Lunar Eclipse in Leo Ritual
Hey witches! I’ve been so busy since January started that I didn’t have time to plan a blog post for tonight’s Lunar Eclipse / Blood Moon / Supermoon / Wolf Moon in Leo (yes, there’s a lot going on in the skies tonight!) but on the off chance that you don’t have plans already, or if you’re looking for a low-cost, low-preparation ritual to complete while the eclipse energy is at its most potent, read on…
As Heron Michelle explains in this beautifully comprehensive article from Patheos.com, eclipses—particularly full moon eclipses—offer a potent energy for witchy workings. The moon is representative of our hidden self, the parts of our identity that are the most internal, subconscious, and emotional. It also represents our shadow self, a term coined by psychiatrist and philosopher Carl Jung to describe the parts of our identity, behavior, or personality that are the most impulsive, hedonistic, or animalistic—in other words, the parts of ourselves that we strive to hide because we worry that others will find them unacceptable (or perhaps we find them unacceptable ourselves).
For this reason, the lunar eclipse is a great time to work with our shadow, to be honest with ourselves about who we are, what we want, and what we believe. Though eclipses tend to conceal light, the lunar eclipse peels away the layers of self that obscure our true nature. It’s a highly personal, highly internal process—this moon cycle isn’t a good time to start publicizing the work you’re doing or to make frank admissions regarding your self, your intent, and your true nature. But as the moon rises tonight, as the moon is obscured and revealed again, you have the opportunity to do some serious soul-searching, to meet your shadow face to face and hold it close—to love your darkness.
Photo credit to Matt Mendoza on Flickr. Similar journals available at Boutique du Vampyre.
Because this eclipse offers so much in the way of introspective energy, I came up with a little journaling ritual to help you kick-start (or deepen) your shadow work and re-focus your sense of self and your purpose/path for the year ahead.
Most of us struggle with our shadows: we feel guilt for indulging them, and we are made to feel ashamed of them by folks on the outside who don’t understand, or see, the whole story. Remember: nobody is in charge of the narrative of your life but you. While other people’s input and perspectives are essential for growth, it’s also vital that you learn to differentiate between self and other. This is why befriending your shadow is so important: if you know yourself, if you are confident in your identity, in your intent, and in your purpose, then you can listen and learn from others without falling victim to their projections or energetic manipulations.
If this all sounds a bit highfalutin, here’s the simple, core function of this ritual: to understand all aspects of your self better, to boost your confidence and focus, and to determine clearly what you need to improve on for yourself, not because someone else told you to.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
A journal or notebook
A pen
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
A candle (white or black, ideally)
Incense or scented oil - I recommend sandalwood, frankincense, and amber, but anything you find meditative and dreamy works well.
Meditative music, if you find it helps you write/create/think more deeply.
WHAT TO DO:
First, go outside and look at the moon. You are, after all, drawing your energy from the lunar eclipse and it would be helpful to be outside under the sky to physically draw that energy in. Yes, it’s cold in many parts of the world right now. Yes, you may not be able to see the moon clearly. Nevertheless, actually being outside under the sky helps anchor you in the ritual process, clears away the electromagnetic vibrations of cell phones/computers/electric lights in the house, and helps connect you to the celestial cycle you’re about to benefit from.
Next, find somewhere comfy to sit down and write. If you’re able to do that outside, great! But chances are good you’ll be more comfortable indoors, somewhere quiet and dimly lit (this is where the candles come in, if you decide to use them). If you’re using incense, oils, or music, set those things up as well. Before you open your notebook to write, spend some time in your space with your eyes closed, focusing on your breathing and doing some gentle meditation. Don’t stress about doing this perfectly, ‘clearing the mind’ completely, or anything like that. Just take the time to slow yourself down and let go of the tasks you completed today. This is a sacred activity, and you are a sacred being.
Begin to visualize your body as a house—many chambered, many roomed. Perhaps your head is the attic, your limbs and digits corridors, your heart the basement. There’s no correct way to imagine this: let your subconscious guide you through your own internal rooms, noticing the attributes of each, the associations you make between body parts and feelings/vibes/architecture. Is your house old, or modern? Is it well-kept or desolate? Are there people there, and if so, who are they? Is it comfortable? Is it haunted?
After you’ve spent some time exploring your house in your meditative/imaginative state, gently bring yourself back to your conscious surroundings and take out your notebook and pen. Begin to jot down what you remember about the house/body/soul - this can be in note form or narrative form, it really doesn’t matter. Perhaps you even want to sketch out rooms or draw a little map. Whatever works for you.
Now allow yourself to start writing the story of your house/body. Somewhere in your house there is a mirror. As you write, locate that mirror; describe where it is, what it looks like, what condition it is in. Describe looking in the mirror and what you see there.
This mirror self is your shadow, the parts of yourself that you need to integrate - the truths that you run from, or that others have shamed you for. Write how it feels to look in this mirror, to see yourself reflected this way. And begin to write your union with this reflected self. Do you smash the mirror to free it? Do you merge into the mirror as if it were a liquid portal? Do you press against it, unable to reach it? How does this story end?
FINAL TAKEAWAY:
Once the creative portion of your ritual is complete, it’s time to distill what you’ve learned into actionable goals. You can do this immediately following the ritual, or sleep on it and revisit it at a later time. You don’t want to wait too long to ground this creative exercise, but taking a day or so might be beneficial.
When you’re ready, note down the following:
What attributes of my self does my shadow represent?
What attributes/traits are truly part of ‘who I am’?
What attributes have been impressed upon me by others?
What parts of my shadow am I most ashamed of?
What parts of my shadow do I love?
What are my strongest held beliefs about myself?
What actions can I take to honor those beliefs moving forward?
Good luck, my loves! Let me know how you like the idea of journaling rituals. As a writer/poet and witch, I think some of the most powerful magic we make is through our imaginations and the act of bringing our internal realm into the physical world by way of the page. Enjoy the electric power of this singular celestial energy, and take care of yourselves out there!
xxx Celeste