New moon rituals and witchcraft have a long history and hold deep significance for practitioners. The new moon is a powerful time for setting intentions, manifesting desires, and connecting with the energies of the universe. In witchcraft, the new moon represents new beginnings, potential, and rebirth. It is considered a time of reflection, inner work, and personal growth. During the new moon, many witches gather to perform rituals and spells that align with the energy of this lunar phase. These rituals often involve cleansing and purifying practices, such as smudging, bathing, or creating sacred space.
These rituals often involve cleansing and purifying practices, such as smudging, bathing, or creating sacred space. They may also include meditation, visualization, and the use of various tools such as crystals, herbs, or candles. One common practice during the new moon is the creation of intention or manifestation lists.
New Moon Magic - by Risa Dickens & Amy Torok (Paperback)
"In New Moon Magic, authors Dickens and Torok reclaim witchcraft as resistance in a time of commodification and capitalism. The authors create a book that offers wisdom and guidance, using witchcraft as a channel to resist systems of oppression and in turn transform and nurture our own spirituality and agency"--
Book Synopsis
Harness the power of lunar magic with 13 essential practices for the modern witch--one for each New Moon of the year
Fresh, fierce, and unapologetically feminist, this is both guidebook and rallying cry: an intersectional and inclusive magical praxis that resists, disrupts, and opens the door to nourishment, abundance, and transformation--for readers of Psychic Witch and The Spell Book for New Witches
In New Moon Magic, Missing Witches authors Risa Dickens and Amy Torok offer Witchy practices to change your life and reshape the world, without falling prey to the commercialization that belies the true heart--and power--of magic.
Witchcraft is praxis: how we do what we believe, and how we make those beliefs manifest. New Moon Magic is an offering to all witches, honoring the Craft's roots in centuries of empowerment, survival, and resistance--despite capitalism's attempts to co-opt and dilute its practice.
- Potions with Cerridwen and St. Hildegard von Bingen
- Divination with Lozen and Harriet Tubman
- The Garden with Mayumi Oda
- Ritual & Ceremony with Genesis P-Orridge
- The Circle with Audre Lorde
Review Quotes
"With their first book, Amy and Risa invited us all on a journey of story and magic that followed the rhythm of the Sun. Now we are invited to make another journey; to see ourselves, others, and our tools through the ever-changing and potent phases of the Moon. Come join us, join Risa and Amy, and let us all make magic together!"
--Jinkx Monsoon, Queen of All Queens
"Missing Witches weave together magical history, the potent present, and futurism to offer us inspiration and resources. This is a beautiful guide to healing that emphasizes that healing comes in many forms and that reminds us that we are not alone."
--Sarah Faith Gottessdiener, creator of Moonbeaming, the Many Moons workbooks, and author of The Moon Book
"This book is more than a book. It is an ecosystem teeming with modern Witches, ancestral agitators, anarchic seeds, and embodied practices. This book channels the moon's medicine of mutability and movement. There is a medicine available for every type of weather and every type of body."
--Sophie Strand, author of The Flowering Wand and The Madonna Secret
"Imagine, for a moment, entering a portal where you are encircled and empowered with the words, the magic, and the wisdom of historical and modern Witches. By holding this book in your hands, you hold the key. Open the portal of the pages of New Moon Magic to embrace ritual, to unlock the stories of spellcasting, to rejoice in rising up together to create change. Amy and Risa's book contains the juicy secrets and stories of personal Witchcraft to cultivate your own practice in a way that is authentic to you. In New Moon Magic, you are the spell!
--Veronica Varlow, author of Bohemian Magick
"This book is a welcome reminder that we need neither products nor permissions to make meaning, to build community, to exercise our power to shape our spiritual and physical lives. From celebrating our connection with nature to reaffirming our fundamental right to occupy space in the world, New Moon Magic is a timely message of empowerment and resistance."
--Jarod K. Anderson, creator of The Cryptonaturalist and author of Field Guide to the Haunted Forest and Love Notes from the Hollow Tree
"We are at a point in history where, once again, resistance is necessary. Laws, science, nature, policy, equity, inclusion, and freedom are being challenged more than ever. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the veil of "purchasing power," wanting or needing to buy the "right" tool for your magical tradition. New Moon Magic helps you understand why this isn't so, how this belief only soils the freedoms we all should enjoy, and how to get results while respecting the traditions of fellow healers, artists, and writers, from all different cultures and experiences. Risa and Amy give you an introduction with tools, stories, and substantial reference points on and for each tool, by those who are in and not in our community of healers. There is something for you in here. Whether you enjoy ritual, nature, geometry, poems, chants, or just want to learn more, you can find what you are looking for or store away the information in a book of shadows or vlog for later. The authors' truth comes honestly as they tell you about their own lives in ritual and supported by ritual. This helps you to see for yourself the true life of a practitioner--in times of mourning, joy, doubt, hope, and need.
This book is a call to action for those who want to be change agents without increasing the chasm between the social and political. I say this as a coven member, a Patreon contributor, a guest on the Missing Witches podcast, and a fan of their first book. As a practitioner of my own beliefs, I can attest to this book's wisdom and that it can be used by and shared with any magical tradition. The guidance is gentle--like a friend pulling you aside to share a great secret--but comes with backbone and research behind it. Research that is shared and bared from activists, authors, educators, practitioners, and healers from many other walks of life in addition to Witches. The tools themselves are as vast as the stories that are interwoven in the journey through the text. Bodies, tarot, art, needles, knives, geometry, journaling, poetry, brooms, crayons, and so on. Even though I do not practice in the same way as Risa and Amy, I can use these thirteen tools in a way that is familiar to me, respectful of my needs and ways, without diluting the message. I can't wait for you to experience this book for yourself and to learn and grow in your practice and join the cause of resistance to capitalism."
--Sherry Shone, author of The Hoodoo Guide to the Bible and Hoodoo for Everyone
About the Author
Dickens and Torok are authors of Missing Witches and hosts of the Missing Witches podcast. In books, conversations, and magic circles, they continually ask what stories and ideas have been erased by the whitewashing, commodification, and global persecution of Witches and other magical practitioners and seek ways to practice without perpetuating colonial violence.
"Missing Witches weave together magical history, the potent present, and futurism to offer us inspiration and resources. This is a beautiful guide to healing that emphasizes that healing comes in many forms and that reminds us that we are not alone."
--Sarah Faith Gottessdiener, creator of Moonbeaming, the Many Moons workbooks, and author of The Moon Book
These lists consist of goals, dreams, or desires that the practitioner wishes to attract or manifest in their life. By writing down these intentions and placing them in a sacred space during the new moon, witches believe they are harnessing the energy of the moon to bring their desires into reality. Another popular ritual during the new moon is the charging of talismans, amulets, or personal objects. Witches may place these items under the moonlight to absorb the new moon's energy and enhance their power. This charging process is believed to imbue the objects with the intentions, wishes, or energies of the practitioner. The new moon is also a time for shadow work and self-reflection. Many witches use this lunar phase to explore and confront their fears, insecurities, or negative patterns through various practices, such as journaling, meditation, or tarot readings. By shining a light on their inner shadows during the new moon, witches seek to embrace and transform these aspects of themselves. Overall, new moon rituals and witchcraft offer practitioners a sacred and magickal space to connect with the natural cycles of the moon and the universe. These practices provide an opportunity for personal growth, manifestation, and the development of a deeper understanding of oneself. Whether through intention setting, cleansing, shadow work, or the charging of objects, new moon rituals hold a special place in the practice of witchcraft..
Reviews for "New Moon Rituals: How to Cleanse and Charge Your Tools in Witchcraft"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "New Moon Rituals and Witchcraft." The book offered very little practical guidance and instead seemed to be filled with vague, superstitious ramblings. I was hoping for clear instructions on how to perform a new moon ritual, but instead, the author focused on unrelated topics and seemed more interested in promoting their own personal beliefs than providing useful information. Save your money and look elsewhere for a more informative and grounded book on witchcraft.
2. John - 2/5 stars - As someone who is new to witchcraft, I was excited to delve into "New Moon Rituals and Witchcraft." However, I found the book to be confusing and lacking in substance. The author jumped from topic to topic without properly explaining the fundamentals, leaving me feeling lost and frustrated. Additionally, the rituals described were overly complicated and unrealistic for someone just starting out. I would not recommend this book to beginners seeking practical advice on new moon rituals.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "New Moon Rituals and Witchcraft" fell short of my expectations. While the book touched on interesting concepts, I found it to be lacking in depth and practicality. The explanations were often vague and left me wanting more concrete examples and guidance. It seemed more like a collection of personal anecdotes rather than a comprehensive guidebook. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to those seeking a comprehensive and practical approach to new moon rituals and witchcraft.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - I found "New Moon Rituals and Witchcraft" to be highly sensationalized and lacking in credibility. The author made numerous outrageous claims without providing any evidence or logical reasoning. It felt more like a work of fiction than an informative guidebook. I was seeking a book that would provide practical insight into new moon rituals, but instead, I was met with disappointment and regret. I would not recommend this book to anyone serious about learning about witchcraft.
5. Samantha - 2/5 stars - "New Moon Rituals and Witchcraft" left me feeling underwhelmed and dissatisfied. The book was filled with generalizations and lacked specific details and steps necessary to perform new moon rituals effectively. The author seemed more focused on appealing to a wide audience rather than providing accurate and practical information. I was hoping for a comprehensive guide to enhance my understanding and practice of witchcraft, but this book fell short. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking detailed and useful guidance on new moon rituals.