On a cloudy Saturday evening, November 8, 2025, the Derek Doubleday Arboretum in Langley, British Columbia, buzzed with a special kind of energy. Members of the Fraser Witchery Bog—a local group devoted to metaphysical exploration—gathered for their first full moon celebration of the year. Despite the anticipation, nature had a trick up its sleeve: thick clouds obscured the much-anticipated supermoon, forcing the telescope brought by group admin Theresa Rider to remain packed away. "Can’t win em all," Rider quipped to the Langley Advance Times after the event. Yet, the evening was far from a loss. Participants took a night walk through the park, soaking in what Rider described as "such a lovely space."
This gathering was more than just a nod to lunar cycles—it was the group’s biggest event of the season, an opportunity for community, healing, and remembrance. Rider, a Langley City resident and the administrator of the Fraser Valley Fraser Witchery Bog Facebook page, donned a moon circlet for the occasion. The circlet held deep sentimental value. "I got it when I was a young lady, and I was only just getting into all things pagan and mystical," she recalled. The piece was a gift from her Aunt Claudia during a memorable visit to Miami, where they explored aura readings and mystical shops. With the anniversary of her aunt’s passing coinciding with the event, Rider explained, "I wanted to wear the moon circlet so she could be present with us, because I know she would have just loved all of this."
The supermoon, which had reached its peak brightness on Wednesday, November 5, was a sight to behold for those lucky enough to catch it. According to Langley Advance Times, this particular supermoon—often called the "full beaver moon"—appeared about 15 percent brighter and 7 percent larger than usual, thanks to its close proximity to Earth. The nickname harks back to the time of year when beavers are said to return to their lodges, well-stocked for the winter.
For many in the Fraser Witchery Bog, the full moon is more than a visual spectacle. It’s a moment to connect, reflect, and embrace the mystical. Walnut Grove resident Jessica Kendall prepared three Tarot card spreads, offering free readings to anyone curious enough to try. "We’re offering just a free reading for people to try out the cards, play with the cards, get used to them," Kendall explained. Her fascination with Tarot began in childhood, when her mother gifted her her first deck while she was still in elementary school. The event was a chance not only to share her passion but to help others find comfort or clarity under the moon’s influence.
The drive for inclusivity was palpable. Another member, Melissa (who preferred not to share her last name), created a "queer altar" on the second floor of the Arboretum building. "It’s to provide inclusion and remembrance for all queer people, and anyone that is struggling or needs a safe place to come," Melissa said. Her connection to the group—and to Rider and Kendall in particular—had been a source of healing and support. "They really helped me with a lot of my healing and my life journey," she shared.
As the lunar cycle moved forward, the moon’s phase continued to shift. By Thursday, November 13, the moon had entered its Waning Crescent phase, with only 37 percent of its surface illuminated, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation cited by Mashable. For skywatchers, this meant the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler and Copernicus craters were visible to the naked eye. Those with binoculars could spot features like the Grimaldi Basin and Clavius Crater, while telescopes revealed even more lunar wonders. The moon’s phases, as NASA explains, follow a 29.5-day cycle, moving from New Moon to Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and finally Waning Crescent before the cycle repeats. The next full moon, as reported by Mashable, is set for December 4, 2025.
But the influence of the full moon wasn’t limited to those gathering under Langley’s cloudy skies. It also inspired rising pop artist Jae XO, who released their new single, "Dancin’ in the Full Moon," on November 14, 2025. The track, available on all major streaming platforms, pulses with ritual, emotion, and queer power. In an interview, Jae XO described the song’s genesis as deeply personal: "There are some things that are simply too powerful to just feel, so we speak them. And every once in a while those things are too powerful to only speak, so we sing them," Jae explained. The process was swift, a testament to the intensity of their inspiration.
Jae XO’s music is steeped in what they call a "mystical and witchy tone," drawing from their own spiritual practice. However, much of that world remains private—"My music is the part of my magic that I share far and wide," Jae said. The single was produced with Velvet Code and Grammy-winning engineer Denise Barbarita, whose direction in the studio, Jae noted, "takes me from being a singer to an artist." Jae’s ambition is clear: to create infectious, empowering pop anthems that listeners can’t help but sing along to. "I want the whole world to sing along to my music," they said, emphasizing the role of catchy hooks in spreading that energy.
The journey hasn’t been without hurdles. As a trans artist, Jae XO has faced challenges in an industry that is only beginning to make space for broader representation. "I want us to be seen and respected and streamed and sell tickets at the same level as all the main pop girlies," Jae admitted. "We have to work harder and make more content in hopes that we can catch up." Still, their music is rooted in resilience and pride, a reflection of their own path toward self-acceptance. "It took a long time for me to fully see and accept my true self," Jae shared. "Right now that is the journey, and a lot of the stories I tell will hold that truth. But I look forward to the day that we will be on the other side, and I will get to tell those stories with my music."
For Jae, the full moon’s light is a metaphor for empowerment. "I want my listeners to feel powerful when they listen, like there is nothing in the entire universe that could ever hold them back from dancing in the light of the full moon." It’s a sentiment that echoes the spirit of the Fraser Witchery Bog’s gathering—a celebration of community, healing, and the enduring magic of the moon, whether hidden by clouds or shining bright.
As the lunar cycle continues its eternal dance, communities and artists alike draw inspiration from the moon’s phases, finding meaning, connection, and creativity in its ever-changing light.
