By late summer, gardens are full of fresh herbs that often grow like weeds . . . producing more than one could possibly eat. . .so why not make sacred tools and fill the apothecary with plant medicine you'll need for magick rituals later in the year?

For the Virgo New Moon on Monday, September 6th at 5:51 pm (PDT), the ritual involves making a herbal wand for burning. You can use lavender, cedar, rose petals, rosemary, and other plants for your herbal wand. You can combine the medicine of different plants or be a purist. I am drawn to the latter.

Creating wands is very ritualistic for me, as each one is a sacred tool. I feel a deep sense of gratitude, as I can pour my energy and intentions into each wand. I often gift them to friends, who may need the medicine of a certain plant ally.

Each New Moon nudges you to follow your dreams and breathe new energy into your life. The astrological sign is represented by the maiden, which I associate with the energy of the Divine Feminine. Virgo is known to be analytical, introspective, and strategic. The zodiac sign is deeply connected to The Hermit card in the Tarot, as it's influenced by Virgo and also the Element of Earth.

Virgo is a mutable sign, so processing change and shifting your attitude might become a focal point, especially for those who are experiencing spiritual expansion. If you have been stretched too thin over the last couple of weeks or months then you can harness the energy of the Virgo New Moon to help you re-align with your purpose, set REALISTIC goals, and start building healthy habits for yourself.

5 ways to honour and celebrate the Virgo New Moon:

• Allow yourself space to be introspective. 
• Gift yourself an indoor plant or a sacred tool.
• Connect with the Divine Feminine, as Virgo's symbol is the maiden.
• Try Earthing. Walk barefoot on the grass, beach. . .get your feet dirty.
• Harvest herbs that you will need for your pantry and future rituals.

The Ritual

You can do your ritual a day before, on the day, or a day after the New Moon, as the energy is still potent. You are welcome to use my ritual or adopt parts to help you create your personalized one. Please know that you don’t need to do a ritual for each New Moon, only connect to the ones that you feel drawn to. Your ritual doesn’t need to be complicated. Can be simple as lighting a candle.

As with any ritual, create sacred space for yourself to connect with your Higher-SELF. Depending on your New Moon traditions, you may want to light a candle, make a circle, ring a bell; call in the elements, directions + guides, etc. . . I personally don’t adhere to any rules or guidelines of how to create sacred space. I follow what rises up for me in my heart space, as the energy of each New Moon is unique, and I want my ritual to reflect where I am vibrationally.

For the last several years, I’ve been picking and bundling my own herbal wands. If you don't have access to a garden you can always purchase your herbs or connect with a friend, relative or neighbour who has a thriving garden or responsibly wild craft. Make sure you aren't harvesting anything that is on the threatened or endangered species list, for example, white sage.

When harvesting, connect with the plant intuitively and ask for permission, even from the ones in your garden. After you have received a confirmation, make an offering of perhaps nuts or seeds. On a clean cloth, lay the plant clippings, as you don’t want to put them directly onto the ground, as the energy of the plant is believed to return to the Earth. I try not to harvest too much from one plant, as I want it to thrive next year. 

You will need the following supplies:

• Scissors
• Cotton thread or twine
• Plant clippings

Instructions:

Step 1: Gather the sprigs and arrange the bundle. I recommend putting the taller sprigs in the middle with the shorter ones on the outside.

Step 2: Use thread or string made from cotton or hemp to wrap the bundle.

Step 3: Tie a loop on one end of the thread and pass the other end through the loop to make a slipknot. (If you don’t know what a slipknot or aren't sure how to tie one then please check out YouTube). 

Step 5: Pick up the bundle and place the loop of the slipknot around the bottom of the stems, pulling tightly. Remember to not bundle your herbs too tightly, as your bundle will not burn properly and if you tie your herbs too loosely then your bundle will burn very quickly. So, tie your bundle not too tight or loose.

Step 6: Wrap the thread around the bundle until you have reached the top then wrap again to the bottom, and tie a knot. OR you can simply tie the bottom of the springs together as in the photo.

Step 7: Hang your bundle upside down until the Full Moon and let it dry thoroughly before using.

To delve deep into the questions that the New Moon in Virgo conjures up, you may want to lay Tarot or Oracle cards. You can use the Virgo New Moon Spread and explore the themes further. Please tag me in your spread on Instagram, as I’d love to know how you connected!

Namaste,
Sharron