Kim Tennant

Article KIM TENNANT

The Moon has long been a source of fascination to humankind. Watching her waxing and waning brings a sense of comfort and certainty. The two most popular lunar phases are the New Moon and the Full Moon. What many people often forget is that the lunar phases occur as a result of the relationship between the Sun and the Moon.

The New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are sitting in the same sign and degree. They are close to each other and the Moon is dark at this time. The New Moon is a time for manifesting and for starting new projects. This lunar phase represents the beginning of a new cycle. Many people make wishes under the New Moon. The Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are sitting in opposite signs in the same degree. They are as far apart as they can be during this phase and the Moon is able to fully reflect the light of the Sun. The Full Moon is a time for completion and releasing. It is also a time when certain areas can be highlighted. Many people use the Full Moon for ceremonies to release what is no longer wanted in their lives.

Each calendar month has a New Moon and Full Moon (occasionally there may be two). Therefore, whatever sign of the zodiac the Sun is currently in during the New Moon will also be the sign the New Moon falls. Because the Full Moon sees the Sun and Moon opposite each other, the Full Moon will occur in the opposite sign to the Sun during this time. Each month a New Moon and Full Moon will occur in a different sign to the month before. So how do we know what to wish for or release? There are several ways of doing this. Firstly, the sign that the New or Full Moon falls in will represent certain energies that will be appropriate. For example, if the New Moon falls in Taurus, it’s a great time to make wishes to do with the material realm as well as the natural world. It can also be a wonderful time to bring more stability and simplicity into your life. The Full Moon in Taurus is a great time to clean out any material possessions you no longer need or to overhaul the garden (rip out weeds, pull out dead plants etc). The energy of Taurus stays the same, but the way it is utilised is influenced by the lunar phase. Another way to locate areas of life that can best use this energy is to take a look at your birth chart and see which houses the lunar phases fall for the month. For example, if the New Moon falls in your seventh house it’s a great time to make wishes for a new relationship or to bring a new lease of life to an old one. If the Full Moon falls in your seventh house, the energy is there to release a close relationship or to release any issues within a close relationship. Rituals can be done during these lunar phases. Each of the signs of the zodiac fall within an elemental category. The Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. The Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. The Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Rituals for the fire signs include writing down wishes or what needs to be released and then burning the paper. Lighting candles with intent is also representative of the fire element. Earth rituals can include planting a seed or seedling and watering it during the New Moon, imagining your wishes growing into fruition as your seed grows. A Full Moon earth ritual can involve burying a crystal in the earth to symbolise releasing. Air rituals are best done in the air by whispering your intentions (either wishes or something you want to let go of) into your hands and then blowing them into the wind to be carried away. Water rituals can involve spending time in or near water, such as the beach or bath. Placing a crystal or other such object to represent your desires in a bowl of water for the fortnight prior to the next New or Full Moon is also a good use of the water element. There are many other ways that the Moon can be used in everyday life. This is just an introduction. However, if you start by doing New and Full Moon rituals each month, you may find your life starting to flow with the energies of the cosmos.

Kim Tennant is an astrologer with over 20 years’ experience. She loves to teach, consult and run workshops (both on and off-line). You can read more about what Kim does at: https:www.pandorasmoon.com