Setting New Intentions with the Darkening of the Moon

Every single month for the last 4 or 5 years I have sat down at the New Moon to contemplate what it is I hope to see come into my life in the coming month. I create space in my evening to sit in reflection, to think about all that has come before – the weeks and months (or sometimes years) prior to this moment and consider what I would like to see come into my life differently in the weeks and months to come.

I’ve written down intentions such as, “I nourish my mind, body, and spirit with healthy food, meditation, and regular exercise. I feel amazing in my skin and proud of who I am.” And “I built a business that thrives on service and love.”

It is still amazing to me to witness just how many of these visions or dreams come true over time. It might not be from one month to the next, but sure enough, as I look back at the months (or years) prior, I can see just how much of a created life I have led - starting each and every month with this powerful practice of dreaming into reality the kind of life I want to live and business I want to create.

For those who are more familiar with this practice, you will already know that when you write down an intention you want to frame it as though it has already happened. It’s how we can communicate more easily with our mind and the universe around us, showing that our intentions are beyond wants, wishes, or desires that may never come to pass. In some realm we have already achieved our goal and therefore are already experiencing the benefits of it.

Essentially, we are already saying that this goal or intention that we set is already true.

There will, of course, be times when a certain intention or goal does not come to pass – and this is by no means a sign of failure but might simply indicate it wasn’t the right direction forward. I have set intentions in the past that were ill-timed, driven by pure ego, or not what a really, truly wanted deep down inside. There is an element of faith in this process as well, knowing that not everything we think we want will ultimately come true, but what does come to pass is always of the highest good for all.

Think back to moments in the past where something didn’t go as you planned or hoped and look back at the months or years that followed to see what kind of lessons or learnings you derived from it. There is value in each of these experiences, both achieving what you want and not. We only need to take the time in reflection and connecting with our heart to see what kind of path we want to set for ourselves moving forward.

When I look back over the months and years that passed, I can see how my desires and ambitions have changed over time. I can easily reflect on what was most important to me at a given point in time, and I can see just how far I’ve come and how much progress I’ve made since I began this journey of setting intentions.

The new moon is well known by those who follow astrology to be a time of new beginnings. Just as we can feel and witness the power of a full moon on our minds, bodies, and emotions – not to mention the tides of the ocean, the new moon guides us to release what no longer serves us and set a new path forward for the month to come.

With each new moon we are given the opportunity to reflect, once again, on what has worked in our life and our business or career and what has not, and it gives us a stopping point to make another choice, to do things differently.

Since our intentions are often more powerful when they are witnessed, and our ability to dream big expands when we are inspired by others, this month, I’m very excited to be hosting a community call around New Moon Intention Setting for my current and past clients! If you’re not a part of my community, don’t worry – you can still sit down and write your intentions on your own.

In fact, I invite you to join me in this process this month. The new moon is upon us today, Thursday, 28th of July. Set aside some time in your calendar in the evening, once darkness has fallen, light a candle or play some relaxing music, and spend time reflecting on what has transpired over the weeks (or months) prior. Then take your pen to paper and write out your desires and intentions for the month to come.

If you want more guidance on how to do this practice, you can download my New Moon Intentions Guide here.