Curious how the new Moon phase impacts us spiritually?

Even though it’s invisible, new Moon energy is palpable, stirring within us a sense of fresh beginnings and untapped potential. I look forward to this delicate, soft lunar phase, and when darkness falls I’m always drawn to the quiet promise of this Moon’s energy.

After YEARS immersed in the lunar mysteries, I’ve come to understand the depth and breadth of the new Moon phase. In this article, we’ll look at the vast spiritual potential of the new Moon, and some ways to harness its powerful energy for personal growth and transformation.

New Moon Meaning…

A new Moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with its dark side facing Earth.

From our perspective, the Moon appears completely dark or invisible in the sky because the illuminated side is facing away from us. At the new Moon phase, the Sun and Moon rise together, meaning they are both in the sky for the entire day.

Marking the beginning of the lunar cycle, the new Moon occurs roughly every 29.5 days.

Every day the Moon moves eastwards by about 12 degrees, which means she rises about 50 minutes later day after day. This causes the Moonrise to lag further and further behind the rising Sun each day, and is what creates the different moon phases.

What’s the Spiritual Meaning of the New Moon?

Spiritually, the new Moon represents new beginnings, renewal, and growth. It is a time to set intentions and plant seeds that will grow to fruition during the new cycle.

Even though we all know cycles don’t have any real beginning or end, pretty much everyone regards the New Moon as the start of the 29.5-day lunar month. New Moon symbolism tends always to revolve around starting fresh projects and embarking on brave new beginnings. Or maybe you just want to reflect on what could be possible for you, basking in hope and possibility for the future?

At the New Moon, all potentials are alive! Before the waxing Moon really takes off, it’s a great idea to drop in, stay present, and reallt FEEL what’s available to you, in the universal fields of becoming.

It’s a mystical place where your deepest desires have the space and time to rise to the surface, new ideas are only just forming, and nature is holding its breath.

Spiritually, the New Moon always gives me faith.

After the waning Moon phases, when the crescent Moon begins to emerge it brings promise of new light and new life. Just like the weeks after the winter solstice – the darkest season of the year – the New Moon phase signifies the return of the light.

New Moons offer us a potent energy of introspection and reflection, making this phase a powerful time for spiritual inquiry and personal growth.

This isn’t the same as manifesting something you desire. Sure, you can set an intention, and use the waxing Moon to manifest it. But I’ve found it SO powerful to harness the new Moon’s energy to make changes from within.

Spiritually, the new Moon phase supports us to dive deep and tap into the whispers of intuition and truth. This means listening to your heart, and not letting the ego lead.

How does the new Moon affect us?

The new moon tends to create a sense of introspection and reflection as our sensitivities are heightened and our intuition amplified.

I often feel the instinctive desire to start something afresh, setting intentions and reorienting my life so I’m open to new energy.

For many, new Moons are a time to let go of old emotional patterns and release attachments to old ways of being.

Physically, some people report feeling a decrease in energy levels during the new moon, while others may feel a surge of energy and motivation to start new physical activities or health routines.

What spiritual things can you do on a New Moon?

There are so many spiritual practices for connecting with the energy of the Moon cycle. During the new Moon, a particular energy of new beginnings sweeps in, and it can be incredibly transformative if you know how to harness it in your life.

Some common spiritual things to do during the new Moon are setting intentions, meditation, journaling, creating a vision board, performing a Moon ritual or ceremony, and simply spending time in nature. The key with any activity, is to be intentional and conscious when you do it.

From experience, I can tell you that the smallest action, performed with care and intent has had a much greater impact on my life than the most grand and elaborate ceremony my heart wasn’t engaged with.

Set an intention

When setting intentions, you must consciously focus your thoughts and energy on a specific goal or desire for your life. Write your intention down in a Moon journal, and read it aloud. As you do, express gratitude! This will help you to tap into the potent energy of becoming.

Perform a new Moon ritual

New Moon rituals are one of my favourite of all lunar rituals.

Very simply, create sacred space and take a moment to reflect on your new Moon intentions, energetically opening up to the opportunity for a fresh start.

Your new Moon ritual could also serve to release what no longer serves you, to make way for the energy of the new.

Take a ritual bath

Ritual baths are a beautiful way to bring peace and presence during this dark lunar phase.

A ritual Moon bath often helps me energetically let go of the last lunar cycle before embarking on the new cycle. At other times it’s a way to drop further into the dreamy, intuitive energy that the new Moon brings, before making plans for new projects, ideas and activities.

Journal

Journalling is one of my favourite ways to harness the spiritual energy of the new Moon. I find the right prompts can really help me tap into my unconscious realms, as well as clear out all the surface noise before it even comes to intention setting or planning for the cycle.

Make a New Moon vision board

Vision boards are great to make under the new or full moon phases. Under the new Moon, they can support any new intentions, providing a visual anchor for your dreams and desires.

Corresponding crystals for the new Moon phase:

• Clear Quartz
• Selenite
• Moonstone
• Black obsidian

Other specific crystals, herbs, plants, colours, and deities you may want to incorporate or call into your spiritual work with the new Moon, will depend on the lunar astrology and zodiac sign of the New Moon. And of course, your own intuitive guidance.

All 8 of the Moon’s phases…

If you’re curious how lunar energy changes throughout the lunar cycle, take a look at these posts on the eight Moon phases (well, actually there are 9!)

• 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.

• Waxing crescent: The waxing crescent phase has an obvious crescent shape, rising during the daytime and setting in the western evening sky.

• First quarter: 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.

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

• Full moon: At the Full Moon phase, the Moon’s surface is completely lit up, as the Moon rises with the Sunset, and sets when the Sun rises.

• Waning gibbous: Past the cycle’s climax the sun begins to overtake the Moon. The waning gibbous phase of the Moon is almost a mirror image of the waxing gibbous Moon – a swollen round disc ebbing away from one edge.

• Last quarter: The last quarter Moon phase (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.

• Waning crescent: 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.

• Dark: The dark Moon appears between one and three days before the new Moon, and is invisible. During this phase, the Moon disappears completely from view, rising with the Sun, and absent from the night sky altogether.

These phases occur due to the changing relationship between the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon throughout the lunar cycle.

The position of the Moon relative to the Earth and Sun determines which part of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun, leading to the different lunar phases we’re able to observe.