Pagan Portals: Moon Magic

Most Pagans may have a pretty good idea about what books are out there that talk about the Moon and magical work. A new one to add to your list is Rachel Patterson’s Moon Magic, another in book in the 23-book Pagan Portals series.

The Moon is such a huge area to work with, but Patterson does a nice job of sticking with simplicity. She provides rudimentary information that can be adjusted to fit the practitioner’s needs, including spells for each phase of the Moon, a quick description of Esbats and the lunar cycle, and recipes for many different Moon-related treats, like crescent moon cookies.

Patterson also provides basic wording for Esbat rituals, so newbies won’t have to come up with their own right away. Sometimes that prospect can be intimidating, so this is a great place to start. Simple invocations are also included, and a list of Moon deities is in the back as well.

One small section I haven’t really looked into is doing magic at the lunar eclipse, although Patterson admits the energy can be “unpredictable” and asks that the practitioner know what they’re doing before giving it a shot.

If you’re new to magical practice and don’t want to feel overwhelmed, I highly recommend this book. If you’ve been around the block a few times and already have some books on working with the moon, then you may want to give this one a pass.
 
~review by John Marani

Author: Rachel Patterson
Moon Books, 2014
pp. 101, $9.95 US