Dark Moon in June

I don't know about you but this waning moon sent my creativity into hibernation. I am usually a flurry of ideas and while this might sound boastful, that kind of disposition doesn't always result in meaningful productivity. So I tried to welcome the opportunity to pause, which is hard when you are starting your own business.   Pausing allowed me to address my own development as a witch and artist and so I read, I drew and I started astrology tutelage with Virginia Rosenberg. In so doing I think I am gaining some great insight into my place in the world and the work I am drawn to. I am also grappling with balance a lot: how to balance all the elements that require my work to be successful while also being a parent, a partner and having a full-time job.  I am hopeful but vigilant, for it is easy to let things slide or for certain important aspects, such as ritual and free creativity, to be forgotten. 

As I work through all of this I will share whether I am successful. For now though let's look at this brief but sweet period of darkness. I love dark moons. I think they are undervalued and I also think we need to reclaim the word darkness as something to be cherished as essential to our well-being.  Traditionally many witches use the waning and dark times as opportunities to banish and I invite you to face and banish something that is inherent in all of us. The inner-critic who is the accomplished author of negative self-talk.

These voices that tell us our ideas our dumb, that what we are doing is pointless are powerful and hard to ignore. Personally I have found that the very act of acknowledging what they are is surprisingly effective in keeping them in check. The root and motivations of this habit could be the subject of another post so for now let us develop some ways of diminishing them so that when that fresh new moon arrives we are ready.  

You will need: 
A circular template - a lid, roll of tape, etc. You need to be able to draw circles large enough to write in.
A colored pen
​A black marker.
A candle
Incense (or essential oil)
Other preferred ritual items. 

Light a candle, lay out chrystals, stones, flowers any other items you like to work with.
Create your sacred space, using Palo Santo, incense or an oil diffuser, cleanse your space, your tools and yourself in circular motions going clockwise.
Sit with a straight back and breathe deeply.
Repeat the mantra "A creative space is a sacred space" a few times.
Think through all the negativity you allow yourself to feel. Where does it come from, what does it say?

On a blank page in your journal or on a piece of paper, start to draw a few circles.
In each circle write something that you tell yourself that is discouraging or you know prevents you from moving forward/creating.
Fill the page as much as necessary.
When you are done, look down at the words. See how small they are, how when they are written they seem less powerful perhaps even ridiculous.  
Take your black marker and put a big X over each circle. It is important that you are still able to sort of read the words. 
Say: 'Your power is gone I banish it to be blown by the winds, soaked by the rain, burned by the sun and buried in the earth. So mote it be!"
Remember these words that were oppressing you. It's important not to forget them for in the future they will try to creep in. Look at this page regularly to remind yourself that you have the power to silence the inner-critic. 
Blessed Be.