Quick Answer
Waxing moon spells focus on attraction, growth, and building. Cast during the 14-day period from new moon to full moon, these spells draw abundance, love, opportunities, health, and creative energy toward you. Use green or white candles, attraction herbs like basil and cinnamon, and crystals like citrine to amplify your growing intentions.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Growth energy: The waxing moon's expanding light mirrors the growth of your intentions, making it the strongest phase for attraction magic
- Two sub-phases: The waxing crescent (days 1-7) plants new seeds, while the waxing gibbous (days 7-14) amplifies work already in motion
- Attraction focus: Money spells, love rituals, career advancement, health improvement, and confidence building all gain power during this phase
- Fold toward you: When using paper in spells, fold it toward your body to draw things in (fold away to send things out during the waning moon)
- Emotional fuel: The emotional feeling of already having your desire is what powers waxing moon magic more than any ingredient or tool
The moon is growing. Every night, a slightly larger sliver of light appears in the sky, building from the thin crescent after the new moon toward the bright fullness still days away. This building energy is not just visual. It is a tide you can ride for some of the most effective spellwork in the entire lunar cycle.
Waxing moon spells work with the principle of sympathetic magic: as the moon grows, so does your intention. What you plant during this phase has the full force of increasing lunar energy behind it, pulling your desires closer with each passing night. Practitioners of moon phase magic consider this the prime building window of every cycle.
Whether you want to attract more money, draw a romantic partner closer, grow your business, improve your health, or build a new skill, the waxing moon provides energetic support that amplifies your effort. Here is how to work with it effectively.
Understanding the Waxing Moon Phase
The waxing moon begins the moment after the new moon and continues for approximately 14 days until the full moon arrives. During this period, the illuminated portion of the moon visible from Earth increases each night. This growing light serves as both a physical timer and an energetic amplifier for magic focused on increase.
The word "waxing" comes from the Old English "weaxan," meaning to grow or increase. This etymology points to the core magical principle: everything done during this phase should align with growth, attraction, building, and expansion.
What Grows During the Waxing Moon
- Financial abundance and material prosperity
- Romantic attraction and relationship deepening
- Career opportunities and professional visibility
- Physical health, stamina, and vitality
- Creative inspiration and artistic output
- Personal confidence and social magnetism
- Psychic ability and spiritual connection
Farmers have long planted crops during the waxing moon, a tradition backed by both folklore and some modern agricultural research showing that soil moisture and plant germination respond to lunar cycles. The same principle applies to the seeds of intention you plant in your magical practice.
Waxing Crescent vs. Waxing Gibbous Magic
Not all waxing moon energy is identical. The two sub-phases carry distinct qualities that experienced practitioners use to time their spellwork precisely.
| Aspect | Waxing Crescent (Days 1-7) | Waxing Gibbous (Days 7-14) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | New beginnings, fresh starts, planting seeds | Refining, adjusting, amplifying existing work |
| Energy Quality | Tender, hopeful, requires patience | Strong, building momentum, nearly full power |
| Spell Types | Intention setting, wish spells, new project launches | Power boosting, obstacle clearing, final pushes |
| Garden Metaphor | Planting seeds in prepared soil | Watering, feeding, and supporting growth |
If you cast a money spell during the waxing crescent, consider doing a follow-up amplification ritual during the waxing gibbous of the same cycle. This two-stage approach mirrors the natural progression of growth: first plant, then nurture.
Attraction Spells for the Waxing Moon
Attraction magic is the signature strength of the waxing moon. The growing light acts like a magnet, pulling your desires from the realm of possibility into physical reality. Here are several tested approaches.
Honey Jar Spell for Sweetening
Honey jar spells (also called sweetening jars) are among the most popular waxing moon workings. Write your target intention on paper, fold it toward you, and place it in a jar of honey. Add herbs that match your goal: cinnamon for speed, rose petals for love, basil for money. Seal the jar and burn a candle on top each night during the waxing phase.
The honey acts as a sticky, sweet medium that draws your desire and holds it. Each night the candle burns, it feeds energy into the jar. By the full moon, the spell has received 14 nights of accumulated power.
Bay Leaf Wish Spell
Simple Bay Leaf Attraction Ritual
Take a dried bay leaf and write your wish on it with a marker. Hold it to your heart and feel the emotion of your wish already fulfilled. On the night of the waxing crescent, burn the bay leaf safely and let the smoke carry your intention upward. Bay laurel has been associated with wishes and victory since ancient Greek times, and this simple spell channels that tradition effectively.
Mirror Magnetism Spell
Place a small mirror on your altar facing upward. On top of it, place a written intention surrounded by crystals associated with your goal. The mirror amplifies and reflects the energy back, doubling its strength. Leave this arrangement in place throughout the waxing phase, adding a drop of essential oil to your intention paper each night to "feed" the spell.
Candle Drawing Spell
Use a green candle for money, pink for love, or white for general attraction. Carve your intention into the wax with a pin. Anoint the candle by rubbing oil from the bottom toward the top (drawing energy toward you). Light it during the waxing moon and let it burn for a set period each night. The gradual burning mirrors the gradual building of your manifestation.
Growth and Expansion Rituals
Beyond specific spells, the waxing moon supports broader growth rituals that align your energy with expansion in any area of life.
Waxing Moon Growth Bath
Draw a warm bath and add a handful of sea salt, fresh basil leaves, a few drops of peppermint oil, and a citrine crystal placed at the edge of the tub. As you soak, visualize your goals growing larger with each breath. See them expanding outward like the moon's light. Stay in the bath for at least 20 minutes, then drain the water and imagine any resistance washing away.
Planting actual seeds or starting a new garden during the waxing moon combines physical and magical action. The plant becomes a living symbol of your intention, growing alongside it. Water both the plant and your spell with consistent attention throughout the waxing phase.
Physical movement also channels waxing moon energy well. Starting a new exercise routine, increasing workout intensity, or taking on a physical challenge during this phase aligns your body with the growth cycle. Your physical effort becomes a form of embodied spellwork.
Tools, Herbs, and Timing
| Category | Waxing Moon Correspondences |
|---|---|
| Candle Colors | Green (money), pink (love), white (general), gold (success), orange (creativity) |
| Crystals | Citrine, green aventurine, rose quartz, carnelian, moonstone, clear quartz |
| Herbs | Basil, cinnamon, bay leaf, chamomile, mint, jasmine, rose |
| Best Days | Thursday (expansion/Jupiter), Friday (love/Venus), Sunday (success/Sun) |
| Directions | Fold paper toward you; draw candle oil upward; place items on east side |
Layering Planetary Days with Lunar Phases
For maximum effect, combine the waxing moon with the appropriate planetary day. A money spell cast on a Thursday (Jupiter's day of expansion) during the waxing gibbous stacks two powerful growth energies together. A love spell on Friday (Venus's day) during the waxing crescent plants romantic seeds with planetary support. This layering approach is how experienced practitioners achieve consistent results.
Remember that the strongest ingredient in any waxing moon spell is your emotional investment. Tools, herbs, and timing support the work, but they do not replace the feeling of genuine desire and expectation. When you can hold the feeling of already having what you want while the moon grows above you, the magic flows naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best spell to cast during a waxing moon?
Attraction and growth spells work best. This includes money drawing spells, love attraction rituals, career advancement magic, health improvement intentions, and spells to increase confidence or creativity. Any goal that involves building, attracting, or expanding aligns with waxing moon energy.
How long does the waxing moon phase last?
The waxing moon lasts approximately 14 days, from the new moon to the full moon. It includes two sub-phases: the waxing crescent (days 1-7) and the waxing gibbous (days 7-14), each with slightly different magical properties.
Can I do banishing spells during the waxing moon?
Banishing spells are traditionally reserved for the waning or dark moon phases. During the waxing moon, focus on what you want to attract rather than remove. If banishing feels urgent, reframe the work as attracting protection or drawing healthier replacements.
What crystals enhance waxing moon spells?
Citrine for abundance, rose quartz for love attraction, green aventurine for luck and growth, clear quartz to amplify intention, and carnelian for motivation and creative energy. Moonstone strengthens your connection to the moon's energy during any lunar phase.
Does the waxing crescent work differently from the waxing gibbous?
Yes. The waxing crescent is best for planting new seeds and starting fresh projects. The waxing gibbous supports refining, adjusting, and amplifying work already in progress. Think of the crescent as planting and the gibbous as watering and tending.
Do I need to see the moon for waxing moon spells to work?
No. The moon's energetic influence operates regardless of cloud cover or visibility. While working under visible moonlight can enhance the experience, indoor rituals during the waxing phase carry the same timing benefits. What matters is the phase, not visual contact.
Can I cast a waxing moon spell during the day?
Absolutely. The moon phase persists throughout the full 24-hour period. Some practitioners prefer morning rituals to align growing lunar energy with the rising energy of a new day. Nighttime feels more traditional but is not required for effectiveness.
What herbs are best for waxing moon magic?
Basil for prosperity, cinnamon for fast-acting attraction, jasmine for love, chamomile for peaceful growth, mint for financial increase, and bay leaf for wishes and manifestation. Fresh herbs tend to carry stronger energy than dried ones for attraction work.
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Shop Attraction ToolsYour Intentions Are Growing
The waxing moon is your ally in building the life you want. Each night the light grows, your spells gain momentum. Trust the process, stay consistent with your rituals, and watch for the signs that your magic is working. They often appear as synchronicities, unexpected opportunities, or a quiet inner knowing that things are shifting in your favor.
Sources & References
- Cunningham, S. (2004). Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. Llewellyn Publications.
- Patterson, R. (2017). Moon Magic. Moon Books.
- Lipp, D. (2014). The Way of Four Spellbook. Llewellyn Publications.
- Kynes, S. (2015). Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences. Llewellyn Publications.
- Chamberlain, L. (2018). Wicca Moon Magic. Sterling Ethos.
- Dugan, E. (2013). Seasons of Witchery. Llewellyn Publications.
- Thun, M. (2003). Gardening for Life: The Biodynamic Way. Hawthorn Press.