How The Moon Phases Affect You
A long time ago I realized I was affected by the moon. Full moon more vibrant energy, waning moon shifting to restorative thoughts and reflection. The moon has been the subject to many of my favorite song lyrics, you read it in poetry and enjoy the beautiful imagery. Scientist and mystics marvel over the moon, which is why we need to pay attention to its changes.
When you pay attention to the moon, you’ll notice its subtle changes everyday. If you live in a city or a place where there is a lot of light pollution you may not be able to see this big rock as clearly.
Here's a site to see the daily moon cycle. Syncing energetically with the moon, I feel more productive and aligned with the universe and myself.
For the next month, I'm challenging you to instead of looking at our calendar as days of the weeks and months; what day is a holiday, what day a meeting falls on, begin looking at the calendar through the lunar cycle.
I’ll Break This Blog Down Into The Science, Ayurvedic and Yogic Tradition oF The Moon
and Give Tips on What to do During Each Phase
Besides the Sun, the Moon is the most obvious object in the sky. Radiant , tranquil and tantalizing, right? It affects the tides, time, light, our sleeping and eating habits. So why not us? We are 70% water. Skeptics have yet to believe (my own son included) just how much we are affected by the moon. Now science has caught up with the ancient wisdom of just how much we're affected, even if we can't see it.
Science Stuff
The moon is basically a giant ball of rock, with the surface being pretty dark. It looks bright to us because it’s sitting in full sunlight. The Sun illuminates it and reflects that light down to Earth. Everyday within the orbit you’ll notice the changes it makes. Sometimes it’s up in the day, sometimes at night, and the shape is always changing.
The moon is between the Earth and the Sun so from our perspective we only see the illuminated side.
Let’s Look At The Phases
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle.
The 4 major Moon phases are New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Last Quarter.
Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: The Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent.
The New Moon - when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon. At New Moon, the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are in alignment.
Moonrise: around sunrise
Moonset: around sunset
Illumination: 0%
Waxing Crescent (crescent moon)- is the second phase in the cycle of phases. This Moon phase occurs once a month, rising around 9 AM, and setting around 9 PM, sticking around for approximately 7.38 days before going into the First Quarter phase.
Moonrise: morning
Moonset: afternoon
Illumination: 0.1% to 49.9%
First Quarter (Half Moon) - A first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. It's high in the sky in the evening and makes for excellent viewing. Now most of the Moon's dayside has come into view, and the Moon appears brighter in the sky.
Moonrise: around midday
Moonset: around midnight
Illumination: 50%
Waxing Gibbous - The waxing gibbous phase is between a half moon and full moon. Waxing means it is getting bigger. A waxing gibbous moon is in the sky when darkness falls. It lights up the early evening. It appears more than half lite.
Moonrise: afternoon
Moonset: early morning
Illumination: 50.1% to 99.9%
Full Moon - The Full Moon is when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on opposite sides of Earth, and 100% of the Moon's face is illuminated by the Sun.
Moonrise: around sunset
Moonset: around sunrise
Illumination: 100%
Waning Gibbous - The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon rises after sunset, transits the meridian after midnight and sets after sunrise.
Moonrise: evening
Moonset: morning
Illumination: 99.9% to 49.9%
Third Quarter (Half Moon) - The seventh phase in the cycle of phases. The Moon appears lit on the left side during the Third Quarter because the Moon is on the other side of Earth.
Moonrise: around midnight
Moonset: around midday
Illumination: 50%
Waning Crescent - The Waning Crescent is the eighth and final phase in the cycle of phases. This Moon phase occurs once a month, rising around 3 am, and setting around 3 pm, sticking around for approximately 7.38 days before going into the New Moon phase.
Moonrise: early morning
Moonset: afternoon
Illumination: 49.9% to 0.1%
Ayurveda and The Moon
According to Ayurveda, one of the oldest healing systems in the world, the moon has a soothing and calming effect on the body-mind complex. The moon, called Chandra in Sanskrit, is also associated with the kapha dosha that combines water and earth elements. Ayurveda emphasizes wisdom and practices to encourage you to discover their inner rhythms and learn how to nourish and nurture yourself through connecting to the moon cycle. When we honor the moon, we honor our bodies.
Pitta Phase - Accomplish, celebrate, be sensual. (Full Moon)
Vata Phase - Finish up, shed, move inward. (New Moon and Waning))
Kapha Phase - New beginnings, start projects, move outward. (Waxing Moon)
New Moon Vata Phase
The New Moon represents a time of darkness and reflection. The new moon is a time for looking inward. It is a time for stillness and quietude. The new moon is a powerful time of deep insight. When you take the time to withdraw from the busyness of life and go inward, you will be richly rewarded with the ability to access your own inner wisdom.
Tips For The New Moon Phase
Slow down and take time and personal space. Retreat.
Let go.
Spend a half or whole day along or in silence. Take time to be alone in nature.
Practice self-inquiry. Check in with yourself. Take time to review, reflect and engage in inner processing, journaling, and resting.
Spend more time in meditation.
Read a book that provokes inquiry
Set intentions for the month ahead.
Accept that this is a low energy week and avoid doing vigorous physical activity and scheduling too many social engagements and tasks.
Don’t pressure yourself to engage in new challenges. Save that for next week.
Rest, eat simple foods. Refrain from extensive projects.
If you have kids, ask your partner or kids to take them so you can have some space
Waxing Moon Kappa Phase
The Waxing Moon is when the moon grows toward fullness. In Ayurveda, this is the kapha time of the cycle, with the energies of earth and water dominant. This is the time when energy builds. If your body released, detoxed and shed during the New Moon, your body is now ready for nourishment and activity. If you rested well during the new moon, you have the energy to take on new projects. At this phase of your cycle, you may feel you have a stronger appetite both for nourishment and for projects. The waxing moon has a Spring like energy filled with optimism, extroversion, assertiveness, self assurance, goal orientation. This is a good time for clarity, concentration, researching, structural thinking, physical stamina, independence, learning, and mental creativity. It’s a time for acting on new projects or goals, for acting on new ideas.
Chances are, during this phase, you have more self confidence. You can dive into your seedling ideas. Your mental capacity is strong during this phase, so this is a great time for brainstorming and building the structure for your evolution. This is a good time to research your ideas and get your projects going. You are moving out of the introversion time and into the extroversion. So, formulate your plan and get things rolling.