How to Create a Manifesting Ritual for the New Moon in 2024 (step-by-step)

A moon circle of magical woman performing a new Moon ritual

The New Moon is a great time for manifestation, new beginnings, and setting intentions for what you really want in life. As the Moon begins a new cycle, we too have the opportunity to start afresh whilst also harnessing the energy of the cosmos to support our goals and desires.

By performing a New Moon ritual, you can tap into the natural rhythms of the universe and align yourself with the energy of the lunar cycle.

In this article, we’ll explore the meaning and significance of New Moons, and provide a step-by-step guide to creating your own New Moon ritual for manifesting. Whether you’re seeking abundance, love, a new job or a fresh start, New Moon energy offers a powerful opportunity to connect with the forces of nature and manifest your desires.

How do you manifest during a new Moon?

Manifesting during a New Moon involves setting clear intentions for what you want to call int your life, whilst using the energy of the New Moon to support your goals. This can be done through a variety of practices, such as creating a vision board, writing affirmations, making new moon water, or performing a ritual.

One of the most popular (and effective) tools in the manifestation process is to create rituals.

The full Moon can also be used for manifestation, yet the energy of this lunar phase is bolder and more magnetic. So full Moon rituals are slightly different, as the Moon phases invite a different approach.

A new Moon ritual for manifesting: step-by-step

There are so many variations on the theme of a new moon ritual. Yours will depend on what you want to achieve or manifest, on the current lunar astrology, Moon sign, or even the personal astrological house the Moon is transiting.

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!

Woman writing intentions in journal

1. Journal on your intentions

Spend a little time thinking in depth about what you truly want to create in your life Journaling is great for this – writing by hand in response to a set of prompts can really let your inner voice out.

Journal prompts to discover new moon intentions:
  • This cycle I desire to…
  • Four weeks from now I will be…
  • It’s my dream to start…
  • I want a new beginning with…
  • 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.

Hand pouring essential oil into mortar and pestle for new Moon ritual

2. Create sacred space

Before any ritual, you need to cleanse and clear your working space. This 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 lighting incense, or burning essential oils.

Some people have a dedicated altar. You may like to create a temporary one with flowers, or crystals such as rose quartz, moonstone, or any object associated with the same zodiac sign as the current Moon.

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, such as frankincense or other essential oils or resin, or a The power of scent and aromatherapy can be a potent cosmic reset.

Moon women under transiting Moon

3. Ground yourself

When performing new Moon rituals, it’s really important to take a moment to connect with the energy of Mother Earth.

Grounding 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.

A quick and simple for grounding practice:
  • 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. Before long, you’ll feel this love come back and a grounded connection will be formed.
woman reaching up to blue sky opening up to the energy of the Moon

4. Open up to the Moon’s 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!

Woman blowing her new Moon intentions to the wind

5. Speak your intentions aloud

Speaking your intentions out loud 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.

split image of burning new Moon intentions

6. Burn your new moon intentions

When you’ve spoken your intentions aloud, burn the paper they’re written on in the flame of your candle, and place it safely in a small bowl. It’s this will help release the energy of your intentions into the universe. By burning your intentions, you are symbolically releasing them into the cosmos and allowing the universe to take over from there. It’s also a powerful way to let go of any attachment to the outcome and trust in the power of the universe to support your intentions.

Burning your intentions can also be a way to release any fears, doubts, or limiting beliefs that may be holding you back from manifesting your desires.

**It’s important to do this in a safe and responsible manner and to always follow proper fire safety protocols.

Figure giving gratitude to the New Moon

7. Give gratitude + close your ritual

It’s important to close the ceremony with thanks, because this enters you into an agreement that your desires are manifesting!

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-realization!!

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

Women in Moon circle doing tarot card reading

More new Moon ritual ideas

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

But it’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 already part of your protocol for creating sacred space. Or maybe you have certain songs that make you feel at ease, relaxed, or abundant?

Play these in your new moon ritual.

Pull an oracle card or have a tarot reading

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 wishes and dreams of fresh beginnings. Stick them onto a bigger piece of paper, and put it somewhere prominent.

Take a ritual bath

Taking a ritual Moon bath is one of the most effective ways to harness the energy of the Moon when she is rising under one of the water signs: Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces. Take a ritual bath as part of your preparation, as a ritual to cleanse your physical body before you plant seeds for the new cycle.

Try adding moon water into your bath water for added lunar power.

Use affirmations

To use new Moon affirmations, create positive, supportive statements from your intentions using positive language and present tense statements. Say your affirmations during your ritual, and repeat daily until the full Moon. Visualize yourself already having what you desire.

Why is it best to set intentions on a new Moon?

Setting intentions during a New Moon is considered to be powerful and effective because it’s a time of new beginnings. Representing a blank slate, the New lunar phase offer us the opportunity to make a change, re-orient, or conjure a new aspect of ourselves into being.

One lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days.

We move through 13 Moon cycles in a calendar year, which means the Moon represents 13 fresh starts, 13 invitations to be reborn, and 13 reminders every year, from a Universe that’s 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!

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

But YOU are nature too!

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.

hands reaching up into blue sky to reach a new moon

When should you do new moon rituals?

New Moon rituals should be done on the day of the new Moon when it’s at the exact same degree as the Sun, or within the next 24 hours. Many people wait until the nighttime to perform their ritual, but it’s important to realize that the Moon is overhead during the daytime, so you may wish to hold your New Moon ritual outside in daylight hours.

Try to schedule around 30 minutes to 1 hour of uninterrupted time for your ritual.

Can you do a new Moon ritual the next day?

You can perform a New Moon ritual within 24 hours after the New Moon. The energy of the New Moon is still present during this time, and you can still harness its power to set intentions and manifest your desires. However, the energy of the New Moon is strongest at the exact time of the New Moon, so it’s recommended to perform your ritual as close to the New Moon as possible.

Any later and there are different energies at play, so your ritual may not be as potent as it could be.

How to prepare for new Moon rituals

During the last quarter Moon of the previous lunar cycle (leading up to this point), spend time in self-reflection. Look back over the past month and what the lunar phases brought into your life.

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 doing the work to make it possiblt to call in 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 under the dark sky?
  • What new projects is it time to start?

You can journal with these questions, or just ponder them under the waning Moon, as the new Moon phase approaches. 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.

Connect with the Dark Moon phase

Three days before the new cycle begins is an often-overlooked part of the lunar cycle called the dark Moon. This is the darkest night, and a really wonderful and powerful time to shut off the outside world and reach into the void. Here we can tap into the wisdom of the dark feminine and harness a particular flavour of lunar energy that is deeply mysterious, transformational, and regenerative.

What are some new Moon intention examples?

Here are some examples of intentions you can set during a New Moon:

  • I set the intention to manifest abundance and prosperity in all areas of my life.
  • I intend to cultivate more self-love and compassion towards myself and others.
  • This month I will attract a loving and healthy new relationship into my life.
  • I release any limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns that no longer serve me.
  • I intend to deepen my spiritual practice and connect more fully with the divine.
  • I will embrace new opportunities for growth and transformation in my life.
  • I intend to improve my physical health and well-being through regular exercise and healthy eating habits.
  • I am manifesting more joy and happiness in my life, and to live each day with gratitude and positivity.
  • I let go of any fears or doubts that are holding me back, and to step into my power and purpose.
  • I set the intention to create a life that is aligned with my highest good and truest desires.
Are you reading this at the Full Moon phase?

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

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 simply sitting down in a quiet space and spending a little time in contact with your inner world. New Moons invite us to think about planting seeds – ones that matter.

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

Tried it…?

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

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