Moon Cycle Rituals: Working with Lunar Energies
Moon Cycle Rituals
New day, New year, New moon... the progress of lives like all living things are signposted by rhythmic natural cycles. These full and new moon rituals work with the ebb and flow of lunar energy and can be deeply grounding and restorative when practised with intention. Below is an instructive guide to the rituals I return to again and again.
Full Moon Release Ritual
During the full moon, external energies are high. This is a good time to harness these energies, concentrate them, and direct them outward, making space for what is beneficial to us. The Full Moon Release Ritual is a practice of letting go.
1. Yin Yoga for the Sacral Chakra (30 minutes)
Begin with yin yoga poses that focus on the sacral chakra, where emotional tensions can linger. Aim to hold each pose for two to five minutes.
Wide-Leg Forward Fold: Bring your legs wider than hip-distance apart, as far as is comfortable. Spill down from the waist, bringing your hands to the floor in front of you. Keep a gentle bend in the knees.
Shavasana: Lie on your back and feel the effects of the fold settle through your body.
Supine Pigeon (Left): Wrap your hands behind your left knee, raising it towards your chest. Cross your right ankle across the front of the left knee. Hold, then repeat on the other side.
Supine Pigeon (Right): Repeat on the opposite side. Afterwards, bring your knees to your chest and rock gently, massaging the lower back.
Reclined Butterfly: Bring the soles of your feet together in a diamond shape, lying flat on your back with arms spread overhead.
Supine Twist: Move into a left and then right supine twist, holding each side.
2. Identifying Blocks
Take some loose sheets of paper and consider what is arising that obstructs your peace or blocks your channel to abundance. This might be a negative encounter, a fear or lingering anxiety, or a recurrent thought that no longer serves you. Write these down in either prose or bullet points.
3. Releasing
Bring a ceramic bowl and a candle to the table. Read through what you have identified as your blocks, then tear the paper into six to ten small, folded pieces. Holding each piece, feel the energies rising from these blocks and state, in your head or aloud:
You no longer serve me. I release you.
Use the candle to set light to the folded paper and drop it into the ceramic bowl. Repeat for each piece. As you watch the paper turn to ash, visualise the release of these blocks from your body and mind, out into the ether.
A note on crystals: Full moons are also a wonderful time to charge your crystals. Place them on your balcony or in the garden overnight, in the direct rays of the full moon.
New Moon Manifestation Ritual
The night of the new moon, when energies are low, is a time to reflect, turn inwards, and cultivate connection with our true self and the gateway to our unity. From this place we can create, with authenticity, a vision of what we are to manifest into the world. This does not come from wishing or hoping, but is the product of alignment with universal consciousness and divine will, which is intrinsically accessible to us all.
1. Meditation (20 minutes)
Set a timer for twenty minutes. Sit in a comfortable seated position and take five big, slow belly breaths.
Clear your mind by bringing your attention to your body and intentionally releasing the tensions you observe as you scan from the soles of your feet up to the top of your crown.
After this, bring your attention to your breath, following its natural rhythm without changing its course.
Finally, bring your attention to your awareness itself. Observe your focus. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back and continue until the timer sounds.
2. Oracle or Tarot Reading
Use a set of oracle or tarot cards as a gesture of connection with the inner voice. With your eyes closed, shuffle the cards slowly whilst inviting a question. This can be any question you wish to put to your authentic self. A good general question might be:
What should I be conscious of for the highest good for myself and all beings at this time?
Spread the cards across the table in a circle or straight line. Choose a three or four card spread and intuitively select the cards for your question. Turn them over and refer to the guide to interpret the reading. Keep these cards for the next step.
3. Intention-Setting and Manifestation Journaling
With thanks to Elizabeth Phillipose for her guidance on this practice.
Intention-setting is a way to focus your energy in the direction you want to go, to channel your unique being in this world. Intentionality is different from goals, resolutions, or tasks. It speaks more to how you experience yourself in the world, whatever you are doing.
Use the cards from your reading to help set the direction, and respond to the following:
What qualities or characteristics will I cultivate?
How will I feel in and about my life?
What is the next expression of myself?
Sit with your intentions. Visualise them sinking in and becoming absorbed by your mind and body. Write them down as present-tense realities and put them away. Trust that the energy has been set into motion.