Guide to Your First New Moon Ritual
New Moons bring new beginnings. This is a time to manifest and draw new energy from the moon. Explore your truest desires and additions you want to bring into your life.
In contrast, a Full Moon is a time to release and ideate on what you want to remove from your life.
Rituals are deeply personal. They are about energy and communion with the universe. It is important to listen to your intuition when performing a ritual. If you feel yourself gravitating toward lighting more candles, do it. If you want to spend extra time in the cleansing step, do it. Avoid any rigidity and trust yourself during this process.
What you need:
A quiet space (a room, a desk, a park, anywhere you can clear your mind)
Plenty of paper & something to write with
Optional: your favorite crystals, incense, herbs, white candles
You do not need any prior knowledge of Astrology to perform this ritual.
Step 1: Cleansing
Pick a space for your ritual and cleanse the energy, the physical space, and your mind.
Start by straightening up the space so there will be no distractions during your ritual — this can range from picking up a few things to a deep clean a few hours prior.
To cleanse the energy of the space, you have a few options:
With Crystals: hold a crystal in your right hand to release energy, close your eyes and repeat an affirmation for release, such as “I release anything that no longer serves me.” or “I now release all negative energy in myself and in this space.” Use clear quartz, amethyst, shungite, selenite, celestite, or moonstone.
With Visualization: if you do not have crystals, you can still close your eyes and repeat an affirmation for release or cleansing. Visualize negative energy leaving the space.
With Smoke: you can use the smoke from incense or herb bundles (like rosemary or mugwort, found at your local spiritual store) to cleanse your space. However, avoid white sage and Palo Santo, as those are for smudging, a practice belonging to the First Nations/Indigenous people.
Finally, clear your mind. Take a few moments to be mindful or meditate before you begin your ritual.
If you are using candles, light them now.
Step 2: Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a spiritual practice. Begin your communion with the universe by thanking her for everything she has already given you.
This invites the universe into your ritual and prepares you for your manifestation.
List 10 (or 20, or 50) things you are grateful for in your journal.
Step 3: Set your Intentions
Spend time journaling about your goals before you manifest them.
If you already have an idea of what you want to manifest this New Moon, allow yourself to fully visualize what reaching these goals would look, feel, taste, smell, and sound like.
If you are not sure what to manifest, start with one of these prompts and let your mind lead you. (Because New Moons are about adding, focus on what you want your life to look like rather than what you would change.)
What do I want my life to look like in 6 months?
What makes me happy? How can I feel that more often?
If I could wake up tomorrow and do anything-without responsibilities or expectations, what would it be? What limiting beliefs are preventing me from that life?
Step 4: Manifest
A manifestation is a kind of future affirmation — taking ‘fake it till you make it’ to a more spiritual level.
Rewrite your goal in the present tense, as if you already have it.
For example, if your goal is to be promoted from marketing coordinator to marketing manager, then your manifestation is “I am the marketing manager.”
If your goal is to move to New York City, then your manifestation is “I am living the life of my dreams in New York City.”
Tip: Write your manifestations on a loose piece of paper, for Step 5
Step 5: Recommit
Manifesting is about intention as much as it is about energy and trusting the universe.
Take your list of manifestations and put them up by your mirror or your desk- somewhere you will see them every day.
Read them aloud as affirmations every day until they are true.
This works two-fold: each day you remind yourself what you want in life and, subconsciously, what steps you need to take each day to reach them.
Congratulations — you have just completed your first New Moon Ritual.
