lunar cycles Archives -

Believe it or not we all know the Moon has a powerful energy, mostly connected with women because of their cycle. It’s the Moon’s journey as it orbits around Earth that creates the predictable dance between light and shadow.

But…

What is a Lunar Cycle ?

Let’s start with some interesting facts. It takes the Moon 29.53 days to orbit completely around the Earth in a full lunar cycle. During this time, the Moon will go through each phase. Since the Moon’s orbital journey takes a little less than a full month, you’ll notice that–depending on the exact number of days in that month–the Full Moon occurs a day or two earlier each month.

During this cycle the moon goes from completely invisible to full, then back to invisible again.

“These two cycles govern creativity and hold the key to manifesting with

Moon Magic”

Britney Carmichael

I have been frequently curious abut the moon, my astrology sign is cancer, water is my element and we all know water is having a “tide” relationship with the moon 😉

With time it just happened, I started to pay close attention to my emotions and behaviour as a result of different situations and I was be able to relate connections between them and the moon cycles.

That is the reason why I decided to share a brief result of my research and reading. Because I realise I am not the only one who deal with different levels of energy during the month, and that is not just because I am a woman

I am not crazy, you are not crazy…

…well maybe just a little bit..shhh

However, knowing and understanding more about the lunar cycles and what is recommenced to work on each of them it helps me to focus my energy in a more productive way.

So, as it helps me it might help you

NEW MOON

New intentions

The new moon’s energy is wonderful for visualising, setting intentions, and gathering energy for the coming work at hand. New beginnings, new relationships, new adventures, and positive changes. This is a time of turning inward, tapping into your intuition and setting intentions for what you want to manifest in your life over the next 2 week or 6-month cycle. A great time for evaluating your life and deciding what you want to create or how you want to grow. To get clear on what you desire and invite new opportunities to your life.

Tip: grab pen and paper to write down your intentions, preferably after you meditations

Warning: This time isn’t good for action, but more planning, dreaming and scheming.

FIRST QUARTER/WAXING MOON

Time to take actions

Growth, learning, creativity, healing, and transformation. As the moon appears to grow, energy builds and the time for action begins. Think of your intention and take strategic steps forward to begin materializing your desires. Action initiates the Law of Attraction. Be patience.

A good time to launch new projects, implement healthy habits and push yourself to do the challenging work required to actualize your dreams.

When we have trouble welcoming something new into our lives, an internal shift is needed to create the change we seek. The active waxing moon is a time to notice all the inner obstacles so you can release them at the upcoming full moon.

Tip: go back to the intentions you wrote during you new moon meditations and make them happen

FULL MOON

Great time to manifest

The full moon is a time of releasing and receiving. During this time we are letting go of the old so we can grab on to the new intention we manifest at the time of the new moon.

The moon is fully illuminated. Her light shines down upon us from sunset to sunrise. This is the time for manifestation. Our energy and power are the most strong around the full moon. This is a time to dream big. Anything is possible. A great time to connect with higher powers and spirit guides. Also a great time to connect with others in your community. This is the culmination of all the work that has come before. Emotions are heightened during the full moon, so be gentle with yourself.

TIP: Full moons are a time for celebration! Gather with your closest friends and harness the powerful magic of the full moon, create a ritual.

Warning: October’s full moon in 2018 is a week before Halloween and it is called Hunter’s Moon according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, because that moon occurs when the season for hunting many game animals begins.

October’s full moon is spiritually known as the Hunter Moon or Blood Moon.

LAST QUARTER/WANING MOON

Do the internal work.

The waning moon is all about releasing, letting go of what no longer serves you, cleansing, breaking free of toxic habits and relationships. This is the time to make space for what you want to call in on the approaching new moon. A great time to go inward, for solitude, introspection and meditation. Also a potent time for forgiveness of self and others.

When the visible moon starts to darken, it’s a reminder to slow down, relax more and do less, now is the time to do some internal work,

Tip: journal, meditate and ask your higher self or spirit guides for help working through whatever needs healing.

As I mention in another post I am incredibly curious about the moon and it affects our states of mind and emotions. I truly believe the moon has an incredible power on us living beings.

So if you are curious about the moon as me you are in the right place

First I would like to share here are some interesting facts about October’s full moon:

“Is commonly called the Hunter’s Moon, harkening back to European and Native American traditions where hunters would use the light of the full moon to track down their prey and stock up for the coming winter.

Contrary to popular belief, the Hunter’s Moon isn’t actually bigger or brighter than usual. It simply rises earlier, soon after sunset, which would give hunters plenty of bright moonlight to hunt by during the early evenings. To Neo Pagans, however, the Hunter’s Moon is known by a far more morbid name – the Blood Moon.

Humans through the ages have always found autumn’s full moons to be creepy, and not without good reason. There’s a reason why English folks in the Middle Ages called October’s full moon the Blood Moon, and it’s the exact same reason why even Halloween imagery today often features a large, low-hanging moon with an eerie reddish glow. The Hunter’s Moon rises early in the evening, which means that you are more likely to see it near the horizon.

Exactly today October 24, 2018 you will see the moon rising at 9:45am PDT

12:45pm EDT and 16:45 UT

When you observe the moon while it’s near the horizon, it gives off the illusion of being bigger while it’s in fact the same size. In addition, observing the moon at the horizon makes it look redder. This is because you’re seeing it through a thicker atmosphere, which scatters more blue light and lets more red light pass through to reach your eyes”.

Going back to the yoga approach of this topic, scientific explanations aside, the Hunter’s Moon or Blood Moon still holds an undeniable aura of mystique and power.

You must have heard about the Surya namaskar or Sun Salutation, but not many people know about the other side of it:

Chandra Namaskar or the Moon Salutation.

Is a sequence which reveres and honours the energy of the moon.

The name is derived from the Sanskrit, chandra, meaning “moon,” and “namaskara,” meaning “salutation.” Although they are less well known than the practice, they complement it perfectly, as they embrace the opposite, interconnected energy.

While surya namaskar’s 12 postures, chandra namaskar has 14 positions correlating to the lunar phases. The moon salutation has the opposite effect on your body than the surya salutation; it is meant to calm your body, preparing you for a long and restful night’s sleep.

Chandra Namaskara is considered more yin in nature than the intrinsically yang Surya Namaskara. As such, Chandra Namaskar is a more cooling, meditative sequence of postures, which is ideally to be practiced in the evening.

The sequence of asanas for Chandra Namaskara has many variations, but will often involve moving to the right and left, and facing the long edge of the mat. Side stretches and circular movements of the sequence can be considered to represent the phases of the moon as it waxes and wanes.

In practicing Chandra Namaskara, it is helpful to take the focus inward and to reflect on the meaning and significance of the moon and its energy for earth and oneself. . The practice can then be one of gratitude for the moon and all it offers.

Is recommended to have pen and paper close by so you can journal any thoughts or ideas that might present during your practice.

Chandra Namaskar practice is also beneficial for:

Strengthening all major muscle groups
Improving flexibility
Calming the mind
Grounding and focusing the body and mind

Practicing Chandra Namaskara is probably a relatively recent yogic practice, perhaps dating to the late 20th century, but practices of worshipping the moon are undoubtedly ancient. The moon was traditionally regarded in certain yogic texts as the source of immortality

From the Tarot perspective today Full Moon is in Taurus:

Time to release to make peace

I am not going to dive deep into it because I am a beginner in this aspect if you wan to know more about it there is tons of information online and books as well.

Hope the information helps, go and get your comfy clothes and start including this into your own practice, if you are not doing it already.

Until next time,

Renée

“One thing is for sure, a transformation is happening so surrender yourself to the flow of change that is taking you to the next level of growth for you. This Taurus Full Moon has us releasing excess emotions to make room for more peace”

Britney Carmichael.

Tag: lunar cycles

Lunar Cycles