NEW MOON INTENTION SETTING

The moon is a powerful and mysterious force. The closest cosmic body to the planet Earth, the moon pulls on our oceans to create the tides and has hung in the sky as a luminous and mystical beacon for all of human history. Our connection to the moon's phases runs deep - each calendar month spans nearly the cycle of a complete 29.5 day moon phase, and it is a universal human experience to gaze up at the glowing moon in wonder.

Watching the moon phases cycle through the night sky each month is a powerful practice in aligning ourselves with the natural rhythms of the Universe. When we begin to notice the correlations between the moon's phases and our own ebbs and flows of energy, creativity, moods, and emotions we deepen our grounding into the experience of being in the Oneness of this epic dance of life. We are not separate from the moon, the rocks, and the trees but rather ever-connected in an ecosystem where we both give and receive.

Because we spend much of our days in the bubbles of our cars, our cubicles, and our technology it is more important now than ever that we take the time to reconnect ourselves with what has always been. Nature. Mama Earth. The shared wisdom of all of our ancestors. Remember that we are all related to the indigenous cultures around the world that studied the night sky like a mysterious map, finding patterns and clues to spark innovation in travel and agriculture and the seasons. Bringing ourselves back to these ancient practices, even for just a few moments, connects us with an energy so ancient and so strong that we cannot help but be moved and changed and perhaps even tapped in to the collective wisdom and consciousness we all share.

Discover today's moon phase

The New Moon is most certainly the least known of the moon phases yet the most potent in many ways. At this time of month the sky is dark, the moon seemingly absent. What is going on astrologically is that the moon is between the sun and the earth so the light of the sun is unable to illuminate the side that faces our planet, rendering it invisible to the human eye.

So what does this mean to us? SO MUCH! So very much!

When we give attention to the phases of the moon and mirror them in our own lives, the New Moon provides a powerful time for intention setting and new beginnings. The dark sky urges us to rest, to drop into stillness. There are a few simple practices that I use in the days leading up to and following the New Moon as a sort of reset button for my month. I get still and sit with my journal, ready to revisit the themes of the month before and look toward the month ahead. Here are a few of my favorite practices. If you are interested in deepening your ritual and making it a sacred meditation then you can first checkout these free downloads on "How to Create Sacred Space" and "How to Connect With Your Sacred Self". These are simple techniques for creating a meditative state for powerful and transformative energy to flow into your ritual practice.

1) The black New Moon sky can be thought of as a blank slate. Each and every month, no matter what came before, we are gifted the opportunity to wash ourselves clean of anything that did not serve us and to let go of all that we are ready to release and let fall away. Sit quietly for a moment and imagine that the dark night sky is a beautiful indigo waterfall washing over you. As you feel it gently pouring over your body visualize it cleansing your body, emotions, thoughts, and Soul . . . creating spaciousness in your cluttered mind and in each and every cell. Are there any places in your body where stuck energies and tension are clinging on? Perhaps in your shoulders, neck, stomach, or behind your knees? Are there any thoughts, actions, or relationships that you are ready to release moving into the month ahead? What is no longer serving you? This is your opportunity to enlist the assistance of the cosmos in shedding layers of old paradigms and habits so that you can emerge lighter and more deeply connected to your authentic truths. Continue basking in the warm and infinite flow of the Universe pouring over you until you feel cleansed and clear. If it helps you in your process, pick up a journal and write about your experience to solidify your intention to release old energies that do not serve you.

2) In addition to offering us a clean slate each month the New Moon is also representative of new beginnings. Begin by visualizing that the dark New Moon sky is a field of black fertile soil. What new beginnings do you with to plant for yourself for the month to come? Imagine that you have a handful of seeds. Very slowly and with love, plant each seed of intention that you hope to cultivate in your life this month, this season, or this year. Spend time pouring love, water, and hope into this field of opportunity. When you are ready, journal about your intentions to bring your dreams into the physical world. Revisit these intentions often throughout the month, paying special attention to the night sky for the next two weeks as the New Moon waxes into the Full Moon. Imagine that your intentions are growing in size alongside the moon each day, coming to fruition within the next two weeks.

This short guided "Intention Setting Meditation" is also a great tool to use in the days around the New Moon.

3) Just BE. The darkness of the New Moon sky invites us to lay down all of our doing and simply rest. Historically the light of the Full Moon provided time to work the fields late into the evening with the blessing of moonlight. Conversely the darkness of the New Moon sky invites us to set aside our doing to relax, rejuvenate, and restore. Take a bath in epsom salt. Listen to a guided meditation. Take a long walk. Go outside and moon bathe in nature where you are free to simply BE under the shroud of darkness. Whatever makes you feel rested is what's in order for this beautifully restorative time of the month.

If you would like more support in your New Moon practice, checkout the journal prompts "Clearing the Crap" and "To Shed is to Heal" which are both wonderful tools to use at this time in the moon phase cycle.

Sending BIG love to you all, and New Moon transformation!

XO,
Anjalé