My Journey With New Moon Intentions
Today’s the first New Moon of January, the time when I set my intentions for the lunar cycle. The practice of setting New Moon intentions, which has roots in various cultural and spiritual traditions, has become pretty popular in modern spiritual and self-improvement circles.
I started my own journey with this monthly ritual six years ago, right after a big change in my life. A client, who was really into the whole idea of lunar phases, pointed out how this life-changing event of mine coincided with the New Moon on January 16th. She talked about how the New Moon symbolizes new beginnings, and that got me super interested in the whole lunar phase thing.
Then, another client, who’s really into spiritual practices, got me into setting intentions with each New Moon. I was already kind of open to this because of my recent introduction to lunar phases, so I thought, why not give it a shot?
To my surprise, a couple of my intentions started coming true within just a few days, totally convincing me that the practice worked. Ever since, setting intentions during the New Moon has become a regular thing for me. I even started marking new moons in my iPhone calendar.
Symbolism Of the New Moon
In many cultures, the New Moon is a symbol of a fresh start, a time for rebirth and renewal. The New Moon, invisible from Earth, symbolizes new beginnings and is considered a powerful time for setting goals, personal reflection, and initiating projects. The dark New Moon sky serves as a metaphorical blank canvas, perfect for painting your intentions – think of it as your monthly opportunity for setting New Year’s resolutions.
Setting New Moon Intentions
Setting New Moon intentions is about thoughtful reflection on your desires and aspirations. Think of setting intentions like crafting a mini bucket list every month. It’s not just about wishing upon a star; it’s about creating a roadmap for awesome stuff you want to do, be, or achieve. Want to start yoga, write a poem, or learn to cook a fancy dish? Or want a million dollars, to meet the love of your life, or to purchase your first home? Big or small, it doesn’t matter. Ask, and it is given.
For me, setting New Moon intentions is a monthly discipline. Looking back, I’ve seen desires manifest, sometimes even the same day, which is incredibly cool and affirming. As I said earlier, that’s how I was sold on this method of manifestation after I first tried it. It is definitely the reason I have continued with this technique. Over the last six years, I have generally manifested at least one new moon intention either on the same day or within a couple of days.
Setting intentions each month can also involve revising previous intentions. You might even realize the things you’re over and no longer want, or perhaps you want to fine-tune them a bit. It’s also possible to wipe the slate clean from the previous month’s intention setting and start fresh! Take, for instance, last month’s intention where you wanted a new car. But then, you realized that you don’t want a car loan; instead, you want to buy it in cash, paying only for gas and insurance. You can tweak your intention to make it more specific.
Rituals and Practices
Common rituals include meditation, writing down intentions, or lighting candles. These practices vary based on individual beliefs and preferences, and this is where you get to be creative. It’s all about doing what feels right for you. Maybe you want to dance around your living room – go for it! This might sound corny, but it’s not. Have you ever heard of a ‘rain dance’? It’s a ritual dance intended to summon rain, and is associated with Native American and other indigenous groups.
Depending on my mood, I’ve done the dance thing a couple of times. I dance to a playlist I titled ‘Manifestation’. These are songs that make me feel powerful and like I can have anything I want. What I find is that it also helps rid me of this weird pent-up anxiety and desperate energy that I sometimes have about certain desires.
Rituals can give some of us a sense of control. They also allow us to enter a space where we come into alignment with a specific goal or process. In some situations, rituals can almost feel essential. Take, for example, Christian baptism. When I was religious in the past, I was baptized at seven, dressed in white, symbolizing purity and renewal. At that time, I believed in its transformative power. This ritual, like many others, can lead to a change in behavior and mindset.
Whatever your ritual – be it setting New Moon intentions with a candle or affirmations – if it feels good, aids in your belief, and helps you to manifest what you want, embrace it. Initially, I was drawn to this practice because it reminded me of New Year’s resolutions, giving me that feeling of newness, except I got to experience it every month. Once it actually worked for me, it became an enjoyable way of setting monthly goals. Rather than obsessively watching for results, I learned – okay, I will stop lying – started learning to relax and observe what unfolds by the next full moon.
Manifestation and Personal Growth
Manifestation is kind of the whole point – manifesting your dreams each month over the course of a year. Of course, we’re always creating or ‘manifesting.’ But this is like setting intentions during the new moon for specific things you really want to focus on and bring into being.
Many believe the New Moon’s energy aids in manifesting these intentions. By articulating and focusing on them, you’re more likely to realize these changes. For me, it’s about refocusing and realigning, and maybe even reminding myself not to give up, or asking for random stuff that I realize I want to experience. Sometimes, it’s just to see the funny way it will manifest into my experience. The universe definitely has a sense of humor.
It’s all about creating an improved life experience, one new moon at a time. Whether it’s creating something new or revising previous intentions, the New Moon is a perfect time to focus on growing a little every day over the course of a moon cycle and beyond. Ultimately, the emphasis is often on improving aspects of one’s life, such as health, relationships, career, or money.
Regular Practice
Many regularly set New Moon intentions, using each occurrence as a time to assess progress, reevaluate goals, and set new intentions. Imagine having a monthly meeting with yourself where you check in on your goals, celebrate your wins, and set new, exciting intentions. That’s what regular New Moon intention setting is all about!
As I mentioned, setting New Moon intentions is a way for me to discipline myself to set intentions every month. It forces me to sit down and really think about what I want and how I envision my life. Over the course of the month, I start to add something to the notes section on my iPhone for the next New Moon, so I don’t forget. I add revisions here too.
Connection With Astrology
This practice is often linked with astrology, considering the specific astrological sign of each New Moon to guide intention setting. If you don’t believe in astrology, or if it turns you off, you can think of the New Moon as helping you to get clear with your intentions.
If you’re interested in astrology, each New Moon carries its own unique energy influenced by the zodiac sign its in. It’s like getting monthly guidance on what to focus on. But honestly, I just write what I want and why I want it; I am generally clear on what I want. The reality is New Moon rituals can be effective, no matter your belief system. This practice, like many in the spiritual or self-improvement realm, varies in interpretation and execution. It’s a deeply personal experience, not confined to any particular religious or spiritual belief system.
Thoughts and Tips for Your New Practice
Remember, this isn’t about strict rules, my way of doing things, or what other articles or astrology gurus tell you. Everything is about what you want for your life. This process can look like whatever you want it to look like. Whether that’s writing them down in the notes section of your iPhone, sitting in a café each month with your favorite cappuccino, or getting a pretty journal and writing with your cute pen in your cozy chair at home.
Think About What You Want, No Judgment
Think about what you want, and do not judge what you want. I’ve heard and experienced that the energy of judgment can add resistance to it coming to you. I would catch myself thinking what I wanted was ridiculous because I should be over that person, so who cares if they text me, or thinking that what I wanted was ego-based and non-spiritual, so how nonspiritual of me to want this thing. Whatever. You want what you want. You are the one who has to live the life you are living. No one else.
Try to Avoid Checking the 3D For Results
After I ask for things, I try to let them go, especially if they’re causing me anxiety. Try to avoid letting it make you check your 3D reality results. I do have to be careful about ‘keeping score’; by this, I mean, if I go back and see something has not manifested, I start to let it change my vibration. So, write it down, consider it done, try to feel the feeling of having it, and move on to other stuff.
Consider Adding a ‘Gimme’
A ‘gimme’ in sales is like an easy client you know you can get a sale from. It’s a ‘give me.’ They already want to buy. Easy as pie. A gimme when starting to manifest would be like trying to manifest parking spaces or a cup of coffee. So, when you’re starting off, to really begin building your manifesting muscle, maybe add something not too far out of reach and definitely possible. I mean, you can still add the 10-million-dollar lottery thing, or Brad Pitt, or whatever (because yes, all of those things technically can manifest for you), but add something simple too.
Stay Encouraged
If it doesn’t manifest right away, don’t flip out. I was kind of being facetious about something when I asked for it in April 2020. At that time, there was no reason for me to believe that I would ever manifest it in the way I was asking for it. Deep inside, I knew it could come to me in other ways, but I didn’t know if this particular thing would happen in the specific way I asked for it. It was one of those ‘let me test the universe’ type of intentions.
The crazy thing is, even though I initially asked for only 50% of what I really wanted, I ended up receiving exactly what I desired. While waiting for this to manifest, I faced several rejections. Additionally, there were moments of false hope, which turned out to be errors. Despite these challenges, I remained persistent. In the end, I was determined to manifest this item, even if it didn’t happen in the way I had originally envisioned.
Three years later, and at the precise moment when I needed it most, it manifested exactly as I had hoped, even surpassing what I initially asked for in those New Moon intentions. So, in my usual long-winded way, I’m saying: DO NOT GIVE UP. DO NOT LET GO. As I write this, I’ve just woken up to an email saying ‘No,’ but guess what? I remembered this April 2020 instance where I persisted and it paid off. So, I’m determined to persist with this as well.
Craft Your Affirmation
You have the option to create a specific affirmation for each New Moon intention, or you can use blanket affirmations to energize all your intentions at once. In my case, I set as many as 40 intentions during the new moon, so I don’t always create individual affirmations for each one. However, practicing repetitive, ‘robotic’ affirmations, similar to what Sammy Ingram advocates, is also effective. Ultimately, whatever approach works for you is the best choice.
Believe or Not: It’s Your Choice
Of course, believing in your intentions can help, and some even say it speeds up the process. Take my New Moon request from April 2020, which manifested in 2023. I believed in it, but if I’m being completely honest, part of me also felt that manifesting it in that specific way was a bit of a stretch. However, if you can fully believe, feel the emotion of having it, and then detach, that’s even better. Strong belief, coupled with detachment, is a powerful combination.
Visualize Your Desires
Another technique to accelerate the manifestation of your New Moon intentions is visualization. If you’re aiming for a job or acceptance into a program, visualize receiving that congratulatory email. If it’s money you’re after, imagine receiving the check, or seeing the notification from Cash App or Venmo. I’m willing to bet that visualizing something you desire right now brings about a certain joyful feeling within you.
Be Kind To Yourself
Although you can create a personal reality where moons don’t affect your life or body in any way, in the 3D or physical world, the moon is a thing. The Full Moon, for instance, is known for intensifying emotions. Emergency room visits often increase during full moons, and many people experience difficulty sleeping. Conversely, the New Moon can sometimes have the opposite effect, leaving you feeling low energy. If you’re feeling like this, go easy on yourself. Don’t pressure yourself to set intentions. There have been a few months where I just didn’t have it in me.
Raise Your Vibration Prior To Setting Intentions
Of course, you can set intentions anytime, no matter how you’re feeling. But you know what? I’ve noticed I’m way more successful with them when I’m in a good mood. If it suits you, consider making intention setting like a ‘Self-Care Sunday.’ I had a ritual where I would take a salt bath, believing the salt cleansed my energy. I’d light a white candle to symbolize newness and purity, and I’d work on getting into a really good vibration prior to setting my intentions. I’d also have a glass of wine because it helped me unwind and stop overthinking. At the end of the day, do anything and everything that works for you personally.
As I reflect on my journey with setting New Moon intentions, it’s clear that this practice has become more than just a monthly ritual; it’s a transformative experience that has reshaped my approach to life. As I continue with this practice, I encourage you to embark on your own journey of New Moon intention setting to see if it works for you.
Remember, it’s not about doing it perfectly or following a strict set of rules. It’s about finding what resonates with you, what makes you feel connected to your inner being, and honestly, whatever propels you toward the life of your dreams.
I invite you to join me in this monthly intention setting so we can experience fresh starts, growth, and tap into our limitless potential. Desire. Create. Enjoy. Let’s set those intentions, send them out to the universe, and kick back as we watch the magic happen, one New Moon at a time.
