Moon moon mother moon?

[vaxjedi]

I talked abotu how I see magick before, as related to the sun, and was looking for an idea of a 'shadow' magick. Several people suggested that Moon magick was what I was looking for, as the moon presides over the night, the compliment to day and sun. That makes sense to me.

However, what exactly is moon magick? I'm honestly not certain.


Let me explain my position.

I see magick as sun-based. Not magick in the Crowley "Magick is the art of causing change in accordance to the will" sense, but in the sense of magickal energies. You could say I see magick as the movement and application of Yang-aspected chi, if you like.

I say this because of my reaction to it. it seems very 'bright'. Being around people doing magick and ritual makes me feel like I'm caught in the sun in the desert - it's bright and hot and uncomfortable and I can't get away from it. I described it to someone as a 'mana-burn', like a sunburn, but with magick (And yes, I know there is a MtG card of that name - let's move on *g*).

I feel more comfortable in shadows. At night (which is really just the most profound shadow on the planet), in actual shadows, in metaphorical shadows (doing things without direct notice or attention). And I know that, as all people, I am part sun, a luminous being. But I seem better suited to operate in shadows.

So I am looking for shadow magick. Moon magick makes sense. Also, on of my deities is the Jade Goddess - 'shaladal - and jade is solidified moonlight according to Chinese mythology. So that seems to fit.

But I'm not sure what Moon magick really means. What are 'moon energies'? Are they Yin-aspected chi? Just another sort of Yang? Do they (if they exist) work like magick?

I dunno. Maybe I'm heading in the wrong direction. What do you think?

Comments

[toilteanas.livejournal.com]

i don't really know jack about all this, but upon reading it remembered that moonlight is really just sunlight reflected off the surface of the moon. so maybe moon magick is sun magick reflected somehow?

[karlthepagan.livejournal.com]

I re-enforced that notion before, I see it took some root... "doing things without direct notice or attention" :D

As far as world mythologies go I'm slightly amiss here. Consulting the internet oracle...

The mention of Yin reminds me of recent events on pagan and the notion that few neopagans embrace Shinto. Tho I've found many with more developed spiritualities have studied Buddhism.

All around the idea of a mystical / theological foundation analogous to or representative of science is supportive or perhaps simply satisfying given my personal religious formulation.

[hopeevey.livejournal.com]

I've always felt that the Sun is Yang and the Moon Yin. But that's me.

Wouldn't Shadow magic be the use of Yin-aspected chi? That just seems to make sense to me.

[gax.livejournal.com]

Could sun refer to magicks done in/from/for a group, and moon refer to magicks done in/from/for oneself?

[elf]

Playing with thoughts:

Moonlight is reflected sunlight. Mirror-energy; indirect energy. Also, it's cyclical: a way of converting DC into AC on a 28-day-cycle. Pulls the tides; enhances & inhibits plant growth in turns.

But there's no less light hitting the moon when it's less visible (except during an eclipse, only on the full moon)... we're just less exposed to it. Energy that's sent partially to us, partially sent loose to the cosmos.

The moon doesn't create light, but she changes how we receive it; she's a filter. A translator. One who converts & redirects the energies she receives; a conduit of power who moves through the night--and day, but nobody notices her there.

If solar energies are raw, direct power, lunar energies are refined & focused: not everyone receives them all the time. One must "tune in" to lunar energies; they surge and ebb, and they're easily hidden by landscape or buildings.

Dunno if any of that helps. It's what came to mind; maybe it sparks an idea or two.

[xiombarg.livejournal.com]

Everyone said what I was going to say already. :)

Moon is yin, but it's also reflected sunlight -- which makes sense, because all yin contains a little yang and vice-versa.

It sounds to me you're very yin-aspected. So the way to go, magickally, is passive rather than active. However, most magick is active... I'm not sure how passive magick would work. I'll have to think about it.

[vaxjedi]

yeah, I do tend to be Yin-aspected. Though I don't know how much I should go with my strengh and use Moon/Yin/passive/shadow magick, or if I should 'balance' and get used to Yang/active/sun magick. I mean< I am definitely not without Yang energies.

But I think maybe working with what I am might be a good start.

[kyril.livejournal.com]

I want to say something, but I realized I don't do much with "sun energy" to contrast "moon energy" with. Most of what I do is with the current, if not the actual energy, of the moon phase. Projective, operational, energetic stuff under a waxing moon; releasing, cleansing, indrawing stuff under a waning moon. Mostly worship/devotional stuff at the full moon, sometimes just drinking in the moonlight, though it's the peak of waxing so the high-energy stuff is still quite doable. During dark moon I generally don't do group ritual, preferring to spend it on deeper introspective stuff. Though of course, if the moon is in the wrong phase, I just ignore it.

As for the energy side of the equation, one might think "sun energies" might burn hotter than full moon energies...but then again, I don't get most of the energy for my workings from the moon. I chant, I dance, I draw energy from the earth under my feet and the air all around me, the sky and the elements and whatever divine guidance and/or assistance I have mustered.

So people do all sorts of stuff with "moon energies". And magick--"change in accordance with will"--can be accomplished as much through subtlety and timing as through raw force. If I have the strength to knock someone back on his ass, great; if I don't, I let him overextend, let him notice he's overextended, and push him back with what strength I do have once he's also pushing back to right himself. He still falls on the same ass.

From my perspective, there's much more a flavor difference than a capability difference between sun and moon. Burning vs. radiant; more direct vs. more subtle; the beauty of a sunset vs. rings of clouds around the moon; the gentle kiss of dawn on the landscape vs. the living shadows of the moonlit night.

I've learned that when invoking deities, especially in mixed/eclectic groups whose ideas of what the deity names mean varies, it's important to incorporate poetry or song, so that the art in those words aligns everyone with the intended sense of that deity, and kindles the Art in the call. I think the same thing is important to what you're looking for here: find the poetry, find the song, that speaks to your purpose in your heart. You can spend a lot of time searching for what "moon energy" (or any other term or deity name) is "supposed" to mean, and from that work out what it means to you...but if you can find meaning first, and name it later, I think you'll be better off.

And if you have the meaning, and can't find the poetry, just let it out and write it down...