Understanding The Moon Phases

Each night and day the Moon takes a slightly different shape in the sky. These changes are called phases and they occur in a regular pattern over a Moon cycle of 29.5 days.

Moon phases are determined based on how much of the Moon’s surface is illuminated by daylight. The percentage of Moon that is lit by sunlight increases, from 0% on New Moon up to 100% on Full Moon. This phases have a big impact in areas such as the reading of the egyptian zodiac signs.

New Moon

As the Moon orbits Earth and changes shape in our view, it also changes in our perception. This change is what causes the phases of the Moon. During each phase, different amounts of the Moon are illuminated. The New Moon is the first of the lunar cycles and occurs when the Sun and Moon are very close together in the sky. This is why the New Moon is dark, and its appearance is often confused with the stars in the night sky.

After the New Moon, the moon enters the next phase called the Waxing Crescent. During this phase, the moon will appear brighter and a growing portion of its surface will be visible. This is the perfect time to start new goals, set intentions for your lunar cycle and start working on them.

This period can be emotionally intense and full of change, so it’s important to keep your emotions in check. You may feel a bit more introspective than usual, and you might find yourself thinking more about your past experiences and relationships. This is a time to reflect and let go of what no longer serves you, making space for the new energy that is coming up.

The Waxing Crescent follows the First Quarter. This is when the Moon is at an angle of 45-90 degrees from the Sun. This is a time of great productivity, but can also be mentally challenging because it’s easy for you to become overwhelmed by all the tasks that are at hand.

The Full Moon is the closest and most illuminated moon to us. This is a great time to reflect on personal and professional accomplishments and to make concrete plans for what’s left of the lunar cycle. A few studies have shown the Full Moon can increase aggression and anxiety.

The lunar cycle is an excellent way to connect with your inner self. Its phases are linked to intuition, feminine energy and inner psyche.

First Quarter

This phase, also known as the Action Moon is a great time to start new projects. This is particularly true in business, where you can take your ideas to the next step and attract supportive partners. However, it’s important that you stay in alignment with your manifested intentions, so don’t jump into anything too fast.

It’s also a good time to get organized and make progress on those resolutions you made in the New Moon phase. This lunar phase can also be associated with abundance.

This phase happens three to seven days after the Full Moon, and it’s a time for sharing your journey with others. It’s a good opportunity to thank those who helped you on your journey. This Moon phase represents the teacher archetype. So you may be inspired to share the lessons you’ve learned with family and friends.

It is important to take control of all aspects of your life during the first quarter, including your relationships. If you’re single, this could be a good time to start setting some wheels in motion on your love life quest by signing up for online dating or buying a book on relationship advice. If you’re a partnered person, this is a good time to talk about your relationship goals and establish clear boundaries.

In scientific terms, the illuminated part of the Moon’s disk is 50% during this phase. This percentage increases throughout the lunar cycle, reaching 100% at Full Moon and then decreasing to 0% at New Moon.

Full Moon

Since lunar cycles affect natural phenomena like the tides, it’s no surprise that some people believe they also influence human behavior. Anecdotal evidence indicates that there are more assaults and traumatic incidents as well as hospital admissions when the moon is full. But scientific studies have not found any strong evidence to support these claims.

The full moon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, with its illuminated side facing the Sun. The Moon then moves away from its position and reaches a point at which less than half of the face is illuminated. This is the waning gibbous phase.

The Moon will be as near to being completely full as possible a few days later. It’s now the harvest moon or hunter’s moon.

It takes the Moon about a month to complete one of its phases. Sometimes a second full-moon will occur within the same month. This is called a blue-moon and occurs about once every 33 month.

As the Moon’s shadow recedes in this phase, you can release emotional blocks and clear out your energy. It’s a great time for meditation, visualization and healing rituals. It is also important to be receptive because the light and awareness from the spirit are flooding into your physical and emotional body.

Many people find it difficult to sleep during a full moon. Research has shown that it takes longer for some people to fall asleep, and even longer to reach REM. Moonlight stimulates our brains and makes it harder to relax. It is also believed that the bright Moon interferes with our melatonin production, which normally signals our brains to go to bed.

The full moon can also bring out the worst in people. The extra energy and heightened emotions can cause irritability or aggression. The key is to be aware of these heightened energies and learn how to direct them in healthy ways. This will allow you to be more productive during the full-moon period and avoid unnecessary stress.

Last Quarter

The Moon is at this point 3/4 of the way around its orbit. It is called the Last Quarter. During this phase, we see half of the Moon’s surface lit (for the Northern Hemisphere this is the left side of the moon and for the Southern Hemisphere it is the right).

The illuminated portion of the moon is the smallest at this time and the sun appears to be a dark line on its face. This is a very intense time for the Moon because it reflects very little of the sunlight that hits it.

This is a good time to let go and release any anger, grudges, or negative thoughts that you may have. This is a powerful cleansing process as you prepare to set your new intentions at the Full Moon.

As the moon grows, a thin crescent appears on its right side. This is known as the Waxing Crescent. This is a very optimistic and hopeful phase, as it is filled energy of new beginnings and growth.

Now that the Moon is a bit larger, the illumination on its surface is increasing and creating a bright crescent shape on the right-hand side of the moon. The Last Quarter of the lunar cycle is often regarded as a challenging phase because it can feel a little bumpy.

This phase is an excellent time to remind you that you have the ability to change your circumstances and that positive changes can be brought about by your thoughts and actions. It is crucial to stay focused on the goals you have set and not let anything distract you.