Happy Lunar New Year??

‘Happy Lunar New Year!’

This is the title to David Beckham’s Instagram post today which currently has 2.6 million likes. 

What do we do with this? Celebrate it? Ignore it? Scroll past it? Mock it? Or is there something more going on…

Maybe you have seen David Beckham’s post or Holly Willoughby’s launch of her new lifestyle brand ‘Wylde Moon’ built around the eight phases of the moon including crystal healing and make-up tips. 

This blog is my journey to the moon and back: 

Christmas shopping in Belfast is a tradition for me. I go alone and aim to have everything finished by mid afternoon. It always starts in the same place, Waterstone’s Book Store where I treat myself to a book and a coffee. That’s my happy place. 

This year at the top of the steps to the first floor there was a display book case strategically placed for all to see. The title of the book case was ‘God is in the details’. The book case was dedicated to Witchcraft, Tarot Card reading, Crystal healing, humanism, Astronomy and moon ‘worship’. As a Christian my first reaction was ‘what a load of guff’! I sought out a bible in the store (they had four hidden away in the corner next to books on philosophy and world religions) and planted it right on top of the book case and took a pic, feeling rather proud of my endeavours.  But as i took a moment to observe, I was shocked at the number of people who were buying this stuff! Middle age couples and teens picked them up and either purchased or took a pic on their phone, probably to add to the Christmas list. I was intrigued and grabbed a copy of LUNA ‘Harness the Power of the Moon to Live your Best Life’. I’d just seen two people pick that one out and I read the back cover. 

Bored of feeling stuck and repeating the same situations, again and again? Luna is your definitive guide to finally making the changes in your life that you've been waiting for: the mystical way.

You can expect a combination of Moon teachings, astrology, rituals, crystals, meditations and Tarot, that you can use to align with the Moon's cycles. Tamara will guide you through Waning Moon Rituals to help you move on from your ex and let go of what's been holding you back. New Moon Rituals to activate some game-changing intentions to make your version of success and happiness reality.

Waxing Moon Rituals to support you to feel more energised and motivated. Full Moon Rituals to help you get a long-awaited pay rise and a love spell for when you need a boost in your romantic

life. You'll learn ways to amplify your intuition to make your life easier and feel confident about your decisions.

Gain a deeper connection with the Moon and ultimately, yourself.

Luna is here to illuminate, heal and transform every aspect of your life with the Moon's power.

It's time to step into your highest potential.

I’ll be totally up front, as I read this, it felt dark, demonic. I prayed ‘Lord what do I do with this stuff?’ I need to know the tactics and dangers of these books and try to understand the culture behind it. . . I took it with me into the Grounds Coffee Shop in-store. Unsure if I should buy it or not I began to read the first few pages. It really unsettled me. I sent a few text messages to people to cover me in prayer and 30 mins later i purchased the book.

Those who know me know I read widely; Bill Gates, The Pope, Gerry Adams, Richard Dawkins, to name but a few, it’s all part of my learning and trying to get a balanced view on things.  But this book is different. True to say, it would be the most demonic book I have ever read. It’s not intentionally evil, it doesn’t have pictures of the devil, Bible passages backward or curse Jesus publicly. But that’s what makes it so dangerous. The devil doesn’t walk into peoples lives with horns and a pitch fork! Who’s into horns and a pitch forks? No he comes as an ‘angel of light.’ (2 Cor 11:14) 

Now my intention here is not a full synopsis or critique of the book. I’m not out to attack the author but to expose the trap of what seems like harmless ways to rest, breath and live a better, kinder life. 

The book is a clever piece of writing, it starts with a story of two girls charging their crystals into the moons, creating smoke rituals ‘to make sure that ghosts of the last year stayed in the past’, they used Goddess Oracle cards, journaling, making lists and guess what… ‘everything on the list become a reality’.

From the first chapter the author makes it clear: this book is for everyone, irrespective of your faith, gender, etc. If you are struggling with self-worth, feel lonely, anxious, just recovering from a broken relationship, feeling vulnerable … this book is for you and ‘Mama Moon’ can help you find your true self. 

‘Communicating with the moon is an opportunity to ask for that you want… the moon is always there to listen’ 

‘Your moon magic, or witchy abilities, is not determined by gender, sexuality, race religion or cultural background. It is open to all.

Come as you are, you don’t need an invitation. You belong to this coven’

From here the book reminds us ‘we are all witches in progress. Let’s keep raising each other up!’ It intrigues you to learning the moon phases, moon signs, lunar goddesses, using crystals, moon rituals, making alters, how to use Tarot cards, your psychic senses, visiting Clairvoyance etc. and all very cleverly wrapped in some tips on journalling (some of these tips are actually pretty good!), girls managing mensural cycles etc., and some nice quotes from people like Beyonce which are taken completely out of context.  

This book is clever at luring people, especially young people, into a dark world. Now some may say: its harmless… but like Halloween and many other things, you must ask yourself a question: do you believe in a spiritual realm? If yes, are there good and evil spirits? If yes, then what kind do you think you attract from having a coffin in your front garden and skeletons in your window at halloween? Or from standing in the darkness ‘bathing’ in the moon light, meditating on a tarot card chanting ‘Om’ to free your mind and open a ceremony of moon worship. 

Luna / moon worship is for everyone, it’s inclusive, not judgmental, its peaceful, loving, spiritual, fosters community, and wellbeing. 

In fact, everything that Christianity should be! It’s a classic counterfeit, but what is most challenging for me is that as Christians we need to ask ourselves why people are attracted to this more than Jesus? 

With a growing celebrity fan base its market is growing. David Beckham’s instagram post at the time of writing has almost 2,000,000 likes. 

So how should the christian world respond to moon celebration/ worship 

Five things 

1, Know this is demonic. Don’t be under any allusions and try to butter it up as harmless. ‘Your Daughter burning incense in her room, crystals in the window sill and pulling Tarot cards is NOT harmless. And think twice about ‘emptying your mind’ in yoga at the gym. 

2, Be encouraged and see the opportunity, people are more open to spirituality in the post-modern culture than we realise. Ask people ‘are you spiritual?’ What does this mean to them? Do they believe in good and evil spirits? Have conversations about spirituality and pray for them. Remember have a greater Spirit. The Holy Spirit who offers abundant life in Jesus name. 

3, For those who are involved in moon practices / worship, educate yourself a little with the culture and rather that an aggressive attack, lovingly point them toward the God who made the moon. 

4, We need to find a better way to let the world see that Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) and that Jesus is the Lord and King of the supernatural. 

5, Pray. Pray for our children that they will not get lured into a spirituality that is not Jesus centred. Stand in the gap and pray for our children.