New Moon Art Ritual

New moons. We can rely on them to give us the opportunity for a do over, to close the book on the pointless habit or the rotting resentment. These days witches and the like to refer to it as ‘what no longer serves you’ which in my opinion is vague and unhelpful. We can’t always identify whether it serves us now or never did, never will or perhaps it did but not in a way that is healthy. Given the trickiness of witchcraft, I prefer to be as direct as I can whenever possible though I know that is quite a challenge.

This new moon comes on the heels of Beltane, a time full of fertility and love. Traditionally a time of hand fasting I offer to you an opportunity at this new moon, full of promise of new beginnings, to hand fast to yourself. We must always be the first person to offer ourselves love and commitment. With this should come truth and clarity about those things we should discard. Use and adapt this ritual to your own needs by all means, but never be afraid of specificity. It is what keeps us honest.

You will need:

• A page, a piece of paper or a canvas - any surface of your choices, basically
  
• A pen, pencil, marker - again your choice
  
• Incense/oil spritzer
  
• Candle
  
• Optional personal ritual items (crystals, effigies etc.)
  

Begin by cleansing yourself and your space in either your preferred way or with incense smoke.
Cleanse your space and lay out your tools and materials.
Breathe deeply. Ground yourself by imagining a you spine growing into a tree trunk. Visualize the trunk of this tree plunging into the earth.
Now think about yourself. How precious you are, how your body is the perfect vessel for your voyage through life. Take your time sitting alone with yourself, enjoying your own company.

Open your eyes. Take your pen or pencil and put your non-writing hand flat on your paper. Draw around it.

Now come up with some vows to yourself as if you were writing them for a wedding. These vows are to yourself. How you want to write these are up to you, beginning with ”I promise…” is one suggestion. Come up with at least five vows - one for each finger. When you are ready, write them either alone each finger, or at the tip or anywhere you choose.

Here are some vows I made to myself:
“I promise to nourish your body with good food and restful sleep.”
“I promise to fight the negative self-talk that looms always.”


After writing your vows, embellish your page/paper however you like. Use this embellishment as a way of setting your intentions.

Sit and read your vows over, say them to yourself. Hold them to your heart. You are the source and the return. End by saying “So Mote It Be” or an equivalent phrase of your choosing.

Open your circle. Congratulations on the love you have shown to yourself.