When the sun has set and the moon is high in the sky, a different kind of energy covers the land. Those things that remain unseen during the day come out of hiding, and reveal themselves under the cloak of darkness. In the same way that certain flowers and plants only bloom at night, the powers of the witch are also at their strongest. As dusk approaches, and the busy interactions of the day begin to cease, many prepare for sleep. It is during these night-time hours, particularly between 3am-5am, that psychic interference in the unseen realms is at it’s lowest ebb. The witch can cast his or her spells with minimal obstacles to block their success. Witches have long been associated with the night and with hidden knowledge. The word “Occult” simply means “hidden”. In other words, it is arcane knowledge that is hidden from those without the awareness to comprehend it. The night is the realm of potentiality. It is the nothingness from which all things emerge. All plants grow from within the darkness of the earth. Humans are born from the darkness of the womb. Ideas are formed in the hidden recesses of the creative mind and are then put into visible action. As Above, So Below. What happens above is influenced by what happens below. Likewise, what happens below is influenced by what happens above. This is a concept that applies not only to magical things, but also extends to mundane areas of life, including world events. Those who understand this concept will know that the reasons why things happen in our world are not as simplistic as some try to make it seem. There are hidden forces at work, forces that exist above, below and around us. Witches have the ability to see, to sense, and to influence these forces. In many ways, the night is like the dark depths of the witch’s cauldron. The desired result depends on what energies are directed into it. Just like the magic of the cauldron, the night can absorb and shape, bringing form to the formless. The night is just as alive and potent as the day. Those who tap into the energy of the night can hear it’s mystical hum. Many witches and pagans focus on the Waxing and Full Moon and shy away from the Dark Moon, also called the New Moon. While the Sun reveals how we express ourselves outwardly to the world, the Moon directs us to the things that are hidden within, and also hidden from us. Addictions and insecurities, repressed abilities and gifts, and unseen dangers are often brought to the surface. The Dark Moon is the perfect time to examine these things in a ritual setting, and make the necessary adjustments. There are some who caution against doing any kind of magic during the dark moon, because they fear that it’s energies are too volatile and unpredictable. These fears are unfounded. A general rule is that if it makes you uncomfortable, then simply don’t do it. Personally I have found that some of my most powerful magical workings have taken place during the waning to dark moon phases. You have nothing to fear from these workings unless you bring fear into them. Of course, the dark moon is the perfect time to work on fear-related issues. It is important to understand that light is not always beneficial and darkness is not always harmful. If someone has you backed into a corner, throwing “love and light” at them may not save you. In the old days, witches were respected and feared in equal measure. You wanted to be on their good side. There were consequences for provoking a witch, and they were not pleasant. There was no Wiccan Rede, no imposed magical laws that all witches were expected to follow. Today we are living in dark times, and dark times call for darker magic. It is time for us to move away from the Dark/Evil and Light/Good paradigm. There are some who may think they have your best interests at heart, but in truth are causing you harm. For example, when evangelical Christians pray for your “salvation” they might think they are doing something “good”, but in reality they are practicing harmful magic by trying to overpower your will. Likewise, there are many witches who prefer to dwell in the shadows and under the cover of darkness, using these times to do spells and enchantments that benefit themselves and their communities. It doesn’t make them “evil”, they just work better with these kinds of energies and are more comfortable with them. Many meditation teachers direct their students to visualize going down into the roots of a tree and into the depths of the earth. It is from there that wisdom is first gained and the seeker is then led upwards on the path to enlightenment. The idea is that you must go down before you can go up. Many who work with the chakras begin at the root chakra and then work their way up to the crown. The energy of Kundalini begins at the root, and then uncoils like a serpent as it reaches toward the crown where it becomes fully extended. In some Kabbalistic meditations, practitioners start at the bottom with the Sephirah of Malkuth (Earth) and then ascend upwards to the Sephirah of Keter (Crown) at the top. If we desire to reach the light, we must learn to navigate the darkness, as we remember that darkness and light are two sides of the same coin. The light casts many shadows, and yet the darkness will make the moon and stars appear even brighter. Each side influences and is influenced by the other. The night carries it’s own mystical power and energy. To tap into it, simply wait until the moon is high in the sky and darkness had descended upon the land. Go outside if you can, or open a window. Close your eyes and listen. Become one with the stillness. What does it seem to be saying? As the wind blows through the trees, or as the leaves scatter across the ground, pay attention to any impressions you receive. Learn to commune and embrace the powers of the night. Allow them to become a source of wisdom and comfort. Embracing the dark does not mean we are rejecting the light. The light is necessary and has it’s place in regards to healing and restoration, certainly, but directing all of our energies solely on the light will cause an imbalance within us. One can find healing and restoration even in the dark. Many witches and pagans identify as ‘lightworkers’, however, witches are ‘workers of the dark’ as well as the light. Working with the dark does not mean we dwell on negativity and pessimism, but rather to seek the hidden enchantments in the darkness of the night and the powers of the moon. There is a difference between “Dark” and “Night”. Dark simply refers to the absence of Light, while Night is the opposite of Day. While there are some who work with darkness in a malevolent manner, witches of the Old Ways utilize the darkness for beneficial purposes. That is, we work with the “darkness of the night” as opposed to those who are drawn to the abstract concept of “dark” as a means to cause harm. Pagan author Konstantinos speaks of Good/Dark and Evil/Dark. Witches of the Old Ways are those in the Good/Dark category. What many witches and pagans refer to as the New Moon is the first phase of the lunar cycle, when the moon is between the earth and the sun. This alignment is called a conjunction or syzygy. During this time, the side of the moon that faces earth is not illuminated by the sun and is therefore not visible to us. The moon appears dark because the side facing us receives no direct sunlight. The New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, which is approximately 29.5 days long. While most refer to this as the New Moon, many of us call it the Dark Moon. A few days pass from the time the moon begins to disappear from the evening sky until it is completely dark, and then another few days until it reappears as a faint sliver in the morning sky. In magical terms, this is a “between time”, and has the potential for powerful magic to take place. Experienced witches take advantage of these times when planning their spells and enchantments. In Celtic and Irish folklore, people born during a Dark Moon are believed to be granted good health and prosperity, and are encouraged to honor the Dark Moon whenever it occurs to maintain this in their lives. Traditionally, it is a time when people set new goals or begin new projects. In the same way that plants grow up from the darkness of the soil, new intentions are planted like “seeds” during the dark moon phase, that they may sprout and begin to grow as the moon becomes visible again. It is seen as a potent time for personal and spiritual growth, while at the same time it is when many witches do magic to remove harmful influences. In some witchcraft traditions, the dark moon is symbolic of the aged and wise crone, dressed all in black. An Old Ways belief is that the moon is home to spirits of the dead, as they travel from the depths of the earth, through the branches of trees and then ascend upward to the moon. Hecate, goddess of magic, witchcraft and the underworld, was strongly linked to the moon’s darker phases and to crossroads. At these liminal places, offerings were regularly left to her during the dark phase of the moon, just before the new moon, seeking her aid in magical workings or protection. The first visible crescent of the new moon also held significance for Hecate. The night and the dark moon are in many ways like the dark depths of the witch’s cauldron, filled with potentiality and possibility.