Hi friend,
Last time I popped into your inbox, I was talking all about how to use the moon cycle to help you plan your month and achieve your goals.
I even created a free workbook to help you map out your month according to the moon’s phases, so you can incorporate more ease, flow, and fun into your project planning and goal achieving.
If you haven’t done so already, you can download it here: https://bit.ly/moon-mapping
Today, I want to go into greater detail about the phases of the moon: what they represent and how the overall cycle aligns with natural rhythms that provide a lovely antidote to our hustle culture.
So let’s dive in.
Phase 1: New Moon
The new moon is the time when the moon is totally dark because the earth blocks all the light from the sun and prevents it from reaching the moon. We can’t see the moon, not because it isn’t there, but because it’s shrouded in darkness. This is an energetic time that’s associated with darkness, with being underground, and with fertile soil. It is the natural requirement that everybody has to retreat and go dark and turn inward for reflection and internal inspiration.
You can think of it like the darkness of winter, when last year’s detritus and decay are fertilizing the soil, creating a nourishing space for seeds to be buried and planted. Maybe conditions above ground aren’t yet ripe for the seeds to flourish and grow, but it’s a great time to plant or decide to plant something.
Energetically speaking, we associate the new moon with a time to plant the seeds of our intentions, or goals for the moon cycle ahead. It’s a time to slow down, turn inward, meditate, reflect, and listen to the messages that are showing up from your intuition. It’s an energetic time that naturally encourages you to do the work that many of us skip over in our busy lives. The work of actually getting quiet and paying attention to what’s going on, how you’re doing, and what you really want.
Phase 2: Waxing Moon
The waxing moon is the time when the moon starts getting brighter and bigger in the sky. It starts as a slim crescent and waxes all the way to the brightness of a full circle. Energetically, this time corresponds to a time of heightened action and activity. It’s when we start doing work and executing tasks that our intentions and goals require of us. You can think of the light beginning to reflect back to the earth as though its energy beams down from the heavens and fills up your fuel tank with good Lunar juju. This time also corresponds with springtime, when seeds begin to sprout above the surface and grow in conditions conducive to plant life. If you want to compare it to a menstrual cycle, you could think of this as a phase where the hormones are causing the uterine lining to begin building up and prepare for the potential arrival of an egg.
Phase 2.5: Waxing Quarter Moon
It’s also worth noting that during the waxing moon, there will be a day that’s considered the first quarter moon. This is when it looks like the moon is a perfect half-circle in the sky. Astrologers associate this time with a turning point that’s halfway through the waxing moon phase, and an opportunity to check in and notice if there are any obstacles or challenges showing up for you in the pursuit of your goals, especially in your action taking. It’s a time to recommit to your intentions and consciously draw in that extra boost of moon energy to power you through the week ahead.
Phase 3: Full Moon
The full moon is the phase of the moon that you probably have heard the most about. This is when the moon glows as brightly as a total circle in the sky. The earth’s shadow is no longer impeding the illumination of la Luna’s surface, so the full power of the moon’s feminine energy radiates toward the earth and toward you.
People often talk about wild things happening on full moons, like extra babies being born, or people acting out of character or particularly wild. Scientific studies have shown that all of this is confirmation bias, and there’s no statistical evidence that full moons create a significant behavioral change in the population. However, women and men throughout the generations have used the full moon as an opportunity to celebrate celestial bodies, full light, and the mystical power it portends.
Phase 4: Waning Moon
The next step is the waning moon phase. This is the part of the moon cycle where the earth’s shadow moves in front of the moon, so it looks like the moon is disappearing from the sky. This is also correlated to a time when you can practice releasing, letting go, and allowing the universe or divine influences to support you in creating your desired outcomes.
I appreciate the waning moon cycle because it is counterintuitive to our hustle culture. Unlike productivity-centric belief systems that make us think we should never stop working or never stop taking action, this two-week phase of the moon cycle, which is a full half of every month, is dedicated to doing less. It helps you find ways you can let go when you’re doing too much and identify when your emotional needs are getting in the way of you receiving what you want.
In my experience, lots of folks need to practice letting go of bad habits like perfectionism and overthinking to continue moving forward with their goals, and the waning moon is a great time to focus on and practice it. It may also be that you just need to get quieter, go inward more often during this moon cycle phase; you can give yourself lots of rest and time to recover from the hard work you did in the first two weeks, so that you can recoup your energy and work smarter, not harder.
The other thing that can happen during the waning moon cycle that I like to encourage folks to release is the acknowledgment that your emotions may be getting in the way of you making clear and easy choices. A lot of people will do just about anything to avoid feeling emotions, including staying overly busy and doom-scrolling ad nauseam, but all of these are just stalling tactics that keep you stimulated, but unsettled. If you practice some intentional self-care, and emotional regulation during the waning moon cycle, you can reconnect with yourself and your truth easier, and I guarantee this will make it simpler for you to accomplish what you’re trying to accomplish.
Phase 4.5: Waning Quarter Moon
As part of the waning moon cycle, we will experience another quarter moon, which is a time to just notice and check in and see if anything has come up that needs additional releasing or caretaking.
Phase 5: Dark Moon
Last but not least, we return to the dark moon, the phase of the cycle that we started with. This is when the moon has disappeared completely from the sky, and it’s a great time to take stock of what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, and what you’ve accomplished throughout this four-week cycle.
Then it’s back to the beginning and looking inward to set your intentions for the month ahead.
Ready to map out your month according to these cosmic energies?
Click here to download a copy of my free moon mapping planner, which will help you set intentions and ask the right questions for every phase of the moon cycle.
To go even deeper and receive extra support in a live setting, I encourage you to come to one of my virtual or in-person women’s circles.
As a certified circle leader through the Wild Woman project, I host monthly new moon gatherings based on different astrological signs where we share information about what’s happening astrologically, and what’s going on with the cosmic weather.
Inside each circle, I lead guided visualizations that help you tap into your intuition and develop your intentions for the moon cycle ahead. It’s a fun and intimate way to check in with yourself, get clear on what you need and want energetically, and to connect with like-minded women who support your goals and dreams.
Sign up to receive email invites here: https://elizabethhopederby.com/womens-circles/
Feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think would benefit. I love using these materials in my daily life, and I truly hope you do too.
P.S. I owe a lot of my understanding of the moon cycles and astrological energy work to the teaching of many mentors that I’ve learned from over the years. These talented ladies include Chris Maddox, Jenn Raccioppi, Chani Nicholas, and Sarah Jenks. I encourage you to check all of them out.
