Some people feel that the timing of a spells is critical - and will put off performing a particular spell until the timing is just right.  Others feel that the purpose of casting the circle is to 'cut you off' from these influences, which means that you can do any spell at any time.  There is another group of people who feel that the presence of Full Moon Water at their ceremony also negates these influences and they can therefore perform spells outside of these constraints.  There will probably be other groups with differing beliefs, but these are the main ones that I've encountered to date.

I believe that, if the timing will give a spell a little 'push' then go for it - the more power, the more chance of success.  But if a spell really can't wait, then it just can't be helped . .. you've got to work with what you've got (not only in terms of tools, but also opportunity).  The following is therefore aimed at those who wish to attain optimum timing for their spells - Good Luck!

(NOTE:  Should you wish to, you can also use this 'optimum timing' for other areas of your life, such as the best time to buy a new car, book a holiday, visit relatives or even doing specific meditations, eg. past life meditation)

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The first thing to bear in mind is the current Moon Phase.  Let's choose an example to illustrate the process: - I want to perform a spell to 'pep up' my sex-life (don't we all!)....

Moon Phases

The moon waxes & wanes each month, rising an hour or so later during each twenty-four hour period. The Wheel of the Moon is approximately 28 and a half days long, waxing to Full Moon and waning to New Moon.  When it is full, it rises as the sun sets. There are different types of spells traditionally performed at the phases of the moon. More complicated patterns exist, relating to the specific day of each lunar month, but these methods are rarely followed today. The Moon's phases & the types of magick appropriate to them are:

Waxing Moon: (From New to Full) When the Moon is waxing it is a time for beginnings, health & healing, psychic awareness, beauty, fertility & all spells designed to draw or attract things to you.

Full Moon: The most powerful three days of the lunar month,  including protection, love, healing, purification, psychic awareness, money & travel.

Waning Moon: (From Full to New) This is the time for banishments of habits, addictions, disease & negative thoughts. jealousy, guilt, & hurts are released under the waning Moon. The old is swept away to make room for the new.  Spells to deflect or draw things away from you.

New Moon:  This is the second most powerful time of the lunar month.  Especially suitable for new beginnings (such as Self Dedications and Initations) and tool consecration and dedications.lls involving new beginnings and for tool consecrations.

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Sexual Matters are more powerful on a Friday (during a waxing moon) - so I need to perform my spell on this day.  But at what time?  To establish this we need to know what the ruling planets of the days of the week are...

Days of the Week - Ruling Planets

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Friday is ruled by Venus - now we can find out when the optimum time to perform the spell would be, using the Planetary Hours chart below, we must now found in which hour of Friday Venus is ruling.    

Planetary Hours

So, the optimum time in which to put a witchy boost in my bedroom, would be during a waxing moon, on a Friday, at either 12 midnight, 7:00am, 2:00 pm or 9:00 pm.  

Although I think that casting your spell at the optimum time would make it more powerful, this is not always practical and, as I said previously, if it really can't wait - then just go ahead.

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Lunabar

But how do I know when the moon is going to be full/waxing/waning?  I hear you cry.  Well, there is a really nifty little tool which you can download from the internet and, when unzipped and installed onto your pc, will sit on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.  One click on the icon sitting there will open up a whole new vista of moon information that you didn't even know you could possess!  It tells you when the next Full, New, and Quarter Moons will be, in which Astrological sign the moon is currently sitting (Refer back to the Days of the Week - Ruling Planets - if the moon is currently in the sign on which you need to cast your spell, then you've just given your magickal work yet another boost!).  Don't forget to also download the 'Moon Void of Course' tables which are available from the same website.  Please be fair about this though - this is a Shareware program and so is free to download.  But if you are going to be using it regularly (which you will as a Wiccan) then you need to pay for it - this is a really useful tool and, if it is abused, they will not make it so easily available.  Just click on the icon below and you're there - but don't forget to come back !

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Moon Void of Course

The rule of thumb is to avoid doing anything important while the moon is void of course. If what you have done during this period works, consider yourself lucky.

Before the moon enters a new sign (Leo, Virgo, Cancer, etc.), there is a sort of dead space. The best way to explain this is through Wiccan terms. The moon is between the worlds, in a time that is not a time, in a space that is not a space--it is in a celestial void where neither positive or negative energies behave as they normally do. To make this circumstance more irritating, it never lasts the same length of time. For example it could last only ten minutes, or as much as a day and a half. It isn't a phenomenon you can set your watch by, so you need to check either a planetary datebook or pocket astrologer.

The effects of the void moon vary. Some people manifest scattered energy, or that "I don't feel like myself today" position. Decisions have a habit of bordering on the illogical. Individuals under psychological counseling or drug therapy swing toward the irrational. Of course, those who need counseling and refuse to get it move toward more violent behaviors. The general rule during this time revolves around stuff you shouldn't do:

Don't do magick
Don't make major decisions
Don't make major purchases
Don't begin or complete any magickal operations
Don't make any major repairs

(Consult your Lunabar to keep a check of when this is)

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Get Out Your Wand!

Certain types of weather can be a real boost to your magick (Planetary Hours aside - but if they DO correspond, then all the better!).  This is, of course, providing that you are actually wanting to do the type of spell that the weather is right for....

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