This ritual was taken from the book " Moon Magick by D. J. Conway
Ritual for the protection of Battered Women and Children
This was a time of a Chinese Moon Festival for Ch'ang-O, who was honored for her rule over the bedchamber and who was considered a protector of children. Since the moon's energy flow this month is one of ending old cycles and planting new ones, communication with Ch'ang-O is appropriate. After all, when she was threatened by a dictatorial, physically aggressive husband because she drank his magickal potion, she cut off her old life and went to the moon to begin another one.
Ch'ang-O, sometimes called Heng-O, was offered crescent moon cakes called Yue-Ping during her festivals. her palace on the Moon was known as the Great Cold. The design on the face of the moon are said to be the form of Hare, who took Ch'ang-O to that celestial body to escape her rampaging husband. Therefore, hares were sacred to her, as were toads, both symbols of fertility.
The week preceding the Full Moon of Wolf month, spend as much time as necessary contemplating needed changes in your life. If you find nothing of great consequence that needs to be changed, choose instead a social wrong that needs to be corrected, such as children's rights medical care for all, the homeless, women's shelters. Ch'ang-O primarily is concerned with people issues, particularly those of women and children. When you go to your altar, have a special desire in mind, one that really means something to you. Remember , no concern or emotion, no results. Simple enough. The trick is to release those emotions at the end of the ritual. As an example I will use the theme of shelters for battered women in this ritual.
Set up your altar with a central white candle: sandalwood incense; a round mirror, a white bowl with some salt; a glass or goblet with a little water; a water or willow twig a white bowl containing round white cookies, a glass of pale beverage. Place four white candles in holders around your ritual area, one marking each cardinal direction. Be sure you leave ample room to move about without running the risk of setting your robe on fire!
Stand before your altar and breathe deeply, centering your mind on the reason for this ritual. Visualize the Full Moon above you; breathe in its white light down inside your body. Feel its tingling energy spreading out from your lungs into your blood, bones and flesh. When you feel ready say:
The Moon Arises! The Goddess draws near! Her powerful presence is with me!
Hold your hand over the salt:
Blessed be this salt.
Move you hand over the glass of water
Blessed be this water
Add a pinch of salt to the water and swirl the glass three times clockwise. Hold the glass up toward the visualized Moon.
Cold fire of the Moon, purify this alter with your power.
Sprinkle a few drops at each corner of the altar. Then moving clockwise, sprinkle around the edges of your ritual area. Replace the glass on the altar. Light the white alter candle, saying:
Beloved Moon, lamp of the night, let this be a symbol of your light.
Using the altar candle and beginning in the east, light each perimeter candle saying:
Behold he Lady's light appears to guide her children.
Replace the candle on the altar, and take up the round mirror. Begin in the east and move clockwise around the area. Hold the mirror at heart level, reflecting the surface pointing outward.
Lands and people of the east, heed my desire. Let there be freedom for your women!
Move to the south:
Lands and people of the south, here my words. Give your women respect!
Move to the west:
Lands and people of the west, listening to my warning. Grant your women equality!
Stand facing the North:
Lands and people of the North, be aware. Protect your women and give them safety!
Return to the altar and turn the mirror so you can see your own face reflecting in it. Look deeply into your own eyes, Feel the indignity deep within you that demands that this problem be solved.
I am a daughter/son of the Moon Goddess, she who sees all. My heart weeps with her over the injustices we do to each other, especially to women and children. I call upon the Goddess of the Moon to aid these women and little ones. Shelter them with your hands, Lady. guide them with your wisdom. Lead them out of terror and pain and darkness into your Light!
Lay aside the mirror. Close your eyes and reach skyward. Let your body be a pipeline for the healing, balancing energy of the Moon Goddess. Let this energy flow down through you into the Earth. feel it soak up through your feet, right down through the floor and into the ground. When you feel the timing is right, open your yes and look about your lighted ritual area. If you can, without having some nosy neighbor call the police, shout:
Freedom! Protection! Equality! Respect! Safety
Put all your feelings into these words. Shout them as long as you need to release your emotions. When you feel pleasantly exhausted, the intense emotions gone, do something that makes you feel happy about what you have done: laugh, sing, dance, whatever. Then eat your moon cookies and moon beverage. This is a good time to quietly commune with the Moon and the Goddess on a more personal lever. When you wish to close your ritual, go to the perimeter candles, beginning with the east and moving clockwise. As you extinguish each candle say:
Carry my message to all people. Let the Moon's light open their eyes to truth and justice.
Stand once more before the altar and raise your arms skyward.
Lovely Lady of the Moon, bless and purify me with your light.
Thank you for empowering me this night.
Throw a kiss up to the Moon. Extinguish the altar candles.
