Wahya Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

Central American Moon Watching Knowledge

Brujeria

Brujería (feminine article) is the Spanish language word for “witchcraft,” and is typically used to refer to various spiritual practices that have been used by Indigenous and enslaved Central American, Alkebulan (African), and Caribbean populations for centuries. The West-African Yoruba religion, for instance, is estimated by some anthropologists to have been practiced for thousands of years in Alkebulan and has now been practiced here in the Americas due to the blending of cultures through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Santería (also known as Lucumi) is an Afro-Cuban practice that took shape alongside the rise of Spanish colonization —and the arrival of Roman Catholicism—into Latin America indigenous culture in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Today, brujería—and its accompanying bruja (Spanish for witch) title—are being taken up by a growing community of people who want to tap into and take back the power and the mysticism of their heritage. These Practitioners are often seen sharing images of their personal practice through social media or incorporating bruja culture into their every day life or creative pursuits. But, this is not who we are speaking of today. We are not looking at the colonized practices of blending, but the Indigenous.

To the Indigenous of Central America, the moon represents much more.

To indigenous people the world over, most of the beliefs are held and often provable by observing the Magick of Mother Nature all around us.

The recent New Moon reminds us of how important our orbiting neighbor is to us as an Earth based people. It is a relationship described by many cultures across the globe, particularly with its links to phenomena like tides and weather. Every aspect of our natural satellite - from its phase, position, appearance, and brightness - has special significance and meaning. (Remember your Moon Watch?)

Energetic Value of the Moon

A traditional story explains how one can see a lady in the Full Moon weaving mats. Or, a man can be seen smiling. Or, a spilling cup. No matter the culture, they watch the moon.  Lunar phases link to the changing tides, a relationship that is well established in human knowledge systems, especially when they live close to significant bodies of water as many Central Americans do.

FISHING
One practical application, sustainance, which many still use today, links to fishing. Elders teach that the best time to fish is during what is referred to as a neap (lower amplitude) tide during the First or Last Quarter Moon, rather than a (Gogeyi, vernal) spring (higher amplitude) tide during the Full Moon phase.

So what do the tides have to do with fishing?  The spring tides are much bigger, meaning the tidal waters rush in and out of the land more significantly, stirring up silt and sediment on the sea floor.

Why are they bigger? Because although we have tilted “towards” the star Sol during this time, Mother Earth is further away from the gravitational pull of the sun and is subject to a stronger pull from Lady Luna.

Moons matter.

For fishing, this in turn clouds the water, making it harder for fish to see their food source, or the bait, and in turn fishers find it difficult to see the fish.

The waters of spring tides also pull fish out to sea with their strength. This is different in fresh water fish as many swim against currents of the river to complete activities of their daily lives. None the less, during the smaller neap tides, the water is clearer and salt water fish do not move as far, making them easier to see and catch.

The Moon looks like a glowing bowl,
With points turned up from pole to pole.
She gathers drops for all Earth kind,
Choppy seas and storms align.

Before your eyes, the tides will rise,
With puffy clouds across the skies.
Cumulus floats and morning dew,

rain falls now for me and you.

The water churns, the currents roll,
As heavens fill the lunar bowl.
The Earth is quenched,

all life is drenched.

The Moon looks like a glowing bowl.

LUNAR GARDENING
With knowledge of the rains as mentioned above and our knowledge of tilting towards the sun, we see the signs that it is time to plant as we are in the Vernal season.  Most indigenous tribes of the Northern Hemisphere wait until after the “last frost” or the Corn Planting Moon for any “above ground” crops> 

We can begin to prepare the soil in February for hardy green leafy vegetables to go in before the moon of March but by April’s rain and May’s Flower Moon… seeds need to have been in the soil for most other plants.

Agriculture was (and still is) a crucial component of civilization.  For tribes such as the Olmec looking at the moon, they could see the cusps (tips) of the crescent moon point in different directions throughout the year, as we move from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice and back again. (Direction is Hemisphere dependent)

We are able to do this to this day, no calendar needed.  Just watch the sky.

Have you witnessed this?

ABOVE GROUND CROPS
As stated, it is suggested that sowing seeds for crops that yield an above ground harvest be planted when the moon is increasing (going from new moon to full moon).  Less direct energy reflected by the moon allows the Earth to release the plant from Her soil towards the sun’s pull.

BELOW GROUND CROPS
Root crops, as the Olmec would have had, are best planted during the waning moon (going from full moon to new moon.)  This allows Mother Earth to pull the roots into Her soil efficiently.

This is universal moon Knowledge, and now you know.

Weather Effects
We can see that moon halos can be used to forecast weather.

In Vernal, or Spring, times some Indigenous understandings, the ring around the Moon are seen as a “hut” built by the Moon Man to shield Himself from coming rain.

Halos also form around the Moon when moonlight passes through ice crystals high in the atmosphere. Why? These form in low fronts, which often bring the rain. It can be a cold rain if it is earlier in the season, which produces the halos as well.

LUNAR ECLIPSES
An eclipse of the Moon is a meaning liken to “the ghost has taken the spirit of the Moon”. To early humans it was an omen of conflict or strife in some cultures. Many Indigenous perform ceremonies at this time to attempt determination of an incoming attack or to cast peace upon their lands. The same name is used for a solar eclipse, which is seen as the superposition of the two celestial bodies.

Bottom line, moons matter. This is especially true if you are a water sign like Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces. Ever charted your feelings or “mood” during this time? #Challenge

Psychic Moon Magick
Purple Candle

So far, these are the crucial Selenology and Beginning Psychic Energy practices we have covered at Three Circles Medicine & Magick™. We are preparing to take a turn for the deeper part of the forest as we explore together.

Before we do that, Wahya Circle, we are going to need a purple candle placed on your psychic altar, or cosmic altar —we were advised to build during our Guided Star Meditation - it needs to be lit. The act of lighting the altar candle will need to be visualized before moving forward.

Don’t recall it? Did not do it?

That is okay. The moon rises again today. Give Her time to rise above the treeline and are able to spot Her. We can even wait until She transits overhead to re-attempt that exercise.

Either way, work through that exercise from earlier this month (Guided Star Meditation - Altar Build). Prepare your psychic altar. Wahya Circle is about to do some work in Magick and Medicine that requires “tokens” such as these purple candles to exist for all of us as a way to unify the Circle in all Time, Space and Dimension. And, because “purple” can correspond to psychic and energy work. ;-)

Just as we will be given Knowledge to “bejewel” that which frightens or has ill intent towards us, or how to make a “Banishing Butterfly – Token of Dark” may be shared … we will also need this purple candle lit.

If you do not want a purple candle lit on your psychic altar, make it a color more desirable. Just know this is the one we will speak of for future Energy Work. “The Purple Candle”

If you want a lamp instead, make it. In your Mind’s Eye, YOU are the embodiment of the Creatrix. See it. Envision it.

Bottom line, a “Token of Light” will be needed and this is what this candle, or lantern, or other “glowing” item of Intent and Focus will become — our Key as we Work.

Please review the Magick and Medicine exercises listed below before we move on. There are several others that were shared, but these are the Keys to what lay ahead.

Be comfortable with the Working of these exercises as future ones may become frustrating and more difficult to achieve as we move on if time is not made to practice this energetic Work and Magick NOW.

All of the Moon Magick to date is a prerequisite, or building block, for what’s to come:

Moon Magick Exercises

Please note:
These exercises found in these Lessons may be utilized at any time, but are MOST effective as stated.

APRIL
Jumatano WA2 - New Moon
Attunement to Higher Self

Selenology 101 - Waning Gibbous

Selenology 101 - Full Moon

MAY
Last Quarter/Third Quarter
Triangulation of (Psychic) Space

Waning Crescent
Moon (Bio) Cycles & Banishment

*28 day Moon Watch for all phases.

JUNE
Grounding Spirit (w/w.out moon)
Reflection Spell: Earthing


There are others, but as stated, these are the Keys.

Moon Triangulation
Focused Energy

To intensify or maximize Luna’s influence on Moon Craft, sometimes it helps knowing where She is above us. We looked at this first hand during our moon watch of the First Quarter Turn.

Essential to the energy garnered for our Work, knowing where, when, how long, what phase, and much more about Luna is important for many. Yes, for thousands of years we have been studying our celestial neighbors, but “THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT”.

Have you downloaded one yet?

Please let us know if you have and which one so we may tailor future Submissions around what you have access to.

Think About It

We hope that none of you are bothered by going into deeper woods where there is seemingly “less” light. We hope you have done enough Shadow Work to this point in your own personal practices to NOT be triggered inadvertently by something we do in Spirit with Magick or Medicine..

You have already or will begin to Experience of Matter in a '“different” light.

At Three Circles Medicine & Magick, we stand firmly on Free Will and Unconditional Love for all. We do not cast judgment on any Path.

With that, understand you will not be asked to “harm” anything or anyone, but you are going to be asked to hold Knowledge that is shared from a part of the Esoteric woods that most who walk these Paths hold wisely, …and with antidotes.

Moon Day WQ3

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: NONE

EMAIL
Three Circles Medicine & Magick™
Please utilize the above email link
IF NO BUTTON IS PRESENT
to receive full Submission credit.