The Moon is the very confusing creature...

[Pandy Fackler]

I'm getting a whole bunch of mixed results on different website about this question, so I figured I'd just ask it here where we at least have a few teachers :P

What is the difference between the dark and new moon (if any)? From several sources, I hear to not practise magik in the dark moon unless you're very ready and balanced. But then I've also read that practising magik during the new moon can be beneficial. So, are they the same? Are they different? ...someone...?

[Lunacie]

Although there are techinically 8 phases of the moon, most Wiccans treat them as though there were only 4: Dark, Waxing, Full, and Waning. Since the moon's cycle is just over 28 days that means each cycle would be 7 days. Therefore to do Dark (New) moon magic you could work on the 3 days before, the day of, and the 3 days following the actual dark moon. However, the closest you are to the actual dark moon the more potent the energies supposedly are. But of course there are spells that run for the full 7 days consecutively. I have heard many things as well, ranging from the Dark of the moon being a time to rest and recharge to it being a time for performing 'dark magic'.

[Crystal Raven]

some believe the actual night that there is absolutely no moon showing at all, like tonight, is the Dark Moon, and therefore tomorrow, when there is just an eensy weensy sliver, would be the New Moon