The Moons


	•	Teas for Each Moon of the Celtic Year


	•	LORE

Name of Moon:

Dates:

Matters of:

BIRCH MOON

Beginnings and children; purification

ROWAN MOON

Empowerment, clairvoyance, air magic, exorcism.

ASH

Matters of the intellect; magic, healing.

WILLOW

Matters of the Otherworld; healing, love, water magic,

Feminine mysteries.

HAWTHORNE

Peace, sleep, dreams, prosperity, happiness.

OAK

Lust, strength, energy, endurance, fertility, fire magic,

male mysteries.

HOLLY

Matters of animals; magic, prophecy.

HAZEL

Manifestations, protection, healing, fertility.

VINE

Earth magic, sex magic, overcoming difficulties.

IVY

Healing, cooperation, binding.

REED

Fertility, love, protection.

ELDER

Exorcism, prosperity, astral travel, finding faeries.

13 Teas for Each Moon of the Celtic Lunar Year
BY EDAIN McCOY
(From the 97 Llewellyn Magickal Almanac )

Many mystical and magical uses have been found for the thirteen trees which symbolize the months of the Celtic lunar year, and it is likely, considering the popularity of Celtic Paganism, that many more will be
discovered. However you choose to observe the lunar months, it can be helpful to first imbibe a magical brew designed to attune your body and spirit to the occasion.

Following are the recipes for thirteen teas which will accomplish just that. The measurements given are approximate, and for making one eight-ounce mug full you should use no more than a single heaping
teaspoon of dry herbs placed inside a tea ball or cheesecloth strainer. All liquid measurements should be added to taste. Allow the tea to steep at least two minutes, longer if you prefer a stronger flavor.

As always, when ingesting untried substances, be sure to test for any allergic reactions first, and remember that no herbal preparation should ever be taken over the long term without consulting an expert pharmacologist or botanist.

Though very few of the recipes actually contain any part of the trees to which they are attributed, they work quite well because their ingredients rely on using herbs and juices which share magical affinities with the properties of the tree. These properties are listed after the name of each tree so that, if you choose to, you can make substitutions based upon this knowledge. Depending upon the particular Celtic tradition you follow, the lunar year starts with either the first new moon closest to Samhain or the one just before Yule.

BIRCH MOON

3 parts ginger
1 part lemongrass
pinch of dill
splash of lemon juice

ROWAN MOON

1 part valerian root
3 parts peppermint
pinch of eyebright
pinch of ginger
Editors note: Valerian is a powerful sedative that affects each person differently. You may wish to use a very small amount of this herb at first to determine how it affects your body chemistry

OAK MOON

1 1/2 parts white oak bark
1/2 part mint
1/2 part orange peel
pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg

HOLLY MOON

1 part kelp
1/2 part rose petals
1/2 part raspberry
pinch of yarrow

HAZEL MOON

2 parts ginseng
1/2 part mugwort
pinch of savory
splash of any noncitrus juice

VINE MOON

1 part blackberry
1 part dandelion
splash of currant wine or grape juice
pinch of hibiscus

IVY MOON

1 part mullein
1/4 part eucalyptus
1/2 part barberry

REED MOON

1 part red clover
1 part hyssop
1 part boneset
pinch of slippery elm

ELDER MOON

1 part ginko
1 part mugwort
1 part valerian -- (see note under Rowan Moon)
1 part spearmint
pinch of anise (may substitute extract)

pinch of allspice

LORE:

HOLLY KING & OAK KING - (Pan-Celtic)

The Holly King and the Oak King
are two sacrificial Gods who, in the manner of such
deities, are two
aspects of the same being. The Holly King represents
the waning year,
and battles the Oak King at Midsummer (probably once
at Bealtaine)
for rulership. Likewise, the Oak King is the God of
the waxing year,
and battles with the Holly King at Yule (probably
once at Samhain) for the same honor.