Setting an intention with a New Moon ritual is a powerful way to manifest anything you desire!

Moon rituals are a growing trend. Have you noticed how at the start of every lunar cycle, social media fires up with a thousand New Age Spirit Seekers all Instagramming their latest New Moon ritual?!

But it’s not all eco glitter and crystal grids. Over the past few years, I’ve seen more people than ever before wanting to consciously create and participate in their lives, instead of cruising through them like passengers.

And many of these “abundance” queens + kings are turning to the Moon cycle and her rhythms, to help manifest their desires.

Makes sense!

New Moon rituals and ceremonies are powerful ways not only to plant seeds of intention, but anchor them into your reality too.

Ritual is a way to marry your inner and outer worlds. To make a commitment to something new. And declare your desire for a different path.

Plus, by consciously harnessing the energy of the new moon cycle, your intention setting builds up momentum so that by the time of the Full Moon, that new beginning has built into something real.

WHY and HOW does the energy of the New Moon affect manifestation?

Almost everyone recognizes the Full Moon as She rises in the night sky. It’s this Moon phase that people tend to associate with manifesting because Full Moon energy – the peak of the cycle – is amazing for both magnetizing a BIG desire, and letting go of heavier energy.

Yet the New Moon phase ushers in the beginning of the lunar cycle. And she holds a very different quality.

The New Moon is a spiritual time (you can find out more HERE). But even if you don’t really follow the lunar phases, or know much about astrology it’s likely you’ll feel at a lower ebb as she enters her new moon phase. Then at that point, the Moon’s energy shifts, and you start to feel lighter, and more optimistic.

Are you reading this at the Full Moon phase?

Check out this post instead – How to Create a Full Moon Ritual for Manifestation

Do the Moon phases really affect us?

Think about how la Luna affects the water on planet Earth – how the Moon’s gravitational pull tugs at the tides, moving the great oceanic bodies of water. Your body is over 80% water so it’s no real surprise that the Moon also affects you too. Physically, yes. But also emotionally, spiritually, and creatively,

In astrology, the Moon represents emotions

When the Moon is dark, you’re being invited to listen to the whispers of your inner self. From this place of inner knowing, you can choose the next steps on your path with more clarity and confidence, being less easily swayed by the outside world.

Astrologers know that the Moon also represents Your unconscious

Your unconscious is a part of your psyche that you’re unaware of. But it’s there absorbing information, creating patterns and forming habits all the time!

SO… even when you’re not consciously interacting with the Moon, your unconscious is.

At the New Moon, new beginnings are stirring within you. The Moon is tugging at your psyche (just like she tugs at the tides) and your psyche IS responding in ways you may not even realize.

So just imagine what can happen, if your consciousness IS responding!

Using intention means that your consciousness is in charge, rather than your unconscious (as we all know, the subconscious can tend to sabotage…)

Creating new Moon rituals can help you to stay focused and positive, meaning less negative energy is allowed to creep into your manifesting.

Why set intentions on New Moons?

One lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days.

We move through 13 of these Moon cycles in a calendar year.

New Moons offer us all the opportunity to make a change, re-orient, or conjure a new aspect of ourselves into being. That’s 13 fresh starts. 13 invitations to be reborn. 13 monthly reminders every year, from a Universe that is consistently holding us through cycles of personal and collective growth.

Aligning yourself with these reminders, through ritual is a powerful (and effective) way to maximize, and align with your own potential for manifestation.

There are SO many of these cyclical rhythms ebbing and flowing around us, all the time! It’s how Mother nature operates – it’s how she creates, grows, and consolidates, in stages… without burning herself out!

Just think of the seasons. Each year, nature moves from the emerging growth of Spring, to the height of Summer. Then through the harvest and dissolution of Autumn, before and decay and rest at Winter. Then the cycle begins again…

This is our natural blueprint for growth and change, even though most humans try to override it, working at a constant, linear pace…

YOU too are nature!

So any conscious changes that YOU desire to make, will be far more effective if you work towards them using this same rhythm. And it will stop you from exhausting yourself in the process.

Are you intimidated by the idea of new Moon rituals?

… Don’t be!

The idea of a ritual or ceremony can be scary for some people, as it may conjure up visions of the occult, scenes of witchcraft, and even potential danger if done incorrectly!

But in this context, the ritual comprises of simply sitting down in a quiet space and spending a little time in contact with your inner world. The New Moon is a time for thinking about planting seeds – ones that matter to you.

And if you don’t have any regular spiritual practices, then this is a really great place to begin.

The New Moon Ritual

There are so many variations on the theme of a new moon ritual! All around the world, under the dark sky of the New Moon, people hold monthly moon circles and New Moon rituals. From simply setting intentions with a whisper, to gathering together a coven of witchy women for an elaborate ceremony!

Your favorite new moon rituals will depend on what you want to achieve or manifest. And on the current astrology, the zodiac sign of the New Moon, or even the personal astrological house she’s in.

But the basic blueprint is the same. So I’ve put together an easy-to-follow step-by-step method, to use as your guide. And, you’ll also receive an added step! This is a practice for really supercharging your new moon rituals to bring about some pretty intense results!

But first…

How to prepare for New Moon rituals (ritual basics)

During the last quarter Moon of the previous lunar cycle (leading up to this point), you’re invited to spend time in self-reflection.

Maybe you held a Full Moon ritual two weeks ago? This can be a great time to revisit that ritual – spend a few moments thinking back to what worked and what didn’t.

This isn’t about judging or criticizing yourself. It’s about rooting into where you are now, and calling in visions of your heart’s desire.

Take time to sit quietly and ponder a few questions, such as –

• What isn’t working for you anymore?
• What is a drain on your energy?
• What visions and possibilities light you up inside?
• What fresh ideas emerge as you sit in the dark?
• What new projects is it time to start?

You can journal with these questions, or just ponder them in the days approaching the New Moon. Do this before you set intentions, so you have a little time to let new ideas emerge, and old ones die. There are no wrong answers.

Consider using the Dark Moon phase

The three days before the new lunar cycle begins, you’ll notice the night sky is especially dark. This is an often-overlooked part of the Moon cycle called the dark Moon. It’s a really wonderful and powerful moment to tap into dark feminine energy. At this time the energy of the Moon is deeply mysterious, transformational, and regenerative. And this Moon marks a turning point in the cycle.

YOU CAN READ ABOUT DARK FEMININE ENERGY HERE

Step 1. Think about + journal your intentions for the lunar cycle

So, you may have already formulated your intentions – great. If not, spend a little time now digging deep, and see if you can uncover what you truly want. Journaling is great for this – writing by hand in response to a set of prompts can really let your inner voice out.

Try these journal prompts for starters:

• This cycle I desire to…
• Four weeks from now I will be…
• It’s my dream to start…
• When I do … it will take me to the next stage in…

From your journal prompts, make a list of your desires and/or intentions and write them out on a piece of paper. Try to ensure your statements are positive affirmations.

NEED MORE HELP? Read this article about how to set intentions

Step 2. Create sacred space

Cleansing and clearing your space is a must. But it can be a really simple process! So don’t let this stop you from starting your ritual!

Maybe you need literally create space around you (i.e. tidy up!?) Lighting candles is recommended, as well as burning incense, or some essential oils.

Some people have a dedicated altar. You may like to create a temporary one with flowers, or crystals such as rose quartz or moonstone.

The most important thing is to tap into the New Moon energy and ensure you’re creating space that feels right for you.

ALSO READ: Simple Altar Building

I love to burn a little dried yarrow or mugwort from my garden, to clear away stagnant energy in the room where I’m working. Sweetgrass is also great for clearing any negative energy out of your space, and your physical body. as is Palo Santo and white sage.

**If you’re using these sacred herbs then source them responsibly. And if you can’t, then what about using some native plants instead? These are also likely to have a closer energetic resonance with you.

Consider making an offering too – something like frankincense or another holy oil. The power of scent and aromatherapy can be a potent cosmic reset.

A sacred space is a metaphysical place away from the activity and concerns of normal life

It’s somewhere you can go internally that is safe and peaceful, and where your thoughts and intention carry with them the purpose held in your heart.

There are so many ways to do this, but for now, being still, centering, and focusing on your heart is just perfect.

Step 3. Ground yourself

It is really important to connect with the energy of Mother Earth when performing new Moon rituals.

If you’re going to channel and/or harness the frequency of the Moon (see the next point) then grounding is vital to keep you embodied. Grounding also helps to anchor lunar energy into the 3D realm. And this is exactly what you want for an intention-setting/ manifestation ritual

Holding new moon rituals outside is a good place to start! But not essential.

** Also, don’t forget that the very moment of the New Moon can occur anytime during the day or night! So there’s no need to wait until the sun goes down to perform New Moon rituals

Here’s a beautiful and ancient tradition for grounding yourself:

• Sit still and take a few deep breaths.
• Then generate a deep love and affection in your heart, for the Earth.
• Next, with intention, send this love deep into Earth’s core.
• Then wait. And before long, you will feel this love come back and a grounded connection is formed.

Step 4. (bonus Moon ritual step) Open your crown to lunar energy

When you feel grounded, close your eyes and visualize your crown chakra /star opening up like a flower.

(This is the energy center that sits right at the top of your head. It’s ‘facing’ upwards, unlike the other stars – or chakras – which are facing forwards).

You may feel this as a tingling sensation, or not, both are perfectly fine.

Then, with this star open, see, sense, or feel lunar energy streaming down from above, entering right into it, and flowing into your body. You may imagine this as a flow of silvery light. Or perhaps streams of invisible energy that you can only feel.

Really connect with Grandmother Moon and know that you’re absorbing this energy into your physical, emotional, mental and all etheric bodies.

 This step is often omitted or overlooked. But it’s exactly what takes New Moon rituals from being effective to supercharged!

Why?

Because it allows you to embody the fundamental power of this whole process. I’ll explain:

The vibrational codes of the Moon include magnetism and attraction. This is because lunar energy is fundamentally feminine, yin or Shakti energy, as opposed to solar energy, which is masculine, yang or Shiva energy. (This partly explains why in general, women are more affected by Moon phases than men).

Think about the differences between masculine and feminine power. Masculine power is initiating, penetrating, controlling, and competitive. Whereas feminine power is alluring, immanent, receptive, and erotic.

** Let’s just clarify that both men and women contain masculine and feminine energies – this is not something based on gender.

Now think about the Law of Attraction (which is part of what comes into play when setting intentions through your New Moon ritual). This Law doesn’t require you to work like crazy, chasing your dreams. This would only lead to more of the same.

What it does require is for you to open up to the interconnected flow of life, to nurture and nudge it in the direction of your desires, by knowing what you want, loving it, delighting in it, and being a magnet to it. Then… BEING there, open-hearted to fully receive what enters into your field.

So the Law of Attraction operates on what are essentially feminine qualities.

You KNOW that lunar energy also contains these feminine qualities. So when you intentionally receive and absorb lunar energy into your body, you’re assimilating exactly the vibration needed to activate the Law of Attraction.

That’s why step four of this ritual is so powerful!

Step 5. Read or speak aloud your New Moon intentions

When you speak your intentions out loud, THIS is the first step in manifesting them into being.

Things become different when you say them out loud: They go from being ideas that only exist in the realm of your thoughts, to potential realities outside of your own body.

You’re also releasing your claim over your intentions, allowing them to be formed and supported by forces beyond you.

Step 6. Give gratitude + close your New Moon ritual

By closing the ceremony with thanks, you enter into an agreement that your desires are manifesting!

Remember the L O A – gratitude brings more to be grateful for!

So give thanks to Grandmother Moon, and the land you performed your New Moon ritual on. Also to any Spirit Guides, allies or lunar deities that have been supporting you. And give gratitude to yourself for participating in the work of your self-realisation!!

Blow out your candle, gather up your lists, and place them on your altar if that feels right.

More rituals for the New Moon

A New Moon ritual really can be as simple as the 6 steps described above! 

But honestly, that’s a starting point. So use it as a springboard to create your own ritual – adding your own elements is what will make it resonate to your own field, and truly manifest the things YOU desire.

Here are a few more ideas to inspire your ritual…

Add body movement

Rituals don’t have to be rigid, solemn ceremonies where you’re stuck to the spot!

Don’t be afraid to add in movement – i.e. dancing, swaying, shaking, stretching, and any kind of embodiment practice that feels good.

In fact, movement can make your ritual all the more effective!

Movement also helps to get out of your head, and connect to your body’s wisdom. It can be both a tool for clearing (step 2), grounding (step 3) AND it can help you to surrender to the moment and receive!

Play music

Maybe this is part of your protocol for creating sacred space? Or maybe you have certain songs that make you feel at ease, relaxed, or make you feel abundant?

Play these in your new moon ritual.

Pull an oracle card

For many women and men, pulling cards from an oracle or tarot deck is an intrinsic part of their New Moon rituals. For others, it’s even a daily practice.

If you need guidance around your new moon intention, OR if part of your intention is to receive, then try using a deck of oracle cards.

Make a vision board

If you’re someone who loves a visual representation of what you’re manifesting, then vision-boarding is a brilliant way to anchor in your new Moon intentions. Grab a pile of old magazines and cut out words and pictures that encapsulate your dreams and wishes. Stick them onto a bigger piece of paper, and put it somewhere prominent.

Take a ritual bath

Especially effective to harness the energy of the Moon when she is rising under a water sign. Take a ritual bath as part of your preparation. Or as a cleansing ritual before you plant seeds for the new cycle.

There are SO many, many variations on this basic ritual!

… But the most important aspect to every step you take, is enjoyment. Ritual doesn’t need to be stiff and stern. So gather in your moon circle of friends, and have fun!

Tried it…?

Leave me a comment below👇🏼 and tell me what you’re manifesting…