Rite of the Higher Self: A Waxing Moon Journey
What is the Higher Self?
The Higher Self is a divine figure, entity, and helper widely debated among spiritual circles. Some groups believe the Higher Self is a spiritual guide, much like a guardian angel. Other groups believe the Higher Self to be the most divine expression of our souls, operating on the highest timeline of our lives. There is one more belief system, and it’s the one that I subscribe to: that the higher self operates as both a spiritual guide and the most divine expression of ourselves. Throughout this article, I’ll reference the Higher Self sometimes as a guide I’m invoking and other times as an embodiment I’m striving to achieve. What’s most important to note is that any magickal practitioner can use the following ritual outline to connect to their higher self and reap the rewards regardless of their belief system.
Working with and embodying the Higher Self is a journey of connection and unity, offering numerous benefits that will shift depending on your perspective. When I’ve viewed the Higher Self as a spiritual guide, it has swiftly helped me understand my place in the universe and provided clear guidance. On the occasions I’ve chosen to work with the Higher Self as an embodiment, I’ve felt a surge of inspiration and motivation that propels me to new heights. I find joy in working with the Higher Self in both forms, consistently elevating my vibration as I channel its embodiment, and receiving guidance as I interact with it as a guide.
Why Now? Continuation from Last Month’s Waning Moon Release
Coming from the waning moon ritual of release and blossoming that I underwent in March, it feels incredibly appropriate to directly transition into work with the Higher Self for several reasons. The first reason I want to speak is related to the timing of this particular ritual for me, as I perform it in 2025. This new moon we just had was a Solar Eclipse, which is known for the instability, brazen methodology, and overall intensity that it can create in our lives. Given that this was a Solar Eclipse, it felt essential to let the Divine “steer the ship” as I moved into this next stage of the ritual, so I chose to work with the Higher Self in stage two. The Higher Self is the highest expression of ourselves outside of time and space. When we ask for their guidance and embodiment, we are promptly pushed into our highest vibrational timeline, gliding through the ebbs and flows of the cosmos. Thus, working with the Higher Self guarantees that I’ll head in the best direction without being critically influenced by the intensity and instability of the Eclipse.
The Higher Self felt particularly fitting as, while I didn’t want to “steer the ship”, I did want to avoid blossoming without direction. Having just declared from the Equinox through the new moon that I wanted to blossom, I want to ensure that the blossoming happens elegantly and in directions I want to head. The Higher Self is helping me navigate Eclipse energy and stepping in as a spiritual director of my current stage of growth and awakening, providing a sense of purpose and direction.
The last reason that the Higher Self felt like the best resource for growth in this waxing moon period is its association with pure light and divine energy. As the waxing moon grows, we see more light filling the sky, akin to the light of the Higher Self growing within us over the ritual. While the waxing moon is available to anyone wanting to cultivate and grow anything into their lives, the physical representation of light increasing, layered on top of a spiritual embodiment of light, felt too poetic to pass up, explicitly concerning the Higher Self. As I mentioned in the last article, this layering of spiritual elements leads to the alchemization of magick in our lives.
The Ritual: Calling on the Higher Self
The next part of the ritual takes place over three phases, the first on the dark moon. This dark moon phase transitions the ritual from the efforts of release and blossoming during the waning moon into the efforts we’re beginning on the new moon and carrying through the waxing moon. The focus is on contemplation, more specifically, I’ll be pondering why I’d like to embody my Higher Self and what I hope to achieve by the full moon on April 12th. In my house, we honor Hekate’s Deipnon, or supper, on the Dark Moon, so I will personally draw insight from her energy as I contemplate during phase one.
Phase two of this part happens on the first day of the waxing moon, or as we celebrate it in our house, the Noumenia. On this day, I’ll begin invoking the Higher Self as a guide and as an embodiment of the highest version of myself. I’ll also charge a piece of jewelry by infusing it with the energy of my Higher Self, which will serve as an intentional talisman that connects me to my higher self outside of ritual space. The final phase of this part happens on the full moon on April 12th. During this phase, I will use the culmination of higher self-energy I’ve been cultivating to establish a Self-atmoon, a sacred space or object that represents my connection to my Higher Self and can be used for longer-term higher self-work.
You will need just a few things, should you want to recreate these phases of the ritual precisely as I’ve written them:
Journal and Pen
White Candle
Oils and Herbs for Dressing the Candle
Incense
Carving Tool
Jewelry that represents your Higher Self and your desire to embody and connect with it.
This jewelry will serve as a physical reminder of your connection to your Higher Self, and as a talisman, it will help you maintain this connection outside of the ritual space.
Phase 2, Part 1: Dark Moon (3/30/2025) - Transitioning from Release to Cultivation
Enter a Meditative State: Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths. Let distractions fade away as you focus on the rhythm of your breath.
Declare Your Sacred Space: However you feel called—through words, visualization, or a simple act like lighting incense—set the intention that this is a space for deep inner work.
Call on Divine Support: Whether you work with deities, ancestors, spirit guides, or simply the energy of the universe, invite supportive forces to accompany you on this journey towards your higher self.
Reflect on your Journey: Explore the purpose of this new cycle by asking yourself the following questions and journaling your answers.
Why do I seek to deepen my connection with my Higher Self in the coming month?
What will embodying my highest expression allow me to accomplish?
How will my life transform as I walk with and as my Highest Self?
Connect with your Higher Self: Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, letting the tension and weight of this past release cycle disappear. Then, bring your Higher Self to your mind’s eye (using your imagination is entirely valid if you feel that nothing is coming to mind right away).
How do they appear to you? What are they wearing? What aura or light surrounds them?
How do they move? What is their posture, their gaze, their expression?
What do they sound like when they speak? What wisdom do they carry?
Can you sense a unique scent, a feeling, or an energy that defines them?
Release and Open the Path Forward: With your Higher Self still conjured in your mind’s eye (however it unfolds for you), take a moment to offer up on final release of lingering doubts, fears, and patterns that no longer serve you. See your Higher Self receive them as a gift and imagine them transmuting them into something beautiful.
Offer Gratitude: Thank your Higher Self and any divine forces you called in, and offer something in return. The offering could be a libation, incense, or a heartfelt prayer.
Close the Ritual: Take time to declare the sacred space you created as open, sending your wishes to connect with your Higher Self more deeply to the cosmos. As you move into this next lunar cycle, carry the awareness of your Highest Self with you. Tomorrow marks a new beginning, where you step fully into the radiant being you are meant to be.
03/31/2025: Call on the Higher Self (Noumenia, First Light of Waxing Moon)
Enter a Meditative State: Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths. Let distractions fade away as you focus on the rhythm of your breath.
Declare Your Sacred Space: However you feel called—through words, visualization, or a simple act like lighting incense—set the intention that this is a space for deep inner work.
Call on Divine Support: Whether you work with deities, ancestors, spirit guides, or simply the energy of the universe, invite supportive forces to accompany you on this journey towards your higher self.
Dress and Prepare your White Candle: Using your carving tool, inscribe the words, “I am my Highest Self, Forever and Always.” Feel free to add symbols that resonate with your vision of your higher self.
Charge the Candle: Take the candle in your hands and focus on your desire to embody your Highest Self fully. Feel and reflect on what this transformation could mean for you. As this realization forms in your heart, let it expand until it overflows, moving down your arms and hands and pouring into the candle. Take your time with this; really feel the energy infusing itself into the candle.
Anoint the Candle: Use oils and herbs that align with your intention to connect with the Higher Self to anoint the candle and seal in your intent.
Candle Lighting: Light the candle and recite the following invocation
Invocation of the Higher Self
I call upon my Highest Self,
radiant guide, sovereign light.
Come forth, flame and star,
wisdom’s voice, truth’s fire.
Descend as a mantle of light,
rise as the ember within,
burning away all that binds me.
Unveiled, unbound, I walk my highest path.
By this light, I am aligned.
By my will, it is done.
Deepen the Connection to the Higher Self: Breathe into the presence of your Highest Self. What does it feel like to know and be them? Let their essence fully merge with yours. See yourself moving through life as your Highest Self; waking with purpose, acting with wisdom, speaking with confidence. Feel the excitement, certainty, and ease of perfect alignment.
Charge your Talisman: Take the piece of jewelry you have chosen and hold it over the candle and incense, then recite the following invocation of power.
Higher Self Talisman Invocation
By fire’s flame and sacred breath,
by will unyielding, light unfed,
I bind this token to my soul,
a key, a seal, a mark of gold.
O Highest Self, burn bright within,
Let this vessel call you in.
Through darkest night, through dawning ray,
Let it hold the path, and let it show the way.
By oath and spirit, fate and fire,
It is charged. It is Sealed. It is Done.
Call on Guidance from your Higher Self: Put on the piece of Jewelry and bring the visualization of your Higher Self into full view in your mind’s eye. Ask your Higher Self the following and then write its answer in your journal.
"What is the one thing I can do in the next 24 hours to step towards my highest expression and fulfillment?"
Offer Gratitude: Thank your Higher Self and any divine forces you called in, and offer something in return. The offering could be a libation, incense, or a heartfelt prayer.
Close the Ritual: Take time to declare the sacred space you created as open, sending your wishes to connect with your Higher Self more deeply to the cosmos.
Ground and Integrate: Ground yourself by touching the earth, drinking water, or holding a grounding stone. Reflect on the guidance you received and make plans to act upon it within the next 24 hours. Carry your charged jewelry with you always, as a reminder and anchor to your Highest Self.
4/1/2025 - 4/11/2025 - Waxing Moon
Nightly Practice
Each night, as the moon waxes toward fullness, you will reaffirm your connection to your Highest Self. This ritual is a sacred commitment to deepening your embodiment of wisdom, confidence, creativity, and purpose. Let your candle's flame be a beacon, guiding you ever closer to your highest expression.
Enter Sacred Space: However you feel called, through words, visualization, or a simple act like lighting incense. Set the intention that this is a space for deep inner work.
Offer Incense: Light incense or herbs as an offering to your Highest Self. Let the rising smoke carry your devotion and intent.
Light the Candle & Invoke: Light the candle and feel its energy from the first night. Speak the invocation to call forth your Highest Self.
Recharge Your Jewelry (Optional): Hold your jewelry over the flame and incense, reaffirming it as a key to your Highest Self.
Deepen the Connection: Close your eyes and visualize yourself merging with your Highest Self, feeling their wisdom, confidence, and grace flowing into you.
Receive Guidance: Ask: What is one thing I can do in the next 24 hours to embody my Highest Self? Trust the answer that arises.
Offer Gratitude: Thank your Higher Self and any divine forces you called in, and offer something in return. The offering could be a libation, incense, or a heartfelt prayer.
Close the Ritual: Take time to declare the sacred space you created as open, sending your wishes to connect with your Higher Self more deeply to the cosmos.
Ground & Integrate: Return to your body, breathe deeply, and ground yourself with water, food, or touch.
Carry the Energy Forward: Wear your jewelry or place your hand over your heart throughout the day, reaffirming: I am my Highest Self. I walk in my light. I live my truth.
What’s Next: Full Moon Ritual - The Final Step
One more blog post in this series will come shortly after the Full Moon on April 12th, 2025. This full moon will represent the culmination of the full moon to full moon lunar cycle ritual, allowing me to fully embody the feeling of being my highest self and establish a new pattern of next steps for moving forward.
There are more than a few ways to end and/or continue this ritual, depending upon the magician’s individual need. I'll review some options in depth in this series's final article. I plan to end this lunar journey and continue my work with the Higher Self in different, more established ways. Predominantly, my Full Moon ritual will focus on building a dedicated altar to my Higher Self so that I can continue to show up and call forth / embody their energy in a distinguished space that honors them.
I bring up my next steps for those who have been following along with the ritual as I have written it, so that they can begin to prepare for the next stage of the ritual. There are several things that I’ll be doing over the next 10-14 days to help prepare myself for establishing my Higher Self altar. Primarily, in addition to the connectivity and higher vibration that I’ll be working to cultivate in the ritual above, I will intentionally focus on where I feel the higher self’s home should be in my house. I hope to set up this altar from a place of embodiment of the Higher Self, allowing its location to resonate throughout my body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Next, I intend to gather decorations and power items representing my higher self. I’m not going to filter myself as I let these items come to me; instead, I will focus on allowing my higher self to create a display of art by making me feel drawn to the right choices as I discover them. Some things that immediately come to mind, influenced by my personal background in witchcraft and ceremonial magick, include: crystals, candles, depictions of nature and the cosmos, a mirror, representations of the elements, and a golden cloth. While I list these to provide a starting point, I’m trying to avoid setting any expectations for what comes forth, and I strongly encourage readers to do the same. You never know what will speak to your highest self, but you will find the right thing if you listen.
I’m looking forward to the culmination of this ritual in a few weeks, and I’m eager to share the results of this waxing moon rite then as well. Thanks for reading!
Blessings,
James