The Phases of the Moon

She learned from the moon to shine through the darkness…

Aligning ourselves with the magical energies of the moon phase can transform your life…

Greek Philosopher Aristotle believed that because the brain was a “moist” organ that our minds were influenced by the pull of the moon in the same way the tides are… And of course we are made up of around 70% water so it is no wonder our body is pulled by her too.

New Moon

This is the first phase of the moon. The start of a new lunar cycle. It symbolises new beginnings in the darkness of her womb space. A time of coming within the body and anchoring the mind. A time for self-care, meditation and renewal to regain your strength and begin again. In the phase running into the new moon, the snake skin has shed and all that is no longer serving her is left discarded. This can be a highly sensitised time of vulnerability sitting within a freshly exposed skin. A black canvas where infinite possibility lies… This is the time of the witches and of secrets and mystery.

You may feel a need to withdraw from others during this time and seek alone time. A time to unplug…

Born under a New Moon: New Moon babies grow up in tune with their inner selves and needs and wants, they search for their identity in this life. They have a childlike wonder and love trying new things. You work best with these moon energies when you consult your intuition and act spontaneously, living in the moment.

You love new beginnings. In terms of your life path, consider a sky void of the moon and the infinite possibility to create your future. When a person is born under the influence of the New Moon it is thought that in terms of reincarnation, this person has been born into the first incarnation of an eight fold sequence. You may possess a quality of spontaneity, thus, planning ahead is not always met with success. Do you view life as a grand adventure with unlimited possibilities?

Since you have been born into darkness, as though a blindfold is placed over your eyes, you learn to respond instinctually and to act on intuition. Are you able to navigate without maps and arrive at your destination with time to spare? This may be a practical way that this shows up… Do you believe that anything is possible? This is one of your greatest gifts.

Keywords: Initial urge; Instinct; Projection

Science bit: the Sun and the Moon are on the same side of the Earth and in the astrological chart it looks as though the moon is returning to her lover, the sun - to be held.

Waxing Crescent Moon

La Luna has moved from darkness into a waxing crescent. This is a very visible shift. Take a moment to feel it in your body. The waxing crescent phase is her first step toward fullness. A major opportunity for change. Where the New Moon is restorative and the Full Moon is expansive, the waxing crescent moon can be a call to action. The time for the intentions that became visible during a New Moon meditation to be taken forward and planted.

Born under a Crescent Moon: You are the embodiment of strength and perseverance, fully committed to your path in life. You are determined and self-assertive, drawn to do good in the world. Through difficult times you are the light that never yields but shines through. It is said however, that you may be aversive to risk, understanding the importance of your survival in this early, vulnerable phase of the moon. The energies of this moon phase may influence you in a cardinal way, making it feel natural for you to create spark and to start new projects. Your challenge is to break free of the comfort zone and discover your own independent voice.

A key word for the Crescent Phase is breakthrough. Your challenge is to take opportunities and act upon them.

Keywords: Activation; Striving; Future

Science bit: In the Northern Hemisphere the moon waxes light from right to left.

First Quarter Moon

Your week of rest and intention setting is over…

The Moon she is half-way there (confusingly this is called a quarter moon but visually she is 50% alight). This may be a time of feeling resistance in the form of obstacles or tests. Testing our resolve over the seeds planted around the New Moon. Your first hurdles may start to become apparent. The growing light, shedding light to your plans. This is the time to revisit your intentions at the New Moon - re-feel them, re-visualise, re-imagine them. Decide to let go or to commit.

Born under a waxing quarter moon: Through challenge we grow and become stronger and more resolute. You are a well rounded person filled with potential.

The First Quarter Moon can be referred to as “crisis in action”. It is a time in which the challenge is to manage the energy which is released by crisis and then to restructure it into its new form. People born during this phase are able to rise to the occasion of any emergency. They are able to make split second decisions and act on them. They have the ability to tear down old structures and to recreate new ones. They are the pioneers, the trail blazers, the hero and the heroine. Havoc is excitement in your eyes, the crazier it gets, the better you get. Perhaps you will find yourself working in emergency rooms and driving ambulances. You have a strong will and an ability to push through obstacles and to make decisions. Gaining satisfaction from overcoming anything put in your way.

Keywords: Clearing; Action; Building

Waxing Gibbous

Your decisions and resolve have got you this far. Now it is time to refine and adjust your intentions according to what the challenges of the previous phase have brought to light.

Things don’t always work out the way we planned them to. During this phase of the moon we reevaluate and tweak or give up and sometimes change direction. It is a second chance at new beginnings as well. There is often a pull to change course or to make some sacrifices to see your intentions through to the full moon. Stay true to your course.

“People often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.” Lao Tzu

Born under a Gibbous Moon: you are kind, caring and nurturing and make an amazing mentor. You find it easy to create incredibly strong bonds with others and communicate in a loving way. A positive and enthusiastic person, loved by all.

Life under this moon phase feels bulging with potential, you may have great stamina to succeed. Those born during the Gibbous Phase have an innate desire for perfection. You have a real urge to understand and look at a subject from all angles, you experience sheer joy when delving into the core of the matter. Bringing things to the essence of their being and revealing the truth. Do you live your life in anxious expectation - of leading into something?

Keywords: Perfecting; Analysis; Interpret

Full Moon

Harvest time… results, forgiveness, gratitude - we may see some results from the New Moon intentions or it may be too early for that and rather we see new opportunities for growth or a sign that our wishes are on their way. Fully shine in your light and prepare to release as we hold this tension point of utmost expansion.

Our body will sense this is the time of the climax of the current cycle and you may feel at your most confident leading to this point. This ‘yang’ quality can take you the top of the mountain and close to the edge. You could feel quite wound up and anxious as you near the cliff edge, as you know that what hasn’t managed to manifest will have to wait. You will soon be diving. There can be a feeling of pressure like a heavily pregnant woman about to give birth.

Forgiveness is the most important gift to give to yourself at this time. When we forgive, we can move on and the jump is easier. Look back and forgive anyone or anything that has hurt you in the past 4 weeks (or ever!) Detoxify your emotional and physical body. And fill up again with gratitude. Emotions will rise up to be processed and released.

As the moon grows fuller to this pinnacle point so our emotions grow in size with her. Think again to a heavily pregnant mama and how full she is emotionally. We honour the Goddess Moon in her round, swollen gorgeousness. A Full Moon can also be called the time of lunacy . Lunatic literally translates to “moon-sick”. The pull of the moon is at its strongest, (as well as at New Moon) affecting extremes in the tides. And astrologically the moon is directly opposite the sun in a polar opposite sign. This may bring heightened tension as we fight to find balance between two extremes. Emotions can run high as we walk the tightrope and prepare to fall into the next phase. The pull down.

Born under a Full Moon: you are an incredible, powerful, unique individual. You empower others with your free spirit and wild heart. A selfless and generous person you give your all to everything that you do. Your vulnerability is your greatest strength and endears you to others. You are impulsive, passionate and energetic. And may be strongly influenced by your parents (the sun is opposite the moon in your chart) pulling you to find balance between polar extremes.

People born under the Full Moon can be idealists. Relationships are important to you as your very being is lit up by the presence of another. If it is hard for you to find the ideal relationship in this material world perhaps you will turn to religion or an ideal cause.

Keywords: Perfection; Completion Conscious; Illumination

Science bit: a Full Moon occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth. Because the sun is directly across from the moon. the light completely illuminates her, making an appearance of her being full. A beautiful marriage of opposites.

Waning Gibbous

A big sigh out as we are caught in a hammock of abundance. B-R-E-A-T-H-E… Relax, Accept, Regroup. This time can be a feeling full of love, of generosity and giving back. The themes are gratitude, sharing and enthusiasm. A lot of energy has been expended and you may need to rest a little and take a breather. If that’s the case for you then honour this and you will be honouring the moon and where she is at in her journey. Go easy on yourself and regroup, this is not the time to bound off onto something new.

This phase is asking for acceptance of ‘what is’ and presence in the moment you are in. It’s a beautiful time to acknowledge your body and your mind and how hard you’ve been working. The more you surrender into this phase the better chance of success later on. This is the re-balancing yin phase to the yang of the previous phases. Manage the yin and the yang phases and you will notice that your hormones, your moon time (if you are a woman) and your mental and emotional health starts to align closer with the moon and is guided by her to an easier flow and balance.

I think of The High Priestess card in The Tarot when I think of this phase. She sits with great wisdom and the book of all knowledge in her lap in front of a veiled doorway. We have now stepped through that doorway and passed through the veil. There has been a gear shift. Did you notice it?

Now we can share our wisdom and knowledge from the past weeks with others and embody The High Priestess in our lives.

Born under a Waning Gibbous: you are very intuitive and insightful, with a huge imagination. this is the disseminating phase of the Moon. Taking the gifts you have been given and sharing them with others. People born during this phase are natural communicators. Their purpose is to spread out joy to the world. They share and communicate information acquired from their own experience. They are the teachers and philosophers. If they have no message to share they can become despondent. It may be their lesson in this life to realise that they are not responsible as to whether the message is received or not. It is not the role of everyone else to act on what they say, but it is the role of the person born in the Disseminating Phase to say it. They make good publicists and reporters as long as they believe in what they are saying.

Keywords: Imparting; Sharing, Conveying Awareness

Last/ Third Quarter

Decomposition: re-evaluate, balance, trust. It’s another half-way point (even though the name awkwardly suggests a quarter). We try to re-orientate ourselves as we are guided towards the New Moon. We might feel tired during this phase especially if we haven’t honoured the gear shift in the previous phase. There may be a feeling of tension as we come to terms with the need to let go even if we don’t want to.

The moon is surrendering her light. We begin the purge of anything hanging over for us including anger, hurt or broken promises from the previous phases. We make preparations to start afresh at the looming New Moon. Many people feel inclined to organise their office or clean their house as part of this preparation. Cleansing out the old and whatever has gathered dust. Physical activity can also help us to release and detoxify. Pay attention to any emotional and physical clutter you’ve accumulated - getting ready to shed…

We have to make way for the new. You may encounter some challenges. Work with these now. This part of the cycle can feel like a crossroads. Which way do you want to turn and what are you going to take with you?

Born under a Last Quarter: you are the Queen/King of the Night, your energy is dynamic allowing you to easily let go of what doesn’t serve your purpose in this life. Creation comes from the friction of release and letting go. This serves you well. You show others by example how to compost and churn what is old and make space for the new.

This process of churning is the phase the caterpillar goes through in their cocoon. When the butterfly emerges it is quite the surprise to those who thought they “knew” you. These people need the time and space to find themselves. If pressured to conform, they may revolt causing others to regard them as uncooperative and rebellious. As a child, you may have required a lot of “alone” time more rest than others as you processed much in your sleep and in meditative states. You are loyal, sentimental and caring.

Keywords: Readjustment; Elimination

Science bit: In the Northern Hemisphere the moon wanes light from left to right.

Balsamic Moon/Waning Crescent

And R-E-L-E-A-S-E

Healing, Soothing, Surrender, the word balsamic comes from ‘balsam’, which means anything healing or soothing. This last part of the moon cycle (before the New Moon) is all about you. Rest and recuperate. You’ve done it, an entire moon cycle drawing to a close. Things have come and gone. To draw down into the new moon all we need to do is relax and surrender to the universe. You may come to a realisation that things are not in your control, now comes the healing and the soothing. The loss as we moved from hopes and dreams into explosions of potential to realisation of what can and cannot be, to acceptance, grief and now to surrender.

As the moon needs to recede, withdraw and renew each month, so do we. Go easy on yourself. Start to think about your dreams again.

A mantra you can chant to help with this surrender is Om Namo Narayani - asking your soul to surrender. Bring to a close and an end what is not working for you, even relationships with other.

Born under a Balsamic Moon: you are wise beyond your years and are often the friend everyone goes to for advice. You may be no stranger to loss or grief on this path - know that love comes to you through hard times. The word to take with you on this journey through life is transition. Use your imagination to guide you. We surrender to the alchemy of our life and learn to heal and love ourselves. Things are never in our control, we can fight against this or accept…

The Balsamic Phase is the last phase of the Moon’s cycle. This is the time of adjustment from one cycle to another. It is the bridge between the past and the future. People born at this time are finishing an eight phase cycle of lifetimes. Therefore, this lifetime is a very karmic one. There may be a pattern of very intense, all-consuming although short term relationships with people from the past including other lifetimes. These karmic ties are in need of resolution and closure before continuing on into the next new cycle. These people often have pronounced psychic abilities. You may be a visionary seeing years ahead of your time. As a child you may have often felt different or a loner. Others will see special unique qualities in you.

Balsamic Moon people are able to take the true meaning of a situation, distill it into its wisdom essence and plant it into the awareness of others. They are the gurus. Your job is the transmission of essential knowledge which will germinate at the next level during the next lunation cycle.

Keywords: Incubation; Preparation; Closure; Surrender

Over this course we will continue to expand on our understanding of these phases and how to harness the ebbs and flow of the moon for inner harmony and growth.