The moon has a powerful effect on our emotions, and there are practical things you can do to flow with the lunar rhythms, rather than against them. If you tune into what is happening at the new and full moon and make time for a healing process, these times of the year can become deeply catalytic of your own growth.
This article will overview why the new and full moon can bring up strong emotions, and what you can do to navigate what surfaces.
The moon has been associated with the feminine, intuition and deep inner psyche across many traditions.
In astrological terms, the moon is connected with the emotional body, which brings us joy and fulfilment. Viewed as a feminine planet, she reflects how we feel about ourselves, and how we deal with our relationships and respond to situations. It refers to our inner world, and deep patterns of thinking and feeling, embedded in the unconscious.
In many Native traditions, Grandmother Moon was revered as ruling the rhythms of the tides, or the waters - which is the lifeblood of the Earth. She teaches you about intuition and introspection and has a strong connection to the cycles of life.
Let’s go into science here for a moment, to explore the mirroring of the tidal influence on our emotional bodies. The gravitational pull of the moon on the waters of the earth is what creates the tides. At the new and full moon, the pull it exerts is at its strongest. This is because the sun, the moon and the Earth line up in a relatively straight line. The sun’s gravitational pull adds to that of the moon, giving us the highest and lowest tides.
If we think about the fact that we are mostly water, we can only wonder: “could the moon also be affecting us?” In many Native traditions, water is associated with the emotional body. At the most simplistic level, we could say the moon is pulling on our emotional centres, and at the new and full moon, its pull is maximized. While the moon’s magnetic effect is not creating a physical movement of water in our bodies (according to science), it could be bringing heightened emotions to surface.
At the full moon, there is an additional brightness to the night sky. Living in cities with electricity means we may not notice this extra luminosity. However, the fact is that the moon is illuminating both, the night and our auric fields. Energetically, we can look at this as a magnification of what is going on within us. The full moon can feel like a bit of a disruptive time, resulting in more erratic behaviour, tension, or tiredness. You may find yourself feeling anxious or emotionally upset. Research has shown that we actually sleep less on the full moon, so it’s important to ensure you care for your body.
Honouring the moon reconnects us with the earth’s rhythms and our own natural cycles. When we are in sync with nature, it is easier to listen to ourselves — which is critical to building a life that actually works for us.
Tracking the moon is one of the oldest ways of keeping time. Celebrating the passing season with the moon can help us mentally and emotionally prepare for the weather ahead. Whether it’s taking the time to rest and goal set on the new moon, or to gather in community, heal, and celebrate on the full moon, moon ceremonies help us stay in sync with our Earth Mother.
Healing with the moon cycles also helps us make time to listen to our intuitive selves. It allows us to dive into the depths of what we need, and let our inner wisdom speak to us. It is a time of harnessing and growing our feminine nature — whether you are male or female, we each have a feminine side. This is especially important in the times we are in, as honouring women in the world starts with honouring our inner feminine.
Furthermore, we work in a society that is largely rational and left-brained. Celebrating moon cycles is a great way to give your rational mind a break, and re-open your feeling centres that easily get shut down in busy cities, where people have very little personal space.
Taking time to listen inwards on the new and full moon will amplify your healing journey and deepen your connection to your body’s wisdom. By syncing with planetary rhythms we can find our own rhythm of self-care.
Do women have a biological connection to the moon? While this can’t exactly be proved, we can see some interesting parallels in how our menstrual cycle (or moon time) mirrors the lunar cycle. They are both about 28 days in length.
It is often believed that women naturally bleed with the new moon, and some Native American societies even had what was called a “Moon Lodge”. This was a place of rest and retreat where women would go to rest on their monthly cycle. No tribal duties, such as cooking, were required. To disrupt this time for women, to go internally and reconnect with their feminine nature, was seen as something that would disrupt the abundance and fertility of the whole tribe. Women were seen as stewards of life’s creative force, and rest was honoured as an important part of maintaining fertility.
Again with a city lifestyle, involving stress and nighttime lights, women’s menstrual cycles don’t always follow a particular new (or full) moon. So, ladies, a tip is: for whatever day your period coincides, schedule a rest day as best you can. Your body needs it, as it is physically less strong and so should not be pushed. Start to sync with your own moon time! Dr Christina Northrup believes that much stress-related imbalances, such as PMS, can be relieved by simply making space to follow the body’s wisdom one a month.
Here are some tips on how to sync with the lunar cycles, and reconnect with your own inner medicine at these time of magnified emotions.
With each cycle, pay attention to how you feel in your body. Note that each moon will affect you differently, depending on your astrological chart, as it lands in different zodiac signs.
The new moon is the beginning of a lunar cycle, and it is the dark phase of the moon. It is a time for internal reflection and planting seeds of intention for the weeks to come. The seed is buried in the dark soil.
At this phase, I recommend setting goals for where you want to be:
What is one thing you’d like to move toward in your life?
Then, write out an affirmation of how grateful you are to be in the space of it happening.
Sit in complete excitement for how it will happen. Make sure you feel really good about it!
Before you do the above, you can light a candle and smudge with either palo santo or white sage. You can also receive new moon energy transmissions through my monthly newsletter.
The full moon is a time of reflection, and release. It is about how our energy is expressed in the world, and living in relationship to others. It is a time for releasing inhibitions to stepping out in the world, and noticing what is coming to fruition in your life. What is working? The full moon calls us to cultivate a cooperative dynamic with the world. It is time to receive support for what you are up to. Although creation may come from a seed you plant, it is brought to light through cooperative components. This is the phase where the seeds we’ve planted start to blossom in the light.
Reflect on how important you are to those around you.
List the ways in which you are not only receiving support from others but supporting others too.
Then, express gratitude for how the seeds you have planted (at the new moon) are starting to flourish, and list the ways in which you expect to be supported as they continue to do so into the coming season.
Take time to feel connected to your own beautiful nature, and to admire it in those around you.
Photo by Ace Hicks
Shelly Burton is a Medical Anthropologist and Energy Medicine Woman in today’s modern world. Through hands-on high-vibration energy healing, sound therapy and healing with horses, she uses her Samhara Energy Medicine system to help you restore balance to the mind, body, and spirit and release traumas that have manifested as physical or emotional blocks so that you can rediscover joy.
Shelly boasts an MPhil in Medical Anthropology from Oxford University and a B.Sc in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. She is a member of the Canadian Examining Board of Healthcare Practitioners and licensed Holistic Practitioner by the City of Toronto.
www.shellyburton.com | Facebook + Instagram @shellyaburton
Moon rituals originated in places like Egypt and Babylonia, cultures that worshipped the moon. Today, moon rituals create a sacred space for you to focus inward, set intentions, spread love, and feel empowered. They are a rich source of self-care because you take the time to ask yourself what your needs are, your goals, and how you want to spend your time on earth.
The new moon is a time to rest and recuperate and with the darkness bringing an element of silence and stillness. Use these nights to take a bath, do face masks, get a massage or go to a healing workshop. Whatever you do, make sure it’s nourishing you and giving your the chance to charge your batteries.
We love using our Radiant Bath + Body Oil and Detoxifying + Clarifying Clay Mask to create relaxing moon rituals.
Take the time to get to know yourself on a deeper level. The best way to do this is to write things down - get to the roots of what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, what you want, and why you want it. This will help you set clear intentions and take time to reevaluate what is no longer serving you.
Manifesting with the moon is gaining steam as people yearn for ways to connect with themselves on a deeper level. The routine of moon cycles and moon rituals can help deal with stress, especially when life feels out of control. Find the time to commit to a meditation or journaling practice. The new moon is associated with beginnings, starting projects, and defining what you want to attract, so this is a good day to set intentions. The full moon, on the other hand, celebrates what you’ve manifested and completed—a time for reflection.
Explore virtual meditation sessions here.
When you find yourself more grounded and centered, you’ll feel more aligned with your truth. By resting and recharging, you’ll be in the best frame of mind to be able to notice, understand and trust your natural instincts. This will help you in making big decisions, starting new projects and ensuring you are on track with what you really want to be doing
- PA Team
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