Waxing and Waning Moons (and Crochet) – Part 1, Waning Moon

Soap Bag, selenite wand, and uncrossing soap courtesy of Art of the Root

The waxing and waning moons are the tides of magick. When the moon waxes, so does our power to manifest. When it wanes, the power goes, too. However, you can use the waning moon energy to banish, and it’s an optimal time to clear away for manifesting at the next waxing moon.

I’ve been uncrossing myself since the moon started to wane (a ritual to undo any curses or bad wishes). Clearing negative energy is an uphill battle at the moment, so I’m using the entire waning moon period to clear, then the entire waxing period to purify. So far, it’s made me more mindful of negative feelings that crop up and my reactions to situations. It’s keeping me grounded in the face of fear and despair, so it’s working.

Anyway, for the ritual, I ordered two soaps from Art of the Root: their uncrossing soap, and their purification soap – both smell amazing, by the way. Personally, I’ve never been a soap person; I’m more of a body-wash-and-loofah person. Soap is slippery and I have a hard time holding it. So being a crocheter, I designed a bag. Two, actually. Here’s the uncrossing bag, which I’m including with the ritual.

You will need:

1. 1 skein white cotton yarn

2. 1 skein black cotton yarn

3. Size J (10 mm) crochet hook

Uncrossing Soap bag:

With the black yarn, ch 15

Rnd 1: in the 2nd and 3rd ch from hook, 2sc. *Ch 1, 2sc in the next 2 ch from hook. Repeat from * until the end, then turn the row over, ch 1, sc in the next 2 loops on the other side of the ch, ch 1, repeat until the end. Ch 1

Rnd 2: 2sc on either side of the 2sc blo. Ch 1. Repeat around.

Rnds 3-14: Repeat rnd 2.

Rnd 15: Ch 1. Dc in next ch 1 sp. Ch 1, sk 2sc blo, dc in next ch 1 sp. Repeat around.

Rnd 16: sc around, sl st the first and last sc tog. BO and weave in ends

Ribbon: Ch 30. Weave in through Rnd 15. Sl st last ch and 1st ch tog. BO, tie tails together, and weave in ends.

The ritual:

The day or two after the full moon, place your soap into the bag. When you take a shower, wash yourself head to toe, reciting either Psalm 23 or Psalm 51 (if you don’t want to use the Bible, you can use another recitation, such as calling the quarters to protect you, or sing a song or recite a poem that encompasses God/Goddess/Spirit/The All standing with you and having your back). At the end, if you can, trace a cross over the soles of your feet. As your rinse off, imagine darkness, gunk and sludge rinsing off you, revealing a bright light around your body. Turn off the shower and stand for a moment, feeling the light and love radiating off your clean skin.

I will be back soon with the waxing moon counterpart. Until then, happy hooking, happy casting, and blessed be!