Your Guide to Setting Intentions with the New Moon
Astrology can be polarizing. Some people swear by it, and others think those people have a screw loose.
I subscribe to the belief that astrology is a tool to know yourself on a deeper level, allowing you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, what you need to work on, and where your light will shine brightest. While I don’t plan my life around the sky, I’ve noticed the more I learn about the Universe and its energy, the more connected I feel to the world around me.
I don’t consider myself an expert; I’m merely a student of astrology’s ancient wisdom and look to professionals for guidance, like Nightlight Astrology, Bracha Goldsmith, Pam Gregory, Stephanie Kojec, and Nadiya Shah. But like anything, the more you study and practice, the more familiar and confident you feel about the subject.
There’s not a moment from my youth where I can pinpoint learning about astrology; it’s just something I’ve always known. I’m a Pisces, and the traits of the 12th Zodiac sign line up with my personality. Even during the six years I spent as a Pentecostal, I never fully abandoned my belief in astrology, checking my horoscope and discussing the signs of my friends and family.
Leaving the church was the start of my quest to find myself spiritually. While Christianity will always be the starting point in my belief system, I’ve incorporated Buddhist and Yogic traditions into my life.
Early into my spiritual journey, I felt a pull toward learning more about the moon, as the light of the night sky has always fascinated me. A story from my childhood that my Mom likes to tell, revolves around my observation of the moon.
As she tells it, we drove somewhere on a night when the moon was massive and glowing bright. I started saying, “Mow-muss! Mow-muss!” and she kept asking, “What? What are you saying?” Apparently, I became outraged and screamed, “MOW-MUSS!!!!” gesturing to the sky. “Ohhh, enormous! The moon is enormous!” she exclaimed, and my toddler self calmed down from the annoyance of being misunderstood.
I don’t remember that moment, but I don’t doubt its truth. I still look at the sky and comment on the moon. Its presence is equal parts calming and wondrous. I’m amazed at its beauty and am mystified by its effects on our planet.
At the end of 2020, I bought The Magic of I planner, a vegan leather-bound book aimed at helping its owner live more in tune with the energy the moon provides us. There are too many features to name, but the most impactful for me is the dedicated space for journaling with the new and full moons.
There are 12 signs in the Zodiac (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Saggitarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces), and the moon moves through each sign roughly every two days. Every month, the new moon falls in the same sign as that month’s sun, and the full moon takes place in the sun’s opposite sign. The phase of the moon and the sign it falls in all play a role in the energy projected down to us.
But regardless of its sign and corresponding energies that each month’s new moon brings, it’s beneficial to carve out time to set intentions for the month ahead. Today marked my 20th month partaking in this practice, and I attribute the ritual to the progress I’ve made in my personal and professional life.
Tonight’s new moon is in Leo, bringing in the energy of worthiness and feeling confident in your own skin. It’s about going inward and realizing that in knowing oneself at a subconscious level, you can accomplish anything.
If you’re new to the practice, it might seem weird or intimidating to consciously sit with your thoughts and feelings and use the moon as your guide, but I promise it’s worth it.
And all that’s required of you is a few minutes, a pen, paper, and an open mind. To help get you started, I made a graphic below with some prompts. I encourage you to use it as a loose guide, seeing where the flow of energy takes you, and I hope you receive new insights about yourself and the world around you.
If you find the process helpful and want to start diving into the world of astrology, I encourage you to click on the names I listed above to visit their YouTube channels. You can also check out my Patreon; I create affirmations and perform a tarot or oracle card reading based on the energy available to us on a weekly basis.
Whether you choose to journal on this new moon or not, one of the most freeing things about astrology and working with the moon is this truth: There will always be another chance to tap into its power.
While every day is different, and each cycle touches on unique themes, the power of setting your intentions in tune with the new moon happens every month. It’s always there, waiting for you when you’re ready.
It’s my intention that these words bring insight and speak peace into your life. As always, I’m sending you an abundance of love and light!
