Working with the moon - New moons
Humans have worshipped and worked with the moon for centuries. She’s been used through all ages as a way of tracking time, a calendar for religious festivals and a marker of when to plant crops.
Just like the moon, we are cyclical beings. When she pulls and tugs at the waters of the earth she also pulls and tugs at the water within our bodies, affecting our moods, sleep patterns and menstrual cycles.
Medieval Moons - Getty Museum
I enjoy working with the moon as a grounding way to connect with myself. In our noisy, productivity focused society it feels important (and subversive) to carve out some quiet time to rest and reflect. I also find comfort in her cycles - everything shifts, no feeling is final.
Working with the moon can help us prioritise, check in with ourselves and see whether we’re aligned and integrated.
Significance of the dark moon
A few days before the new moon is the dark moon period, a time of low energy when we can feel like we want to go inwards and contemplate. The ancient Greek Goddess of the dark moon was Hecate - Goddess of magic, sorcery and the underworld. (I’ve definitely been feeling this the last few days - dark moon + luteal phase = big slug energy).
Under the dark moon we can look at any feelings that shape our intentions for the next cycle. When we pass through this phase our needs might be clearer. The dark moon, though sometimes uncomfortable, gives us the opportunity to make changes.
Image - Angela Lane
New moon rituals
A new moon ritual can be anything that allows you some quiet time to reflect. It could be writing your intentions down, meditating on the flame of a candle or having a mindful bath.
Some people connect to crystals - selenite is good for purifying and cleansing, moonstone for channelling lunar energy. You might want to burn herbs and incense, or draw your intentions if you’re more of a visual person - you can be as energetic or as chilled as you feel.
I write new moon intentions in a moon diary from Nikki Strange (check out her gorgeous goods) but a piece of paper / notebook / notes section of your phone also works, any way you’re drawn to get them out.
Writing intentions clarifies my thoughts, helping me to get to the bottom of how I’m feeling. Writing can be a way to tap into our intuitive inner voice that we often shut down, a way to access the quiet knowledge within us.
Intentions can be practical or emotional (wanting to feel a certain way or to shift the way we’re thinking). There’s power in writing something down to manifest it, you’ve drawn it forward into your consciousness and put it out into the world.
“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.” Goethe
What if you’re a serial procrastinator? (Raises hand). Writing and reflecting on monthly intentions is a good way to see if you’ve become stuck. It can feel frustrating writing the same thing again and again (why do I know this…)
We might think about why we’re not moving forward with our desires. Maybe perfection / fear / a lack of resources and time? Maybe the things we wanted to focus on aren’t as important to us as they were. Or maybe they’ve changed shape and form and have moved into something new.
Just like the moon we can always begin again - we are regularly given chances to shift, evolve and transform.
Books
Our Moon - A Human History. Rebecca Boyle
Lunar Living - Working with the magic of the moon cycles. Kirsty Gallagher
Moon Wisdom - Sally Morningstar.