Working With The Phases
For me, the first step in working with the moon is understanding the energy around the phases. It was also the first lesson in the Moonology Certification so this week's blog will look at the different phases and how to get the most out of them.
It takes around 29 and a half days for the moon to go through all 8 phases and complete one cycle, and each phase is around 3 1/2 days long. The 8 main phases are;
New Moon
Waxing Crescent Moon
First Quarter Moon
Gibbous Moon
Full Moon
Disseminating Moon
Third Quarter Moon
Balsamic Moon
You may know some of them by different names. The New Moon marks the start of a new lunar cycle and the start of the waxing half of the cycle. This is the more productive half when we set our intentions and move forward with our goals. The Full Moon marks the halfway point and the start of the waning half of the cycle. This is the less productive half when we release and forgive, removing the things we no longer need from our lives. This creates space for the new things we wish to bring in during the next lunar cycle.
A New Moon is the start of a new lunar cycle. The moon isn’t visible in the sky because she is on the same side of the earth as the Sun and therefore covered in shadow. This is the first phase and when you start to manifest your dreams. This energy lasts for 3 and a half days, the most potent time to make your New Moon Wishes being within the first 8 hours. When working with the moon, intention is everything. Set aside some time to think about what it is that you really want, to visualise your dreams coming true, and feel the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Write them down, read them out loud and believe that they are possible.
The second phase starts three and a half days after the New Moon. As the moon starts to grow we see a sliver in the sky. This is the Waxing Crescent Phase and as the moon grows we start to take action on our New Moon Intentions. Explore your dreams and allow them to flower and bloom. If you can see it, then you can create it in your life. Move forward with courage, stay with the vision you have for your life and feel the feelings of the wish fulfilled. What is one thing you can do today? One thing you can do tomorrow? When you have doubts, return to your wishes and read them again.
A week after the New Moon is the third phase, and the halfway point between the New and Full Moon. The First Quarter Moon looks like a half-moon in the sky and because of the harsh angle between the Sun and the Moon, this is when we can start to have doubts. A mini crisis or issue may crop up at this time and it can feel like your resolve is being tested. This is when most people give up. Go back and reflect on your wishes. Check-in with yourself, are you taking inspired action? Manifesting takes equal parts visualisation and inspired action. Remember that it is normal to doubt yourself at this point. Write out an action plan to help you move forward.
Ten and a half days after the New Moon begins the fourth phase. As the moon starts to swell in the sky our emotions start to come to the surface. The energy is building during the Gibbous Phase and this is the time for momentum and to keep excitement around your New Moon Wishes high. If you need to make changes to your plan, do it now. Look at what is currently working and what has already run out of steam. Don’t become impatient here if things aren’t moving at the speed you would have liked. This is a good time to pick up any habits you have let slip, start new plans and keep going.
The Full Moon is the high point of the lunar cycle, 15 days after the New Moon. This is when things come to a head and the moon is at her fullest and brightest, reflecting the Sun’s light on us and illuminating our deepest and darkest parts. How do you feel about your dreams and wishes now? Remember that some things take time. This is a celebration of everything you have achieved over the last two weeks, and also a time to surrender and forgive. Look back over the last month for people or things that have upset you. This isn’t about placing blame, this is about forgiveness. When you let go and forgive, you can move on and become a clearer channel for manifesting. Let go of the bad and then fill yourself back up with the good by focusing on everything you are grateful for.
Three and a half days after the Full Moon starts the sixth phase known as the Disseminating Moon. It can be easy to fall into a slump here and I always describe this as the hangover part of the cycle. As the energy and our emotions start to die down we can be left with that feeling of “now what?” And if things didn’t go as you had hoped then it can be easy to get disheartened and start feeling sorry for yourself. If you feel the need to relax, then do it. Accept that you are where you are and that it is exactly where you are meant to be. This isn’t a time to be starting new things, it’s a time to go easy on yourself and regroup your focus.
Seven days after the Full Moon we have the Third Quarter Moon which can be a little awkward. This is the halfway point between the Full and New Moon and is the crossroads of the cycle. Look at where you were, how far have you come? What helped you to get where you are now? What lessons have you learned? What are the things that worked that you want to continue doing? What are the things that didn’t work that you want to stop doing? This isn’t an exercise in beating yourself up, it’s time to decide what you want to take with you and what you want to leave behind. Tension needs to be released and change becomes inevitable. Look for the meaning behind the challenges and refind your balance.
Ten and a half days after the Full Moon is the final phase, the Balsamic Moon. Balsamic means healing or soothing and this is the time to rest and heal before we start again on the next New Moon. Go easy on yourself here and allow yourself to think about your dreams. Allow anything that you no longer need to fall away. This could be bad habits, people or situations. Make peace with what is through meditation, journaling, yoga or oracle cards. When you think about your dreams, do they still excite you? Are you willing to work on them again? Has your vision changed? It’s okay to change your mind and let those dreams go and be replaced by something different.
Working with the moon isn’t just about making New Moon Wishes, and adding things to our life. It’s also about letting go of the things that no longer serve us to create new space.
I hope you have enjoyed this week's blog and if you would like to dive deeper into the phases of the moon then I invite you to attend the next Moon Magic Masterclass on Monday 22nd April by clicking the button below.
