The Noumenia
In ancient Greek Athenian culture the month began at the new moon - the first sliver of lunar light after the waning cycle. To the Greeks the crescent in the sky represented a renewal of the tide and an initiation of new life. It was a welcoming in of the month and the corresponding festivals (also the patron Gods) and of course affirmed the cyclic understanding of Nature.
I just celebrated the Noumenia (the new moon) Greek-style, which I do now as part of my devotion. I am Hellenic-inspired largely because of a great percentage of my Gods hailing from that cultural mythos and locale, however I do find the rituals associated with that culture to be simple and elegant and endearing to my tastes. There is no construction or delineation of space as in the Wiccan tradition, however there is a short blessing of the space and the participants through the lustral water (”khernips”) and of course the appropriate mind-set is attained through the ritual procession to the site of the sacrifice/devotion. Also before ritual the celebrant must be ritually pure and free of miasma (pollution) and thus it is recommended to bathe beforehand and to wear clean clothes.
In the broader sense many Pagans view the new moon as a time of introspection, observation and relaxation. If a ritual is held it is generally only an observation of the lunar cycle and a short cleansing or calming meditation. It doesn’t seem that much other work is done. However the new moon is an opportune time to light a candle and to be rid of old-worn habits, making room for new and beautiful things in life. Light a white candle and some jasmine incense and say a short prayer to your lunar deity. Perhaps, “Kindly (deity name), I pray unto thee. May the new moon restore my energy; let this new tide of lunar light surround and bless all things I am and do. In your name, blessed be (or Khaire! or Slainte!, etc.)”
In the Coven of the WildWood new moon celebrations are reserved for the inner court only and represent to us a time for close family bonds and a coming together of essentials. These circles also provide us with much needed time to plan and organise the goings-on of the coven. Awen, a dedicant of the coven, has this to say on the new moon:
“The new moon is the fourth sound of the Om. It is the silence that follows the “mmm”; that point between holding your breath and breathing in again. It has all the potentials of a month to come and all the rewards of the time that has passed, though it is veiled and obscured by our eyes that seek to see. That is why we seek within; we scry and we banish, for it is the threshold of tomorrow but also all the memories of the past, and, so caught in this moment of paradox, we experience the true present, that still eternal and fleeting moment when the Mystery lifts the veils of Her skirt and exposes her whoredom, declaring “I’m fucking rad”