Photo: Instagram.com/illustrationsbychelsea_
If you’ve ever though that planning your life around moon cycles is something that belongs in the Middle Ages, think again, because the planets can actually impact your life in more ways than you may realize.
Sure, relinquishing all decisions and other factors in your life to instead allow it to be dictated by the widely-misunderstood rocks floating around in the atmosphere is not the most advisable, but nor is completely ignoring them either.
“The moon cycle is a mirror that can be very supportive to women in particular and our menstrual cycles. With a full lunar cycle completing after 29 days, and an average menstrual cycle landing somewhere around this too, we can use the moon cycles to reflect our experience throughout the month,” she adds.
There is increasing research that supports the idea that the moon may have some influence on menstrual and sleep cycles and in astrology, the moon is said to influence our emotions pretty heavily. So, here’s exactly what you need to know in order to be become a lunar expert in no time.
June 28 marked the new moon in Cancer and many of us may have experienced more intense emotions around this time. New moons also offer new beginnings and a chance to look at things from a different perspective, depending on where they fall in the sky. Cancer is a Cardinal Water sign, which means that we are encouraged to assess our emotional stability and security, as well as the foundation our lives stand upon.
But what does a new moon in Cancer really mean for us? As the sun and moon linked up in Cancer (June 28), a new beginning was initiated based on what feels safe, secure, and emotionally aligned. This new moon is about trusting your intuition, and allowing yourself to be guided by your feelings.
But not all zodiac signs are impacted by the birth of the new moon equally. If you’re a Leo, Sagittarius, or Aquarius, you can put the box of standby tissues away, because you’ll be the least affected by this new June moon. Lucky you!
Still keen to understand more about what a Moon Cycle is and what the different phases mean? Read on.
What is the Moon Cycle and what are its phases?
The Moon Cycle is when the moon orbits the Earth, which typically takes 29.5 days, as Rachel mentions above. The Moon has eight consecutive phases, as it moves through its cycle each month, which includes a New Moon and a Full Moon. Each phase has a different effect on our emotions, and being aware of how each phase impacts us is an important tool to help us be more compassionate towards ourselves, better pre-empt our needs and plan a life that feels as though it is more effortlessly in flow.
Below, you’ll find a handy guide to the eight different Moon phases and what they actually mean in real terms – and no, you’ll pleased to hear that you don’t need to invest in a telescope in order to take advantage.
New Moon
The New Moon is when the sun and the moon are on the same side of the Earth, and it’s not hard to understand how this represents a fresh start. However, though a new start for many of us might signify a time to rush out into the world and enjoy new experiences, meet new people and get ourselves out there, a New Moon is actually a wonderful time to retreat – a time when you can regain your strength to start over.
Rachael explains that the New Moon holds really strong manifestation energy, as well as yin energy (slowing down), and is a powerful time to “create visions” and “write affirmations”. We are often so busy living in our lives, that we forget to work on our lives, and so a New Moon invites us to pause, take stock and just tinker with our balance a little.
“New Moon is the darkest time of the sky, so it’s a nice time to become a little more introverted and move more into stillness and ask our body what it really wants,” Rachael explains.
The New Moon is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 17, February 16, March 18, April 16, May 16, June 14, July 13, August 12, September 10, October 9, November 8, December 8
Waxing Crescent
As the sun moves closer to the New Moon, it illuminates the moon and creates a crescent (if you’re viewing it from earth, which we assume everyone reading this is… right?!).
This week in the lunar calendar actually represents intention, hopes and wishes, and this is the time when you should begin to develop your desires for the month ahead, using the fears and obstacles as a way of guiding us to what we really want and/or need.
“Waxing crescent is the time to start to think about how tangible turn your dream into a reality, so it might be the time to start reaching out to someone to set up a meeting or taking any other kind of action on your dream,” Rachael explains.
Waxing Crescent is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 2, February 1, March 2, April 1, May 30, June 30, July 28, August 28, September 25, October 25, November 23, December 23.
Waxing Gibbous
Scientifically, the Waxing Gibbous is the phase leading up to the full moon. The moon is easily seen as a large portion is illuminated by the sun. During the Waxing Gibbous we will need to readjust, refine, and edit our goals.
“Waxing Gibbous is when we are pulling together all our resources, getting your troops together. This is the time to get clear on affirmations, get your routine into place so that it can best support your vision, energy and focus,” Rachels says. “It’s the moment where you are pulling back the arrow in preparation to let it go and leap forward.”
Waxing Gibbous is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 12, February 11, March 12, April 11, May 10, June 9, July 8, August 7, September 5, October 5, November 3, December 3
Full Moon
A Full Moon occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, which subsequently means the sun is completely illuminating the moon. As the sun and the moon are also opposite Zodiac signs, this will create feelings of tension and unease, as we fight the balance between two extremes.
“During the Full Moon the skies are illuminated. For me, I think the Full Moon as the torch in the darkness, it’s an opportunity to shine a light where change is needed for the next cycle and reassess the alignment and anything that isn’t working,” Rachel says. “It’s also the time where our ancestors would have used the brighter skies to party and celebrate, so it can be seen as a celebration.”
The Full Moon is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 17, February 16, March 18, April 16, May 16, June 14, July 13, August 12, September 10, October 9, November 8, December 8
Waning Gibbous
Shortly after the Full Moon, the moon starts becoming less illuminated again.
“Waning Gibbous is almost like the time before you get your monthly bleed, where the moon is going from full to small again, during this time the most fears and doubts might come up. We might feel anxious during this time, but it is a good opportunity to unpick how we might be getting in our own way, and release and let go of that which isn’t serving us,” Rachel explains.
Waning Gibbous is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 19, February 18, March 19, April 18, May 17, June 16, July 15, August 14, September 12, October 12, November 10, December 10
Waning Crescent
As the final illuminated fraction of the moon slowly begins to disappear, becoming the New Moon, we will find our emotions reflect this.
“For me this would be the moment of clearout. It’s almost like autumn, the leaves are falling away, we are decluttering. We might want to declutter physically – so clearing out our wardrobes – but also energetically, you might want to sit down, with a journal, and ask where your energy leaks are. Ask yourself who or what in your life leaves you feeling drained,” Rachael says.
“Moving your body in some way is also a really good way of doing thing, going for a run or doing stretching, it’s all to create space to help us prepare for the New Moon and again call in our highest vision.”
Waning Crescent is at its peak on the following days in 2022: January 27, February 26, March 27, April 27, May 25, June 24, July 23, August 22, September 20, October 20, November 19, December 18
Originally published in Glamourmagazine.co.uk
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