This is the fifth part of my elemental series! Today we will explore other elemental systems, possible other elements within the system, and other cultural explorations into elemental systems!
So, we have looked at the basic elements, earth, air, fire, and water, but what about the rest? What about all the other magical systems out there?
Often times when we are researching the elements, a lot of spaces will have other elements that are important to their culture or religious framework. The most basic outline we can see across multiple cultures is the veneration of 'earth, air, fire, and water' but most cultures also venerate elements outside of that, whether its the concept of a spirit or another element that plays a role in life like snow, they will be venerated differently.
As science progressed, and as esoterica were working on an elemental system, they started grouping together things. An example is with snow, WE know that snow comes from water, so it has become an aspect of water in western systems, however to an ancient culture that may not have known that, it became its own element with distinct lore and features. This can stem from multiple reasons, like if its a cold climate so half of the year is covered in snow spawning a cultures need to venerate it differently. Additionally societies each had their own needs and philosophical beliefs which called for the addition of multiple other elements. We will explore more about the nuances of this later.
Another aspect that is worth exploring is that some systems do away with the 4 main elements all together, take Feng Shui or Wu Xing a 5 element system that composes earth of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Now, this system came from need and philosophy, it is a reflection of the culture it came from (9th century China) with strong emphasis on harmony and figuring out a place in the world.
Now that we have looked into what I am talking about, lets look into some nuance.
As we previously explored in an example, lets look at snow. Snow is now an aspect of water in western elemental systems because we know that snow directly comes from water, why isn't it an element itself anymore? Snow has become an aspect, or a form of the element of water with its own distinct name, associations, and lessons outside of the whole of water. What gives?
Similar to how gods have epithets (aspects of their character) and archetypes told in stories, the elements have the same thing, instead its observable traits that come from the whole. For example, fire is also ember, charcoal, and wands because fire is associated with all of those things, they are extensions of the whole that offer a unique perspective. It is an aspect you can work with, like picking an epithet to work with in deity work.
With this in mind, it explains how we get 'darker elements' or pieces of elements. Now some things cannot be classified in this way, so they become elements all on their own. For example, some groups will include elements like 'nature' to describe the living things and use earth to describe the unliving things, it is spiritually distinct from earth, and has its own associations. While in the west people lump that in with earth, it isn't true for every system and often times there is spiritual and religious significance to the distinction.
Because of all of this, personal elemental systems are extremely unique to someone's region and beliefs, Its why for some groups snow is still its own distinct element, or even sometimes considered a distinct byproduct of an element of a god, like a child, making it a distinct element. There is not right or wrong answer when it comes to the elements or elemental expression, what's important is that you find a system that resonated with you, the land you are standing on, and the lands that came before you.
Something important to recognize is that elements are very naturalistic and are intrinsically linked to human activity, things like climate change, terrain change, and more can influence how an elemental system evolves. It is why it matters that you research both the land you are standing on, and the land your ancestors walked on, so you get a more rounded view of how the elements have adapted and you start learning more about what resonates and connects with you personally.
Keep in mind, these are just some examples and don't reflect every culture out there! I wanted to list a couple examples to get get you thinking about where these systems came from and why. As a reminder; people are not a monolith, lets not treat them as such, these are just a couple examples from around the globe, research is key when looking into personal associations. These are just some bite-sized beliefs Greek Classical Elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Aether Philosophy: Empedocles (5th century BCE): Proposed the four elements as eternal substances forming all matter. Aristotle (4th century BCE): Added Aether (divine, unchanging substance of the heavens). Celtic Traditions Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit/Otherworld Symbolized life’s cyclical nature and the connection between the physical and spiritual realms.
Hindu Panchabhutas Earth (Prithvi), Water (Apas), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), Space/Ether (Akasha) Foundational for Ayurveda and many spiritual traditions, they are the building blocks to life.
Hawaiian Elements Earth (ʻĀina), Water (Wai), Fire (Ahi), Air (Makani), Spirit (Mana) Reflects the balance of nature and spiritual energy (Mana) vital to Hawaiian culture. Native American Traditions Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sacred Directions or Spirit (varies by tribe) Can be tied to the Medicine Wheel but not always, with an emphasis on balance and harmony.
Other System Ideas When in the process of researching, its possibly you will find other systems and beliefs, for example some sources online will say "The Norse believe in 12 classical elements" when in actuality it could be mistranslations, adaptations from medieval times, and so much more. Its important to consult with historical sources and people living within these cultures to make sure you are getting a full and accurate picture into their elemental systems! There are many, many others around the globe, with their own beliefs and systems, it is absolutely worth doing a deep dive to see what systems exist and why.
The western elemental system is a generalized system of elements (usually 4-5) that stems from ancient Greece, but was later expanded on by alchemistic and esoteric traditions! During the Hellenistic period, the Greek elemental system merged with Hermeticism and Alchemy in an attempt to build more with scientific practices, to which the western elemental system was finalized and integrated into western occult traditions during the medieval period! The things that made this system so unique is that it did not rely on any major mythology, but rather was used to explain concepts of the natural world. Because of the secular use, as well as a spiritual one, people began using this system to label tarot suits, herbs, astrology signs, and its where a lot of the 'elemental labels' come from today! A vast majority of sources you see use the western elemental system, which has its own pro's and con's especially when you cant pin point the origins to a belief, so remember to use researching skills when looking at these systems.
While we do have this system, we also began to see the spring of "cardinal witches", witches that use the cardinal directions to associate their practice to a certain element. The western system does attribute the elements to specific cardinal directions, so a west witch would mean a witch who delves into matters of water, the past, divination, and the psyche, because those are all associations with the western idea of 'west' These labels come from pop culture, folklore, and occult practices alike that have greatly shaped the way we view the western elemental system.
While no elemental system is perfect, we are exposed to it constantly on our spiritual and magical journeys. It can be a wonderful tool when learning about magic and how we interact with it on a worldly basis! I hope you found this informational piece as interesting as I did! Do you feel like you subscribe to an elemental system? where does it come from? Let me know in the comments below :) Fair Winds
Sources and Notes
I’ve had a few people ask me about how to interact with shadows and darkness. And I found myself thinking of a method I used.
Needed:
Totally dark room
Small table you can sit on the floor in front of
A black candle (any size)
You will be working with elements of fire and shadow (light and dark)
Sit in the floor and light the candle. As the flame rises pay close attention to how it moves. Focus on the movement and dance of that single flame. Let the light fill your senses.
Now out of the corner of your eye look at the interaction of the candle light against the darkness and start looking at the dance of the shadows instead of the dance of the light. Eventually raise your eyes from the candle and stare straight ahead, focusing more on the darkness and the dance of the shadow. Let that darkness start to fill you, replacing the light. You may feel your own internal darkness resonate with the darkness around you. When you do, blow out the candle.
I’m curious for people to try this and share their experiences with me.
**If you try this please message me and tell me of your experience**
Hello World! (hehe)
Ive noticed a lack of information on techno-magic and what being a tech witch might entail! Tech magic is the use of modern-day technology in our magical practices! This can be a secular practice OR someone may pair other aspects of theology into it! There is also 'Technopaganism' which is the merge of neopaganism and digital magic. Some people may worship tech and its energy or some people simply use it as a tool for ritual magic!
In this post I wanted to showcase a few ideas to get you started in the tech practice! The first section being common tools, the second is common tech practices, and the last is about how to take steps into your new tech practice and advance forward!
First: The tools To get started here are some amazing apps people might get on their phones to carry magic anywhere
The Moon is an iphone based calander with a bunch of free information about the phases of the moon and even crystals and intentions related to the phase!
Rune reading on the Google Play Store this is a divination app in relation to runes!
Citrine Circle is a great crystal data base to keep track of crystal you either have or want to get
Time Passages is a free chart reader that will read your whole astrological chart!
Labrynthos is a free tarot app that not only gives you access to free tarot, oracle, and lenormand decks, but it teaches you how to read them
Next are physical or digital items you can use in your craft, I will go in more detail in the sections to follow!
Computers, phones, tablets
Mouse
Keyboards
Applications and websites
coding platforms
Second: The Practice
This section is all about creating ideas to use for your craft! This section is all about how to integrate common witchy things into your craft! There are thousands of ways to do this so it would be impossible for me to share every idea but hopefully, these get your creative juices flowing
Cleanse using music or beats you enjoy over a speaker
Use mechanical processes in your spells (for example your cars computer could be a green light charm if you hate waiting in red lights)
Create digital grimoires on places like notation or google docs
Create altars on places like Pinterest or sandbox games
Play video games with intentions, like tycoon games for prosperity and FPS for warding
Use autotune during chants to add more power to your voice
Use screens for scrying or intuition practices
Shufflemancy is when you shuffle through a playlist and get a song as a form of divination
Use the energy of a crystal on your screen if you don't physically have one
create digital sigils and hide them around your electronics
Learn a coding language and mess around with enchanting code
Third: How to move forward
So now that you have a few recommendations how can you advance? first research, check out some of these sources for even more information
Tech Magick for Digital Witches
Other Community tech posts
Wiki on technopaganism
Cyber Spell books (Note this was written in 2002 so it is very outdated, however it is actually one of the more recent ones I see online)
Now, Research is going to be the backbone of any practice, however, tech magic doesn't have definite rules so experimentation is going to be your best friend so here are my top tips
If you learn about a new practice ask yourself how you can make it digital (like crystals and the crystals in your phone)
Look deeper into the practice, as you explore how your computer works ask yourself 'why' frequently and question how things work
look into superstitions coders and virtual friends have in relation to computers, are they rooted in anything?
I think that is all for today friends! I hope you all enjoy and if you have any questions feel free to post them in the comments!
I’m trying to grow my YouTube account where I educate people about dragon magick! It would mean a lot to see some support over there as I’m losing motivation to keep creating long form content, yet it’s the best way to share the most information about dragons, which is hard to come by. Dragon guides are rare so therefore dragon witches are rare but I see it growing with how many dragon connection readings I’ve been doing! You dragon lovers are out there, just need to find each other! 👁️🐉✨
by @chickenroost
I’am Secure with myself - sigil I made
Psychic Defense Technique One – White Light
This technique is widely accepted and utilized within the new age and mainstream avenues involving metaphysics. The initial concept is about surrounding ourselves with white light encompassing positive energies relating to protection and love.
White light often is associated with illumination, purity, harmony, and wholeness. It raises our awareness and energy vibrations as a whole while neutralizing negativity away from us.
Visualization Remedies
Imagine yourself in the center of the room illuminated by light bulbs providing warmth and security to you and your home.
Find yourself standing under the shower waters or next to a waterfall. Seeing and feeling the waters turn into light illuminating over you and around you are becoming a protection barrier.
Visualize angels watching over you and the light is radiating and forming just the right kind of shields.
Psychic Defense Technique Two – Bubble Shields and Layers
Bubble Shields
The Bubble Technique uses the idea that we can mentally surround ourselves with either a bubble or shield itself that will reflect and absorb negativity, so we do not feel the full effects. It is useful when having to learn shielding techniques because the bubble or shields themselves can feed on the negative energies directed at us, but only if there is a filter being used.
Filters
When it comes to energy filters try to think of it like this. We use coffee filters to take in all the good stuff leaving behind the coffee grounds or else it slows down our intake and is more like sludge that we are drinking. Some of us are left feeling nauseas and will end up sick if this keeps happening.
Throat Chakra
The color blue is associated with the throat chakra and this energy point represents will power. Whenever an individual visualizes their personal shield try combining the associated color and chakra point energies because directing willpower and your voice to the shield strengthens it.
Layers
When it comes to the bubble shielding technique it is a good starting point for beginner energy workers, but there are advanced methods one should learn to further reinforce themselves.
The easiest way for me to explain this is an individual should start out by visualizing the sphere around them and from there adding more layers. You can be creative with this, and the bubble method doesn't always have to be utilized in this way. Some practitioners visualize a suit of armour or an actual shield that will aid in their personal protection. So, my question is what do you think would work best for you? Is the armor or bubble surrounded by elemental energies that correspond with you as an individual? What about colors and their metaphysical meanings? Are there any plants or animals that work with you in order to properly create these shields?
It doesn't always have to be the bubble method or suit of armour either. The shield can be a triangle like a pyramid or walls built around you. The creativity is left up to you as the author.
My best advice for trying out advanced shields and adding in layers is to write and / or draw it out physically for yourself. Do not show anyone else because this is for your eyes only. Having an actual physical visual for yourself helps because you can look at this and change things around at any given time.
Psychic Defense Technique Three – Shadow Shields
Like the bubble and light variations of shields the shadow shield can be formed as either a barrier, fog, mist, or utilized as a combination. For focus and laying out the basic foundations visualize yourself in a dark room so that there is a perpetual shadow. This will familiarize you with how you may look in the darkness of a room or another way to achieve this is by going outside and peering down into your own shadow visualizing it as a suit of armor or your shield.
The shadow shield can be turned into an offensive weapon as well if the magician visualizes additional parts to their own shadow such as spikes, barbs, or tendrils. It's also an effective cloaking method if one wishes to remain unnoticed by people around them. The shadow when visualized properly can create a camouflaged space around you, but this method requires more energy and focus to maintain. Remember and think of things like this as well. It's easier to hide behind shadows than in a clear or colored shield.
Psychic Defense Technique Four – Physical Body Positions
Certain body positions can act to close off the energy circuits and protect chakra points depending on where the arms and legs are crossed. Next time you are around someone that seems to be draining and pulling at your energy or spewing a bunch of negativities try sitting down and crossing your arms and legs. Simply listen, but do not give into their issues.
Another way to try this is to think about your chakra points along the human body. If you are unable to sit down, think about the throat and heart chakras. Visualize slowly closing the chakras off temporarily while around these types of people.
Psychic Defense Technique Five – Reflections
Mirrors
The visualization technique here is to imagine mirrors facing outwards so that energy is reflected away from you. This is a good method to try whenever keeping unwanted energy out. Everything will be reflected return to sender.
Another way to utilize this is by visualizing mirrors around someone else facing inward. Whatever they try to send at you will return to them. The cause and effect will be that they themselves get to deal with their own energies instead of causing harm to your own.
Negative Bubbles
Visualize a bubble around the person that is being negative. Similar to the mirror method, whenever the individual in question tries to throw negative energy or use negative emotions to their advantage, the energy won't be able to escape the bubble. The person will feel everything for themselves versus harming you. They will learn to be nice or be zapped by their own negative energies.
Hallways And Doors
Remember that person throwing negative energies at you? Instead of visualizing mirrors or bubbles to return to sender you can also try this. For any psychic attack being thrown in your direction visualize and redirect those energies by looping hallways with doors or imagine whatever it is attacking you on fire before giving the outside energies a kick to the curb.
Psychic Defense Technique Six – Salt
Kosher Salt or Sea Salt works the best for protection because these types of salt absorb negative energies and will ground them or take it away from you. There are many different ways to use salt. How does this help in shielding yourself one might ask? Simple. Sea Salt can be used as a physical or energetic barrier. It is also good for grounding your own energies because it is an element from the earth.
Salt Remedies
Salt in a small cup around a busy room and where you work the most will help by absorbing the negative energies. Make sure to flush and change the salt out every month.
Sprinkle salt into bath water and soak. The salt will absorb and take negative energy from you while also grounding your energies. Add a touch of baking soda if you need to kickstart your own energies and revive what has been lost.
Dilute salt and mineral water into a spray bottle. In each room that has been overloaded with negativity I want you to spray mist into the air. This will cleanse and clear your home. Alot of people tend to try this if they cannot or will not use smoke cleansing methods.
Psychic Defense Technique Seven – Protection Symbols
Protection symbols come in many different forms but will only work if you believe in them. Your belief in the symbol actually working will give the best results. Confidence is always the key whenever one is working in metaphysics, period. Belief is the most important, and when it comes to protection symbols, they can be utilized as an additional method to your energy shields. The symbol can act to strengthen the subconscious mind which adds to your defenses.
What works best for you? Many people believe in different things and any symbol can be used for protection as long as the symbol means something to you. What may work for you might not work for the next person due to having different beliefs.
Psychic Defense Technique Eight – Prayer and Affirmations
Prayers are good for building positive energy, amplifying protections, and adding layers of defense to your energy system. It's a good way to get to know your deities and spirits as well. While this may be a good tool for building a relationship with your spirits, please remember to not fall into the habit of doing this and becoming too dependent. Deities and Spirits are there to help guide you. They are teachers and sometimes will become your friend -but like all other mentors they want what is best for you so that you will grow. This includes being able to protect yourself without aid at some point as you progress in your metaphysical workings.
Affirmations are about bringing positivity to yourself as a person.
Simple affirmations include:
"I allow only positivity around me."
"My vibrations grow stronger every day."
When writing out an affirmation try to keep it in the first-person perspective and stay in the present. Do not sink into the past and think about all the negatives. Affirmations are about all the positives one possesses. Adding this right after a prayer is a good way to boost relationships with your spirits.
Psychic Defense Technique Nine – Crystals
Crystals can be used for various workings and amplify your protections or work to protect you on their own accord. Many crystals are already attuned to certain metaphysical properties and each stone holds its own meaning. There is even a way to use crystals and lay out a grid for bigger spell workings or intentions. To provide some great examples; black tourmaline and most obsidian stones are great for protection aid and are good choices for crystal grids when seeking out protection and absorbing negative energies away from you. Most crystal grids rely on a bigger crystal that is central to the rest being used because they act as a generator giving power to the grid itself and amplifying the other crystals within the line up. A lot of people use clear quartz for generator crystals, however if this type of crystal is under too much strain or absorbs too much negative energies they are known to chip and crack. Darker stones are your friend.
Psychic Defense Technique Ten – Sounds
Using sound as a means of defense can be effective and primarily it is used more so as a warning or deterrent within an outer to middle layer of your shields. Sound distracts and thus scatters a target's focus on the original intent. With this obviously there is a source of irritation present rather than direct counter attacks.
Various sounds that can be used are high pitched ringing, alarming bells, constant chatter of people as background noise, nails on a chalk board, etcetera.
Which sound you choose for yourself is entirely up to your imagination and as always one method may not work for all attackers.
At times, this is a temporary idea for whenever you need to craft your shield and get other layers up.
Ideas Worth Remembering:
1. Your subconscious mind controls all the vital processes of your body and knows the answer to all problems.
2. Prior to sleep, turn over a specific request to your subconscious mind and prove its miracle-working power to yourself.
3. Whatever you impress on your subconscious mind is expressed on the screen of space as conditions, experiences, and events. Therefore, you should carefully watch all ideas and thoughts entertained in your conscious mind.
4. The law of action and reaction is universal. Your thought is action, and the reaction is the automatic response of your subconscious mind to your thought. Watch your thoughts!
5. All frustration is due to unfulfilled desires. If you dwell on obstacles, delays, and difficulties, your subconscious mind responds accordingly, and you are blocking your own good.
6. The Life Principle will flow through you rhythmically and harmoniously if you consciously affirm: "I believe that the subconscious power which gave me this desire is now fulfilling it through me." This dissolves all conflicts.
7. You can interfere with the normal rhythm of your heart, lungs, and other organs by worry, anxiety, and fear. Feed your subconscious with thoughts of harmony, health, and peace, and all the functions of your body will become normal again.
8. Keep your conscious mind busy with the expectation of the best, and your subconscious will faithfully reproduce your habitual thinking.
9. Imagine the happy ending or solution to your problem, feel the thrill of accomplishment, and what you imagine and “feel will be accepted by your subconscious mind and bring it to pass.”
Excerpt From
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
Murphy, Joseph
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Cartomancy Series
Shufflemancy
5 Senses Energy Readings
Custom Sigils
Umbra Witchcraft FAQ
The Umbra
Connecting to your Umbra Guardian
The First Umbra Guardian
Umbra Guardians cont.
The Umbra and Me
Shadow People/Umbra Spirits/Guardians
Rogue Umbra Guardians
A realization
Umbra Paths
Traveling to the Umbra
Part of the Dark
Umbra Energy Lesson
My First Shadow Encounter
How to Umbra Cloak
Shadow Meld/Darkness Discovery
Umbra Grounding
Summoning a shadow orb
Summoning a Shadow Person
Drawing and using Umbra Energy
Detecting your own energy
Umbra Witch Self-Care Tips
Connecting to the Umbra
Umbra Witchcraft: Tools & Associations
Cartomancy Series
Overview
Prayers from the Umbra Pantheon
Nyx, the Primordial Goddess of the Night
Erebus
Hades
Persephone
Hecate
Hestia
Twelve Olympians
Prosperity Spell
Don't Notice Me Ward
Mirrored Empath Shield
Negative Bomb
Penance Stare Curse
Umbra Dart Curse
Dead Like Me Curse
Anon Hate Curse
Life and Death (lockscreens)
Supernatural (Moodboard)
My Personality (Moodboard)
Ancient Egypt (Moodboard)
Fire and Ice (Moodboard)
Hades and Persephone (Moodboard)
Mimir (Moodboard)
Scorpio Rising (Moodboard)
Capricorn Rising (Moodboard)
Zeus (Moodboard)
Melancholy Thoughts (Moodboard)
Dragons & Mermaids (Moodboard)
Mermaids (Moodboard)
Umbra Witch (Moodboard)
Artemis & Aphrodite (Moodboard)
Goddess Nyx (Moodboard)
Order of the Autumn Snowflake
Sigil Alphabet
Thrones of the Fae Courts (Wombo Dream)
Thrones of the Umbra Pantheon (Wombo Dream)
Snowy Meadow (Wombo Dream)
Elemental Banner (Social Media Banner)
✨️🫙✨️Spells✨️🫙✨️
I have often been unsatisfied with the way that current witchcraft communities approach the sun, the moon and the stars. The approach is often mythical or based in gender associations which don't particularly call to me. Since I've been exploring basic astronomy recently, I thought I'd write my personal guide to celestial magic. No hate to people who work with celestial bodies in different ways to me, I simply want to share my practice and experience with you all for those like me who might want a new perspective on an old practice.
I have found that returning to the basics of astronomical knowledge on the sun has helped me connect with its energies and come at it from a new perspective.
The sun, the star in our solar system, is responsible for almost everything we see in daily life. Not just plants which live off its light, but our gravity itself, the planet we live on works in perfect harmony with the celestial bodies that surround it to create the world we hold dear. The workings of physics on our earth are not mundane but instead wonderful and magical. Our exact position in the solar system is what allows life. Whether you believe it is by chance or the gods that allowed it to happen, the beauty in it only grows when you learn more about our precious star.
The light that comes from the sun gives life, and its existence allows us to exist in tandem. But it is also deadly, its rays can burn and wither and one must apply caution when working with it. The warmth it gives us can sometimes be overwhelming, I think most of us have experienced that thanks to global warming.
Regardless, the sun, to me, represents the present. Everything that is during the day, the slow progress from dawn to dusk in the present moment. It represents life and warm light that gives light and hope to many, but it can also be too much at times. Just as life can be. But as it moves across the sky it is a reminder that the present moment changes. It is fluid, and each moment passes and brings forth another after it. The cycles of the sun, too, are this reminder. The solstices change as time passes, but they are ever a reminder to stay in the present moment and notice the world around you.
That was all very poetic, but in reality, it is very simple. The sun is a powerful tool for use in magic of abundance, life and happiness. But it can also be used in baneful ways that are less commonly addressed. The sun is a deadly laser, after all. As our star, there are few things that escape its touch. Harnessing its power can be simple, but that is a post for another day.
I find that the stars are less often discussed as a plural celestial force in witchcraft and are more commonly associated with astrology. While the reading of the patterns of the stars is no doubt interesting, they themselves hold a unique power.
While at first glance it appears to be a cold light, these stars are not so different from our own star, the sun. Lightyears away still their light shines to us, some dying and some new. To me, this signifies the past. They are each of them unique, and while our position to them changes as the earth moves throughout the year, they each have their own place in the universe. Their own solar systems, their own galaxies. We change and the world around us changes, but the stars' patterns can be counted on and predicted.
I find the stars to be a unique and comforting sight, when I can get somewhere with a lack of light pollution to truly appreciate them. Though I may not have learnt the constellations by heart, there is something touching about stargazing. Do not forget to be curious about them, not just in learning their names and associations but in the light themselves. Venus shines brightly in the sky, not because it is a star but because it is a planet in our solar system. The same goes for Mars. I find learning about these planets and stars beyond far more enlightening than star signs. Do not forget that beneath the mysticism and the names lies a real, tangible light and power that you can feel if you only look.
So much has been written on lunar magic I could not scratch the surface if I tried. But again I return to science to guide my magical inquiry. The moon, our moon, is a satellite which rotates around the earth in a unique and fascinating equilibrium which is special to our own planet. The moon, while small compared to some of Jupiter's moons for example, is uniquely large when compared to the size of our planet. This is what allows its gravitational force to influence the tides of the world.
If the sun is the present and the stars the past, the moon, then is the future. When the sun sets and the world is bathed in its light, it is a reflection of the sun that we cannot see. A reflection of the sun that has yet to rise, revealing things in the darkness which have yet to come to the light of the sun. Perhaps that is what gives the moon its unique power and special place in witchcraft practices. Perhaps it is its proximity to us, the closest celestial power and the only that humans have yet touched. Or perhaps it is the gods. Regardless of what its origin is, there is little doubt that the moon is a powerful force in witchcraft. Countless guides and books can tell you more than I could about it.
When I say light magic I mean not the term often used in fantasy to mean "good" magic, but the use of light itself in magical practices. Celestial light is, in my opinion, the most powerful form of light available to us.
It is quite common for people to use sunlight or moonlight to 'charge' crystals or sun/moon water, but rarely have I seen a more in depth explanation of how light can be used in spells. Many spells are done under the light of the moon, particular moon phases or at certain times of day, but the light rays themselves provide energy which can be used and manipulated for magical ends. With energy work it can be helpful to have a visual aid, and i certainly find the aid of the light to be a good visualisation tool. Sunbathing (with proper spf protection), moon bathing or star gazing are all excellent ways to work with the unique energies of celestial light. But something as simple as opening your curtains in the morning is its own form of energy work.
If you know anything about my posts you know I prefer the simple, everyday magic over complicated rituals and spells. For me, sitting in the sun with a cup of coffee or tea helps me to recharge. I will always pick the simple things over the complex, and the energies that light provides are an excellent way to work with not just the world around you but the universe too. The solar system beyond our little rock, the galaxies and other solar systems which are visible in the night sky. All of them are beautiful and unique.
If this post inspires you to do anything, I hope it inspires you to be curious about the universe around you. Read a book about the moon, watch a documentary about the stars, or pick up a pair of binoculars and go out at night and see what you can see. This is all just as important as spells or rituals, if not more so.