"The full Moon - the mandala of the sky". Tom Robbins
You hear a lot of talk about moon phases these days. Most of us are familiar with the new and full Moon, but what about what's going on between these two? And when it comes to journaling and intention setting, what's the difference between the waxing Moon vs the waning Moon?
How can the Moon affect our intentions?
The Moon is a powerful celestial body; not only does it push and pull our tides, but it can affect our emotions, moods, and women's menstrual cycles are linked to the Moon. (A typically menstrual cycle is 28 days… same length as it takes the Moon to complete an entire cycle).
The ancients understood that we are deeply connected to the earth and the entire cosmos. However, in our modern society, we have become disconnected from the stars, moon, galaxies and worlds above our heads. Light pollution, TV at night, being predominantly indoors are all factors in severing our connection to the enormous magical universe that surrounds us.
We are no more separate from each other as we are from nature, the cosmos and the entire universe. There is a deep emotional and psychological intelligence available to us all. There is so much we can learn from the universe. Most importantly, the entire universe is there to support and guide us. Everything we need is available to us; we have to choose to connect and ask.
As we begin to grasp how nature, the stars and the moon are linked to us and affect us, we will discover a profound deepening within our life. To start the reconnection and tap back into the energies of the universe, the moon is a fun and simple place to start. After all; the moon is accessible to us all and we can watch its 28-day cycle above us.
There are many ways to connect with the moon, but one of the easiest and least "witch-crafty" ways is to journal and time our intentions with the lunar cycle.
When you begin to time your intentions with the moon cycles, you'll connect with the moon and up-level the potency of your dreams, wishes and intentions. You'll also feel extra magical and supported by this glorious celestial being that journeys through the cosmos with us.
Align yourself with her cycles and watch how she nurtures you.
With each moon phase, there is different energy available. There is a time for letting go and a time for calling in the new. Here are the four moon phases and what they energetically mean when journaling and doing any internal work:
The New Moon
The New Moon brings inspiration, dreams and new beginnings. It is the first inhale you take on your new road to a better life, a better way of being and a better you. This is the time to set intentions for new dreams, new goals, new habits. It is a time to start new projects and call in your destiny. It is a great time to plant a garden, get pregnant or make a shift.
The Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon builds in size, so it builds in energy. It is the expanding inhale. This energy supports growth, forward movement and attraction. As the moon grows in size, it generates energy and pulls things towards it. It is a time of manifesting, growth and expansion. During this quarter, set intentions for anything you want to attract in your life - money, love, abundance, health, vitality, confidence, new wisdom, divine guidance etc.
Full Moon
The Full Moon is a time to get honest about what is not working in your life so that you can bring closure to all that no longer serves you. It is that space just before you exhale, a time of letting go and releasing, where you can shed anything getting in the way of your best self.
It is the time to let go and release all that is holding you back so that you can create the space to step into the new chapter of your life. It is a time to look deep within and get honest about who you are, what you want and what's holding you back. What is stopping you from stepping into the most fantastic authentic version of yourself? What is blocking you from listening to your intuition, internal wisdom and higher self? What needs to change, what needs to go, and where does the inner work need to be directed.
The Waning Moon
The Waning Moon is the halfway point between the Full Moon and the New Moon; it is the final exhale. As the moon shrinks (or wanes) in size, it is energetically releasing, letting go, pushing away. As it approaches the end of the "exhale", it is the final release and letting go before the beginning of the next cycle (or inhale). This is the time to continue with your clearing out and making space for a new beginning. This is the time to set intentions for release work, getting rid of bad habits, releasing negativity, detaching from outcomes, cleansing and detoxing.
"Aim for the Moon. If you miss, you may hit a star." - W. Clement Stone "
Connecting with the Moon
Mark in your journal or calendar the moon phases so that you can follow the lunar cycles. Create yourself a little ritual for every New and Full Moon by creating yourself a sacred space with your journal, candles, crystals, sage, Palo Santo, incense, oracle cards, objects from nature or anything else that feels good for you on an energetic level.
Most of us don't have the luxury of having an entire room to turn into our own sacred little space, so choose a part of your home that feels good. Ideally, it will have a window to draw in fresh cleansing air and allow the light from the moon to shine in.
Your sacred space could be in the corner of a room, at your desk, on your balcony or maybe in your bedroom. This little space is your retreat, a place to go and journal every Full Moon and New Moon.
Open up your journal, and depending on the moon cycle - allow yourself to write. If you are having trouble getting started, then use my journal prompts below. If you find that once you have journaled what you want to attract or release, that you have a desire to keep writing - then open up and let it flow outwards onto the paper in your journal.
Suppose it is Full Moon; you may like to burn the paper where you have written down all that you would like to release. You certainly do not have to do this, but some people find it very symbolic and powerful.
Alternatively, if it is a new moon, you may like to place your new intentions in a special jar or in a bowl surrounded by flowers, crystals, rocks and anything else that has a high energy value for you.
How To Journal
There are no rules to journaling, all you need to do is follow your heart, intuition and internal wisdom. Do it in a way that resonates with you. Here are some ideas to get you started or you may like to download my free Moon Mapping Journal Template here >>>> or buy my beautiful luxury linen moon mapping journal here >>>
For more journaling inspiration, journal templates, journal prompts read our journaling resource over at The OM Collective here >>>>
Journaling For The New Moon
New Moon Date:
Ask yourself. What intentions, actions, and new adventures am I being called to invite into my life this New Moon?
New Moon Journal Prompts:
- How do I want to feel for the next lunar cycle [28 days]
- What would I like to attract or manifest into my life?
- What small actions can I take this lunar cycle to get closer to my dreams and set my intentions into motion?
- What new beginning do I want to step into?
- What is my inner wisdom telling me to do?
- What purpose for my life feels right?
- What activities, people and subjects light me up and make me happy?
- What new healthy habits would I like to implement into my life?
- How do I want to spend my time. Where and who with do I want to spend my time?
- What is that one big thing I know I want to do- but am stopping myself from doing?
- Yes. I am ready to receive from the universe.
- What do I want more of in my life?
- What are some simple joys I can focus on for the next lunar cycle?
**** To amp up your manifesting why not take 25 minutes to do my meditation on Connecting with Divine Guidance here >>>>
Journaling For The Full Moon
Full Moon Date:
Ask yourself: What am I releasing, letting go of and shedding this full Moon?
Full Moon Journal Prompts:
- What am I being called to let go of?
- What are some of the things in my life that cause me stress and anxiety
- What bad habits do I need to release?
- Who is toxic for me. Who do I need to release?
- What negative thought patterns and thinking beliefs do I need to let go of?
- What are some things in my life that no longer serve me?
- What fear, limiting belief or story needs to be cleared?
- What am I choosing to release this full Moon?
Don't worry if you're making waves just by being yourself. The Moon does it all the time." -Scott Stabile