The New Moon: Get Rejuvenated!

For a lot of us, the period of the New Moon – a time in which the moon is dark and cannot be seen – is a fallow phase. It’s when we recuperate and regroup, on a magical and spiritual level.

Getting Yourself Back In Order

Depending on how actively magical a life you lead, you may find yourself needing to take a breather every now and then, a time when you do no workings, and simply get in touch with your spiritual and emotional inner self.

Use the three days that occur before, during and immediately after the new moon as a time when you give your “witchiness” a rest, and instead focus on rejuvenation.

How can you do this? After all, you’re busy, right? You have a job, kids, commitments to keep… but you owe it to yourself to take a break once in a while. It’s not selfish to think of yourself on occasion — in fact, if you DO take the time to focus on you, you’ll be a happier and healthier person. Here are some ways you can get yourself feeling revitalized during the new moon:

• Take a cleansing bath. Use herbal sachets, light candles, and scented oils if you like them. Shut off the phone, lock the bathroom door, and enjoy.
• Go for a walk in the woods. Humans aren’t the only ones whose bodies move in tune with the moon’s cycles. See if the trees and sky feel different to you during this phase of the moon. Notice changes in energy in the natural world.
• Take a catnap. If you’re feeling run-down and beat, nothing beats a quick 30-minute nap. Don’t sleep too long, though, or you’ll just feel off-kilter the rest of the day.
• Make the time to get comfortable in your favorite chair or a spot on the floor, and meditate. If you have trouble meditating on your own, get a recorded guided meditation to follow along with.
• Do something with your hands. If you’re a crafty type, now is a good time to do work that is physical, rather than mental or spiritual. Build something, paint a picture, chop some wood.
• Get together with friends. Often, we forget how important it is to connect to people other than our spouse and kids. Get a group together and go out, even if it’s just for lunch.
• Try something new. If you’ve always wanted to take a yoga class, learn Irish step dancing, or try out tuba lessons, now’s a great time. Think of the new moon as a time of rebirth, and a new you will emerge as the moon begins to move into its waxing cycle.
• Plant something. Many gardeners swear by moon phase planting — the phase between the new moon and the full moon, when the moon is waxing, is when you should start your seedlings for plants that grow above ground. It’s also a good time to re-pot and trim up any houseplants that may have gotten scraggly.