What We Can Learn from the Phases of the Moon

In a world where living and sleeping indoors by artificial light is the norm, it can be easy to forget about the natural powers of the moon and what we can learn from her movements. We’ve heard that the moon impacts the tides and therefore much of life on Earth, but the movements of the moon can often seem abstract or inconsequential, when in fact, they are the cycles to which we live. For over 25,000 years, people have been studying the moon and its phases, as it was once the brightest light we had in the night. While we don’t rely on the moon anymore for light, it’s still important to connect with her cycles, as they impact Earth and our bodies and minds.

The moon waxes (more of it is visible from Earth) until it reaches its fullness (the full moon). Then the moon begins the waning process until the moon is positioned exactly between the earth and the sun. This is called the new moon. Historically, full moon and new moon days were times of rest and reflection. We also used the moon as a guide for when to harvest, travel, and socialize. We can use the new moon each month as a chance to set intentions for the month ahead, to reflect on the progress we’ve made, and to turn inward. Likewise, the full moon illuminates the night sky, so we can use this day to bring consciousness to those things which we’ve swept under the rug and to review our progress since the new moon. The full moon can be seen as a culmination or a check-point. These were once days of celebration and love. The moon cycles can bring us back to our ritualistic nature and connect us with our ever-changing, divine feminine aspects.

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