Throughout history, the moon has inspired wonder, reverence, and deep symbolism. For early humans, the moon’s changing shape each month was a profound mystery, yet its cycle was predictable. This made the moon a constant presence in the night sky, even as it appeared to vanish for three nights each month. This disappearance is often compared to the idea of seeking renewal through immersion in water.
Many ancient civilizations personified the moon as a goddess or a powerful spirit. In Mesopotamia, the moon god Sin was believed to control the cycles of time and fate. The Greeks honored Selene and Artemis, while the Romans revered Luna and Diana. In these traditions, the phases of the moon reflected the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, serving as a celestial mirror for the mysteries of existence.
Black is one of the three colors associated with the Great Mysteries: Birth, Life, and Death. Like water, black represents a formless state and the realm of all possibilities. From an ancestral perspective, the darkness of night could conceal anything, and anything might emerge from it. Scientifically, black is the presence of all colors combined, which suggests its potential to manifest any part of the whole, either separately or in combination.
In witchcraft, black is not simply the absence of light. It symbolizes the fertile void—the primordial darkness from which all creation arises. This idea appears in many mythologies. For example, in ancient Egypt, the goddess Nut was depicted as the night sky, giving birth to the sun each morning. In Celtic tradition, the dark half of the year, beginning at Samhain, was a period for introspection, connecting with ancestors, and magical work.
The moon is closely linked to concepts of blackness. Its cycle of change fits well with the mystical realm it represents. Black is often associated with death, and ancient Greek writers such as Plutarch described beliefs that souls of the dead are drawn to the moon. The mystical Pythagoreans taught similar ideas. In occult philosophy, both the dead and the moon share the principle of renewed form, connecting to beliefs in reincarnation. This suggests that the blackness of night represents full potential, while the moon symbolizes the process by which parts of the whole come into being.
European folklore often describes witches gathering at night, guided by the moon’s light. In the Scottish Highlands, stories tell of witches using flying ointment to travel to distant gatherings, illuminated only by the moon. In Italy, the Strega honored the goddess Diana, invoking her lunar power for protection and prophecy.
Traditional tales often place witches’ gatherings at night and at crossroads. Crossroads have long been associated with spirits of the dead and are seen as places between worlds. Hecate, a goddess linked to witchcraft, is connected to the dead and is said to guide them to the Underworld. Like the moon and the color black, crossroads represent liminality—a threshold where transformation is possible and the boundary between realities is thin.
The magic of witches is often associated with the night, the moon, and hidden realms. The Full Moon and its rituals are seen as the fulfillment of the witch’s connection to ancient traditions and the cycles of the moon. The moon represents enlightenment in darkness, transformation, and the promise of renewal.
In modern witchcraft, practitioners may perform rituals to draw down the moon, seeking to embody its wisdom and power. The color black is worn for protection, grounding, and honoring mysteries beyond ordinary perception. Through myth, ritual, and personal experience, the moon and the color black continue to inspire those on the witch’s path, offering a gateway to the unknown and a reminder of the ongoing cycles of renewal and transformation.
