What’s The Difference Between A New Moon and A Full Moon?

In total, there are eight moon phases: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter and Waning Crescent. The new and full moon are considered the most influential of these phases. Sunday, September 9th we will encounter a new moon in Virgo.

While full moons steal the show and new moons tend to be more marginalized, their potential is limitless. They are all about creation, manifestation, new beginnings and fresh starts. A new moon is the perfect time to give extra attention to your dreams, goals and the kind of future you want to create for yourself. If you have a new idea or project, a new moon is the ideal time to set it into motion. It is also a beautiful aspect to initiate new chapters in a relationship such as an engagement, marriage, or an initial commitment.

There are many ways to pay homage to a new moon and set intentions with this crisp energy. You may choose to journal, meditate or invent your own, unique ritual. There is no right or wrong way to set your intentions, it is simply a matter of what resonates with you. The beauty is you are free to let your imagination run wild. No aspiration is too vast and no goal too lofty.

Full moons have long been associated with romance, enchantment, lunacy—hence the term “lunatic”—as well as revered for its power. A full moon prompts the culmination of things—it is a time for completion. Their energy is inclined to illuminate matters and truths that have been shrouded or causing confusion. It is a time for exposure, tying up loose ends, wrapping up sagas and closing chapters in our lives in order to move forward. The full moon is prime for releasing any and all that no longer serves your highest good. You can utilize similar rituals done during the new moon, with intentions adjusted to focus on liberation rather than inception. What do you need to let go of in order to proceed? Our next full moon lands on Monday, September 24th.

The effects of each moon phase typically last until their corresponding occasion in the following month—roughly every 29-30 days. Any energy you perceive from the new moon on the 9th should last until the following new moon, October 8th, and the September 24th full moon will correlate to the October 24th. Although the energy of each particular moon phase may only last about a month, any seeds planted during these times are said to begin to begin blossoming around the 6 month mark. I find journaling helpful so I have something to look back on and reference during these transitional times. Whether the moon is in its new or full phase, they are both a time of significant change.