Instead of working against yourself, work smarter by aligning your goals according to the moon phases.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure for more information.
Since you’re here, I’m going to assume that either,
- You believe that the moon affects people’s mood, efficiency, energy levels, and so on.
- OR, you are at least a little curious about how in the hell the moon can help you achieve your goals.
Just like the tides in the ocean, the moon has a pull on our energies as people. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian believed that because the brain is a “moist” organ, it was affected by the moon the same way the ocean is.
Aristotle and Pliny the Elder aren’t the only High-IQ people to believe in this mystical power. According to Michal Zimecki, Doctor of Philosophy and a Polish Biology professor noted for his discovery of the lunar cycle effect on the immune response of mice wrote a scientific article pointing out how the moon affects different living organisms.
In his article, he states that the lunar cycle affects fertility, menstruation, and birth rate. In fish, the lunar cycle affects reproduction; it affects melatonin levels in birds, and hormonal changes in insects.
And if you believe that this almost magical/mystical power is real, you should be using it to your advantage.
Lunar Phases Overview
There are 8 moon phases in total. There’s the new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent.
And after that, the cycle begins again.
Through years of research, historical tellings, and myths we have learned a lot about each of these lunar phases in a scientific sense, and in a more spiritual sense.
*The information from the paragraphs below was gathered and condensed from both Elite Daily and Natalia Kuna.
New Moon Meaning
The new moon is what many refer to as “the dark side of the moon.” This is because the during this phase, the moon is between the sun and the earth. So, what we see/don’t see, is the dark side, as no light from the sun is shining on it.
In a more spiritual sense, the new moon is often thought of
Waxing Crescent Meaning
The adjective, waxing, means that the moon is getting bigger and is growing in intesity.
The waxing crescent appears after the new moon when you can see a tiny sliver of the moon illuminated by the sun. At times, you may also be able to see a faint shadow of the rest of the moon due to a phenomenon called “earthshine”.
Spiritually, the waxing crescent represents a time of motivation and focus. This is where you lay out your plans and start to take action.
First Quarter Meaning
At this phase, the moon is half illuminated. It’s called the first quarter
Spiritually, this is when people begin to face obstacles. There may be more instances of frustration and lack of motivation. So, this is the phase where you have to really work hard to stay focused.
Waxing Gibbous
Because a greater percentage of the moon is illuminated by the sun, this moon can be seen even in the daytime. This is the last phase before the full moon.
In a spiritual sense, the waxing gibbous is a time to refine and change things up. You may feel that your plans aren’t coming together the way you thought they would. So, make edits, refocus, and decide what needs to be changed to accomplish your goals.
Full Moon
The full moon occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the earth. In this phase, the entire moon is illuminated from our perspective, creating the full, bright, circular moon.
Spiritually, this moon phase is the most intense. Because the sun and the moon are in opposite zodiacs it can cause a lot of tension and emotional stress.
But, it can also be very rewarding and cleansing. During this phase, you have to open to abundance and the rewards of your past week’s work.
Moon Phases Resources
I’m not an astronomer or a psychic. And as much as I trust my own research, I’m always a fan of second opinions. So, here are some of my favorite lunar resources for learning more about the moon phases and their place both scientifically and spiritually.
Moon Giant: Want to create your own moon calendar just for the month, know when the next full moon will happen or want to know today’s moon phase. This site is a great start if you want to try tracking the moon phases for a month or less.
Time & Date: Want to create your own annual lunar calendar? This site gives you the entire yearly overview of the major moon phases. Again, this site will also give you the date and time of the current monthly moon phases.
Universal Life Tools: If you are curious about the spiritual significance of the moon phases, this website will give you the whole overview. They also have a list of other moon resources on blue moons, black moons, super moons, etc.
How to Align Your Goals According to the Moon Phases
It took me a long time to realize what a massive impact the moon phases have on my energy levels. Everything from my motivation and emotional state change with the moon.
Once realizing that the moon was such an important factor in my goals, I started to take the moon phases seriously.
The first thing I did was add a monthly lunar calendar to my bullet journal. Having a physical calendar that I can look at throughout the month would make it easier to analyze my mental state.
Since then, I have learned how to use an annual calendar in my bullet journal and set my goals according the moon phases.
1). Have a Physical Lunar Calendar
I highly recommend that you have a physical copy of the lunar calendar as it makes it much more accessible. I have included a free printable bullet journal lunar calendar at the bottom of this post.
But, if you don’t bullet journal and prefer a wall calendar, check them out on Etsy or Amazon.
2). Learn How the Moon Affects You
Even with a fancy calendar, if you don’t understand the pull the moon has on you individually, you may not be able to reap the benefits.
First, you’ll have to have some patience. Track the moon phases for a month, but go about your business as usual. As the cycle progresses, write down how you’re feeling during each phase.
Include your energy, your sleep patterns, if you are feeling motivated or lazy, your eating habits. They don’t have to be complete sentences or long entries. Just make note of them.
3). Set Goals According to The Moon and You
After a month of reflection and analysis you personally, you should have a good idea of how impactful the moon is on you.
New Moon
This is when you should start setting your goals. It’s a time most people experience higher energy and concentration.
Give yourself time to sit down and think about your goals. Have your notebook and a pen handy. Put on some music or a podcast and think of your biggest desires for the coming month. Write them down.
Really focus in on what you want. Visualize yourself working through and achieving your goals. And set meaningful intentions to actually do it. This could be writing down affirmations or meditating.
Moving into the waxing crescent, continue with your focus and concentration. Write down the daily tasks that you need to accomplish to move yourself closer to your goals.
First Quarter
You’ve started off on a good foot. You are making headway on your goal and continuing with the plan. But now is the time many people begin to face obstacles.
The best way to approach this phase is to plan for the best and expect the worst. Be meticulous in your planning efforts, but allow yourself some flexibility.
Don’t beat yourself up when things come up out of nowhere and delay those plans to follow your dreams or try to
Let me give you an example. My husband and I decided to really take control of our health and fitness, which includes a workout regimen. Goal. With kids, it’s easiest to workout at home.
So, we signed up for Beachbody on Demand. Then, the other night right after the kids went to bed and it was our time to work out, the site was down. Obstacle.
Instead of getting upset and giving up, we went to YouTube and found a similar HIIT workout to what we would have done on BOD. Flexibility.
Full Moon
At this phase, you will start to see the work you have put in pay off. But, you will also see where you need to work harder.
This time can be full of lots of emotional energies and tension. During this time, reevaluate your plans, clear your mind, and allow the energies to flow through you.
Take it a little easier on yourself during this time to avoid stressing yourself out or causing more tension. Now is the time to replace some of those tasks on your list with self-love.
Take a bath. Read a book. Watch some Netflix.
But, don’t forget about your goals. Sit down with that first list you made at the new moon and clarify your purpose and your reasons.
Last Quarter
This time is for reflecting and letting go of everything that hasn’t worked out for you over the month.
If you are into journaling, now is the time to sit down with pen and paper and write about this past month.
Did you follow through with your goals?
If so, did it turn out the way you had planned? Are you happy with how it turned out?
If so, it’s time to acknowledge your accomplishments. It’s time to reward yourself for all of your hard work.
And if your goals didn’t pan out, you are left feeling less than or empty, it’s time to trash those initial goals. Let go of what doesn’t serve you.
And finally, at the end of waning moon you should rest and relax. The new moon is right around the corner, which means new goals and more hard work. But for now, relax and let give yourself a break so you don’t burn yourself out.
4). Make Changes as Necessary
The above is not a fool-proof plan. There are a million other things that affect us on a daily basis. Family, jobs, physical health, children, etc.
Please, don’t raise your pitchforks just yet. The moon is a very powerful force, and working smarter with the moon is a great first step.
But, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reevaluate often. Look back through your monthly reflection pages and look for similarities.
What are some of the patterns that are common? Is there a specific theme?
If you can find these patterns, you can start to make small changes to avoid the repetition. Be open to these changes, even if it means going against the norm.
Bullet Journal Lunar Calendar Printable
I want to help you make the first step towards being more efficient at goal setting. So, if you use a bullet journal, planner, or just want to print this out for your fridge, please do.
Download It Free!
Let me know what your thoughts are on the moon affecting humans. Do you think it’s all a sack of crap or do you believe it’s a powerful force? Either way, let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below.
