One of the most powerful spell enhancers with which to synchronize your witchcraft is the phase of the moon. The moon moves in symmetrical cycles, much like our Wiccan faith itself, which seeks balance. It waxes (increases) and wanes (decreases) every twenty-eight days, and each phase balances its opposite. Meanwhile, you could divide the practice of witchcraft into two opposite categories that balance each other and are equally necessary: summoning and banishing. Summoning matches up with the waxing moon phases and banishing should be done with the waning moon.

Waxing Moon Phase
The waxing phase starts about three days after the new (dark) moon when you see the first D-shaped sliver of moon known as Diana’s Bow. During this first week, the moon grows toward its first quarter, which is a pivot point that gives the moon’s energy an extra boost toward full. Some witches have an esbat ritual on the night of the first quarter moon to use this extra energy. During the next and final week of the waxing phase, the moon swells through its gibbous stage until it becomes full.

All witchcraft done during the waxing moon phase should focus on growth, nurturing, attracting, and summoning. Invite good things into your life. Work on establishing good habits. Get pregnant. Increase your weight or your musculature. Strengthen your health. Attract wealth, success, love, and happiness. Plant crops that grow above ground such as tomatoes and corn.

Waning Moon Phase
The waning phase starts about three days after the full moon and carries the gibbous moon down to its last quarter, which is another pivot point that gives the moon’s energy an extra boost toward the new moon. Again, some witches have an esbat ritual on the night of the last quarter moon to use this extra energy. During the next and final week of the waning phase, the moon shrinks to nothing. It is returning to the new moon that is simultaneously the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

All witchcraft done during the waning moon phase should focus on minimizing, warding off, and banishing. Send negative influences away from your life. Get rid of bad habits. Lose weight. Shed yourself of health problems, unsavory people, and bad situations. Plant root crops that grow below ground such as bulbs, onions, and radishes.

The Full Moon versus the New Moon
The full moon is a time of fulfillment and balance. The new moon involves emptiness and new beginnings. Both are thresholds that stand between waxing and waning, and so either type of witchcraft (summoning or banishing) can be practiced on the nights of the full moon and the new moon. The new moon and full moon are opposite sides of the same coin. Neither is better than, or stronger than, the other. Think of the new moon as a time of potential and the full moon as a time of completion.

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