5 Rituals to Do at New Moon: A New Moment

Five New Moon Rituals. The moon has been associated with witches and magic, from its meaning as a symbol of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, (and of wild and free women), to famous writings by modern wizards such as “Pull the Moon Down” by Margot Adler. These days you’ll find witches on Instagram and TikTok talking about the moon all the time, the market is full of moon phase phones and pillowcases and all, and there are dozens of moon phase apps available. Looks like we just can’t get enough of the moon!

Alright, so what’s up with the moon? Why are we so fascinated?

The answer, I believe, lies in the cyclic nature of the moon. New moon rituals are reliable and the moon is reliable but ever-changing. It returns to the same points on the horizon month after month and year after year, changing from crescent to full and vice versa – never quite the same overnight and yet reliably.

the new moon

The new moon is the beginning of a new moon cycle. This is when the moon is completely dark in the sky. The new moon occurs when the sun and moon are exactly aligned together from our perspective here on earth, so it really happens at a precise time each month. However, speaking of magic, we generally consider new moon energy to last around three days.

The new moon is all about new beginnings. It is an opportunity to start a project or relationship, a new perspective on a situation or a new direction in life. There is something profoundly supportive about this idea that we start anew each month!

Ideal moment and intentions

This is the ideal time to set the intentions of what you want to create, receive, manifest or experience in the next lunar cycle. First, you want to get super-aligned with what you want in your heart, make sure everything is in sync with your intuition, and then set some practical intentions of what actions you actually plan to take. You can easily transform this new energy into a ritual to formalize your intentions. New moon rituals will help you set your goals.

The new moon is when the moon is at its darkest, and is sometimes called a dark moon. From here it gradually gains strength towards the full moon over the next two weeks. The new moon phase is a more introspective time and represents a new beginning as we plant seeds for the future.

It is a good time to set clear intentions for the month ahead, clarify your goals, start new projects, and acknowledge your growth since the previous new moon. It is also a good time to let go and release what no longer serves you so that you can welcome the new, especially as this phase can spark the desire to pause and reflect. New moon energy can be honored the day before, the day after and the day after the actual new moon.

Of course, the moon is not the only cycle that guides our lives. The seasons, the movement of the planets through the twelve constellations of the zodiac, and even our own calendar year are all important cycles. The lunar cycle has also been associated with menstruation by cultures across the world since the depths of prehistory, as the lunar cycle and a typical menstrual cycle last approximately 28 days. And yet, the moon is perhaps the most universal cycle of all – the calendar year is certainly not universal, the seasons are different in different corners of the world, and not everyone experiences menstruation.

1. Defining intentions

• Paper and pen
• Sage or cedar smoke beam or cleaning spray
• Headphones and soothing instrumental music (optional)
• white candle

This new moon ritual will help you define what you want, but before you get comfortable, let’s cleanse and purify your sacred space. If using a smoke beam, go ahead and light it with a match or lighter and put out the flame so the smoke rises smoothly. Wave the smoke over your body and into every corner of the room.

Alternatively, you can spray cleaning spray over yourself and around the room. Say something out loud or in your head like:

“I clear this space of negative energy.”

Or simply focus on clearing your mind and becoming present.

When the space feels light and clean, get comfortable and put on your headphones if using. Breathe in deeply through your nose and sigh through your mouth. Come to the center and close your eyes.

In your mind, start imagining yourself living your life a few weeks into the future. Ask yourself, what do you expect from this slightly future version of you? What have you been doing these weeks to take better care of yourself?

When you feel ready, open your eyes and write down any thoughts and ideas that come to you. Looking at the list, choose one or two things to focus your intent on. Light the white candle and write your intention on a separate piece of paper. Read aloud or to yourself, repeating as often as you feel called.

Stay in the room until the candle burns out completely to release your intent into the universe. When you’re done, place the paper with your intention somewhere you’ll see it every day, like your bathroom mirror or your nightstand.

2. The Ritual: Intentions of the Diary

Light a candle and take out your journal. Place the date at the top of the page along with the words “New Moon Intentions and Rituals”. Then close your eyes for a few deep breaths, and when you’re ready, write down three to five main intentions for this lunar cycle. Write clearly in the first person and in the present tense as if it were already happening. When finished, read each one aloud, stating, “And so it is,” after each spoken intention. Some intentions may take a few lunar cycles to fully materialize. Reflect on what you’ve written and edit as needed each new moon. Be grateful when your intentions come to life.

3. Breath of Desires

Use the new moon to think about new goals you want to achieve in the new lunation that begins. Take a paper and write down what you want to attract. So, blow your intentions onto paper and visualize everything you want happening in real time.

4. Time Spell

Visualize that you are in the future tense and imagine every detail of your desires happening. See your clothes, places you are and how each situation you want to attract should happen. Materialize the new moon intentions in your mind so that they become real in the world.

Repeat this daily until the next new moon before bed. The pre-sleep stage is very powerful for achieving what you want.

5. Connection with the divine

The new moon is a blank page, a new beginning, a time to turn inward and consider what we want to call into our lives and what we need to let go of. It really is a time of rest and reflection, so the perfect ritual would be in the comfort of your own home.

Ritual – Step by Step

set the environment

Before starting any ritual, clean and organize your space. Straightening up and getting rid of the clutter sets the tone for the ceremony. I like to burn incense, light a candle, play soft music and relax. I keep a few pieces of sacred paper and a pen handy for writing.

Conjure a connection with the Divine

Invoke a connection to the source of energy that you feel most supports you: guides, angels, or any other divine connection. Personally, I like to connect with each of the four elements: air, fire, water and earth. So I honor the Sun and Moon.

Sit comfortably and write

Take the pieces of paper and write down the things in your life that you want to call out or are ready to release. It could be certain feelings, fears or barriers – anything you know is not serving you or what you want to call into your life. This could be a job opportunity, a relationship, more financial abundance, an adventure – whatever you want.

declare

The next step is to read your desires – the things you want to put into your life right now – out loud. Speaking them out loud plays a crucial role in bringing them to life. You may notice that they evoke even more emotion when spoken, and that feeling is essential to manifestation.

Meditate and complete

Now that you have let go and made space for what you really want, sit quietly, follow your breath and visualize your desires coming true. Set the intention to remain open to these elements and experiences that come into your life and any other growth opportunities you may need along the way.

As mentioned, you can do this ritual yourself or invite others to join you. While it’s beautiful to do it alone, there’s also something appealing about being heard and supported by those you love, so that they too can fulfill their desires for you – and vice versa.

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