New Moon, New Cycle, New Intentions
Happy New Moon!
New Moon Intent
New moon is an inflection point: one cycle has finished, another is starting; it's a a great time to set or re-set your GOALS, PLANS, and INTENTIONS; New Moon is when you 'set' your 'INTENT'; especially in May, you 'plant' the seeds of what you hope to embody and occur, by the time the light of the Full Moon caresses you. Unlike the regular calendar month of say, May, or February, a New Moon to New Moon month harnesses the natural energies of the Earth.
New Moon is the time to:
- Check in with self, with Nature, with Higher Energies
- Ground and center; (HERE are some ways to do so)
- Notice cycles: in our lives, in nature
- Note that the cycles close and re-open, finish and start/re-start
- Note that it's each moonth is a cycle: starting with the New Moon, into a waxing (increasing) Moon, waxing into the Full Moon, which then wanes (decreases), and continues waning back into the New Moon
- Note that New Moon is a cycle within a cycle, a flow; and—not withstanding that one exact moment that is astronomically correct and exact for the New Moon, currently at May 22, at 1:39 EDT in 2020—you can honor the new moon period for about ~give or take~ 3 days and/or nights. This can be an appropriate way to think about both new and full moons, as your life and circumstances vary and ebb and flow, in and out. Also, New Moons' exact times are often during the daytime, which may be awkward times to co-ordinate with work and/or family schedules; noting the 3 days' of the cycle within the cycle adds flexibility and eases any 'guilt' and FOMO ('fear of missing out') around calendars, and helps you work with the over-arching energy of that moon, as it ebbs and flows in and out of the exact position you celebrate
Because New Moon (also sometimes known as the Dark Moon) is the beginning of the cycle (and at the same time the end of the previous cycle)...the point of death and (re-)birth it is a time of goals, plans and intentions. Beginnings like these are markers in our lives, and in nature: of freshness, of times of creation, the dawn of newness, new goals, plans and intentions. New Moon's primary energy of activity is a time of (re-setting/) setting intent/intention.
Actually there are 3 types of
Just as peoples' New Year's Resolutions are statements of their priorities, so too the cycle of DAY 1 of the beginning of each calendar month is a fresh (albeit arbitrary) calendar page for new or re-set goals, plans, and intentions, though it does work with the rest of our annual calendars, and the mundane world.
Actually there are 3 types of
Just as peoples' New Year's Resolutions are statements of their priorities, so too the cycle of DAY 1 of the beginning of each calendar month is a fresh (albeit arbitrary) calendar page for new or re-set goals, plans, and intentions, though it does work with the rest of our annual calendars, and the mundane world.
This monthly month cycle (etymologically from 'me'*(pron. meh) *to measure and moon, see
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=month) {which/witch can be thought of as moonth}) cycle of 28-31 days plus occasional leap days is a standardization and retro-fitting of the moon's cycle. In 2020, the moon calendar is approximating the solar cycle's calendar, with new moons near the beginning of the sun's entry into signs; for example, the sun went into Gemini on May 20, and the New Moon is exact on May 22, 1:39 pm EDT, 2020.
So how *does* one set intent at New Moon? That's a large topic, which is covered here, but goals, plans and intentions are related. In some ways, goal-setting has been the most widely covered in modern productivity and time management literature...there's even a 'SMART' goals method:
- S as in Specific (stating a concrete, actionable goal)
- M as in Measurable (metric-driven measurements)
- A as in Achievable (goals that one can achieve or attain via actions)
- R as in Relevant (in alignment with larger goals and core values)
- T as in Timely (a specific time-frame to completion, the deadline...like a month?)
Image Credit: https://www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/domain/26
Plans are the daily goals and action steps that make up HOW you will accomplish your monthly goal/s.
Intent is about what you intend to do, what you resolve to do...your intention or resolution.
Setting intent at the beginning of a cycle helps you achieve your purposes, to live in alignment with your core values.
THIS May Gemini moon (& Gemini solar, as above written) is a great time to start or concretize working with the moon cycles and with goals, ahead of or during this Memorial weekend, & as we start to approach Mercury Retrograde (Rx), which rears its head the next cycle, almost to the day, on June 21. This is ALSO along with the peak of the summer solstice, known also by the ancient Celtic name of Litha, or the ancient Norse & Germanic name of midsommar, and also near the ancient Slavic holiday of Ivana Kupala. Also that cycle contains the Full moon Eclipse, June 5 in Sagittarius. So ahead of this next cycle with all sorts of retrograde, eclipse-y, solar-lunar near synchronicity, during the *peak* of the annual solar cycle...this cycle is a GREAT and more straight-forward cycle to channel energies in preparation, especially as the world seems to be re-opening from the Covid pause, for good or ill....
Happy MAY 2020 New Moon in Gemini!
Other factors: the New Moon in Gemini is squaring Mars in Pisces, and also a supple contact with Saturn Retrograde in Aquarius.
now's a good time to back up your data ahead of the next Mercury Rx cycle, and also a great time for you to fine-tune your social media strategy;
Gemini New Moon in May 2020:
A time of Passionate Embraces for All the Signs
Aries: Talk it out, Aries, don't bottle it in, and don't let anyone manipulate you into silence!
EXPRESS YOURSELF, don't repress yourself.
Taurus: Map out & schedule the actions needed to manifest and make progress on projects from your dreams and visions, this cycle, Taurus; don't let others hold you back.
Gemini: Happy Birthday month Geminis!!! It's all about YOU! Your pace, your preferences, your needs! Remember, haste sometimes makes waste....
Cancer: It'll be 'all about' you next cycle, Cancer, so dream some dreams, unplug, relax, and think about and envision the seeds of your next year, cultivating how you can embody your hopes and core values. Don't let the weeds get too tall!
Leo: Reap the good feelings of having been the helper recently, Leo; maybe that includes giving it a rest this weekend, or as soon as you can, and then ramping up in the next fortnight with a peak at the Full Moon in June. Don't deny yourself some focus on your own needs.
Virgo: Enjoy the New Moon on Friday and the long weekend ahead, Virgo; the time is coming to embrace your work passions, sooner or later this cycle. Harness this new moon energy to fly like a Gemini butterfly; don't forget to break out of your cocoon.
Libra: Even though it's hard to take a big voyage, right now, Libra, it might be time to revisit and revise your bucket list, and even make some tentative plans for when you DO feel safe to travel. Don't take any chances though, and satisfy your wanderlust and itch to move in a socially distant way, enjoyably.
Scorpio: Usually you don't have any problems 'embracing' your passion, Scorpio, and this is the time to commit to your true nature; don't hold back!
Sagittarius: You can use this cycle to really focus on what you want in relationships, Sagittarius, and feel free to expect the best from your loved ones; they may need to step it up to really satisfy you. Don't lower your standards: you're worth it.
Capricorn: This is the last cycle to really clean up your work life, Capricorn, before Mercury Retrogrades and throws in extra monkey wrenches. Maybe you've already been wrenched, and if so, breathe, reach out for help, and get creative to re-invent your vocation. Don't forget to follow your passions, even if that means passion for keeping a roof over your head!
Aquarius: Slow down and enjoy the passions of your relationships, Aquarius, but especially, don't forget to take the time to enjoy the teasing, winking banter of coquettery.
Pisces: This cycle is all about buckling down and getting as much done yourself before Mercury retrogrades, Pisces. Then you can conquer the world, but don't forget to do it with grace.
