One of the questions I get asked regularly is when to do what, or how do you know what ritual is appropriate for this moon/astrological/sabbat energy.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal preference.
While many witches follow the wheel of the year, there are just as many that do not. The same goes for doing rituals during moon phases.
What I can say is that in my experience, using the energies of certain moon or astrological phases is just another tool to enhance my spell work. It has taken me many years of study, trials and errors to be comfortable doing so.
I was lucky enough to take a very basic night-class on astrology which helped me to understand the energies of celestial bodies, and their influence on the houses of the zodiac. I have read books, online articles and spoken to true astrological practitioners to gain more insight.
Does this mean that every time I want to wave my wand, I need to make sure that Saturn isn't going to literally rain on my parade?
No!
It just means that if I am crafting something very specific, that I want to focus as much energy as I possibly can into, I will check if now is the best time. Perhaps there isn't the right "alignment" - this doesn't mean that it won't work, just that the spell may take longer....
For example, in 2021 I came out of the second toxic workplace situation careerwise, I was devastated, emotionally exhausted and lost. What I really wanted was a job with an organisation that had similar values to mine, that respected and valued its staff, where I could grow, and where my contribution and skills made a difference.
I knew that to manifest something like this I would need to call on as much help as possible, so I researched the more favourable aspects of Venus (Love & value systems), Jupiter (Growth & expansion), Uranus (innovation & change) and finally Pluto (transformation). It worked out that there was a 16-day window where most of these planets were in a good place in my houses of career, communication and growth, so I planned a 16-day manifestation ritual.
Sounds extreme right? But, I knew I wanted something extraordinary, and I was prepared to do the work to get it. In 2022 I got a job in an organisation that 99.9% fulfills the manifestation ritual that I did.
Sabbats are a different matter. They are celebrations or acknowledgements of certain times of the year - Harvest, Solstice etc. For me Sabbats are the time to reflect and take stock, acknowledge the time of year, and check in with my Atua/Ancestors or guides. It is also the time when my sister coven gets together for celebrations and acknowledgments, or we attend public events.
In conclusion - don't get hung up on When to do what.
Do some reading and understand the difference between moon phases (for example: Waxing to create and manifest, Waning to release and recuperate).
Astrological energies take more understanding, find a mentor or a good basic book on planets, signs and houses and the influences and energies that they have.
Use the Sabbats to take stock and celebrate.
IMAGE FROM www.spiralspectrum.com by Julie Wilder.
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