When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek. - Wiccan Rede
Kissing the hand to the new moon is a ceremony of unknown antiquity, and Job, even in his time, regarded it
as heathenish and forbidden which always means antiquated and out of fashion−as when he declared (xxxi.
26, 27), "If I beheld the moon walking in brightness... and my heart hath been secretly enticed or my mouth
hath kissed my hand...this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge, for I should have denied the
God that is above." From which it may or ought to be inferred that Job did not understand that God made the
moon and appeared in all His works, or else he really believed the moon was an independent deity. In any
case, it is curious to see the old forbidden rite still living, and as heretical as ever.
From The Gospel of Aradia by Charles Leland
This verse gives an indication of how to work magick by the cycles of the moon. The Lady is the Goddess, and magick is worked at particular time during the moon cycle. During the New Moon, spells and ritual that deal with beginnings, openings, new cycles are worked, because the energies are fresh new and strong. During the waxing period between new moon and full moon, spell for increase are done. Whatever you foucus on and want more of in your life shall be pushed by the energies of the waxing moon. At the full moon (within two days of it) is when the moon rides at its peak, this is the time to ask what you seek. Here we are again reminded of the Gospel Of Aradia (google it ) which says to ask for what you want when the moon is full.
The Charge of the Goddess (another thing to google) and the ritual of Drawing Down the Moon, (google this too ) are also rituals that are worked within the full moon to bring energy and power to the witch
What has curiously been omitted by Doreen Valiente (author of the Rede) is the spell working in the waning moon and dark moon cycles. Waning moon energies are used for decreasing spells and spells to rid yourself of something (banishing). Dark moon spells are strongest for banishing works. Banishing bad habits, emotions, and the like are best at this time. There is actually an entire branch of Wicca who work only in the Dark Moon. Bear in mind that there is nothing evil about it.
Keep in mind that The authenticity of the Gospel of Aradia is under question by some factions of The Craft. The claim that Leland spoke to an Italian Witch whose family practiced in secret for years has been questioned due to some of the rituals and phrases used by the witch, which seem to relfect a Catholic influence. However, it is a good read, for it contains a richness in Old Religion teachings which can be found no where else.
