Phase Yourself

The Moon: arguably the most recognizable figure in our sky, yet it still manages to hold an air of mystery. Like so many people for the longest time, I admired the moon and it’s phases but generally overlooked them and didn’t pay much attention to how it might affect me in any way other than maybe some weird things happening on a Full Moon. For centuries, people have celebrated the different phases of the Moon with howling, dancing, taking a spiritual bath, or performing some kind of ritual. It's hard to not want to connect to such a captivating celestial body. Sure enough, some magic happened once I started paying attention to the cycles and learned their significance in the flow of life. I immediately began feeling a stronger connection with nature and I found my time and energy was better used and my creative processes became so much more fruitful.

Now as we’re at the beginning of a new year, a lot of us feel compelled to or pressure to just jump into the new year going totally ham – “New Year, New Me!” and I don’t know about you, but I’m not really feeling that, and I think part of that is because the new year doesn’t line up with a New Moon or Full Moon. 

A New Moon is the first cycle of the Moon’s phases and represents a new beginning. Its darkness is a call to close your eyes and focus on setting your intentions.  What is it you want to accomplish? How do you want to grow? What do you want to change? The New Moon phase is a planning phase. The answers don’t usually come right away, it’s always a process.

There are a lot of subdivisions of Moon Phases if you really want to get into the nitty gritty, but there are 4 main ones that are considered the “cardinal” phases: New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Third Quarter Moon.

If the New Moon Phase is the planning phase, then the First Quarter Moon is a time for action! It’s time to make that decision you’ve been researching constantly. Take that step, and continue your path forward. It’s super important to protect and take care of your energy during this phase both physically and spiritually so eat well, block those haters, and recharge your internal battery just like you would your phone.

Probably the most celebrated phase is the Full Moon.  Who can deny the beauty of this beacon that shines so brightly in the night, illuminating all that is beneath it? With the night being illuminated, it is the perfect opportunity to reflect a little bit on the journey and even if you’re struggling, use that light to find a small victory to be grateful for and celebrate. The Moon is blessing us with her full energy so soak it up! A really simple and fun Full Moon ritual is to leave a glass of water or herbal infusion out during the night to soak in the Moon’s energy and then drink it the following morning, creating a stronger connection with her and giving you a spiritual boost.

This new year came in at the tail end of a Full Moon phase going into a third quarter moon on January 3^rd (Happy Bday Mom!) The Third Quarter phase is when we get the most from reflecting on what’s working for us and giving gratitude for it, and reflect on what is not working for us and letting go of it; refining our process. It’s a special invitation to really take care of ourselves, be kind to ourselves, and take a moment to breathe. Basically it’s time to treat yourself to that massage or pedi you’ve been putting off scheduling! It’s so hard to navigate the modern world and we have so many things vying for our attention. We often have such high expectations for ourselves, in terms of productivity and success but the third quarter is a calling to just relax and take a moment to reflect as the moon is winding down.

That being said, at the start of this New Year, I’ve been doing my best to be patient and kind to myself, and refine my work and processes so I’ve been treating myself to some delicious foods like dark chocolate and coconut coated almonds, some dedicated phone free time, and plenty of journaling. I know when the New Moon hits, I’ll be ready to create a better vision of my path forward and do some planning!

What are your favorite acts of self-care? I’d love to hear them! Please drop a line or two in the comments section below.