Virgo season has always been a challenge for me. Maybe because, as a child, it marked the culmination of summer and the beginning of school, which was never an easy time as someone suffering from (then-undiagnosed) ADHD. It could also be a reflection of the relationship I’ve had with the Virgos in my life- most of those relationships (both platonic and biblical) have been short-lived, because well…. Virgos tend to be pragmatists, perfectionists (though often a bit naïve), and don’t take it well when things don’t go their way. I’m a Scorpio and, as such, am typically intuitive, brooding, and (admittedly) quite power-hungry. Hence, we tend to disagree on most things and I rarely have relationships with Virgos that go deeper than surface-level politeness.
But I think that the over-arching stress of Virgo season for me is the feeling of being thrust, against my will, into a rat race of people suddenly realizing that their goals have expiration dates. And how can I blame them? Summer in the northwest, with it’s fleeting sunny days and endless sources of crystal clear water, doesn’t make it easy to be productive- so when those first few leaves begin to fall, most of us are sent into a tailspin of panic over what we didn’t get done in those warm, lazy months.
For some reason, I often end up changing residences during this time, and this upcoming move will perhaps be our most difficult transition. Loading a U-Haul with the entirety of our belongings and driving it 1,200 miles from Portland to San Diego won’t even be the difficult part- it’s actually FINDING housing that I’m most concerned about. I’ll be handing in our 30-day notice in two days, and as of yet, we have nowhere to move. The rental market is completely saturated with students returning to university, and everything we’ve applied for is either ridiculously expensive, or already rented out. We’ll be traveling to San Diego in two weeks to secure housing and employment, but as our move-out date inches ever closer, the stress has begun to consume me.
So what to do in this situation? One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from Witchcraft, is the idea that all energy is passed from place-to-place (or, person-to-person) by way of intention. The stress I’m feeling about moving is really just the energy of my desire, with nowhere to go. This is where Spellwork comes in.
I only actually sit down and do physical spells a few times a year, in times of great need or confusion. Most of my magical work is done through divination and shamanism (the translation of spiritual “signs” in the natural world via plants, animals, weather systems etc). I guess one could say that as a Witch, I’m more in the business of receiving messages than sending them out into the Universe. Managing my intention is something I can usually do easily, and admittedly, I sometimes feel a bit out-of-practice when it comes to Spellwork!
But tonight’s New Moon in Virgo offers the perfect opportunity for some much-needed spiritual redirection. New Moons are the time to plant seeds, set intentions, and put our desires out into the Universe. The period between the New Moon and Full Moon is the time to grow and nurture these seeds (or spells!). And the waning period between the Full Moon and New Moon, is the time for letting things go that no longer serve us. Not everyone likes to do Spellwork in relation to the current moon cycle, but I’ve found it helpful in keeping my thoughts organized, as well as working alongside the powers of nature instead of in opposition to it.
It’s been awhile since I’ve worked a proper spell, so I’ll begin with tidying up my apartment and burning herbs to cleanse the space. Then, I’ll clean and tidy my altar, bringing new offerings of fresh fruit and flowers. Finally, I’ll adorn the space with pictures of homes I’d like to live in, and some of my favorite household items.
I’ll also be using some herbs and crystals to add to the potency of the spell. Here are some simple ones I found around my home that will work nicely for the purposes of an out-of-state move:
Oregano – joy, wealth, and luck
Bay Leaves – strength & balance
Sage – wisdom, health, & protection
Thyme – courage & strength
Rosemary – strength, intention & concentration
Tiger’s Eye – mental clarity & good luck
Amethyst – prosperity, abundance, wisdom
Malachite – safe travel, transformation & positive change
As for how I’m going to work these elements into the spell, I have nary a clue as of yet. I have found that the most authentic magic comes from when I get “down and dirty with the universe”, as I like to say. Because I no longer drink, I consume cannabis as a spiritual amplifier (you can read a fantastic article about the magical benefits of cannabis here), so I don’t really include that on my list- though it is almost always used in my Spellwork. I chant incantations if I feel like it- but because I was raised Catholic, it feels more natural to me to have a simple conversation with Spirit as I was taught to do in prayer. I invite them into my space and thank them for being with me, make my offerings, entertain with food, dance, and song, then humbly ask their advice or favors- just like I would an old friend. Doing spells “my way” seems to help the magic flow more easily, as I’m not getting caught up with finding the perfect ingredients or stumbling over what to say. However, as a witchling back in the early 2000’s, I definitely followed book-based spells (“Teen Witch” and “A Solitary Witch” by Silver Ravenwolf were particular favorites), and I’m glad I was able to hone my craft that way. Although I no longer consider myself Wiccan and have adopted something more closely resembling a Norse/Shamanic practice, I still refer to these texts often.
Even with all of this preparation, I’m still quite nervous about this upcoming move. Even having done everything in my power (both mundanely and magically), moving out-of-state is a huge challenge. But Witchcraft is a lifestyle that encourages tackling challenges head-on, in alliance with the natural world and the unseen forces of energy which govern it. In this busy season, the New Moon in Virgo asks us to trust our intentions, even when it seems that there are countless forces pulling our attention in a thousand different directions.
First work.
Then trust.
And trust, and trust, and trust.
Norse Western 