July 13 is the Full Moon in Capricorn. This moon is traditionally known as the Buck Moon. The designation is because this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere Deer Bucks are in full antler growth mode. Their old antlers have been shed and they are growing something new, bigger, more suited for the life they will now lead. Capricorn is the sign of hard work and discipline. It’s also about building lasting structures that will benefit 7 generations to come.

This full moon is also a Super Moon meaning its energy will be amplified. So, this is a perfect time to release the antiquated and oppressive systems in order to makes space to build something new that will uphold Reproductive Justice for all. To that end we are providing this guide for any practitioner of all faiths who want to be in ceremony on this full moon.

Altar Set Up:

We encourage people to prepare their altars according to their own traditions as they are led to and are comfortable with. If you are someone new to ritual and wish to participate, here are some suggestions on how to set your altar for this ritual

• A cloth for the altar (suggested colors: Any earth tones)
• A plant of some sort (suggestion: greenery, even a house plant)
• A candle (color suggestion, white, green, or burgundy but you can use what you have available)
• A fireproof bowl
• A source of fire (lighter or matches)
• Precut Strips of paper (not too large)
• Pens/Pencils

In this ritual we will use the power of fire as a release agent to relinquish and release any hindrances to the work of Reproductive Justice for all. Be mindful that this ritual is about promoting the dismantling of oppressive systems. So be conscious to name concepts, constructs, and institutions and not individual people.

Once your altar is set, take a moment to acknowledge the Divine and to thanks them for joining you in sacred space. Do this according to your tradition and to ways that feel comfortable to you.

If you are new to ritual, you can use language similar to: We are grateful to the Divine Source of life for this opportunity to acknowledge the power within and without, seen and unseen. It is our hope that Source be with us now and always as we do this work for and in defense of Black Lives. Ashe’ (or Amen, Ameen, So Be It, or Whatever affirmation feels good to you).

Next you want to write down all the forces that you can think of that would oppose our liberation and the Reproductive Justice we deserve on the precut strips of paper. This can include systems, constructs, and institutions. If you are performing this ritual in community or with a group, invite all to fill out slips of paper with their contributions as well. Once everyone has written down those things they wish to submit to the fire, collect them all. At this point you can alter the ceremony according to your own faith practices. Some may wish to do a collective prayer of transformation or something else that grounds the activity in their tradition.

If you are new to ritual, you can use this language if you’d like: We understand the power of transformation that is fire. And as the lightning from a thunderstorm can light ablaze a terrain and from it’s charred ashes bright new growth occurs, we commit these systems of oppression and harmful constructs to the transformational fire and declare that from the ashes of their destruction rises new ways of being that sees black folks free, autonomous, and whole.

Then add all the collected slips of paper to the fireproof bowl and light them on fire. Let them burn to ash. While the burning takes place, you can do other activities like sing, dance, pray or whatever feels good to you according to your faith traditions. You can close out the ceremony with words of affirmation from your own faith traditions.

If you are new to ceremony you can say: We thank the Divine source of life and our ancestors for meeting us here today. We are grateful to have the space and will to engage them as they aid us in our collective liberation. May all we’ve done here today be made manifest as dismantled systems of oppression and generative processes that arise from the ashes in their stead. And may we be ever mindful to direct our faith for and in defense of Black Lives.

Once the paper is ash let it cool completely, add water to the bowl, and pour the water on earth that you consider holy ground. (if you are doing a group/community ritual, this part can be done by whoever is leading the ritual after everyone has left if need be.)