The Ultimate Moon Journaling Guide for Self Care
Benefits of Journaling
Journaling is a powerful tool that can assist with capturing our thoughts and emotions.
It also helps with exploring creative ideas.
It’s a wonderful self care practice that has a number of benefits for our mental health such as stress reduction, strengthening of immune and emotional functions.
It helps to keep our memory sharp and significantly boosts our mood.
What is Moon Journaling?
Moon journaling is one of the best ways to connect with your feelings and inner wisdom.
Compared to regular journaling, Moon journaling gives you an extra layer of insights to unlock your full potential when it comes to setting intentions, manifesting, taking inspired action, or releasing what’s no longer serving your highest good.
The Moon represents the most hidden, intimate corners of our soul: our emotions, instincts, memories, vulnerabilities, fears, and deep-seated desire to be safe and nurtured.
Some nights, at the time of the Full Moon, we admire its beauty and grandeur.
Other nights, when it starts to fade, it becomes thin and inconspicuous, so different from the peak of its fullness and magical glory.
Ever-changing Lunar cycles remind us of the cyclical nature of life itself.
Working with the phases of the Moon enhances your chances of getting into the flow and fully uncovering your magical abilities to co-create with the Universe.
Tracking the Lunar cycle is a powerful self-discovery tool that can help you figure out why you feel low, anxious, or doubtful at certain times of the month.
This knowledge can give you an extra boost and encouragement during those moments of doubt.
Moon Journaling and Moon Phases
The Moon constantly passes through the cycle of growth and decline, and the phases of the moon are different parts of this never-ending cycle.
They are much more than just astronomical phenomena; they have deep symbolic meaning.
Understanding each stage of the Moon cycle can help guide us on our journey of personal growth and development.
The full Lunar cycle consists of 8 phases:
- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent
- First Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Third Quarter
- Waning Crescent
To simplify things, it is recommended to work with four main phases of the Moon: New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Third Quarter Moon, and Full Moon.
Meaning of the New Moon
The new moon is the beginning of a new lunar cycle. It’s fully dark. It is the time of the unknown; the time to plant the seeds of new intentions.
The slate is clean. Plot, contemplate, plan, and strategise how to achieve what you truly desire.
Don’t play small. This is the time of infinite potential and vast possibilities that are not yet visible to the naked eye.
Meaning of the Waxing Moon
This is an exciting lunar phase of growth and expansion. It’s vital to stay on track and take inspired action. Keep yourself motivated – and keep going. It’s action time!
You can rest and reflect when the moon is full and it’s time to take stock and reap the rewards.
Meaning of the Full Moon
The full moon represents completion, the peak of manifestation of the intentions you set at the time of the new moon.
It’s the time to celebrate your growth and the progress you’ve made so far. Take a moment to sit still and reflect on how far you’ve come.
The full moon can also illuminate what has gone wrong on your way to achieving a desirable outcome. It can be a painful but necessary realisation.
Don’t blame yourself for the things that went wrong.
Analyse, thoroughly examine the situation, learn from your mistakes, and move on.
Remember, at the end of the day it’s all about the journey not the destination.
Third Quarter
The Moon is called a waning moon when it is partially illuminated and becoming more inconspicuous.
A waning Moon occurs between a Full Moon and a New Moon.
This represents a time in the lunar cycle when it is advisable to reflect, re-evaluate, purge, and declutter.
Letting go of people, projects, material things, addictions, and patterns of behaviour that no longer serve your highest good is especially favoured at this time.
Adding Zodiac Signs into the Mix
Once you’ve got the hang of tracking the Moon phases, try weaving in Zodiac signs.
It’s a fun way to study how the Moon’s energy connects with each sign and how you resonate with each one of them.
The Moon takes about two and a half days to move through each Zodiac sign.
For instance, if the Moon is passing through diplomatic Libra (the air sign of partnerships and legal matters) it might be a good idea to negotiate a new contract with your boss at work.
If the Moon is in dreamy Pisces (a super-sensitive, highly creative water sign), use this energy to get your creative juices going.
Write, paint, listen to music, read, meditate, or attend a sound bath ceremony.
Working with Your Natal Moon
If you want to take it up a notch, you can start working with your natal Moon Lunar return cycles.
You see, every sign encompasses 30 degrees, so when you were born, the Moon was in one of the 12 signs, in a particular degree of that sign.
For instance, the movie icon Marylin Monroe had her Moon at 19 degrees of Aquarius.
Every month, the Moon returns to the exact spot it was in when you were born, which is referred to as the Lunar return.
Tracking your Lunar returns and observing how you feel at the time of the return can offer invaluable insight into your emotional journey in the month ahead.
Final thoughts
Don’t stress out about the journaling process. It’s not a science! It is a spiritual practice, so make it your own.
Life happens. Don’t worry if you miss an important lunation.
Just start afresh whenever you feel tuned in with the Moon’s magic again.
The Moon moves into one of the four major phases on average once a week.
So, try to journal at least once a week to get the most out of this practice.
Try not to miss New Moons and Full Moons, as these are the culmination points of the Lunar cycle and have the most potent energy when it comes to setting your intentions and manifesting.
Happy Moon journaling!
Use this free Birth Chart calculator to create your Natal Chart in case you haven’t had a chance to get it yet.
N.B.: Remember that it’s ideal to have your EXACT time of birth on hand. Use 12 p.m. noon if you have no way to get this information. The best option, of course, is to get a personal reading with a professional astrologer who can provide birth-time rectification. Birth time and birthplace are crucial pieces of information for your Natal Chart, as they determine the unique position of the houses and planets that can help you understand transits and their impact on your personal journey.
