For countless centuries humans have worked with the phases of the moon to accomplish various activities. In the past it was common to do planting, harvesting and other activities at different phases of the moon for the purpose of completing them at the most ideal time for success. The idea has been lost a bit in modern times but it’s good to understand how lunar phases can affect us in our daily lives regarding our tasks and goals.
Not everything we do in life falls into such short cycles but being aware of the phases can help us to reflect on our situation, create actionable plans, start something new, work on projects, complete processes, and release that which no longer serves us. The lunar phases affect our quality of sleep, the tides, animal behavior, and so much more. You can benefit from utilizing knowledge about these cycles.
- First Phase – The New Moon
A time of new beginnings. The moon is waxing; it moves from complete darkness into the light. It appears to be increasing in size and its light becomes brighter. This is the start of a brand-new cycle. This is the best time to consider what you would like to create, to acknowledge your goals, write to-do lists and to clarify your intent. Bring your ideas into consciousness but don’t jump into action just yet – wait till it’s closer to the first quarter. This is a great time to brain storm, fine tune, and initiate plans for projects and ideas.
- Second Phase – The Crescent Moon
The moon continues waxing and its light continues to build. The crescent moon is a perfect time to launch projects and to proceed. Energies increase and help you to take action and gain momentum. New people, situations, and things may come into your life now.
- Third Phase – The First Quarter
Focus on accelerating the progress of your projects. Growth and abundance are emphasized at this time which helps you to build progressively as you pick up the pace. Creative energies continue to intensify and strengthen.
- Fourth Phase – The Gibbous Moon
The moon continues into the last phase of waxing, getting larger and brighter. This final boost enables you to maximize the wave of forward momentum from these energies. It’s time to be constructive, building on what you have been creating, and time for that push into fruition.
- Fifth Phase – Full Moon
At this point the moon is fully lit up from our vantage point on Earth. It is big and bright and offers us a time to celebrate and conclude the waxing phases of growth. Energy is flowing and things will come to a head. Emotions are typically heightened at the full moon. It is a good time to be thankful for that which has reached fullness and also to determine what can be let go of. It is a time of release. This may also be a time when quality sleep is less likely and a time when our bodies become more porous, absorbing more, so be careful of what products and foods you consume at this time.
- Sixth Phase – The Disseminating Moon
The moon is now waning, or appears to be decreasing in size and light. This is a time to let go of things, to release and to exercise introspection. Review your life and release anything that no longer serves you. This may include releasing situations or relationships that have become toxic and releasing unhealthy habits. This is a time to clean up, file things away, and to tie up any loose ends.
- Seventh Phase – The Last Quarter
The moon continues to wane and becomes darker. Take any remaining loose ends and finish up dealing with the old that needs to be let go. Continue to review your life for things that need releasing. As the moon becomes darker, we are able to better see the stars and planets in the night sky. Similarly, as we release the bright energies that were fueling our projects and goals, we can now step back and look at all the different aspects that can affect us and use this time to discern what to keep and what to let go of. Self-care and introspection are healthy through this phase. Energies support breaking negative patterns.
- Eighth Phase – The Balsamic Moon
During the seventy-two hours that lead up to a new moon, it is in the Balsamic phase. It is time to rest, relax, and take care of yourself. This time of darkness lends itself well to reflection, meditation, and contemplation. It’s time to reflect inward. Privacy is ideal during this introverted phase. You may now clear your head before the next phase begins. Clean your house and make space for the new.
Balsamic Moon Meditation: I am grateful for the release of that which I no longer need, for the closure of all that no longer serves me, and for the power of the universe.
To summarize, the waxing moon is a time of growth and creation. As the moon appears to become larger and brighter, it’s time to develop, create, and implement your ideas heading into the full moon. When the moon wanes, decreasing in size and light, this time is best used for carrying out that which was started during the waxing phase. It is also an ideal phase for introspection, cleaning, and clearing.
For gardeners and farmers, the waxing moon is a time to plant and fertilize and flowers and leaves appear above ground. The waning moon is a time to cut, weed, and prune and a time to nourish the roots. This tends to mirror our experience with the lunar phases. There are also times when it is best to get a haircut, have a medical procedure, make large purchases and more.
The most important thing to remember is that different phases lend themselves to different kinds of activity and utilizing that energy can make a large difference in what you are able to accomplish at any given time.
When you reflect on situations that have occurred in your life, are you able to see where there have been lunar phases influencing what happened?
“Whether we move instinctively to the lunar rhythm, or must choose to synchronize ourselves with free will, if we want a broader support for our activities, it makes sense to keep Luna in mind. She offers temporal windows for beginnings and endings, and for everything in between. She is the consummate teacher of process.” – Dana Gerhardt
