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The Best New Moon Ritual I Know

By Dana Gerhardt

The best New Moon ritual for you is the one that you can happily repeat.  With Moon play, it’s the repetition that brings you into rhythm.  Follow New Moons for a year or two and you’ll become more contented, rounded and grounded.

Your New Moon ritual should be a gesture–lighting a candle, throwing the cards–which you can do each month with some attention and pleasure–though of course, life being what it is, some months you won’t want to do it for whatever reason.

Therefore, the best New Moon ritual will be an activity that is so simple, you can do it even when  you don’t want to do it.  

The New Moon ritual I’ve performed every month for the past 18 years is the one I recommend in my Moon Workshop:  charging New Moon water with the rays of the Sun.  I’ve managed to faithfully keep this commitment because it’s so easy–and it keeps me so nicely in tune.  I never have to feel guilty that I’ve forgotten all about the Moon.

Water is a highly sensitive medium. It can receive, hold, and transmit energy. And the Moon, of course, has a special relationship with water, as the prime mover of our inner and outer tides. Since New and Full Moons are high tide moments, doing water practices at these times can greatly increase your energetic sensitivity to the Moon.

It will also give you a magical liquid for drinking, cleaning, and plant watering.  Does it really work? Try it on this Cancer New Moon and see for yourself! After charging the liquid (instructions below), I encourage you to hold the bottle or jar and tune in. Take a drink. Do the same with a glass filled with uncharged water.  Do you notice a difference?

The Simple Instructions

On the morning after the New Moon moment, sometime between sunrise and noon, place a jar of purified water in the sunlight–outdoors or on a window sill.   It’s that simple.  I like to prepare the water on the night of the New Moon and leave it waiting to catch the sunrise beams.

Let’s say on July 20 the New Moon occurs at 10:33 am in your locale as it does in mine.   Should you set your water out on the morning of the 20th or wait until the 21st? As the Sun had already risen before the New Moon arrives, tradition says you’d wait until the 21st.  But with moonplay, it’s so easy to experiment, you can answer this yourself.  Put out a jar on the 2oth and another on the 21st.  Is there a difference? 

Afterwards, I leave my solarized waters on my altar–which I also clean at each New Moon.  You can also store the waters (or natural oils for massaging the sign’s virtues into your skin) in a cool dark place until you need them.  As Cancer rules the breasts, stomach, chest, and digestive organs, you can use it for healing problems in these areas–or for when you need to feel mothered and safe.

If you like the practice, throughout the next year of new moon water rituals, you can enhance each sign’s vibration by using colored glass or filtering the sunlight through transparent paper or silks.   Cancer’s colors are white, grey, silver, and cream.  But always tune in first–is this the color you need?  You may find another color is more energizing. Go with it.

If you can’t sense anything at first, don’t worry. This comes with time. Just making the attempt will start to open you.  Lean into your own intuitive strengths–you may perceive the vibratory qualities of the water with other senses, sound or a symbol in the 3rd eye.  Eventually you should be able to sense some of the qualities of the New Moon sign.  If you can’t, let your imagination help.  Just imagine how Cancer would feel in your hands if you could bottle it.

My Cancer New Moon playbooks are ready–it’s a great time to enroll in my monthly Moon Workshop:  info and enrollment here!

Filed under: Uncategorized

About Dana Gerhardt

A popular columnist with The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally respected astrologer. She has lectured extensively and written for astrology publications on several continents. Her ongoing passions are the moon and living the intuitive life. Dana worked for many years in the corporate sector, where she observed the undeniable influence of natural cycles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles and did graduate work in literature at Columbia University and CSULA. Dana can be contacted by email.

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    Apr 7, 2019 at 10:26 am

    Fascinating read, thanks for sharing.

    We collected some Birch water after our tree had been trimmed and were enjoying that at the New Moon completely unaware of this charging water potential. Lucky us 🙂

    Look forward to trying this out in the near future.

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Apr 7, 2019 at 1:31 pm

      How auspicious!

      Reply
  2. Norma says

    Apr 5, 2019 at 9:44 am

    Was taught the powerful and easy to use charged water ritual in the early degrees of the rosicrucian work. So using it for the new and full moon tides in a sacred and grounded manner seems a beautiful extension of that ancient lesson, which makes my old Virgo soul quiet grateful. Your teaching s are so precious tas are you and your years of work for our beloved language, art and music of astrology. Blessings for all your cycles and dance floors.

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Apr 5, 2019 at 12:07 pm

      I did not know the Rosicrucians used this practice. Wonderful! And thanks for your sweet feedback.

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Disseminating Phase

in the
Sign of Sagittarius


Today's Lunar Aspects:

  • Moon trine Sun, 7:04am  Mar 5 2021
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 1:56pm  Mar 5 2021
  • Moon square Venus, 3:58pm  Mar 5 2021
  • Moon square Sun, 1:30am  Mar 6 2021

Venus is currently
In the Underworld

in the sign of Pisces


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m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.