The moon is a constant reminder of the cyclical nature of life. Representing our divine dance between the light and darkness within ourselves. The moon’s phases have been revered and observed for thousands of years by people
from all over the world. The moon was the first timekeeper, before the invention of mechanical clocks, people would use the moon’s phases to determine the time of the month, and the position of the moon in the sky to estimate the time of day or night. I’ll explore why following the moon phases is a valuable practice and provide some helpful rituals that align with the moon’s energy.
The moon has been connected to women in many cultures and traditions throughout history. In ancient times, the moon was often associated with the feminine and was seen as a symbol of fertility, creativity, and intuition. One reason for the connection between the moon and women is the lunar cycle, which is roughly 28 days long, mirroring a women’s menstrual cycle. Many people associate goddesses, water, and dream time with the moon as all these energies connect with the natural ebb and flow of life.
The moon has four primary phases: new moon, waxing moon, full moon, and waning moon. Each phase lasts for roughly one week, and they cycle through the same order each lunar month. The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, and it’s characterized by a dark moon that’s barely visible in the sky. As the moon waxes, it becomes increasingly visible until it reaches the full moon phase, where it’s fully illuminated. From there, the moon begins to wane, becoming less visible until it returns to the new moon phase. I have lined out the different moon phases and their purpose in the sections below along with some helpful rituals to harness the potent energy of the moon cycle.
New Moon – Intention Setting:
The new moon is a time for releasing the old and inviting in the new. We use this time for contemplation and inner work. With no or little light to guide our path, we are left in the
shadows with our own reflections. This is the time we do deep dreaming work, hold sacred circles, and set our intentions for this lunar cycle. We come up with new ideas and start projects, with the help of our inner guidance.
Rituals: Journaling and spiritual baths are good rituals to use in conjunction with the new moon. Free writing practices allow us to write whatever is in our heart or we can be more intentional with the practice. It’s important to set a timeframe to express yourself fully, typically 5-10 minutes. Read it back to yourself, and you may be surprised at the insights you find.
Waxing Moon – Plans in Action:
During the waxing moon, we make our lists and check them twice. We map out the plan of action in our daily lives to bring our ideas to life. This is a time to pull in our resources and invest more energy into our goals every day as our energy grows with the moon. As you see your power and potency increase so should the productivity of your endeavors.
Rituals: Card readings, spell work, and deep meditative channeling can help up you align with the easiest path forward during this time of action. Here we ask for help from the invisible world to help push our intentions into our reality. For the inexperienced practitioner, a simple oracle card reading will suffice to gain clarity on our path.
Full Moon – Manifestation:
The full moon is the last big push before birthing the intention we set during the new moon. The energy is high as the full reflection of the sun is shining down on us at night. Powerful magic is available now as our intuitive energy is awakened to the fullest. We can see ourselves and others clearer under the moonlight creating
an atmosphere of transparency. This is a time for creativity, manifestation rituals, dancing, making love, drumming, and celebrations. When these energies are repressed, we see more accidents and fights. So, remember to howl at the moon and let go of your inhibitions. This is a time for celebration.
Rituals: Full moons are a great time to charge our crystals. Under the full moonlight, our crystals are cleansed and activated to their full potential. Moon water is another great ritual to complete under the full moon, I like to say a prayer to the moon over the water and put the water in a crystal bowl while it sits on top of a flower of a life crystal grid. I then place crystals all around the bowl to amplify the charge.
Waning Moon – Rest and Reset:
Do not start any new projects. During the waning moon, we begin to slow down and revisit the plan we started during the new moon. We check for any necessary rework and invest less time in our projects as we slow down. In this space, we begin to rest before setting our intentions again on the new moon.
Rituals: Spend some time outside to align with nature and pay attention to the astrological events during this time. While our energy decreases it’s important to stay aware of our external environments. As we finish these projects we started on the new moon, don’t forget to clean up your sacred space and make sure it’s ready for the next new moon’s energy.
Following the moon phases is a beautiful practice that can bring greater awareness and alignment to your life. By implementing simple rituals to connect with the cycles of the moon and nature, you can find greater harmony and balance in your life. So, the next time you look up at the night sky, take a moment to appreciate the moon and all its phases.