New year, new moon: Time to reflect, refine, and get real
And so 2019 is upon us, and we find ourselves at the beginning of the month, the beginning of the year, and the beginning of a new cycle as we greet a new moon on Sunday 6th January.
New moon: time to rest and reflect
The new moon is symbolic of both the end of cycle and the beginning of another. It is also symbolic of winter, a time of rest and renewal, of quiet and contemplation, of consideration of the seeds that you’d like to plant and see grow come full moon. For women, new moon is also symbolic of menstruation, and some women find their cycle may occasionally sync with the cycle of the moon so that they bleed at this time, making resting even more beneficial.
Although it can be hard to find time to slow down and rest in our busy lives, I like to think that the new moon acts as a reminder for us all to schedule in some downtime. Whether that’s listening to this month’s yoga nidra recording, having a night in with a good book, or simply getting more sleep time, the new moon can provide us with the reason we need to slow down and rest. This quiet reflection is essential for helping us connect more deeply with ourselves, our hearts, and what we really want to experience in this life. And with this new moon in Capricorn, this is the perfect time to get precise and real about the practical matters in life.
One step at a time…
Capricorn is an earth sign, and represents hard, methodical work, achieving tasks and goals through discipline and perseverance. The energy of Capricorn is reliable and steady, and the element of earth represents all that is material, including our homes, finances and bodies. This might be a good time to review your lifestyle, and to reflect on whether you are getting the right food and exercise for your individual needs. It can also be a time to examine your income and expenditure - if you need to reign it in on the spending, this is the time to welcome in austerity (knowing that you’ll be rewarded in the long term).
Capricorn is a great sign for long term planning. There is ambition in Capricorn, but with caution. Capricorns are in it for the long-haul, they won’t fall for a get-rich-quick scheme, but they will use their methodical and practical qualities to achieve success. Watch out though - Capricorn can sometimes be too over-cautious and critical, too able to identify all the reasons why something can’t work. Whilst it is definitely no bad thing to take your time, especially over big, life-changing decisions, for those with a strong Capricorn influence in their chart, watch out for an overload of negativity. You can read more about how to work positively with your inner critic in my blog here.
Although not known for the creativity, Capirons are rooted in earth, a sensual element, so don’t be afraid to trust your feelings as well as your spreadsheets and to-do lists when it comes to making decisions about your work, career, and life plans.
New moon intentions
At this time both the sun and moon are in Capricorn, This means we’re experiencing a solar eclipse as the moon passes in front of the sun, making the sky darker than usual, and astrologically speaking making this new moon particularly potent. Make time this weekend to spend some time alone, reflecting on your goals and intentions for this cycle, and for the year ahead. You might to reflect specifically on the below questions:
Am I earning and spending my money in a way that supports my health, well-being and goals?
How might I move or eat differently to help me love and nourish my being?
Are my thoughts supportive and nurturing or do I have a tendency to be overly critical? Is there anything I could try to help me become more accepting of myself?
Don’t forget that full moon (on 21st January 2019) will offer the opportunity to review your short-term goals, and as the full moon will be in Leo, you’ll be able to maximise your creativity and playfulness as a way of refining and re-energising your Capricorn based intentions. I’d love to hear how you’re working with the moon energy this year, please do feel free to comment in the section below.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash