For centuries, ancient and indigenous cultures have harnessed the power of the moon cycles in their rituals and routines.

We’ve all heard the term “lunatic.” Relating to “luna,” this reference comes from the idea that people act out in bizarre ways when there is a full moon. The lore goes like this: because the phases of the moon control the tides, and our bodies are made of mostly water, the energies have an irrevocable impact on human behavior.

The two most potent times of the month are during the new and full moon. During the new moon, the sky fades to darkness. It is a time to plant seeds, develop a vision, and ground oneself. During the full moon, the light is brightest, and the moon is at its strongest gravitational pull. It is a time to take action, and also to observe how far we are on the goals we have made since the new moon.

Below are suggestions for how you can best harness the energy of the full and new moon, based on your Zodiac sign.

Want to learn more about your relationship to the moon? Uncover the mystery with our exclusive Natal Moon Report. 

ARIES

NEW MOON: Articulate your desires. Because Aries are so thought-driven and mindful, it is more common to find an Aries reading other people’s ideas than documenting their own. The best way to gain clarity on your goals and what you want moving forward is to express yourself in a way that you don’t always feel comfortable doing.
FULL MOON: Listen to feedback. Aries are leaders, but they can also have a “know-it-all” dark side to them as well. The best way to gauge how well you are doing is to truly take in feedback, to listen to what other people are saying and how they are responding to you.

TAURUS

NEW MOON: Let yourself be “unpresentable.” What holds a Taurus back is their need for things to seem “perfect” all the time. If you want to build something new in your life, start with a blank slate. Begin by letting the night of the new moon represent a shedding for you, a moment that reveals your true, core self. In connecting with that place, you will be able to then make choices that better align with it. Perhaps this means not wearing makeup, or being transparent about a difficult part of your life with someone close to you.
FULL MOON: Paint your visions with a group of friends. A Taurus is so driven by visuals that the best way to choose what they want to manifest is by doing something that is just that. However, what trips a Taurus up is needing their lives to seem too perfect, that’s where being around friends comes in. Show people your process, share your dreams, share what you fear. The process will empower you by humbling you.

GEMINI

NEW MOON: Take yourself on a date, and think about what you want to create next in your life. Because it is your instinct to want to connect with people as often as you can, often it’s easy for you to forget that at the end of the day, you need to affirm yourself, you need to be there for yourself, and you need to believe in yourself. Developing this aspect of you will actually help you harness your inner power, and feel less reliant on other people.
FULL MOON: Dance alone, in the dark. You need to completely allow your energy to course through you without judging it, trying to change it, or wondering what other people think. You should turn off the lights in your house, put on your favorite song, and just move as you feel called to. Give yourself some time to warm up, and then connect with your untapped energy potential. It’s calling for your attention.

CANCER

NEW MOON: Create a playlist that makes you feel the way you want to feel. Do you want to experience more joy in your life? Do you want to feel safe enough to mourn or grieve the loss of something? Do you want to feel excited, at ease, or happier? Whatever it may be, use the power of your raw emotions to channel it. Work on evoking them through sound.
FULL MOON: Try to meditate outside. During the full moon, your emotions are going to be at an absolute peak, which means that you may not be able to think very clearly, or really evaluate how you are doing in terms of the progression of your goals. What matters most for you right now is your ability to ground yourself. Do so by being in nature.

LEO

NEW MOON: Write a letter to your future self. Leos are so driven by their sense of self, the best way to set intentions is for them to talk to… themselves. Try writing a letter to your future self about how you feel right now, what you hope they are doing, and what you want them to learn from what they have experienced.
FULL MOON: WNow, on the full moon, flip the exercise and write a letter to your past self. Nothing will help you evaluate how you’re doing in life better than identifying how you’ve grown as a person. Seeing how far you’ve come is your motivation, let it fuel you at this time.

VIRGO

NEW MOON: Donate some clothes you don’t wear. This is a symbolic act for a Virgo, who is both a humanitarian at heart yet someone who struggles to let go in their personal life. Start by releasing some belongings in your space, and giving them to other people who would love and appreciate them. The act of doing so will help you set the intention of moving on, and focusing on what you can give the world.
FULL MOON: Meditate with crystals. Virgo’s are the low-key adventurers of the Zodiac. It usually eludes people, but Virgos are typically very interested in anything that seems unique and different than the “norm.” Perhaps try clearing your mind and focusing on the next steps you want to take with the aide of something you haven’t tried before.

LIBRA

NEW MOON: Throw out whatever is keeping you off-balance. If your closet is messy, organize it. You know that junk drawer that’s been frustrating you? Clean it out. Wipe down your surfaces, light some incense, and just be in your space. A Libra can only feel at peace if their life is in balance. Sure, there’s no way to fix everything in a single night, but given how aesthetically-oriented Libras are, starting the moon cycle with a clean, blank slate is an amazing way to start.
FULL MOON: Write a list of intentions. Make a bullet point list of things that you want to have or experience in your life. If writing isn’t your thing, maybe make a new board on Pinterest, or cut out photos from a magazine and then make a collage. Keep these things in a place where you can see them often.

SCORPIO

NEW MOON: Open up to your best friend about what’s really on your mind. The way a Scorpio’s thoughts start to rule their lives is when they are left to fester in the dark. By shedding light on the irrational worries, jealousies and fears you have been carrying around, you will be freed to start imagining what you’d like to experience next.
FULL MOON: Put yourself out there. Go on a first date. Apply for a new job, or work on your résumé. Write some new music. Look for the dog you want to adopt. Take a single action step toward what you really want to be doing, but often feel too afraid to actually start doing. Use the full moon’s energy to help propel you forward.

SAGITTARIUS

NEW MOON: Go for a hike. As the adventurer of the Zodiac, the best way to clear your mind and press the “restart” button is to go be outside in nature, and reconnect to your roots. Exploring new, uncharted ground is exactly what you need to do to plant seeds of more adventure and experience in your life.
FULL MOON: Start your new project. Whatever it is that you really, really want to be doing, whether it’s for work, travel or in your relationships, use the full moon to begin taking steps toward what you want, and put all of your self-doubt and second thoughts aside. You’re risk-averse because you’re a logical person, but you’re also at odds with yourself often because you crave that aforementioned adventure. Defy your logic just for one night… see where it takes you.

CAPRICORN

NEW MOON: Be honest about what’s not working in your life. Of everyone, Capricorns have the hardest time admitting when they are on the wrong path (at the wrong job, in the wrong relationship, etc.). And that causes them a lot of unnecessary stress, hanging on past the expiration date. Know that admitting what isn’t working doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it means you’re ready to move onto something else.
FULL MOON: Be honest about what is. Are you succeeding in some aspect of your job, do you have a friend who you think could be a potential partner, do you know that you need to return to a field you have expertise in, but you aren’t ready to take the dive? The flip side of admitting what’s not going well in your life is acknowledging what is. That’s what will truly clear your slate and move you forward.

AQUARIUS

NEW MOON: Make amends. In your endless pursuit of greatness, it’s very possible that you’ve lost some friends, haven’t always valued your relationships, and have come across as brash now and again. Maybe you don’t need to directly apologize to someone, but set your intentions for the new cycle by connecting with people in a genuine way. Do not forge that you need others to make your dreams come true. You cannot do everything yourself.
FULL MOON: Take an action step toward your most unrealistic goal. You are notorious for being an outrageously big-picture thinker, and often other people talk you out of your ambitions by encouraging you to be more realistic. Use the energy of the moon to see whether or not you can make those big ideas a reality. This is the time to try.

PISCES

NEW MOON: Watch a movie that makes you cry. No matter what it is that you need to let go of, whether it’s an old relationship you can’t admit you still care about, the feelings of other people you empathize with far too much, or even just your own lingering self-doubt, set up some time to let yourself have a complete emotional release, even if you have to trigger it with your favorite sad romantic drama. Don’t beat yourself up for needing a night to just feel what you’re feeling.
FULL MOON: Write a poem, or whatever form of art most speaks to you. As the creative kings and queens of the Zodiac, your energy is best spent in any kind of creative endeavor. Challenge yourself to be even more honest and expressive than you’ve been before, and perhaps to share your work with someone that you never have before. Your gift is in what you can create for the world – work on doing so more proficiently.
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