what phase are you in?

waxing & waning with the moon 🌙

Owning a witch shop means that I encounter a lot of people who want to get started with their own spiritual or magical practice, but don’t quite know where to start. My first piece of advice is usually follow what calls to you — interested in astrology? Find some astrology books or podcasts that resonate! Intrigued by the tarot? Pick up a deck and start playing with it! — but for those looking for more concrete guidance, I usually suggest working with the moon. Not only is the moon familiar and accessible to all of us, but it’s also such a beautiful mirror for life down here on earth: it models the waxing and waning that we all experience in our daily lives and reminds us that life moves in phases and cycles.

Photo by Linda Xu on Unsplash

I also love suggesting the moon as a gateway into all things magical because it played an important role in my own spiritual journey: while I’d already dabbled with breathwork and poured over plenty of astrology & tarot books, it wasn’t until I started attending a full moon circle that I really understood the importance of having a spiritual practice. The monthly gatherings became a meaningful way to mark time and acknowledge my growth, provided a framework for me to check in with myself regularly, and connected me with other magical, likeminded people in my community. Plus by celebrating the moon’s fullness, we were also acknowledging and honoring its other phases: the new moon that kicked things off, the waxing moon that grew bigger each night until it reached its peak, and the waning moon that would soon follow, eventually leading us to the start of a whole new cycle.

As I dug deeper, I learned about the themes and actions associated with each unique phase, but I also started to recognize my own cycles and develop my own personal relationship to the moon's monthly dance through the sky. I learned that new moons, for example, tend to send my brain into overdrive — they’re when I do a lot of my best brainstorming, and also when I have the hardest time falling asleep. I learned that the waning moon offers me a much-needed reminder to slow down and take care of myself when I otherwise wouldn’t think to do so. Even when my energy didn’t align with the what the moon was doing, I always found it helpful to glance up at the night sky and remember that everything ebbs and flows, and that change is the only constant.

major moon phases & their themes

If you’re new to working with the moon, here’s a quick primer: a moon cycle lasts from one new moon to the next, which is about 28 days. Because each moon cycle kicks off with a new moon, it’s a phase that’s associated with themes of beginnings, fresh starts, new journeys, and potential. The new moon is when seeds are planted, and it asks us to trust that beautiful things will grow out of the darkness. New moons are the perfect time to set intentions for the month ahead, and they also represent that magic moment before the work really starts, when we’re invited to dream our biggest dreams and imagine what’s possible.

New: beginnings, potential, possibilities, inspiration, planning & dreaming

The (approximately) two weeks that follow a new moon are known as the waxing phase, when the moon grows bigger and bigger each night. The waxing moon marks a time of growth, expansion, progress, and action: it’s when we’re asked to put in the work and take tangible steps towards reaching our intentions. Energy builds during the waxing phase, inviting us to tap into our strength & endurance in order to stay focused on the things that matter most to us. If you’re working towards a long-term goal or chipping away at a project, the waxing phase is a great time to focus on the details and take things one task at a time; if you’re focused on something less linear or action-oriented (like slowing down, being more compassionate with yourself, or trusting your intuition), it’s a great time for simply showing up and putting in practice.

Waxing: growth, progress, focus, perseverance, momentum

The full moon is the peak of the cycle: an energetic high point that symbolizes wholeness and the culmination of all of our effort and growth thus far. No matter how the previous weeks played out — and regardless of whether or not you reached your intended goals — the full moon is a beautiful time to honor and celebrate your progress and perseverance. Some view the full moon as a time for release, while others focus on its connection to intuition and our wild, innate power. The full moon is a potent time for leaning in to pleasure & joy, gathering in community, and taking a sacred pause to simply exist and be present between the waxing and waning phases.

Full: completion, wholeness, celebration, recognition

For (approximately) two weeks after reaching its full point, the moon wanes, or gets smaller each night. The waning phase marks our descent from a fully illuminated sky to the void of the dark moon, inviting us to turn our energy inward and reflect, release, and rest. We’re asked to slow down, be intentional about how we spent our energy, and allow ourselves to recover from the previous weeks before heading into another cycle and beginning all over again. The waning phase is a great time to focus on self-care and treating ourselves with compassion.

Waning: reflection, release, rest, recovery, slowness

Right before we reach the next new moon (and therefore begin a new cycle), we welcome the dark moon: a brief period when there’s no visible light in the night sky. The dark moon is all about deep release and rest, providing us with an opportunity to recalibrate and shed what’s no longer serving us before we enter the next chapter. The dark moon assures us that nothing is needed of us in this moment — that we’re free to find quiet and stillness in the in-between.

Dark: surrender, deep rest & release, a void

what phase are you in?

Your energy may not always align with the moon’s current phase, and that’s totally valid: we each have our own unique cycles, patterns, and timelines. If you find that you and the moon are on different schedules, it can still be helpful to use the framework of the moon’s journey to determine what phase you’re in, independent of what’s going on in the sky. Knowing that you’re in a new moon phase might help you capitalize on the extra burst of energy and motivation to get things moving; realizing that you’re navigating a dark moon phase might feel like the permission you need to retreat for a moment and give yourself some extra space.

Here are some ways to help determine what phase you’re in:

You might be in a new moon phase if:

• you feel energized, motivated, or inspired to dive into something new

• you’re allowing yourself to dream big, brainstorm with abandon, consider vast possibilities, and embrace the feeling of infinite potential

• you feel called to begin a new project, explore a new hobby / interest, or bring new practices, activities, or habits into your daily life

• you have the desire to step into a new role or explore an uncovered part of yourself

• you’re weighing your options, doing research, or creating a plan for the road ahead

You might be in a waxing moon phase if:

• you’re focused on taking actionable steps towards an intention or end goal

• you’re building momentum and making progress

• you’re regularly devoting time, energy, or other resources to the things that are important to you

• you’re showing up day after day, even when it’s tough, for the things that matter

• you’re developing new routines, habits, or practices and seeing them through

You might be in a full moon phase if:

• you’ve come to the end of a cycle or phase

• you’ve reached a significant milestone and it’s time to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor

• you’re ready to honor your work and celebrate how far you’ve come

• you feel like you’re able to take a deep exhale after a period of hard work or dedicated focus

• you’re ready to shift from an energy of building, creating, or expanding to one of release, surrender, or rest

You might be in a waning moon phase if:

• you’re coming down from a period of work, growth, or high output

• you’re taking a pause to rest and recover between projects or goals

• you’re prioritizing quiet, slowness, and stillness over action

• you’re focused inward and are in a phase of self-reflection or assessment

• you crave extra time alone or are leaning into activities that make you feel supported and cared for

You might be in a dark moon phase if:

• you’re focused on releasing what no longer serves you

• you’re undergoing big transformation through letting go

• you’re surrendering to the unknown or living in a liminal space

• you’re leaning into mystery and embracing your shadows

• you’re prioritizing deep, restorative rest before moving forward

tarot allies for each phase

I love turning to the tarot for support with whatever I’m navigating, so I found myself thinking about what tarot cards paired well with the unique energies of each moon phase. Below are some tarot allies you may want to turn to for each phase, whether you’re following the moon’s journey through the sky or leaning into your own personal cycles.

New: The Fool (beginner’s mind, feeling open-minded & unburdened, open to risk, ready to take a leap); Two of Wands (planning for a journey ahead, weighing your options, making assessments, anything is possible)

Waxing: Eight of Pentacles (devotion, doing the work, showing up consistently, putting in practice, taking things one step at a time); Three of Wands (committing to your path, taking the first steps, making progress)

Full: Four of Wands (pausing to celebrate, honoring how far you’ve come, making room for joy); Three of Cups (gathering in community, supporting one another, celebration); The World (completion, wholeness)

Waning: The Hanged Man (a sacred pause, resisting the urge to move forward, gaining perspective, reflecting); The Star (healing, regeneration, spaciousness)

Dark: Four of Swords (deep rest, unplugging, clearing your mind); Death (release, necessary endings, composting what’s no longer needed, preparing for rebirth)