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Set Intentions with a New Moon Ritual

The moon can have a very powerful effect on us. I mean, we’re not scientists, but the moon’s gravitational pull generates the ocean’s tides, so it no doubt impacts human behaviour (we’re 75% water after all). In astrological terms, the moon is thought to be connected with joy and fulfilment as well as how we operate emotionally.

The goal of best day of the week has always been to take at least one day of the week to exactly what you want to do. On any given day, that can mean something different. Today, we wanted to have our own new moon ritual to slow down and take time for self-care and reflection.

The new and full moon can be a great catalyst for personal growth, if we take time to observe these moments. A new moon takes place once a month, when it’s in conjunction with the sun and invisible to us from earth (or appears as only a slender crescent). You can see when a new moon is coming up by referring to this handy moon schedule. A new moon is often viewed as a symbol of new beginnings. Think of it like hitting the reset button. It’s a time to renew your goals, set your intentions for the cycle ahead and embrace new possibilities in your life. The lovely Ara at Goddess Circle explains the new moon best:

The New Moon offers us a time of hope, a time of faith and renewal of our commitments. It brings us a fertile place to start fresh and to remind us that no matter what there is always rebirth waiting on the horizon. It reminds us also to check in with ourselves and to let go of what is no longer in alignment with our path, our purpose and our dreams. It tells us that in order for us to bring all that we want into being, we need to clear away what is no longer serving us and make room for what is to flow into our lives.

There are many ways to observe the new moon – and you can do it alone or with a group. We included our recommendations below.

Smudge stick. We used sage and palo santo. Whenever you’re buying a smudging materials, be sure to confirm it’s been sourced ethically. Here’s a brand we recommend for ethically sourced sage and here’s one for palo santo.
Matches or lighter
Tarot deck. We have both the Rider Waite deck and the Linestrider deck.
Journal or notebook
Pen or pencil
Access to a firepit or a burning bowl (you can get one of those here)

1. Start with a smudge. Smudging is a cultural ceremony practised by a wide variety of Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. The smoke created by burning herbs like sweetgrass, cedar, sage and tobacco is thought to purify the body and soul as well as bring clarity to our minds. Releasing and clearing energy during the new moon helps to prepare us for the next cycle.

2. Continue the cleansing process by pouring yourself (and your group if you have one) a tea. We made one using foraged herbs and flowers. You can grab the recipe here.

3. Set your intention for the ritual. Why are you here? What’s driving you to acknowledge the new moon? There are no rules here. Connect with your intuition. If you’re with a group, we found it fulfilling to share our intention one by one, but this is completely up to you.

4. Continue with a meditation to open and calm the heart – this is a great guide.

5. Next, use the journal or notepad to write down your intentions for the moon cycle. If you’re with a group, you can choose to read one intention from your list aloud if you’d like.

6. We recommend connecting with your intuition with a new moon tarot card spread. You can either have your cards read for you, or use your own deck if you have one. The incredible Brigit at Biddy Tarot has a new moon spread we recommend. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, Brigit also provides insight into the tarot card meanings (just type the name of the card into the search bar) and resources for learning. We also have our own post dedicated to learning tarot cards here.

7. Next, you may decide you want to let go of negative energy with dance. We found it really liberating to close our eyes and just move without judgement. We’ve got a pretty great playlist for the occasion we’ve linked below. Get your arms and legs involved and after you feel satisfied, shake out your arms and legs to fully let go of what you’ve released. Don’t hold back if you feel like a good food stomp and some yelling are in order!

8. Close the ritual by writing down what you want to let go. The new moon is a new beginning, so if there’s something you don’t want to take with you, now’s the time to connect with what that is. Maybe it’s a bad habit, negative experience or relationship you want to move on from. Take the paper and burn it, either in a fire or fire safe container. Remember, it’s important to respect the power of fire and practice proper safety techniques.