing down the Sun and it invokes the God. To alter this ritual for the Sun God, simply follow the actions in Parenthesis.  It is considered one of the most sacred and powerful of Rituals. It is most powerful when done on Monday (Sunday), or on the Full moon (high noon).  Stand or sit quietly in the Center of the circle, or in front of the altar space. And begin to chant

I invoke thee and call upon thee,
Loving Mother of us all,
(Mighty Father of us all)

By love and life do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this thy servant.

While chanting, visualize the moon’s silvery glow (the sun’s golden warmth) spreading all around you, and entering into your body through the top of your head and flowing throughout your entire body. As it spreads feel it removing any negativity you may feel, filling you with warmth and strength.  Continue with this visualization and chant until you feel fully at peace, grounded and centered, relax and allow the spell or ritual you had planned to flow.

If you have any questions or comments