How to Work With Moon Phases

As published on Medium November 3, 2017

You don’t have to believe in magic to believe in the moon. Friday, November 3 we have a full moon! Look up at the big, glowing orb in the sky. Here’s a beginner’s guide to working with phases of the moon.

Image source: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4537

Before we worry about all the moon phases, let’s get the basics down around the full moon and the new moon.

The ancients saw a giant seed metaphor in the moon: the new moon is the undeveloped seedling under the dark earth (we can’t see the new moon), and the full moon is the plant at its fullest expression. In between are the birth and the death/decomposition cycles.

Birth, growth, full expression, death and waning, decomposition, emptying out, returning to dark, nourishing the soil and beginning again. Round and round and round.

On the new moon, the moon is at its greatest potential, and this is when we set our intentions. The best way to do this is to write a list of intentions on the new moon, and keep it during the lunation cycle.

On the full moon, the moon is at its greatest expression, and is ready to empty. This is the best time to let go of things that do not serve. A great way to do this is to write a list of things you want to let go of on the full moon, and then burn it. The full moon is also a great day to clean, get rid of physical things you don’t need, and even reset intentions in relationships that may not serve.

To review:

1. Set intentions on the new moon.
2. Release things you want to let go of on the full moon.

See, not so scary! Setting intentions and letting go with the moon is also a great way to hold yourself accountable. The moon doesn’t lie, it’s always there, and it’s always on time.