THIS YEAR:
Waxing moon period: 9/25/2014 to 10/7/2014
Waxing first quarter moon: 10/1/2014
Full Blood Moon: 10/8/2014
Waning moon period: 10/9/2014 to 10/22/2014
Waning last quarter moon: 10/15/2014
New Moon: 10/23/2014

The October full moon is the Blood Moon or Hunter’s Moon. This month the harvesting turns to hunting to lay away enough food for the winter and so the Blood Moon reminds us of the close bond between humans and animals. Now is a good time to work magic of protection, healing, and blessing for your pets and livestock, and to identify what animal energies you need in your own life. Consider taking a shamanic journey to the underworld to meet with your spirit animal or to seek one with which to work.

Your altar
Dress your altar with a deep crimson cloth to represent the blood of the hunt. Other suitable colors are brown, black, and orange. Because the bond between the hunter and wild animals stretches back to the dawn of human existence, your altar should have a Stone Age feel. No metal should be present. Place red flowers such as poppies and chrysanthemums in a basket or earthenware vessel. Include figurines and images of your spirit animal, if you have one, or animals that you admire. You can do an internet search on Paleolithic cave paintings and copy images on rough newsprint or parchment paper to scatter around your altar. You can also make small bows and arrows from twigs and sinew (or dental floss), available at crafts stores. Because Samhain also falls within this month, you can make one altar to celebrate both the Full Blood Moon and the sabbat.

Waxing Moon Magic
From the night after the last new moon to the full Harvest Moon:
Work healing magic for your pets and livestock. Summon health, vitality, and blessings to permeate their lives. Complete all caretaking chores. For example, get the animals their veterinarian check-ups. Improve their diets. Take them to the groomers. Introduce a new exercise program for them. Repair and improve their living quarters.

Full Moon Magic
On the night of the Full Blood Moon, think about animals you admire and meditate on which qualities of theirs you wish to emulate. Consider their biological and behavioral characteristics such as the strength of the bear, the assertiveness of the badger, the playfulness of the otter, the industriousness of the beaver, the intelligence of the crow, and the independence of the cat. Then consider the symbolic characteristics of your favorite animals such as the wisdom of the owl, the nobility of the eagle, and the transformative ability of the snake. If you could be a shapeshifter or "were-" animal, what would you be? Write all these insights into your Book of Mirrors. Consider taking a shamanic journey to the underworld to meet with your spirit animal or to seek one with which to work.

Waning Moon Magic
From the night after the full Harvest Moon to the next new moon:
Work banishing magic to clear away any negative influences that might harm your pets or livestock such as disease, animal predators, and human predators. Do all caretaking chores that involve deep cleaning and purifying. Muck out those stables. Scrub the bird cage top to bottom with a toothbrush. Vacuum the pet hairs from your doghouse. Wash its interior with something purifying but with a minimal scent such lemon juice or baking soda (not vinegar – your dog or cat will find that way too stinky). Wash all pet bedding in hot water to kill bugs. Now is also a good time to do a spiritual cleansing (see my article Four Ways to Do a Wiccan Cleansing) on your pet's bedding or shelter. Consider ringing a small bell gently, using sound to drive away spiritual impurities.

See also Names of the Twelve Full Moons

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