Moon & Sea Magic

The magic of the ocean is also the magic of the moon, and the night sky reflected upon the surface of the ocean’s dark waters is a magic in and of itself that we can work with. The powerful relationship of the moon, and sea is essential, basic, fundamental, and unending.

At the place of in-between, where the water meets the land, and the ocean meets the sky, the sea witch is most powerful, and there she can call down the light of the moon, and call forth the power of the ocean for her magical workings.

The wisdom of the ocean, and moon, is that of movement and stillness; the moon herself does not spin, she is stationary on her axis while orbiting around us, and the sea at times appears to be perfectly still, while beneath her surface she is roiling with movement. Even the waves teach us of movement and stillness, as they rise and fall, come forth, and recede, and all of this reminds us that all of life is in ebb, and flow,
at all times.

The moon encourages us to stand still and see the universe spinning all around us. The moon reminds us that we are sacred, undeniably a part of nature and that, as women, we are just as she is, luminous, reflective and cyclical. The ocean draws us deep down into her mysterious depths, and the moon draws us deep down into our equally mysterious psyche. Together they teach us the magic of increase, decrease, gathering, releasing, surrender, and flow.

Our ancient ancestors saw something special in the way that the sun, planets, stars, and the moon moved across the sky. They recognized that these celestial bodies had unique movements, distinctive personalities and predictable aspects that could be harnessed for manifestation, guidance, wisdom and magic—and, they also understood the natural relationship that all things below, have to all things above, which is the very essence of ocean magic.

WAXING

When the moon is growing larger and brighter, this is called ‘waxing’, and it is a very active, expressive and dynamic time that is best for gathering information, starting projects, and experiencing new beginnings.

The waxing moons are a time that is magically associated to the rise, or swell of the ocean, which is called ‘high tide’, and also to the action of a wave as it grows in size, and rushes towards the shore.

Magic for the waxing phases of the moon, high tides, and rising waves:

• Put ideas in motion.

• Make long-term plans.

• Start projects.

• Take physical action.

• Begin transitions.

• Beginnings

• Give, offer, and provide.

• Gather courage.

• Attracting

• Increasing,

• Positive change.

• Love.

• Fortune.

• Growth.

• New beginnings.

• Conceptualizing ideas.

• Invocation.

• Gathering—especially of resources and information.

• Creativity

  WANING

  When the moon is growing smaller and darker, this is called ‘waning’, and it is a very receptive, intuitive and calming time that is best for releasing, cleansing and letting go. This time is magically associated to the ebb, or decrease of the ocean waters, which is called ‘low tide’, and also the action of a wave as it is diminishing, and pulling back from shore. 

  Magic for the waning phases of the moon, low tides, and diminishing waves:

• Complete projects.

• Take Intuitive action.

• Complete transitions.

• Endings.

• Receive.

• Express courage.

• Surrender.

• Decreasing,

• Positive action.

• Letting go of old ideas.

• Gratitude.

• Releasing—especially of resources and information.

• Letting go.

DARK

When the moon is completely dark, it expresses a very still, tranquil and motionless energy that is best for meditation, reflection and going deep within. This time is magically associated to the ocean when it appears perfectly still, unmoving, and it’s surface is glass-like.

It is good to note that many traditional calendars do not recognize the dark moon as a phase, and often call it the new moon. When working with ocean-magic, however, the new moon begins only when the very first thin sliver of light is revealed in the night sky.

Magic for the dark phase of the moon, in-between tides, or when they are transitioning, and when there are no waves, the ocean appears still:

• Stillness.

• Solitude.

• Observation.

• Prayer.

• Meditation.

• Rest.

• Inactivity.

• Quietude.

• Inward thoughts.

• Go within.

  LUNAR-OCEAN PHASES

  During a single lunar cycle, or lunation, the moon will completely circle the earth, and she will pull towards her all the waters of the earth with a powerful, magnetic force that causes the rise and fall of the ocean’s tides. The cycle of the moon, and the rise, and fall of the tides can be used for magic workings, and for guiding your life.

  There are nine lunar phases that make up a full lunar cycle; dark, new (waxing crescent), first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent and back to the dark moon again. This lunar cycle (dark moon to dark moon) is also called a ‘lunation’.

  You can start a lunation at any phase, and it will then be named after the moon you started with. As an example, a full moon cycle, or lunation occurs from full moon to full moon, and a new moon cycle, or lunation occurs from new moon to new moon, and so on.

The moon has several other activities in addition to her phases. She travels through each of the zodiac signs as she makes her way across the sky, goes void of course, and she is eclipsed.

There are four ‘phases’ of an ocean wave, the cresting, falling, trough, or furrow, and the rising of wave. These phases can be used just like the lunar phases; the rising, and crest of the wave corresponds with waxing moons, the falling of the wave with the waning moons, and trough, or furrow of the wave with the dark moon.

LUNAR-OCEAN RITUAL

One of the most ancient—and powerful of all sea witch rituals, is to stand barefoot at the edge of the water, facing the ocean, with your hands raised up to the sky, palms open to receive the light of the moon.

Eyes closed, and heart open, you bring the lunar light, and energy of the sea into your being, and you send your own energy out, deep into its depths, and up, high into the night sky.

Through your feet, you gather earth energy, and are recharged, renewed, and refreshed. And you send to the earth all that you wish to release, let go, and unburden.

Even if you do not live near the ocean, you can perform this ritual during a meditation, using your imagination, and visualization. Place a bowl of water with sea salt before you, or do this while soaking in a sea salt bath.

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© 2023 Renée Starr | You may not reproduce this without permission. For cheerful permissions, please contact the author here.
Image Credit: Avery Cocozziello / Unsplash
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