Wiccan ceremonies for the full moon are an important part of Wiccan spirituality and practice. The full moon is considered a powerful time for magic and spellwork, as well as for celebrating and honoring the cycles of nature. During a Wiccan ceremony for the full moon, practitioners come together to connect with the energy of the moon and harness its power for their spiritual and magical work. The ceremony usually begins with a ritual purification, such as smudging with sage or a ritual bath. Once everyone is cleansed and prepared, the group often forms a circle and calls upon the four elements and the divine. They may invoke the Goddess and God, or specific deities associated with the moon, such as Artemis or Selene.
All this proffers itself as a readymade punchline, of course. An 83-minute doom album that is actually the first third of a four-hour opus seems a sort of galaxy-brained terminus, the ostensible slag of two stony dudes sitting for far too long in some smoke-clogged rehearsal room, tossing off absurd hypotheticals. Its minimalism becomes not just maximalism but also mannerism, so far up the form’s ass it may seem hard for outsiders to peer in. But Bell Witch are blessedly self-aware, adding one second of silence to The Clandestine Gate just to make it longer than Mirror Reaper, then sharing a laugh in interviews about the ridiculous choice. They get that this is a lot, that most folks don’t have the space for four hours of doom about, well, being doomed.
These eternal returns are less about infinite lives and more about pedestrian repetition, or surviving social structures that often ask the same of us at least five days per week. Upbeat isn t the word, up-tempo certainly isn t but there is a real sense of space, of vast open vistas that aren t quite as dark and miserable as we were led to believe.
They may invoke the Goddess and God, or specific deities associated with the moon, such as Artemis or Selene. Circles are cast to create sacred space and provide protection, and the group may perform various rituals and magical workings that are specifically designed to align with the energy of the full moon. This may include spells for abundance, intuition, protection, or manifestation.
Review: Bell Witch ‘Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate’
The cataclysmic rendering of Bell Witch‘s Mirror Reaper record still reverberates through the extreme music scene to this day, over five years since it first emerged from the nether realm like its album art cover suggests. Tectonic, apocalyptic, a record that has bewitched many since that day and it is always a pleasure and a curse to anticipate how a band will follow something so seminal. Well, your answer is Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate, Bell Witch‘s new record out now through Profound Lore.
Bell Witch ‘Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate’ ArtworkOne track. 1 hour, 23 minutes and 15 seconds long. Exactly the same as Mirror Reaper. If that doesn’t immediately give you an idea of the scope that this project is coming from, nothing will. Viewed as part one of the Future’s Shadow trilogy, The Clandestine Gate opens with slow, haunting organ notes that drift through empty space. It reminds me a lot of Asva’s What You Don’t Know is Frontier record, and as piano keys take over the melancholy at around four minutes, the morose gloom is starting to really set in.
Like all good funeral doom, The Clandestine Gate isn’t just an exercise in soul sucking heaviness (although when that starts to hit around the eight-and-a-half-minute mark, ooft) but also it is about tension, about atmosphere and about emotional weight too. The ghostly choral vocals come in after eleven minutes, an eternity for most bands but a mere blink in Bell Witch‘s time.
Upbeat isn’t the word, up-tempo certainly isn’t but there is a real sense of space, of vast open vistas that aren’t quite as dark and miserable as we were led to believe. By twenty minutes you could imagine almost this being an ambient piece, but with drums and guitar of course. It is huuuuge, but begins to close in on itself from here, trembling quiet notes shudder in the encroaching darkness and fade away into almost nothing. Sinister vocals weave within a single, creeping melody.
A more gloomy and funereal mood takes over, nothing cataclysmic yet, more like a trudge to the edge of the world. A stare over the end into the void, pausing to contemplate the abyssal growls emanating below you. The organ and choral vocals return as well, like a redemption light as everything starts to crumble. A conscious effort by the band to showcase more of their individual instruments and vocals perhaps? Certainly, it seems that way to me. The final, dirging destruction of death/doom tectonics, punctuated by organ once more, is the pièce de résistance of a work that is ritually spellbinding and invigorating.
I read in the promotional material that Future’s Shadow Part 1 was inspired by the minimalist films of Andrei Tarkovsky as well as the concepts of eternal return, where time never ends, and death is not the end of life but the beginning of a new infinite cycle. You can see exactly how, in the planetary, cosmic expanses of Bell Witch‘s soundscaping abilities; if this is the first part of a triptych that is destined to loop back upon itself like a titanic ouroboros of doom, then it foreshadows a truly time rending masterpiece. We are witnesses to the funeral doom’s rapture.
Label: Profound Lore Records
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram
Participants may also engage in divination or meditation to seek guidance and connect with their inner wisdom. The full moon is a time of heightened intuition and psychic awareness, so these practices can be particularly potent during this phase. Music, chanting, and dancing are often incorporated into Wiccan ceremonies for the full moon, as a way to raise energy and create a vibrant and joyful atmosphere. Drumming and singing help to create a trance-like state, which can enhance ritual work and magical intention. At the end of the ceremony, participants often share blessings, wishes, or gratitude for the moon's energy and the blessings they have received. The circle is closed, and the energy raised is released and grounded, ensuring that any residual energy is returned to its source. Wiccan ceremonies for the full moon provide a space for spiritual connection, magical workings, and celebration of the lunar cycles. They offer an opportunity to deepen one's spiritual practice, connect with nature, and fully embrace the power and energy of the moon..
Reviews for "The Power of Eclipse: Exploring Full Moon Rituals in Wiccan Beliefs"
- John - 1 star - I thought "Wiccan Ceremonies for the Full Moon" would be an interesting read, but I was thoroughly disappointed. The book lacked depth and substance, and the rituals described felt more like a gimmick than anything meaningful. The author failed to provide any real guidance or insight into Wiccan practices, leaving me feeling like I wasted my time and money.
- Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who was looking to learn more about Wiccan ceremonies and rituals, "Wiccan Ceremonies for the Full Moon" fell short. The book felt repetitive and lacked clear instructions. The author seemed to assume that readers already had a strong foundation in Wicca, leaving beginners like myself feeling lost. I was hoping for a more comprehensive and well-organized guide, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
- Mark - 2 stars - I found "Wiccan Ceremonies for the Full Moon" to be quite underwhelming. The content felt shallow and lacked authenticity. The author didn't delve into the spiritual significance or symbolism behind the rituals, making the ceremonies appear superficial. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed by this book.
- Emily - 1 star - "Wiccan Ceremonies for the Full Moon" was a major letdown for me. The book failed to capture the essence and beauty of Wiccan practices. The rituals described felt forced and uninspired, lacking the depth that I associate with Wicca. Instead of feeling connected to the moon and its energy, I felt disconnected and unfulfilled after reading this book. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a meaningful exploration of Wiccan ceremonies.