Moon phases and retrograde

By Alyssa Urban

Moon phases are changes made in the moon's appearance. A shadow is cast over parts of the moon depending on where the earth is rotated at the time. Moon phases can be a very important thing to those who are into spirituality. But they can also just be an interesting thing to learn about.

Different moon phases: The Spiritual meaning

• New moons: A new moon is a great time for reflection. Bring a sense of intention and allow yourself to rest, spend some time journaling and exploring what is in your heart and mind. Ask yourself “What do I want to bring forward in my life the most right now? How do I want to present myself in my relationships, my work, and with myself?”

• Waxing moons (crescent and gibbous): During the waxing moon, time is best spent getting into action and committing to moving to the desires which you had set during the new moon. Make time to exercise, to move your body more than you normally would. Always have your intentions written with you and keep them close, so that you can always look back on them as a refresher. Return the energy of reflection by tracking your progress on activities that are moving you toward what you desire.

• Full Moons: When some people think of full moons they might think of werewolves; however, full moons are often considered a time to celebrate. They are to savor everything you have created with the waxing moon. During the full moon, you should celebrate things that make you happy or proud. Especially with people you care about. The energy of the full moon can cause intense emotions, which is why it's best to use this time to be proud of your accomplishments.

• Waning moons (crescent and gibbous): The waning moon phase is a good time for release, to let things go. The energy of this moon is perfect for restoring balance. During this time, you should learn to let certain things go. This can be possible by cleaning out certain spaces, and ridding yourself of unneeded items. This is also a good time to offer your support to someone who may need it, and help out in your community.

In using the energy of these different phases, you may be able to help your life become less cluttered and more relaxing, successful and happier overall. However, one thing that may impact someone's life is retrograde. When a retrograde occurs, this can cause the flow of energy to become reversed. It may cause someone to experience more “bad luck” then they normally would. During retrograde one may feel typically off or more anxious, insecure, unlucky, etc.