Moon Phases: Energies, Crystals, and Herbs

We’ve all had those moments where we lose time gazing at the moon. Its radiant glow has a way of pulling at our heartstrings, sparking our imaginations, and inviting us to dream. The moon is held in the hearts of witches across the globe, and we have countless ways to connect with her.

Moon magic is a way to tap into the moon’s energies to manifest intentions, perform spells, and embrace personal transformation. The moon goes through eight distinct phases, each with its own energy and purpose. It’s like a cosmic clock guiding us through life’s cycles and changes. So, let’s break down these phases, shall we?

New Moon

The New Moon marks the beginning of the lunar cycle. It’s like the universe’s way of handing you a clean canvas for your life’s masterpiece. Imagine it as a cosmic reset button, a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. During the New Moon, the moon and the sun are in perfect alignment, and the moon’s face remains hidden from view.

New Moon energy is all about potential, setting intentions, and planting the seeds of your desires. Think of it as a time to dream big and envision what you want in your life. The New Moon’s energy encourages you to focus on what’s to come, just as the first rays of dawn signal the promise of a new day. Here are the key aspects New Moon energy:

• Setting Intentions: It’s like making a cosmic to-do list. Use this time to set your goals, express your desires, and put your intentions out into the universe.
• Fresh Beginnings: Embrace new opportunities and possibilities. Release the old to make way for the new.
• Manifestation: The New Moon energy is ideal for manifestation work. Visualise your dreams and watch them come to life over the lunation.

Herbs & Crystals for the New Moon

• Lavender: Promotes relaxation and clarity, perfect for setting clear intentions.
• Sage: Clears negative energy and paves the way for fresh starts.
• Chamomile: Encourages tranquility, helping you focus on your desires.
• Jasmine: Enhances intuition, making it easier to connect with your inner self.
• Moonstone: Amplifies the moon’s energy, enhances intuition, and fosters inner growth.
• Clear Quartz: A versatile crystal for programming your intentions and magnifying their power.
• Amethyst: Promotes spiritual insight and aids in meditation and manifestation.
• Black Onyx: Grounds your intentions and shields you from negativity.

Waxing Crescent

As the moon begins to reveal its slender crescent in the evening sky, we enter the Waxing Crescent phase. This phase is like the first brushstroke on your canvas of intentions, a time to start turning your dreams into reality. The Waxing Crescent is all about setting your intentions in motion and allowing the universe to conspire with you.

During this phase, the moon is waxing or growing, and so is the energy. It’s like a seedling breaking through the earth’s surface, reaching for the sun. The energies of the Waxing Crescent phase encourage action, progress, and forward momentum. Here are some key aspects of the Waxing Crescent’s energy:

• Initiation: It’s time to initiate your plans, take the first steps, and bring your intentions to life.
• Growth: Just as the moon’s crescent grows each night, your desires and goals should expand and flourish.
• Attracting Positivity: As the moon’s light grows, it draws positive energy towards you, helping you manifest your desires.

Herbs & Crystals for the Waxing Crescent

• Lemon Balm: Uplifts your spirits, instilling positivity and clarity as you embark on your journey.
• Lemongrass: Encourages expansion and growth, helping you reach your full potential.
• Mugwort: Enhances intuition and vivid dreams, making it an excellent companion for manifestation.
• Thyme: Clears obstacles from your path, ensuring a smooth and successful journey.
• Citrine: A powerful crystal for manifesting abundance and personal growth.
• Aventurine: Supports positive change, bringing luck and opportunities to your endeavors.
• Carnelian: Boosts motivation, creativity, and enthusiasm, making it an ideal choice for the Waxing Crescent.
• Clear Quartz: A versatile crystal that amplifies your intentions and enhances clarity.

First Quarter

As the moon reaches its First Quarter, it’s like the pivotal moment in a thrilling story when the hero takes action. This phase is a call to action in your lunar journey, a time to overcome obstacles and move forward with determination. Just like a sprinter leaping from the starting line, the moon’s energy urges you to charge ahead.

The First Quarter moon signifies a crossroads in your lunar journey, a moment when you must confront challenges and obstacles head-on. It’s like a cosmic boot camp, helping you build resilience and take action. Here are some key aspects of the First Quarter’s energy:

• Action and Initiative: It’s time to take the reins and take action on your intentions. Charge forward with courage and determination.
• Overcoming Obstacles: Just as the moon conquers the darkness, you too can overcome any challenges in your path.
• Decision Making: The First Quarter encourages you to make decisions, assess your progress, and adjust your course as needed.

Herbs & Crystals for the First Quarter

• Basil: Amplifies courage and confidence, giving you the strength to tackle challenges.
• Rosemary: Enhances memory and mental clarity, aiding in decision-making.
• Ginger: Provides a fiery energy to ignite your passion and determination.
• Nettle: Boosts resilience and strength, helping you face obstacles with fortitude.
• Carnelian: A stone of motivation and action, ideal for boosting your confidence and drive.
• Black Tourmaline: Shields you from negative energies and provides protection as you move forward.
• Rhodonite: Promotes emotional balance, helping you make decisions with a clear mind.
• Red Jasper: Grounds your energy and gives you the strength to overcome obstacles.

Waxing Gibbous

As the moon transitions into the Waxing Gibbous phase, it’s like fine-tuning your masterpiece. This phase is all about refinement, adjustment, and perfecting your intentions. It’s like the universe’s way of helping you polish your dreams.

During this phase, the moon continues to grow, and so does the energy. It’s like a sculptor chiseling away at a block of marble to reveal a work of art. The energies of the Waxing Gibbous phase encourage you to refine your goals, make adjustments, and ensure they align with your truest desires. Here are some key aspects of Waxing Gibbous energy:

• Refinement and Adjustment: It’s time to review your intentions, make improvements, and perfect your plans.
• Healing: The Waxing Gibbous phase has a nurturing quality, helping you heal and clear any obstacles in your path.
• Balance: This phase brings a sense of balance, aiding in harmonising the various aspects of your intentions.

Herbs & Crystals for the Waxing Gibbous

• Rose: Promotes love and balance, helping you refine your intentions with compassion and care.
• Lavender: Enhances relaxation and clarity, ensuring you make adjustments with a clear mind.
• Mint: Amplifies mental clarity, making it easier to refine and perfect your intentions.
• Calendula: Encourages healing, both physically and emotionally, as you adjust your plans.
• Amethyst: Aids in spiritual insight and healing, making it ideal for refining and adjusting your intentions.
• Lepidolite: Promotes emotional balance and soothes any anxieties that may arise during this phase.
• Selenite: Clears and purifies energy, ensuring your intentions are aligned with your highest good.
• Aventurine: Balances your heart and your mind, aiding in harmonising your intentions.

Full Moon

When the moon reaches its glorious Full Moon phase, it’s like the climactic scene in your lunar journey, a time of heightened power and illumination. This is the grand moment when the moon fully reveals its radiant face, showering us with its intense energy.

During the Full Moon, the moon is at its brightest and most potent. It’s like the universe’s spotlight shining on your intentions, magnifying their energy. This phase is all about peak energy, heightened emotions, and powerful manifestation. Here are some key aspects of the Full Moon’s energy:

• High-intensity Magic: The Full Moon energy is like a cosmic amplifier, intensifying your spells and intentions.
• Illumination: Just as the moon illuminates the night, the Full Moon illuminates your inner self, bringing clarity and insight.
• Emotional Peak: Emotions often run high during this phase, making it an ideal time for divination and healing work.

Herbs & Crystals for the Full Moon

• Mugwort: Enhances psychic abilities and intuition, making it perfect for divination.
• Lavender: Encourages relaxation and clarity, promoting a peaceful state for meditation and healing.
• Chamomile: Soothes emotions and enhances dreamwork during this high-energy phase.
• Sandalwood: Aids in meditation and spiritual insight, connecting you to the heightened energies of the Full Moon.
• Moonstone: Amplifies the moon’s energy and enhances intuition, making it a powerful tool for divination and manifestation.
• Clear Quartz: A versatile crystal that magnifies your intentions and enhances clarity and insight.
• Amethyst: Promotes spiritual insight and aids in meditation and manifestation during this potent phase.
• Selenite: Clears and purifies energy, ensuring your intentions are aligned with your highest good.

Waning Gibbous

As the moon reaches the Waning Gibbous phase, it’s like editing the final draft of your lunar masterpiece. This phase is all about releasing and letting go, a time to shed what no longer serves you and refine your intentions.

During this phase, the moon’s energy is waning, just like a tide receding. It’s like a cosmic decluttering, helping you release the old to make way for the new. The Waning Gibbous encourages you to let go of what’s no longer needed and prepare for a new lunar cycle. Here are some key aspects of Waning Gibbous energy:

• Release and Letting Go: It’s time to release what’s holding you back, whether it’s old habits, negative thoughts, or things that no longer serve your intentions.
• Reflection: The Waning Gibbous phase invites introspection and self-assessment, helping you refine your desires.
• Cleansing: It’s a time of energetic cleansing, removing obstacles and making room for fresh intentions.

Herbs & Crystals for the Waning Gibbous

• Sage: Clears away negative energy and purifies your space, making it ideal for cleansing rituals.
• Frankincense: Enhances spiritual insight and creates a sacred atmosphere for release and reflection.
• Myrrh: Promotes emotional healing and purification, aiding in the release of old wounds and resentments.
• Lemon Verbena: Uplifts your spirits, making it easier to let go of negative emotions and thoughts.
• Black Tourmaline: Shields you from negative energies, ensuring you release with protection.
• Obsidian: Provides a mirror-like reflection, aiding in self-assessment and introspection.
• Lepidolite: Promotes emotional balance, helping you release old wounds and emotional baggage.
• Smoky Quartz: Grounds your energy and assists in letting go of what no longer serves you.

Last Quarter

As the moon moves into the Last Quarter phase, it’s like the final chapter in your lunar journey. This is a time for banishing negativity, protection, and preparation for a new cycle. The Last Quarter phase is all about clearing your path and ensuring that you face the future with renewed strength.

During this phase, the moon is waning, and it’s like a cosmic broom sweeping away what no longer belongs in your life. The energies of the Last Quarter encourage you to release the old, banish negativity, and prepare for a fresh start. Here are some key aspects of the Last Quarter’s energy:

• Banishing: It’s time to release and banish negative influences, whether they are inner doubts or external obstacles.
• Protection: The Last Quarter phase is like donning a cosmic shield, ensuring that you move forward with protection.
• Preparation: It’s a time of preparing for the new lunar cycle, making space for fresh intentions and goals.

Herbs & Crystals for the Last Quarter

• Rosemary: Clears away negative energies and provides protection during this phase.
• Mugwort: Enhances psychic abilities and aids in divination, ensuring you see clearly into the future.
• Basil: Amplifies courage and protection, strengthening your resolve as you banish negativity.
• Garlic: Known for its protective properties, garlic wards off negative influences and provides a shield.
• Black Onyx: Provides a protective shield and grounds your energy, warding off negativity.
• Smoky Quartz: Clears away negative energy, ensuring a clean slate for the new lunar cycle.
• Labradorite: Enhances intuitive abilities and protects against energy leaks and negativity.
• Hematite: Grounds and shields your energy, ensuring you move forward with protection and clarity.

Waning Crescent

As the moon enters the Waning Crescent phase, it’s like the quiet closing of a chapter in your lunar journey. This phase is all about introspection, inner reflection, and renewal. It’s a time to connect with your inner self and prepare for the fresh start of a new lunar cycle.

During the Waning Crescent, the moon is gently waning, just like a tide rolling out to reveal the treasures beneath. The energies of the Waning Crescent encourage inner work, reflection, and embracing your inner wisdom. Here are some key aspects of the Waning Crescent’s energy:

• Inner Reflection: It’s a time to go within, assess your experiences, and connect with your inner self.
• Renewal: The Waning Crescent encourages you to shed what no longer serves you and prepare for renewal.
• Letting Go: It’s a phase for releasing old patterns, emotions, and negativity, creating space for new intentions.

Herbs & Crystals for the Waning Crescent

• Lavender: Promotes relaxation and clarity, making it ideal for inner reflection and meditation.
• Mugwort: Enhances intuitive abilities and dreamwork, aiding in inner exploration.
• Lemon Balm: Uplifts your spirits and calms the mind, perfect for introspection and renewal.
• Sage: Clears away negative energy, providing a clean slate for inner work.
• Amethyst: Enhances spiritual insight, intuition, and meditation during the Waning Crescent phase.
• Lepidolite: Promotes emotional balance and inner reflection, making it ideal for releasing old patterns.
• Selenite: Clears and purifies your energy, ensuring your inner work is supported by a clean slate.
• Moonstone: Amplifies the moon’s energy and enhances intuition, perfect for connecting with your inner self.