Two Kinds of Moon Magick

How to use the moon’s phases to improve everyday life

For thousands of years, people have looked to the moon — the goddess of the tides, to understand her energies and influences in the ebb and flow of our lives. Here’s how to embrace the magick of the moon.

The Moon’s Four Phases

The moon’s four phases include waxing, waning, full, and new. Each one has its own significance. Let’s take a quick look at what to expect from each phase and how you can work with it to improve your life.

Waxing Moon: Waxing is the first part of the cycle, where the moon grows larger in the sky every night. It begins invisibly small on its first appearance as a thin silver crescent (the slightest bit of new moon), then waxes into a waxing gibbous, becomes a full moon. A waxing moon is an energy that is growing, so it’s a good time for spellwork designed to attract and amplify, such as increasing money, new romance, a new job.

The Full Moon: The full moon is the height of the cycle, and this is when magick spells should be cast with purposeful intent. Unfinished business can also be addressed at this time to bring closure and completion. Full moon magick is best used for creating powerful change and exceptional results.

Waning Moon: The waning moon is the time to let go of what you no longer need. The last quarter moon phase, which occurs before the new moon, allows us to release that which we don’t want or need anymore — old habits, bad relationships, anything that’s holding us back from living the life we desire. It is a blessing to be able to let go of things that are preventing our own personal happiness in order to make room for something new in our lives!

New Moon: During a new moon, the moon is in complete darkness and can’t be seen in the sky. This darkness tends to influence us as we feel drawn inward, a bit sulky, and pessimistic. This is NOT the time to start new projects, indulge in risky behavior, or make important life decisions. That comes later, at the first quarter moon.

The New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle — a time for building towards an exciting future instead of focusing on what has already transpired. It’s a great time to begin brand-new projects and ventures as you are now beginning again with a clean slate.

The Moon in the Zodiac

Just like the sun travels through each of the twelve zodiac signs, so does the moon. However, the moon makes these transitions every few days rather than every month. As the moon enters each astrological house, we become subject to its energies.

Aries: When the moon is in Aries, we become more impulsive and outgoing. We experience a rise in energy and enthusiasm for life, and we’re better able to express our emotions and opinions without hesitation.

Taurus: When the moon enters Taurus, we begin to feel grounded and relaxed. During this cycle, we’re more likely to socialize, eat out or spend time with loved ones. Life feels steady and predictable during the Taurus phase of the lunar cycle, but be prepared for this phase to come to an end as the full moon approaches!

Gemini: As the moon moves into Gemini, you’ll notice people around you becoming restless. This is not a great time for conducting business either — if there’s ever a lull in conversations, now would be a good time to start up a conversation with someone new. Gemini energy is social and chatty, so be ready to fill your schedule with meet-ups and fun times.

Cancer: The moon’s phase in Cancer makes us more emotional than any other time of the month. During this cycle, we may feel like doing nothing else but huddling up at home with close friends or family. This phase is known for bringing out the momma bear instinct in all of us; it typically inspires feelings of nurturing and protectiveness.

Leo: When the moon enters into Leo, you’ll see people around you breaking out their creative talents! If you’re looking to get out there and have some fun, now would be an excellent time to go dancing or attend a show. Leos love to entertain and love attention; take advantage of this lunar phase to let your inner star shine!

Virgo: When the moon is in Virgo, we like to get things done. Workaholics will be out in full force during the Virgo moon — you’ll see people at the office working overtime and digging deep down for inspiration and motivation. This can be an excellent time to tackle those nagging projects that have been putting you off, but it’s also not a bad idea to slow down and enjoy some downtime with friends and family as well!

Libra: The Libra moon encourages a balance between work life and social life. You’ll notice that interactions with others tend to go more smoothly than usual, but this is not necessarily a good time to close any deals at the office. Be cautious of meeting up with anyone new or shady during this lunar phase — people are more likely to have ulterior motives!

Scorpio: The Scorpio moon inspires deep passion and emotion. If you’re looking for love (or lust), now would be an excellent time to make your move on that special someone. Creative projects like smithing jewelry or painting are also well-supported under the astrological influence of the Scorpio moon; let your inner artist run wild!

Sagittarius: The Sagittarius moon makes people feel restless and ready to travel. This is an excellent time for breaking out routines and getting outside of your comfort zone. If you’re looking to get out of town for a day or weekend, now would be the perfect time to book your flight and lay out all of your travel plans. This is also an ideal time for connecting with others — go on that adventure with someone!

Capricorn: The Capricorn moon inspires feelings of structure, self-discipline, and stability. During the Capricorn lunar phase, we typically experience what’s known as “the Sunday blues”: we feel heavier and slower than usual during this transit and long for the days when our schedules were more flexible. This would not be a good time to start any new projects; take advantage instead of using this zodiac sign influence to reflect upon yourself and your dreams!

Aquarius: During this lunar phase, you’ll notice people around you becoming more easily distracted. If you’re looking for a quiet evening at home with your significant other or some close friends, this would be the perfect time to do that. This is also one of the best times to catch up on all of that sleep you’ve been missing, so take advantage of this zodiac sign’s natural energy to power down and recharge!

Pisces: The Pisces moon brings out the dreamer in all of us. If you’re looking for inspiration or motivation on a new project, now would be an excellent time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish. If there’s something you’ve been working on but haven’t quite finished, such as a school paper or art project, now would be the best time to wrap it up. The Pisces moon also supports intuitive and emotional thinking; you’re more likely to come up with insightful ideas during this lunar phase!

There are two ways to harness the magick of the moon: following her phases from new to full and taking advantage of the influences of her journey through the zodiac. With this knowledge, you can begin to understand and work with the energies she infuses into our planet, including gardening by the moon and making moon water for magickal purposes.