Another interest of mine is the phases of the Moon and how they can be used. At the moment if you look up at the skies, you will see no Moon. This period is known as The Dark Moon. But the Moon has not disappeared of course. It is always there.

The path that the Moon takes around our planet just makes it look like the Moon is changing shape. Therefore what we see or what we do not see on nights like tonight is an illusion. This illusion is produced by our position on Earth, by the various angles from which we observe the bright area of the surface of the Moon. These different aspects are lunar phases.

The Moon does not emit any light from itself. That is another illusion. It is reflecting the light of the Sun. During the diferent phases we can see a different fraction of the light of the Sun being reflected from the Moon to us.

There are four major phases of the Moon. They are New Moon, 1st Quarter, Full Moon, Last Quarter. This cycle is as regular as clockwork and it takes 29.5 days to complete. There are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages. The phases show both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the illuminated part that we can see has a geometric part of a circle shape. (image from Google)

At the moment the sunlit portion of the Moon is completely gone from view which is why we cannot see it. Tomorrow the Moon will again gradually become more visible to us as it starts the growing visibility process anew. Tomorrow we will have a New Moon, just a sliver which will gradually become more and more visible (waxing) until we can see the whole circular shape (Full)

Currently  the moon is positioned between us and Sun. The three objects are almost perfectly aligned. The whole luminated part  is now at the back side of the moon, the part that will gradually become visible to us. It is like someone is facing the other way, with their back to us. We cannot see their face.

People have watched the Moon grow from conceivably nothing to a Full Moon circle (although we know it is an illusion) and use it as a guide to growing plants and this system works. It is all about the amount of light that is present at night too, reflected from the Sun. Light is essential to growth. Water is also essential. You can slow down the rate that your lawn will grow if you cut it  during the waning Moon because the light is fading to literally nothing from the Moon’s reflection of the sunlight..  You can encourage more rapid lawn growth  by cutting it during the waxing Moon.

But how can this be so? It relates to gravitation. Our planet is actually a massive gravitational field and it is influenced by both the Sun and the Moon. The tides are scientifically proven to be highest at the time of the New Moon and Full Moon. The Moon’s field pulls the tides of the ocean upwards. It also pulls the subtle bodies of water, the water from the deep and causes moisture to rise within the soil.This facilitates growth of  seeds and plants. The highest amount of moisture in the soil is when the Moon is full because of its magnetic pull on water. Think of it as water gradually rising up in tandem with the Moon’s gradual appearance, as though it is trying to reach the Moon, become part of it, build it up. Studies show that seeds absorb the most water at the time of the Full Moon. The seeds will gradually swell up and reach bursting point/fruition as the Moon increases/waxes up to the point of being Full. Then the process of decreasing begins, when we gradually see less of the Moon’s shape so there is less and less moisture being pulled up by the Moon and therefore less growth. Growth is retreating and letting go until the moisture and gravitational pull build up again.

In magical and psychological terms , now, being the dark Moon is the ideal time to align yourself with natural rhythyms and to let go and end anything that no longer serves you. In the manner of water, pull your emotions away from it, do not water it with your emotions, let it go.

A useful exercise to do tonight and at every dark moon is to sit in silence and reflect on what you want to accomplish during the next lunar cycle. If things do not come to mind immediately, close your eyes and sink into the darker, quiet part of your mind and see what thoughts/ideas surface.

The next phase that is coming is the New Moon when the shape of the Moon will gradually become more visble, when things, plans, planted will grow or wax so it is a time to think of what you would like to increase within your life. Tomorrow, when the sliver of light of a New Moon will appear, take a small step to plant your idea, put it into the soil of your life, feel the expectancy of your emotion rising, so that during the next two weeks your expectation will increase as you know that your seed is growing.

Another thing to take into account if you want to work with nature more efficiently, is that the Moon orbits one full turn around the Earth in 28 days. By doing this is passes through through each of the Zodiac signs for about 2 to 2.5 days. If you look at the sign that the Moon is passing through on any given day, it will give you an idea of the subtle emotional vibration that is around.

The New Moon will be in the sign of Libra tomorrow from about 13.02 GMT. It might mean that you will be a little indecisive about what you want as Libra has a lot to do with balancing things, weighing things up, seeing both sides. You will need to select a new doorway to open. If you have spent a little time in silence, thinking about what you want to bring into your life, during this dark Moon phase, you may find it easier. The Moon in Libra generally produces a quite gentle ambience where there is more possibility of partnerships and collaboration being sown. It is a good time for beginning any legal undertaking or any partnership enterprises.

I intend to look at the depiction of the Moon in the Tarot, to shed more light on lunar mysteries. I will do that soon. But for now, it is time for me to be silent and reflect on what I would like tomorrow and the next couple of weeks to bring into my life.

Rose Dixon

The four major moon phases are “New” , “1st Quarter” , “Full” and “Last or 3rd Quarter”

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