I’m constantly talking about the moon and tuning into it’s energy. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I can’t wait for full moons and new moons to arrive – as there are powerful and potent times to do some inner inventory on yourself. Roughly, about every two weeks the moon waxes to become full and wanes to become new again. It’s very common for people that follow the moon cycles to mention when a full moon or new moon is coming and do some inner soul work on these days. But why? And what do these moon cycles mean for us, as we are looking to understand our place in the universe?
Full Moon
A full moon happens when the sun is in line with the moon, making it completely illuminated when seen on Earth. Lunar eclipses can only occur when the moon is full and every month there is a different type of full moon. Like this October’s full moon is the Hunter’s or Harvest moon on the northern hemisphere. These full moons were named by the Native Americans to help tribes track the different seasons using the moon. So why is the energy during a full moon so potent? Since the solar yang and lunar yin are in total harmony of each other, this makes for a powerful time to: 1. Release, clear and let go emotions, ideas, thoughts, places, people or things that do not serve your highest good.
2. Be gentle with yourself and practice self-care, meditation or visualization.
3. Wrap up projects or tend to any seeds you’ve planted during the new moon.
4. Be in gratitude for all the blessings in your life.
New Moon
After the full moon, the moon begins waning or the visible surface that is illuminating begins to decrease. From the full moon it goes to waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent until it begins a new moon. During the new moon, the moon rises with the sun making it completely invisible to us on Earth. But! The new moon is the only time we can have a solar eclipse. And since the sun and the moon are in the same zodiac sign, it’s an incredibly bright and energizing time to:
1. Set intentions or goals for what you want to manifest or create in your life.
2. Open yourself up to new beginning and opportunities.
3. Be in gratitude for all the blessings in your life.
I’ve found a bunch of great apps available on iOS that are great for tracking the moon cycles and getting a better understanding of what’s going on in the sky like this one called Moon Phase + Free. I also like to use a moon chart, like the one pictured above to have an idea of what the year or month will look like into terms of the moon. I even input the new and full moon dates on my iCal, so I’m attuned to the moon’s incredible energy. Some women will find that the more that they pay attention to the moon cycles, the more that their menstrual cycles will sync up with the moon’s cycle – which is fascinating and just proves how interconnected our bodies are with the universe. I hope you found this post helpful! What are some things that you like to do during the new and full moon cycles?
Resources:
Full Moon Names, Almanac
New Moon, Earth Sky
Mystic Mamma, Astral Insights