Welcome to Your Guide to Lunations.

In this post you will delve into the significance of lunar transits and their influence on your daily life. You will find down-to-earth practices, thought-provoking reflection questions, and simple steps to apply each lunation to your personal natal chart.  

We hope you use this guide to harness the transformative power of each cosmic occurrence, and that it becomes a key tool on your journey of self-discovery and lunar enlightenment.

Prepare to unlock the secrets of the Moon!

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The Moon:
An Introduction

Scientifically we know that the moon impacts our planet by affecting the tides (as well as other aspects of nature) so it only makes sense that as creatures made of 70% water, we’d also be affected by the moon and it’s gravitational pull. The Moon is the closest orbiting planet to the earth, and has historically been our second most important source of light. The Moon is the light and power of the night - literally and symbolically.

The energy of the Moon is the first energy we come to experience as a fetus in the womb, and in the moments after our birth. As the astrological symbol of the mother, she reflects our body, our nourishment and how we access our resources, how we care for ourselves, and what and who we make space for.

As the ruler of water, she grounds energy the way water grounds us, and has the ability to develop manifestation through her illumination. As she traverses the 12 signs every 28 days, she unlocks all aspects of our lives, and can be considered the key to understanding our monthly energetic cycles.

It is said that the Moon is the collector of our solar system. You can think of her as the storyteller, sage or Shaman that comes out at night, gathers us around a campfire, and shares with us all of the mythologies of our past as a way to better understand who we are now and who we’ll be in the future.

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The start of the cycle:
New Moon

The New Moon is the beginning of a new 28 day, 6 month and 1 year cycle (until the next New Moon, the corresponding Full Moon in the same sign, and the next New Moon in the same sign). It’s a demarkation of time in which our two main sources of light, Sun and Moon, come together to reinvigorate our energy.

We can think of this time of the month as when the Moon falls to sleep. When they wake up after having gone dark, they’re refreshed and infused with a new charge of energy. It is a reflection of the natural rhythm of death and rebirth, rest and renewal, and cyclical transformation.
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As the Moon disappears into the heart of the Sun it experiences a momentary cleansing that allows it to reemerge revived and renewed. As it grows back into light, it’s fresh energy is reflected back to us as a renewal of our own energy.

Every New Moon is an opportunity for us to turn inwards, yield to our body, and make space. It’s a time to pause and seed intentions for what it is we want to build and what we want to infuse with a new sense of vitality. 

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How to work a New Moon

1. Let yourself rest. Our bodies are reflections of the Moon. When the Moon goes dark, your body might also wish to quiet.

2. Make space. Clear out the old and unnecessary - in your material world, and energetic world. Take an epsom salt bath, utilize cleansing breathwork exercises, sweep your home.

3. Notice. Allow yourself to slow down and notice the subtle moments in between. Write down your dreams, listen to the wind – observe what comes to you in the quiet spaces.

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New Moon Reflection Questions

1. What practices, beliefs, or patterns aren’t serving you that you can consciously choose to let go of? 

2. What is ready to be renewed or revitalized? What are you feeling naturally excited to create?

3. What resources do you need to gather to assist in this?

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Personal Application for every New Moon

1. Note the sign in which the New Moon is occurring, either with the LDC Phases of the Moon Calendar, or by listening to our Lunar Series on The Designed Life podcast.

2. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Zodiac Sign, identify the sign energy of this New Moon.

3. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Whole Sign Houses, determine which house in your natal chart is ruled by this sign. 

4. Note the areas of life that are marked in this house - these are the areas of life that are being activated for you during this New Moon.

5. What would you like to see shift and develop in this part of your life in the next month, 6 months and year? What do you hope to cultivate and grow?

6. Observe any planets that are also in this house in your natal chart. Using the LDC Guide to the 10 Modern Planets, what does this planet symbolize and how does it’s energy relate to what’s occurring for you

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The completion of the cycle:
‍Full Moon

The Full Moon is the completion of a 28 day, 6 month and 1 year cycle (of the previous Full Moon, the previous New Moon in the same sign, and the previous Full Moon in the same sign). 

It’s a culmination of activity in which our two main sources of light, Sun and Moon, oppose one another, creating a release of energy.

In the time before modern electricity, a Full Moon created safety to move about at night, which meant activities didn’t necessarily end when the Sun went down. 

The Full Moon psychologically represents our own arrival into fullness. Energetically you might feel agitated, restless, or full of ideas, insights and energy.

There is a general desire to express, sometimes with less inhibition. You might also see something more clearly, and be able to come to a decision, conclusion, or release.
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Every Full Moon is an opportunity for us to embody ourselves more fully. It’s a time to take stock of what we’ve accomplished, where we’ve gone, and what we’ve been carrying with us.

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How to work a Full Moon

1. Count your blessings. Make a gratitude list and fill up with the abundance of everything you have.

2. Mark what’s being finished, expressed or released. Note what you’re naturally moving away from.

3. Lay down your worries. Make a list of everything that isn’t serving you - let these disappear with the waning of the Moon.

4. Allow. Full Moon’s are a point of energetic tension that bring things to the surface. Yield to what wants to be expressed - lean in.

Full Moon Reflection Questions

1. What have you been working on the last 2 weeks, 6 months or year? How does this inform what you’re moving towards and what you’re moving away from?

2. What are you grateful for? How can you show your appreciation in the next few days?

3. What is being shed? How did it serve you while it was with you? What room is this now making in your life?

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Personal Application for every Full Moon

1. Note the sign in which the New Moon is occurring, either with the LDC Phases of the Moon Calendar, or by listening to our Lunar Series on The Designed Life podcast.

2. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Zodiac Sign, identify the sign energy of this Full Moon.

3. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Whole Sign Houses, determine which house in your natal chart is ruled by this sign. 

4. Note the areas of life that are marked in this house - these are the areas of life that are being activated for you during this Full Moon.

5. What has grown in this part of your life in the past month, 6 months and year? What is ready to be released?

6. Observe any planets that are also in this house in your natal chart. Using the LDC Guide to the 10 Modern Planets, what does this planet symbolize and how does it’s energy relate to what’s occurring for you?

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A Turning Point:
Eclipses

Eclipses are a natural astronomical phenomenon that occur two times each year, and occur sequentially within a two week period with a New and Full Moon. 

When the Sun, Earth, and Moon come into alignment with the Lunar Nodes, we witness a momentary darkness where either the light of the Sun (Solar eclipse) or Moon (Lunar eclipse) is “eclipsed” out by the opposing luminary’s alignment with the Earth.

The Lunar Nodes are mathematically calculated points that directly oppose one another and indicate the point at which eclipses occur. Together, the North and South Nodes spend approx. 18 months in each sign across a zodiacal axis. This is why we experience eclipses in the same signs over the course of that time.*

Additionally, a  Solar eclipse can only occur during a New Moon, and Lunar eclipse can only occur during a Full Moon.

*For example, the 2023-2024 eclipses were in Libra and Aries, before moving to Virgo and Pisces. 

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North & South Node Eclipses

Symbolically a North Node eclipse is said to call in a new beginning. It’s the activation of a desire that brings new direction and a building, future-focused energy.

Alternatively, a South Node eclipse is said to represent an ending. It is the release of a story that is no longer necessary and therefore activates an opening and decrease.
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Together, the North and South Node eclipses represent heightened moments of realignment, upheaval and release. It is the natural cycle of death and rebirth that we experience on a collective level.

Our two main sources of light and life are the Sun and Moon. When their power is obscured, as they are during eclipses, the energy becomes frenetic and unstable, and shakes us into a new collective consciousness. 

For this reason, eclipses are not energy recommended to work with but instead they’re energy for us to observe and flow with.

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Practices for Eclipses

1. Rest - slow down if you can. The energy around eclipses is inherently unstable - literally. Take  considered care of your body, mind and energy.

2. Observe - notice the themes that are activated in the days surrounding eclipses. Note: eclipses are not times to make big decisions, but they are great times to observe themes that are being encouraged to grow or release. Note what catches your attention.

3. Reflect - use your observations to reflect on the themes that are clearly being activated.  Reflect on how your relationship to these themes might be evolving or changing. What are you naturally ready to release or make room for?

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As eclipses occur over the course of their 18 month stay in each sign, we experience the unfolding of a transformational story in the part of our chart/life that is ruled by that sign. 

By knowing the zodiac sign where the eclipse is occurring, and finding the corresponding house in our chart, we can understand the area of life that will experience a dramatic shift through each eclipse series.

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Personal Application for every Eclipse

1. Note the sign in which the eclipse is occurring. Also note if it is a North or South node eclipse, as this will determine the direction of energy you’ll be experiencing. Do to this, use either the LDC Phases of the Moon Calendar, or listen to our Lunar Series on The Designed Life podcast.

2. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Zodiac Sign, identify the sign energy of this Eclipse.

3. Using the LDC Guide to the 12 Whole Sign Houses, determine which house in your natal chart is ruled by this sign. 

4. Note the areas of life that are marked in this house - these are the areas of life that are being activated for you during this eclipse.

5. What is being shifted in this part of your life? What signs or signals have you been receiving? If it is a North Node eclipse, have you been feeling a growing desire or urgency in this part of your life? Alternatively, if it’s a South Node eclipse, have you been feeling a release, new space, or a shedding in this part of your life?

6. Observe any planets that are also in this house in your natal chart. Using the LDC Guide to the 10 Modern Planets, what does this planet symbolize and how does it’s energy relate to what’s occurring for you?

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“Like the ocean tides that are regulated by the lunar phases, the tides in our bodies, as the ebb and flow of our moods, are under the domain of the Moon. While the Moon continues to symbolize all these other qualities, when evaluating its role in terms of the life purpose, we must see it as pointing to how an individual brings the conceptual vision of the life intention, as depicted by the Sun, into the physical world by grounding it in the daily actions of everyday life.”

- Astrology and The Authentic Self, Demetra George

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We hope that you have gained valuable insights and tools to deepen your understanding of our ever present, ever loving Moon. May the practices and reflection questions shared here empower you to embrace the transformative energy of lunar transits and apply them to your own journey. 

Remember, the moon, with its cycles and symbolism, serves as a guiding light in our lives, offering opportunities for growth, healing, and self-reflection. Embrace the wisdom of the lunar transits and let them illuminate your path towards a more aligned and fulfilling existence.

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