Moon Magick: Waxing Moon

Merry Meet and Welcome to you magickal souls!!!!

It's time to look at the Moon's Waxing phase, which includes the First Quarter Moon.

The Waxing phase is when the Moon's light and size are growing. It lasts about 2 weeks in between the New Moon and the Full Moon. Other phases of the Moon that occur during this time are: Waxing Crescent Moon, First Quarter Moon, and the Waxing Gibbous Moon.

During these two weeks, the energies around us can appear to be more external as a lot of people focus on the outer world and doing the tasks that can put into motion all of our dreams and intentions that we may have set at the New Moon. It's almost as if the increasing illumination of the Moon energises people to see thhings clearly and then to take action.

So as our energy levels seem to grow, so too can our motivation and inspiration, which can work together to bring us everything that we need to achieve our goals. It's a good time to look for signs, synchronicities and anything that falls into perfect place as if by magic. Or even for the opposite, showing where things aren't working or that it's not a good idea. This is not easy to achieve and takes a long time to do.

The Waxing Crescent Moon typically starts about 3 days after the New Moon and lasts about 4 days. This phase marks the time to take action, for any intentions set at the New Moon to start to grow and take shape. We can do this by gathering resources, knowledge, stepping up and starting the work that is necessary. It is important to stay aligned with our New Moon intentions while the Moon is a Waxing Crescent. It is only the beginning so looking after ourselves and our energy levels should be high priority too.

The First Quarter Moon is the halfway point between the New and Full Moons. This is the phase that I personally focus on, as I like mid-points but it feels right for me. This phase has the energy of our New Moon intentions having taken root, and now needing nurturing and nourishment to grow even more before the Full Moon.

The Waxing Gibbous Moon is the final phase before the Full Moon but after the First Quarter Moon. It's the phase that happens in that final week before the Full Moon, when the energy is starting to peak and senses may feel heightened. But it's not quite peaked or completely heightened because it is time for us to see what else is still to be done.

I previously stated that the First Quarter Moon is the Waxing phase that I focus on most during this time. I have built up the habit of pulling cards and using a specific spread, one that I have halved from 6 questions to 3 (to match the number of questions in the New and Full Moon spreads I do). As with the other lunar readings I have done, I used the Disney Villains Tarot deck.

What challenges are presenting themselves to me right now?

4 of Coins

With this card, I felt as if I was being told that my finances would be challenging for me. This is because I have debts that need paying, as well as personal issues around security and safety.

I have payment plans in place for all of my debts and I do review them regularly (certainly more than the annual review my debtors prefer).

When it comes to feeling secure and safe, these are issues I am working on. Purely because my childhood past is still affecting my present. I never really felt secure and safe as a child but I couldn't tell anyone and had to lock it away, rather like the treasure in the depicted chest. While I lived in my childhood house for 11 years, I was threatened with losing it regularly and so it wasn't secure and safe.

What affirmations or intentions can help me to overcome these challenges?

7 & 8 of Cups

With the 7 of Cups, I felt as if I was being told to prioritise without trying to do too much. While there are 8 tentacles shown in this card, only six are holding cups with the seventh cup having been dropped or not yet picked up and one tentacle not holding anything. The Cups could symbolise emotional burdens that are no longer necessary for me to be carrying. The suit of Cups is usually associated with the element of Water and therefore emotions, but it isn't always that easy to know what this card could be saying. I still have to make a choice or decide what this card means and that is typically oe of the possible interpretations of this card. I do think it could b saying I need to stop trying to do too much all at once and to prioritise what I want to do first before deciding on the next task.

With the 8 of Cups, I feel as if the message is that I shouldn't be too frivolous, that the frippery (the feathered hat) is an extra and unnecessary to my life. It may be that I need to make a decision about what is actually needed in my life and that anything else should wait until I can handle it (financially and/or emotionally). I will admit to being a very impulsive shopper but I have been trying to do better and not buy lots of things that I don't absolutely need. But maybe I've been denying myself necessities because I don't know exactly what I need because what I need is also a want and I can't tell the difference between them. So while the hat is gaudy, it could be useful to provide shade or protect against wet weather. I could need to re-affirm that I deserve nice things if they're both a want and a need.

What are my priorities to act upon right now?

8 of Coins

With this card, I felt as if I was being reminded that the priorities I should be acting upon are my needs, my desires, and my wants.

While this may seem to be a bit selfish to some, that's what self-care is: it focuses on the self. What is self-care if it isn't looking after my own needs? My own desires? And my own wants?

I became a people-pleaser as a child, always trying to be good enough (or just enough in general) but there was always something that wasn'tperfect. I am still trying to lose that part of me as I focus on me and my life.

I am trying to not be influenced by the desires and/or wants of others when that is not aligned with my own desires or wants, but especially, my needs.

How can I strengthen my connection to the natural world to find guidance and resilience?

2 of Coins

With this card, I felt as if the message was that I could strengthen my connection to the natural world by finding balance within my life. What that balance looks like is the unknown though.

It could mean that I need to prioritise the tasks I am already juggling to ensure that I am able to spend time in nature. While there is natural light, I do marvel at the natural world, seeing all the new growth (especially on the mini rose plant I have), and seeing all the birds more active and vocal.

I strive to be able to give equal energy to my projects and, while I know I could currently do better, I don't put a lot of pressure on myself to stretch my energy too far.

In what ways can I honour my inner strength and determination during this phase of action?

Queen of Wands

With this card, I felt as if I was being told to acknowledge and honour all aspects of my Self - the nice and not-so-nice - because I am not wholly good, but nor am I wholly evil or nasty.

There are many sides to me but I need to honour who I used to be, just like the Evil Queen would need to as she became the Hag.

It is important to remember who I was in the past and this idea always makes me think of a Doctor Who quote: "You gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be."

Perhaps another message from this card is that I can honour my inner strength by knowing what I want and then going after those things, knowing they are mine.

How can I practice self-compassion while navigating obstacles on my journey?

King of Cups

With this card, I felt as if I can practice self-compassion by not being scared of being afraid. While a certain character once said, "Fear of a name only increases the fear of the thing itself", sometimes I'm not so sure about that. I don't like not knowing facts I feel (and know) that I should know.

One of my biggest fears is the unknown that I cannot control in any way. I know this is a fear that I should probably face, and there have been situations that I have been in where I've spent as long as possible trying to manage my emotions.

But sometimes it's not easy to do. Having a plan while also being flexible is probably the best way I could practice self-compassion: knowing how far I can push myself while facing my fears.

This was a deep reading for me and I definitely sat with the messages of these cards, as well as discussing it with close friends. It brought up that I still have things to work on, that Shadow Work is never over, but I'm willing to put the work in to improve myself and my life.

Some people might question why I don't pull cards for the Waxing Crescent and Waxing Gibbous Moons, and the reason is that I personally don't like asking my cards for guidance too often and once a week seems to be often enough for me.

I hope this has inspired you to consider deepening your own relationship with the Moon and Her phases. If you'd like any assistance or for me to pull the cards, my diary and ibox are open - I'd be honoured to help anyone deepen their practices and self-knowledge.

Peace and love to all!!!!