New Moon Ritual Ideas

I think everyone can get excited about the moon. First of all, there is just the moon herself. She's pretty impressive and holds sway over us all affecting the tide, marking time, providing light in the darkest of times. Lunar cycles have become of particular interest to me lately. You can get real fancy and get into all the meanings for all the moon phases, but for me, it has to be simple. I pay attention to full and new moons.

New Moons are all about new beginnings and setting intentions. The moon in darkness gives us a chance to stay in and reflect. What is in the deepest darkest part of our soul? What do I want to work on? Is there anything I want to reflect on and make a priority for the next cycle of the moon?

New beginnings and renewal are the themes of the New Moon so it makes sense to use that new moon energy to think about what is it we want to manifest in our lives. I like new moons because they're all the fun of new resolutions but without the commitment of a year. I have roughly 28 days to focus on something; to give myself something to track towards. At the full moon - you're halfway. I like to use the full moon for two purposes: Party and Re-Assessment. How am I tracking toward that new moon intention? Crushing it? Party! Or is it more like, "oops, I had an intention this month?" If you find yourself more in the oops category, which I so often am myself, the full moon is the perfect time to toss out what is not serving you toward your new moon intention and re-commit. At the next new moon, we get to do it all over again. The cycles continue. 

So I have set up a framework for a new moon ritual. This is nothing earth-shattering, you can google and find any myriad of rituals for yourself, but here is my general recipe and you can edit to your tastes and sensibilities. I think my favorite thing about witchy shit is you can ascribe to any themes you want. It will have meaning because you bring meaning to it and it has meaning to you.

Step One: Prep

If I have time and remember it's a new moon at all, I like to start with a ritual bath/shower. It gives me a chance to have some time alone to meditate. I find baths/showers to be very calming and a great way to symbolize the washing away of the old and starting fresh and squeaky clean.

If you have an altar space, maybe it's time for a refresh. Set new stones, flowers, oracle cards, whatever makes sense for you.

Maybe you're interested in a grounding ritual, like a meditation with feet firmly planted on the earth, and each of the four elements present and surrounding you.

Maybe it's as simple as playing your favorite piece of music and dancing around in your underwear. Maybe it's a combo of all of the above? Whatever the prep is it doesn't have to be elaborate, just a demarcation to myself to say, "Hey what I am doing here tonight is important, so pause and prepare for it."

Step Two: Journal

What's going on with you right now? Take 10 minutes and write it all out. Literally set a timer. If you got more in you - keep going, but at least ten minutes of uninterrupted free-writing. I like this because it gets out what's internal. What's in those dark shadows of the soul that maybe I've even been too busy to notice? No right or wrong answers here, and don't be critical of your writing. This isn't about the writing, it's about the processing and getting it out. Let it flow, let it be messy and miss-spelled, just don't stop until your timer dings or you feel done. This is going to help inform what your intentions are going to be for this coming lunar cycle.

Struggling with what to write about? You can research what the Full Moon energy is going to be for this month and see if it provides any clues/inspiration for you, or draw a tarot, oracle card. I'd encourage you to not look up the meaning and read it intuitively if possible to serve more as a prompt.

Step Three: Set Your Intentions

Look over that writing. Are there recurring themes here? Is this a pattern from last month still plaguing you, or hell you're whole life? Take the time here to see what your heart really wants/needs. Take the time to write out your intention(s). Be very specific about your intention. Not just what you want - what are you willing to do to get what you want? For example, maybe your intention is to have more joy in your life. That's a great thing to want, but we can't just sit here and wait for joy to plop in our laps just because we want it. Be specific. What brings you joy? How are you opening yourself to more joy? What are you going to do to focus on joy? The more specific you can be the easier it will be to work towards that new intention.

Step Four: Close Out Your Ritual

This is my favorite part. With your intention written decide what you are going to do with it.

Do you want to bury it in the ground? Do you want to set fire to it and send it on the smoke into the universe? (Fire I usually save for full moon and release of something -- since this is about manifesting I feel like burying is a better metaphor for growth, so I don't really like the idea of burning it - but I don't want to yuck anyone's yum, so if fire is your cleansing jam - go for it.)

For me, my favorite is to hold on to it and keep it in a prominent place for me to return to. Keep that reflection and introspection going. I've written a key phrase from my intention on my bathroom mirror with dry-erase markers. I've made them desktop backgrounds on my computer or lock screen messages on my cell phone. You can also just literally carry it with you and pull it out when you need that kick in the pants to remind you about what's so important to you right now.

I like to also end by pulling an oracle or tarot card. I usually ask, what is it the universe wants me to keep in perspective for the next 28 days as I work towards my intention? If you're struggling with finding what it is you want to set for an intention, you can also start with a tarot/oracle card to inform you - but I find journaling usually stirs up something pretty easily.

I always close with a meditation. This is a guided meditation where I usually visualize myself working toward that intention. Picturing future me - 28 days from now, what's she look like? What's she up to? How has this intention informed who she is now?

Happy new moon friend! 

I'd love to hear how you set intentions, or what the New Moon means to you. And remember, if your 28 days didn't go so hot, there is always next month to try again. Constant rebirth is always possible.