A New Moon Ritual for Multipotentialites

Whether you believe that the activities of the Moon actually affect us or not, they can give us a useful framework for having regular check-ins with ourselves.

The Moon shows us a different face every day (or night) but the major phases that astrology enthusiasts take note of are: the Dark Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Last Quarter. (Pro tip: the quarters are actually what we often refer to as a “half Moon,” because even though we see half a circle, we mustn’t forget the hidden face of the Moon!). Each phase is associated with a particular energy, which can be utilized to help us mere mortals bring meaning, order and magic to our lives. 

The New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon align, making the Moon almost invisible to us here on Earth. According to Astrostyle—my favourite astrology site, run by twins Ophi and Tali—New Moons can be seen as a lunar reset, and are “ultra powerful moments to set intentions, start fresh and begin projects anew.” So how can we harness this energy without getting too witchy? Here’s a simple New Moon Ritual, perfect for skeptics and crystal hoarders alike!

Step 1: Make time

For a lot of us, one of the main barriers to prioritizing self-care and personal growth is that we simply run out of time! This is why it can be helpful to schedule this ritual—and other self-care—in your calendar. Take a few minutes to check the Moon phases for the rest of the year, and on each New Moon block out a couple of hours in your diary. Resist the temptation to cancel on yourself when other things come up. Think of this as your non-negotiable wellness appointment, once every Moon.

Step 2: Create a healing space

When doing any wellness activity, the importance of your environment cannot be overstated. Especially if you work from home, creating a distinct space for this ritual is important, to psychologically separate it from other activities. We don’t all have the space for a dedicated healing room in our homes (we can dream!), but even the simple act of moving to a specific corner in your room, setting up cushions and blankets, and lighting a candle is enough. Put your phone on silent and make sure you won’t be disturbed. Add other touches like crystals, relaxing music or incense if that feels good for you.

Step 3: Breathe!

Start by closing your eyes and taking some deep breaths to relax your body. You can say a prayer or practice a meditation if either of those come naturally to you. But otherwise, just taking some deep breaths is enough. Do this for at least 3 minutes and move onto the next step whenever you’re ready.

Step 4: Reflect

Take some time to reflect on the last month. If you make this a regular practice, you’ll be reflecting on all that’s happened since your last ritual. This reflection can take the form of journaling, but it doesn’t have to. You can record a voice note, speak to yourself out loud or simply get lost in thought. Specifically, reflect on what has gone well and what hasn’t gone so well.

Step 5: Project

Now, fast forward to the next New Moon. See yourself sitting in this same spot, doing this same ritual. What kinds of things do you hope you’ll be saying? What do you want to have achieved? What do you want to have let go of? This is an opportunity to intuit which of your many multipotentialite desires are most in need of your energy and attention right now. Don’t be alarmed if something you thought was important doesn’t come up at all in this moment—take this as guidance.

Step 6: Fill in the gap

What needs to happen in the next few weeks for you to get from where you are now to where you saw yourself in that projection? It can be helpful to write this out as a bullet point list.

Step 7: Set an intention

Now, looking over this list, set ONE intention that will help you to achieve these wishes. That’s right, just the one! For example, maybe you can ace everything on the list if you get better at setting boundaries. Or maybe taking more time for rest will do the trick. Perhaps it’s asking for help. Whatever it is, insert it into this New Moon Intention Statement:

This Moon (or ‘This month’ if you prefer), I am [enter your intention here].

Be sure to write it in the present tense and with conviction, so “I am setting stronger boundaries and enforcing them,” rather than “I am going to get better at setting boundaries, maybe, if it’s not too hard.”

Make sure to give this intention the limelight it needs so that it can be a daily reminder. You could write it on a sticky note, make it your phone background or record yourself saying it and set it as your alarm. Whatever you do, don’t forget all about it until the next New Moon…!

A New Moon Ritual isn’t a silver bullet for making all of your wishes come true (sorry). But it can create an important space for pause and give you the boost you need to refocus on some of the softer skills that make you such an effective multipotentialite. Who knows, after a few Moons it might become one of your favourite monthly commitments!

Your turn

How do you mark the passage of time and check in with your priorities? Have you ever worked with Moon phases in this way? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!