The Void Speaks: Spellwork, Silence, and the Power of the Dark Moon
Exploring Moon Phases Series – Part 2: The Dark Moon
Before a word is spoken, before a match is struck—there is silence.
That silence? That pause? That’s the Dark Moon.
Understanding the Astronomical Dark Moon
Astronomically, the Dark Moon occurs when the Moon is in exact conjunction with the Sun—fully invisible to the naked eye. No sliver. No glow. Nothing but darkness. This phase lasts roughly 1 to 3 days and marks the end of the lunar cycle. It is the womb before rebirth.
But many modern calendars conflate the Dark Moon with the New Moon, a mistake that disrupts the flow of practice. The New Moon is when the first visible crescent appears—when the Moon begins to show her face again. The Dark Moon is what comes before that.
The Dark Moon is absence. It is decay. It is finality.
So, remember-the dark moon phase is the period of true conjunction, where the Moon is aligned closely with the Sun, rendering it completely obscured from Earth’s view due to the lack of reflected sunlight.
What the Dark Moon Offers the Witch
Where other phases encourage movement, action, manifestation—the Dark Moon asks us to do the opposite. To pause. To empty. To return to the base layer of our being and rest there without adornment.
It is a time for:
Baneful work (banishing, bindings, unbindings, reversals) - in regards to banishing etc… this shows a time to release what is no longer needed, to prepare for the rebirth and new beginnings that will come with the sight of the first sliver of the moon.
Shadow work (self-confrontation, therapy, journaling) - the Witch confronts and works through personal challenges here as well as the possible dark or unknown aspects of the psyche.
Dreamwork and trance (lucid dreaming, divination before sleep)
Ancestral connection (especially to those tied to loss, war, or secrets)
Spiritual concealment (invisibility, glamour for protection, veiling)
This phase is sacred to darker deities, chthonic spirits, underworld guides. It is where we strip off the performance of power and rest in the rawness of it.
The absence of the Moon’s light symbolizes a void, a moment for Witches to confront their inner daemons, shadows, fears, and the hidden aspects of the self.
Inaction as Magic
Rest is not a break from magic. It is a form of it.
The Dark Moon invites you to:
Withdraw from social obligations
Avoid large spellwork or ritual (if at all possible, but, at the end of the day the Witch does what must be done)
Close down your altar and listen
Fast, ritually or otherwise
This is a time to grieve, to shed, to prepare the field for the seeds you’ll plant later. Not every moment needs to be outward. Some are meant for undoing.
Baneful Timing and the Ethics of the Void
This is one of the most powerful times to do baneful work. But with that power comes consequence. The Dark Moon offers veiled potency—it can obscure origins, shield the caster, and operate in silence. But silence doesn’t mean lawlessness.
Ask yourself:
What do I need to end?
What do I need to sever from my field of influence?
Do I want this gone, or transformed?
Use this phase for the kinds of magic that don’t require visibility or return. Use it when you don’t want to be traced. Use it when the goal is disappearance, not manifestation.
Ritual Suggestions
Dark Mirror Scrying
Grave Dirt Sigil Release
Ritual Baths with Ash, Vinegar, or Black Salt
Binding Dolls or Thread Magic
Tarot spreads for shadow integration
This is the time for closed-circle work. Keep it tight. Keep it honest. This isn’t performance magic. This is personal reckoning.
Integrating the Dark Moon + Practice Rundown:
The Witch might choose this time for solitude and introspection, focusing on personal growth and spiritual discovery.
The Dark Moon can be an opportune moment for meditation on life’s cycles, personal transformation, and the natural balance between light and darkness.
This phase is a reminder of the importance of rest and reflection as part of the natural cycle, honoring the quiet and still moments as much as the active and bright ones.
The Dark Moon phase, with its inherent darkness and stillness, can be an ideal time for practices that require one to remain hidden or work under the cover of darkness. This can be a period of deep privacy and introspection.
While traditionally a time of inaction, some practitioners may choose to perform certain types of spellwork, such as malediction or protective spells, during the Dark Moon Phase. The belief is that the absence of the Moon’s light provides a veil of secrecy, preventing the spell’s origins from being traced back. It’s important to remember that this practice is highly individual, and discretion is advised. As with any spellwork, it’s crucial to be informed and intentional about your actions and their potential consequences.
The quiet and introspective energy of the Dark Moon is conducive to divination practices and connecting with the spiritual realm. Tarot readings, rune castings, or working with other divination tools can be particularly insightful during this phase. The absence of the Moon’s light is believed to thin the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds, making it an opportune time for communing with spirits, ancestors, or other entities.
This phase is also a powerful time for ancestral work. Whether it’s setting up an altar, offering rituals, or simply reflecting on your lineage, the Dark Moon provides a calm and focused environment for these practices. It’s a moment to connect with those who have passed, seeking guidance, wisdom, or simply offering gratitude and remembering them.
It’s essential to remember that your practice is deeply personal and subjective. The Dark Moon phase offers a variety of possibilities, and how you choose to integrate this time into your practice depends on your individual path and beliefs. Whether you choose to focus on rest and reflection, engage in hidden aspects of spellwork, or connect with other realms, it’s crucial to do so in a way that feels authentic and respectful to your practice.
The Dark Moon’s energy is particularly conducive to dream work. It’s a time when the conscious mind is quieter, allowing the subconscious to speak more clearly through dreams. Practitioners might focus on setting intentions before sleep to encourage prophetic or insightful dreams. Keeping a dream journal during this phase can be especially revealing.
For those who incorporate spellwork into their practice, the Dark Moon is an opportune time for casting dream spells. These spells can be aimed at enhancing dream clarity, facilitating lucid dreaming, or receiving guidance through dreams. The quiet energy of this phase helps in focusing the mind and setting clear intentions.
The stillness and depth of the Dark Moon are ideal for trance work and journeying. In these practices, you can delve deeper into your psyche, explore other realms, or seek spiritual guidance. The absence of the Moon’s light provides a blank canvas for these introspective journeys.
This phase of the Moon is about exploring the depths of the self, and trance or journeying can be powerful tools for this exploration. They offer a way to move beyond the conscious mind and connect with deeper, often unexplored aspects of the self.
As with any deep spiritual work, preparing your space and yourself is crucial. Creating a quiet, comfortable environment, perhaps with items that hold personal significance or power, can help in facilitating these practices. Grounding and centering exercises before beginning can also enhance your experience.
The Cycle Demands Rest
If you do not allow yourself to rest during the Dark Moon, your waxing work will always feel hollow. The lunar cycle is not just about light. It is about the return to silence, the composting of excess, the digestion of what you could not face before.
You do not have to produce during this phase. You have to be willing to pause.
And in that pause—see what speaks.
