First published in Daily Tribune under Anthony Vivero's Vibes and Vision dated December 1, 2008.
Many Filipino readers, researchers, practitioners and believers of moon magic have made major mistakes in their practice of lunar rituals. The culprit, if you must know, is the easy access to information from a wide variety of sources like books and Internet Web sites.
If a Filipino is in the habit of picking up beliefs sourced from a culture different from his own, for example, it could be out-of-sync with his physical, mental and environmental vibrations. Foreign practices are very different from our beliefs as Filipinos, and when these are practiced, they tend to have very little or no effect. As a result, those who follow such rituals end up calling the belief itself as a hoax, myth or fantasy.
The purpose of this article is for you to learn more so that you do not prejudge, or immediately dismiss them as “just occult practices.” A wise and intelligent man will try to explore and understand things based on his own experiences and not on plain hearsay. To cite an example, when all believed that the world was flat, those brave and thinking men who ventured to explore and decipher the truth were branded as insane and whatever they did were considered works of the devil. Fortunately, history has always proven that those who are naturally intrepid and brave enough to explore reap the rewards of success, and those who do not are sorely left behind. It will be encouraging for a human being to test the existence of the unknown and in the process, history’s records may place you as one of its success stories.
Moon rituals are effective if we follow the correct rules and procedures. Together with this important process, the intention must be specific and positive in order to be effective and fast. The most critical point though is that this ritual may look similar to practices in other parts of the world, but there are differences because of our local beliefs and our cultural upbringing that are unique to us, Filipinos.
Places to perform rituals
1. Top of the mountain. The nearer to the moon, the better to perform the rituals. Look for the highest point in your area. It is believed that if someone is simultaneously doing a ritual with others (which happens all the time anyway), the highest ritual altar gets the majority of the lunar magic and power.
2. Near the shoreline. Doing a ritual near the shore has a different effect. This is usually intended for emotional intentions and cleansing, or for wishes that need the natural power of the water.
3. Top of a building. This is the best place for urban dwellers. Finding a mountain every month could be a hassle when you are in the city. The next best thing is to be on the possible highest place in your area and gain the shortest or best distance between you and the moon.
4. Inside a cave. If there are positive intentions, there are, of course, negative reasons and the moon is one of the best tools to gain power for that negative intention. Performing a ritual in the darkness of the cave, or under the earth, would set the perfect place for this kind of intention. It is true that there is such a thing or ritual that is called kulam or black magic, but I will not tackle any of it nor teach them to anyone. Additionally, with regards to this particular article, all that you will read from here on are only for positive intentions and rituals. It is a fact, however, that there are negative rituals being performed by many practitioners. Do keep in mind that it is their call and the consequences are theirs as well.
Ritual times
1. Full moon. From the exact time of its fullness and to the fifth hour thereafter. A positive charge is done on this exact moment. A second late or a second in advance will render this ritual void and ineffective.
2. New Moon. From the exact time of the moon under the umbra or when the moon is totally covered by the shadow of the earth up to the fifth hour thereafter. Again, exact timing is needed for the much-needed result. Negative charging is also done at this time. This is also the best time for groundbreaking, cutting of trees and other movements of earthly natural materials.
3. Blue moon. The second full moon of the same month. Though this occurs every two and a half years, the best time is exactly when the moon is at its fullest up to the fifth hour of its fullness. The intention for blue moon rituals are usually centered on love relationships, finding a long lost love or friend, and the most popular, the desire to summon a soul mate.
Intentions
1. Positive charging. To summon the coming to reality of dreams and wishes.
2. Negative charging. Purging negativities, vengeance and wishes of getting even.
3. Healing. Healing of ailments, whether physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.
4. Witchcraft. Sorcery, anger and hatred.
5. Relationship. Longing and looking for the long-lost mate.
Process
1. Make a lunar altar, composed of candle, sand and water.
2. Make sure you face the eastern part of the area.
3. The altar must be facing the west.
4. Place the candle on your left or north part of the altar and the rest on the south part or your right.
5. Make sure that the participant has taken a bath and in the case of a negative intention, the ritual-participant must also take a bath from an oil-based solution (a secret concoction, not for public circulation). This is a self-prepared mix done with deep humility and respect to nature and it’s “caretaker.”
6. In the past, the practitioner does the ritual naked or totally bare, but nowadays, there are those who use white robes to cover themselves, or any type of clothing as long it is new and to be used only for the ritual. This is not a pagan ritual. The priests and pastors wear their own traditional clothing during masses and other religious rites, believing that this clothing is blessed by God and the higher authority of their churches. Let’s cut the nonsensical debate on exclusivity, of being the ‘chosen’ ones or people-issue. Whether we accept it or not, there is proper clothing for every occasion.
7. Meditate or pray. Calling on whoever you believe as your known God, Goddess or Deity is okay, and it is not wrong to ask for protection and blessings from any divine or higher being or entity. The fact is there are no recorded harm having been done to any participant by doing this ritual. Receiving blessings from God in every endeavor will make us strong and fully convinced of our good intentions and actions.
8. Write down you intentions on a piece of plain white paper. For a negative purpose, healing and mystical reasons, the intention is written on a special kind of leaf or on an unprocessed animal skin.
9. Say this prayer in whatever language you want as long as this is said with all the element and substances of the prayer that is in your personal prayer. To help you get a good start, here is a good prayer you can use. Add or link this to your own prayer:
“Lord God of Heaven and Earth, and all above and all below, I pray Thee to grant me my wish ___________________. O, blessed lady of moonlight be with me, this rite is in your honor, and time has come which are better. May the strength of the old enter the new, and life and abundance arise once more, O the blessing of the Lord thy God bring everything into reality of all this manifestations. Amen.”
10. Keep all the materials that you used. Keep them in a safe place. Cover them with a cloth, never to be opened till the next lunar ritual. Remember the wishes may be granted or be fulfilled at once, but some might take several repeated rituals. Always remember not to mix up new intentions with previous intentions. Wait for the moon to answer your prayers.
Practices are made and invented by any groups of men or women. If it differs from your own belief, it doesn’t mean that they are wrong and you are right or vice versa. You just have a different approach, but all have one objective, and that is to have a better life on earth with the help of the unseen, the source of all powers that brings harmony, life force and prosperity on our life on earth.
Comments or suggestions may be forwarded to anthonyvivero@yahoo.com or anthonyvivero@hotmail.com.
