11 Surprising Ways to Harness the Power of the New Moon

How to Harness New Moon energy text over image of woman holding crow

Looking for a fresh start? Then you need to work on harnessing some New Moon Energy…

The New Moon is one phase of the lunar cycle you really don’t want to miss out on! But learning to harness New Moon energy is more than simply setting intentions, holding a new Moon ritual, or pulling oracle cards.

There’s a myriad of other things you can do to maximize on this phase.

Read on and you’ll find a whole lot more suggested practices and rituals to help you harness new Moon energy, utilize the benefit of this potent astrological time, and get your cycle off to a flying start.

What kind of energy does the new Moon bring?

New Moons are a fresh start. Their energy feels like a breath of clean air, as though the windows have been opened on the first day of Spring!

The New Moon phase is a really great time to set an intention and start something new –  a habit, routine or even a spiritual practice.

This is because the New Moon Phase is generally considered to be the beginning of the lunar cycle.

Here, the Sun and Moon align. and the Moon is dark, but this phase isn’t to be confused with the Dark Moon phase. At new Moon, a sliver of light just beginning to emerge from the darkness.

Over the next 29.5 days, the light reflected across the la Luna’s surface will increase until she’s Full ( you know how THIS phase appears, right?!) Then light will gradually decrease until her face is again shrouded in darkness.

To learn how to harness the energy of the New Moon phase, it’s important to know about the rest of the Moon cycle, too. So here’s a quick summary of all the phases our beautiful Grandmother Moon moves through in one complete cycle –

What are the 8 phases of the Moon?

There are 8 (well actually 9!) phases that make up the lunar cycle. Here's a breakdown -

New Moon

The new Moon phase arrives when old Grandmother Moon has just become visible. She is a sliver of light, emerging into the daytime sky.

Read more: What's the Spiritual Meaning of the New Moon phase?

Waxing Crescent Moon

The waxing crescent Moon has a more obvious crescent shape, rising during the daytime and setting in the western evening sky.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the Waxing Crescent Moon

First-quarter Moon

The first quarter Moon forms an astrological square with the Sun, this phase is revealed as a clear “half Moon” shape. Light will expand, overtaking the dark quarter.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the First Quarter Moon

Waxing gibbous Moon

The waxing gibbous Moon is closer to the full Moon phase than to the new. This appears as a blossoming disc of light, illuminated from the right in the northern hemisphere, and the left in the south.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the Waxing Gibbous Moon

Full moon

At the Full Moon phase, la Luna rises with the Sunset, and sets when the Sun rises. She’s fully illuminated and present in the sky all night long.

Read More: What's the Spiritual Meaning of the Full Moon?

Waning gibbous Moon

Past the cycle’s climax, the waning gibbous Moon phase is almost a mirror image of the waxing gibbous – a swollen round disc ebbing away from one edge.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the Waning Gibbous Moon

Last-quarter Moon

The last quarter Moon (also known as the third quarter) forms another astrological square with the Sun and appears as a clear “half Moon” shape. This time, though, dark will overtake the light.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the Last Quarter Moon

Waning crescent Moon (or balsamic Moon)

The waning crescent Moon is closer to the next new Moon, than to this cycle’s full Moon phase. It appears as an ebbing, almost disappearing arc in the daytime sky.

Read more: Spiritual Meaning of the Waning Crescent Moon

Dark Moon

The dark Moon appears between one and three days before the new Moon, and is invisible. During the dark Moon, la Luna rises with the Sun, but is bleached out by sunlight, and absent completely from the night sky.

Read more: What's the Meaning of the Dark Moon Phase?

How to harness new Moon energy: 11 ways

One of the best ways to harness the energy of the new Moon is simply to rest and dream. Because the energy of this phase is dark, quiet, still, and introspective, it pays to drop deeply into this frequency, and journal, ponder, and take away any pressure to achieve.

Because this phase comes before all the rest, if offers us a sacred pause before the wheel begins to turn, and the action commences.

It can be hard to describe in words, the New Moon carries an essence, a feeling, a frequency that you can tap into if you try… so take a moment at the next New Moon phase, to stop what you’re doing.

So instead of reaching and grasping for something to hold onto, pull your attention inside. Rest there in the stillness, and BE in that feeling. THAT is the energy of the New Moon.

Now, here are 11 things to do to harness the energy of this potent, dark, lunar phase –

  1.  Set an intention
  2. Hold a new Moon ritual
  3. Retreat and rest
  4. Dim the lights
  5. Cleanse and clear your space
  6. Take a ritual bath
  7. Journal
  8. Set a goal
  9. Make a New Moon vision board
  10. Trust your intuition
  11. Call in the Goddess

1. Set an intention

The best way to harness new Moon energy is to set an intention. The start of any cycle is when seeds are planted, and here in the deep, inky, fertile darkness of the New Moon phase, the spiritual soil is ready and waiting.

But WHY?

Because… By setting an intention at the New Moon, you get to harness the Moon’s waxing energy. As her energy grows over the next two weeks, the delicate threads of your own intention will be gathered up in the spin of the Moon’s momentum. They’ll build and expand and draw in SO much more energy than they would, would if you set your intention at any other time.

Do you want to manifest with the Moon?

Read this post next – Moon Manifestation Guide for Absolute Beginners

The tapestry of life that YOU are weaving will be amplified by the Moon’s gaze. By your participation in the cyclic nature of the cosmos – and life – your desire will be met.

Your efforts to bring that intention into being will be supported. AND because you’re calling on forces beyond your own heart, mind, and fingertips, the Universe will conspire to help you out. It will.

Read more: How to set intentions⎜A step-by-step guide on doing it right!

2. Hold a new Moon ritual

Setting a new Moon intention is one thing. But creating a ritual around it will give your intentions an extra boost, and elevate your intention them to another level entirely!

Entering the sacred space of ritual is stepping outside of the confines of ordinary reality – just for a moment.

To be MOST effective, hold your ritual when the New Moon is exact, or in the few hours after it.

Read more: How to Create a New Moon Ritual for Manifesting

3. Retreat and rest (practice self-care)

There’s a reason it’s SO important to retreat and rest at the New Moon phase.

… And it’s not just ’cause it’s the one time in the Moon cycle you’re most likely to feel like it.

You rest and retreat at the New Moon because Old Grandmother herself is doing it.

Nature’s doing it.

Other people are doing it.

It’s a frequency that’s in the collective field. So with less effort, you’ll be able to retreat further and rest deeper. Your self-care efforts are being matched, and you’ll be better rejuvenated for it.

If you’re a meditation lover, then meditate. But if you’re not, don’t force this – rest is taking the pressure OFF.

If you don’t actively put in the effort to retreat and rest at this lunar phase, then you’ll be missing out on your moon-thly DEEP self-care opportunity. (Sure, you can practice self-care all month long, but if you can’t or don’t want to, then these New Moon days are your time).

Otherwise, when the Moon transitions into her waxing phases, when creative energy rises and you really, really want to be out there making the most of it… you’ll be washed out and tired!

You’ll WISH you’d taken time out when you could!

4. Dim the lights

It is hard to imagine a world without electric lights and LED screens.

So it’s virtually impossible to know how it would feel if we weren’t exposed to artificial light sources pretty much all the time. But can you believe, just 200 years ago, night light came from the hearth, lamps, candles, stars, and the Moon? So at the New Moon phase, when she isn’t in the night sky at all, it was DARK!

Embracing the particular flavor of New Moon darkness is a great way to tune into her energy, so that you can harness it.

So turn down the lights, switch off the screens, and BE with the darkness.

5. Cleanse and clear your space

Isn’t it better to begin everything with a clean slate?!

Energetically clearing your space (your home, bedroom, study, office, workspace, and/or altar) can be done during the waning Moon phases, but the New Moon is also an ideal time.

Clearing space removes stagnant energy, density, and stuckness. It’s also enlivening, serving as an invitation for whatever it is you’re calling into your life with the new Moon cycle.

Many people burn palo santo or white sage to cleanse and clear the energy of their spaces and/or their own aura. But unless you have access to sustainable sources of these sacred herbs, I’d suggest you use something else.

What grows locally to you?

What clarifying herbs are native to where you live now, and can be foraged, collected, or purchased from a local grower?

Where I live in my little southwesterly corner of Britain, yarrow and mugwort grow in abundance so in the summertime, I make bundles of these to burn throughout the rest of the year.

AND it’s hugely significant knowing these allies of the earth come from the same soil that I do.

Woman of colour in a moon bath looking at her reflection in a mirror

6. Take a ritual bath

Water and the Moon are intrinsically connected – just consider the lunar pull on Earth’s tides!

At any big lunar juncture like the New or Full Moons, and especially when the Moon is moving through the water signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces the element of water is activated. It’s charged up – like a crystal, it has more potential to HOLD intention and frequency.

There are SO many incredible water rituals you can perform at the New Moon, but the simplest (and best!) is the ritual bath. 

You CAN add herbs and dried flowers straight to your ritual bath, but think a few steps ahead… Do you really want to have to clean up a mass of leaves and petals strewn all over the bathtub when you’re done?!

So before you even draw your bath, make a batch of herbal bath tea.

It’s simple – follow these steps to make your herbal bath tea

  • Bring a kettle of water to the boil, and using a large jug, pour it over your dried herbs and flowers.
  • There are SO many potentials – do a little research. You could try rose, lavender, peppermint, sage, yarrow, and lemon balm.
  • Let it steep for around 20 minutes.
  • Strain the liquid through a tea strainer or muslin cloth.

Simple New Moon ritual bath method

  • First, give your bathroom a good clean. Sure, the lights will be low during your ritual, but it’s still an important step! Not only will the space be energetically more balanced after a good clean, but you’re less likely to be distracted by those dirty tiles and empty bubble bath bottles…
  • Place a clean towel and/or robe within arm’s reach.
  • Turn down the lights, close the door, light a candle or two, and set a little incense to burn. You may also place any crystals around the edge of the tub.
  • Draw your bath and as you do, add the herbal bath tea. If you like, add some Epsom salts too for added cleansing and relaxation.
  • Get in and enjoy! Feel your body soften and your mind empty. But don’t expect anything of yourself – relax.
  • When you feel complete, step out of the bath with gratitude, get warm and dry, and consider moving on to number 7…

(And for a deeper dive into ritual baths at ALL the lunar phases, check out this book).

Love the idea of lunar bathing?

Check out this post too – Sacred Art of the Ritual Moon Bath

journal with pen and flowers for writing in response to shadow work journal prompts

7. Journal

Harness the reflective, introspective energy of the New Moon by journaling. Make space some space and spend time in self-reflection. Ask yourself some of the big questions, questions like –

  • What do I really want?
  • What direction am I currently headed in.. and does this feel right?
  • Where do I want to be in 6 months/1 year/5 years’ time?
  • What is holding me back?
  • Who is the person that I’ll need to become to get there?
  • What do I need to change to become that person?

Journalling is a great tool to dive a little deeper into your truth because writing freely in response to a specific prompt can activate the unconscious mind. This is where many of your deepest desires and knowings lie, but it’s hard to access this in everyday life.

8. Do some serious goal setting

We’ve talked about setting intentions… so what’s the difference between an intention and a goal? 

Well, an intention is an aim, idea, concept or determination to do, be or have something. It’s the decision you make, that you’re going to act differently, to make something different happen.

A goal, on the other hand, is the planned outcome. It’s the aim of the game – the actual thing you’re aiming for, rather than the behaviors you’ll use to get there.

Goal setting requires you to be specific, concise, clear, and descriptive. So grab a pen and paper, and get focused: NO fluff needed here! Write down what you’re passionate about attaining in this one precious life you are living.  Do it unapologetically!

Setting clear goals is also a powerful means of course correction, ’cause it can reveal where you’re unconsciously aligned with something else – some other “goal” (maybe an old, outdated one?) that’s just not lighting you up anymore.

Writing down clear goals can also be the motivation you need to create new habits, start new projects or even initiate life changes. Coupled with a New Moon ritual… and there is NO going back!

AND… goal setting also goes hand in hand with number 9 in this list…

9. Make a New Moon vision board

Make the most of the new Moon phase by making a vision board. This is a super-fun New Moon ritual practice for the crafty visionaries out there!

Grab yourself a pile of magazines, a pair of scissors and a stick of glue, and go looking for inspiring, uplifting and aspirational images of the life you want to manifest.

  • Maybe it’s images of travel you aspire to do?
  • An ideal home you’re dreaming up?
  • Or a career that you’re working towards?

You can also cut out words and affirmations to create a collage/dreamscape/photomontage of your desires. The idea is that your vision board will externalize your inner vision.

Like a spell.

A prayer.

A focal point for all the fresh energy of the new lunar cycle, around which YOU can lay down your plans and efforts, and invite the Universe to conspire with you to make it happen.

10. TRUST your intuition

Trusting your intuition is one of the BEST ways to harness new Moon energy. OK, this could (and totally should) be true for ANY lunar phase! But in the lunar cycle’s dark, fertile soil, the whispers of truth are easier to hear.

At the New Moon, when light is low (literally and symbolically) there’s simply less for the mind to grip hold of.

Definition hasn’t yet formed…

The future of the cycle is still potential, imagination, thought forms, and ideas.

… Intuition is heightened because THIS is where it can be heard.

So at this Moon phase, don’t waste too much of your energy trying to pin down your thoughts with logic, systems, and strategy. Instead, TRUST the nudges, whispers, and hunches of your inner voice.

11. Call in the Goddess

Whatever you chose to do with this lunar phase, call in the Goddess to hold, witness, and support you.

How long can you work with new Moon energy?

You can work with the energy of the New Moon for around three days, before the waxing crescent phase begins, and lunar energy has shifted. It’s true that the Moon is only technically ‘new’ for a moment, when the Sun and Moon are exactly conjunct (astrologically aligned).

Yet it’s safe to say that the dark, gentle, emergent energy of this particular phase continues for three days.

What are YOUR go-to New Moon energy harnessing practices?

Sharing’s caring…! Let me know in the comments below, what you love to do during the New Moon phase, to harness her powerful, fresh energy of new beginnings.

11 POTENT Ways to Work with New Moon Energy PIN

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