Drawing Down the Moon

Although this article talks about Drawing Down the Moon in a Coven setting, it can very easily be adapted for solitary practice

The origins of this ceremony can be traced to classical times. Ancient Thessalian witches were believed to control the moon, according to an old tract: “If I command the moon, it will come down; and if I wish to withhold the day, the night will linger over my head; and again, if I wish to embark on the sea, I need no ship, and if I wish to fly through the air, I am free of my weight.”

To many today, the powerful rite of Drawing Down the Moon belongs exclusively to a Wiccan ritual and, unfortunately, it is also rebuffed as some shoddy rite inserted with a favour to reflect the practices of those Thessalian witches mentioned above. However, while the context of the ‘drawing of the moon’ in the ancient past and today is obviously different, Drawing down the Moon is one of the most serious, beautiful, inspiring and evocative rituals in neo-Pagan Witchcraft. Depending on the altered state of consciousness of the high priestess and the ceremonial energy raised, the words that come forth can be moving, poetic and inspiring. During the Drawing Down the Moon, many women connect with the power of the Goddess and therefore with the power within themselves.

To capture more of the essence of this rite the description of it given by Margot Adler in her book Drawing Down the Moon is paraphrased. After listening to a tape called Drawing Down the Moon sent to her from a coven in Essex, Adler writes:

“I did not know it then, but in this ritual, one of the most serious and beautiful in the modern Craft, the priest invokes into the priestess (or, depending on your point of view, she evokes from within herself) the Goddess or Triple Goddess, symbolized by the phases of the moon. She is known by a thousand names, and among them were those I had used as a child. In some Craft rituals the priestess goes into a trance and speaks; in other traditions the ritual is a more formal dramatic dialogue, often of intense beauty, in which, again, the priestess speaks, taking the role of the Goddess. In both instances, the priestess functions as the Goddess incarnate, within the circle.

On the tape the background music sounded as if it might have been Brahms. The voices of the man and woman possessed an English accent. Clear were the words of the invocation:

“Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis, Astarte, Melusine, Aphrodite, Diana, Brigit, and many more other names…”

Generally the ritual is conducted within a circle, sometimes called a magic circle. The circle is a place set apart; its physical location makes no difference, because in the mind it becomes a sacred place through its casting and purification. It is a place between worlds where the gods are met.

Within the circle psychic power is raised, a work that is known as “raising the cone of power.” This is managed through music, chanting, and dancing.. When the priest or, more often, the priestess senses the cone of power has been raised she can focus and direct it with the mind toward its destination. One such destination, or purpose, is the psychic healing of someone who is sick, or the purpose might be to seek something which is needed by someone.

This is the essential reason why gods and goddesses are invited into the circle. When the moon is drawn down, the high priestess often enters a trance in which the Goddess possesses her. Acting as the incarnate Goddess, the priestess speaks and acts as the Goddess. The circle’s psychic power now becomes Goddess power. Frequently this is thought of as a mystical experience. Similarly, when the God force is drawn into the circle, the high priest becomes the God incarnate. That ritual is known as Drawing Down the Sun or Drawing Down of the Horned God or Calling Down the Moon.

The state of the altered consciousness that the high priest or priestess experience during the ritual determines the after effect that is felt, some priestesses have said they feel the presence of the Goddess within them for days afterwards. Others have reported seeing changes within some persons following such rituals.

Ritual possession has an important part to play in modern Pagans’ lives because it unlocks our rigid mind and thrusts us beyond what is to us, sensible. We’re often so confined in our daily routine, we lack the courage to suspend disbelief. We often forget that magic and science complement each other and are no opposing schools. For this the more important ritual possession should enter our lives.

It’s difficult to figure out how ritual possession actually works. I once thought hard about it, whether the Divine actually takes control of the person’s body or is it an internal awakening as it is well expressed in ‘Thou art God/dess’. I thought about it for quite sometime and said to myself, “what the heck, give it a try”… The experiences were enriching and no doubt changed me to some degree.

While, as mentioned above, the ritual is generally performed within a circle, to ‘draw down the moon’, you don’t necessarily need to assemble in a group or memorize Doreen Valiente’s ‘Charge of the Goddess’, nor do you need a priest to invoke with a phallic wand. Drawing down the moon is something that comes from within. It comes from the intention of surrendering yourselves to the arms of the Goddess. Giving yourself with humility, with love and reverence, it is the ultimate surrender of your being to the Divine, a sacrifice indeed to attain such blessings from the Gods.

There are other cultures and religions that use ritual possession as a form of inspiration. The Vodou uses drums and beats to invoke Lwas (Ancestral Spirits/Demi-Gods), the Taoist uses gong and chant. Many other cultures has similar ritual but different ways to carry it out. Even the Pentecostals encourage speaking in tongues!

Ritual possession not only gives us insight and wisdom, it connects us with the Divine. It unites us, giving us a chance to know the power in the Divine as well as the ability latent in us. It gives us the comfort and security that we’re part of the Gods, well expressed in the old Egyptian adage ‘There is no part of us which is not of the Gods’. Besides, ritual possession affirms our communication and relationship with the Divine. And if there are more of us going through such joyous rites, I’m sure we’ll have less wars and conflicts around.