Curious about how to begin working with the energy of the moon? Read on for a short intro on inviting "lunar consciousness” into your practices and daily life.

The lunar cycle refers to the time it takes for the moon to orbit Earth (approximately 27 days). Our society in the West runs on a solar calendar and is predominantly steeped in “solar consciousness.” Our calendars mark the 365 days it takes for ‘Spaceship Earth’ to travel around our Sun, but this is only one of the cyclical influences on our lives and there are others to be aware of also. When we have a balance and understanding of both solar and lunar energies in our daily lives we can better understand our own cycles and be more effective in the things we choose to do and make throughout the “wheel of the year.”

Below is some general info about Lunar and Solar consciousness. When I refer to “masculine” and “feminine” below, I am not referring to gender but energy. We all have “masculine” and “feminine” energies within us regardless of our gender or biological sex.

Solar Consciousness:

Active / Outwardly Expressed / Light / Masculine / Energy of “Doing”

Lunar Consciousness:

Observant / Inwardly Focused / Dark / Feminine / Energy of “Being”

At the beginning of each lunar cycle I invite folks to set an intention and track it in a journal. I’ve been doing this practice for a couple of years now and I’m amazed at the results I have seen, both personally and professionally. If you’re new to this practice, keep reading for a little “starter info” about intention setting over the lunar cycle, which can help you to develop what I like to call “Lunar Consciousness.”

Below is some very basic info about the different phases of each lunar cycle. You can use the unique energy of each phase to support your intentions and your process each month.

Phases of the Moon:

New Moon: (Dark) Reflect, Set your intention, Visualize, “Plant seeds”

Waxing Moon: (Lightening) Work toward your intention, “Cultivate”

Full Moon: (Illuminated) Notice what you’ve achieved, Celebrate, “Harvest”

Waning Moon: (Darkening) Draw energy in, Tie up loose ends, “Compost”

Ok, so now that you have all of this cool information, what are you going to do with it?

If you’re curious about what phase of the cycle we are in TODAY, click below to check out one of my favorite lunar cycle calendar websites. You can find out the current phase of the moon and when the next new moon occurs. You can then feel into your next intention and have some time to decide how you’d like to welcome the new moon. Feel free to leave a comment below. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Sanni Sahil (@sannisahil)