Moon Cycles: How to Use the Moon’s Phases to Guide Your Life
The Moon in the natal chart is a deeply personal light that requires confronting your past, reflecting on your future, and being aware of your daily rhythms. For astrology to "work", you must first know yourself and connect your chart to your experiences.
Following the different phases of the moon is about observing your various energy day to day.
After witnessing relationship dynamics through astrology for almost two decades, and having a front-row in my own upbringing, I realise that intimacy with one’s self is essential to, and the bedrock of, all partnerships. This is symbolised by the Moon in our chart, and these have become my guiding principles:
Know yourself - every day
Allow change to happen
Get your energy up
Let go
Know yourself - every day
The Moon cycles arguably has objective symbolism. Scientists understand lunar circadian rhythms have a massive correlation to nature, and to things like when we ovulate, how much patients bleed in hospitals, and if we’re feeling a little off kilter on bright full moon nights.
Likewise, astrologers have managed to chart the symbolic rhythm of the passage of time — the zodiac. Noting the moon cycles is helpful not because we want to be perfect and prepared for every lunar aspect or phase. It is helpful because it fosters a practice of awareness within yourself in relation to the outside world. When you note the moon cycle, you’re really observing its meanings within yourself, and — this is key — getting a handle on how and why you respond the way you do to things around you.
The Moon symbolises how you relate to others emotionally, our mother figures and roles, and domestic matters including the home space. It shows us our cycles, rhythms, and patterns in these areas.
I love the symbology of the Moon and spend a large part of my readings focusing on it. But I find chasing the Moon ritualistically can become narcissistic if it loses a larger context. Learn about yourself in your everyday actions and reactions and work from there.
Allow change to happen
Moon cycles trigger reflection and introspection, but actual change is not guaranteed until we put them into action. The new and full moons occur every two weeks, and are the bookends to a monthly rhythm of beginning and end.
Noting the Moon cycles is really astrology’s way of having a stitch in time save nine. Take a breather every so often from the daily treadmill to get in touch with the Moon. Just looking up helps.
We can get this force from the outer planets. Or we can ride the Moon's nudge to grow every day, simply by observing its cycles. Inner changes always involve shifts on the subconscious level.
“Noting the moon cycles is helpful not because we want to be perfect and prepared for every lunar aspect or phase. It is helpful because it fosters a practice of awareness within yourself in relation to the outside world.”
Get your energy up
Also known as chi, qi and prana, energy can also be spoken of as "life force" or "vital energy".
We can feel this sense of energy rising when we are doing something we love, basking in Nature, and even interacting with animals and plants.
Another way that energy is derived comes from feeling connected to yourself in the moment. Once we accept what our needs and instincts are – and where those reside– and we allow ourselves to feel and explore those, we can begin to flow with our life.
Shadowing the Moon becomes narcissistic if you neglect the qualities of the moon: it is yin, personal, ephemeral. Rather than blare the ego, building energy this way tunes into your subconscious energy.
Ultimately, our daily rhythm is what takes us to the highest peaks of our lives as well as through the dark valleys of the soul. The moon offers the possibility of daily habits and rituals to help us pause and renew our purposes.
Let go
The principles outlined above require effort and attention. If you fall short, it’s important to be forgiving. After all, the other planetary lights come right up to their own gifts of awareness. For example, Saturn enters into a different sector of your chart every 2.5 years or so. And Jupiter, every year.
Even if you have no idea where the Moon is now in your chart, you will likely have some awareness of other transits to your chart because of the "louder" energy, and more dramatic events, they can bring. Uranus is a spark to the fuse in a sector for seven years. Neptune can bring idealism or confusion to a sector for fourteen years. Pluto can stay in a sector for 14 to 30 years.
While you can ride these larger struggles with equanimity, you could still struggle with the feelings that come up day to day. Following the moon's subtle cycle reminds us this moment, too, will pass, and it is amid a larger picture.