How The Moon Cycle Can Affect Your Mood

Have you ever blamed the full moon for an explosive mood or a night of particularly vivid dreams? If so, you’re not alone. As it turns out, the moon’s influence could be the reason you’re feeling on edge. People throughout history have made connections about how the moon affects our moods and behaviours. 

While the gravitational pull of the moon is responsible for the rise and fall of Earth’s tides, its specific placement in its lunar cycle can have an impact on your overall mood, whether you’re feeling sluggish, anxious, productive, or all of the above. 

There are eight stages of the moon cycle, with the whole cycle typically taking 29.5 days. These are: new moon, waxing crescent, first-quarter moon, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third-quarter moon and waning crescent. So, what can you expect from moon moods?

Below, we outline how each phase of the moon impacts your overall mood, and how to deal with the ebb and flow of your own emotional state in the process. 

• New Moon

The new moon kicks off the lunar cycle, and the brand new rotation can be significant of new beginnings in different areas of your life. It’s the perfect time to make decisions, get productive or learn a new skill. It’s also the ideal time for meditation. At this point, the sun and moon are on the same side as the earth, so they aren’t opposing each other, nor causing feelings of tension. At this stage of the cycle, you will feel calm yet motivated for the cycle ahead.

• Waxing Crescent (typically lasts 7 days)

The week leading up to the first quarter moon is the time for intentions and goals, making it the perfect time to begin work on your plans for the month ahead, start a new exercise routine or finally start that business idea. During this week you will be more likely to feel excited and really keen to get stuck in and really deliver on your intentions.

• First-Quarter Moon

The first-quarter moon is where you might start feeling a bit worse for wear. Astrologists believe that this period can be a bit… rocky. You will start to feel resistance and frustration, and you may even start to feel impatient, especially if you’ve set some goals that haven’t quite come into fruition yet. This is the perfect time for a little bit of self-care. So, curl up in bed unapologetically, this is not the week for big decisions.

• Waxing Gibbous (typically lasts 5 days)

After the resistance and frustration of the first quarter, the themes surrounding the waxing gibbous period are those of adjustment and refinement. So this is a good time to rework goals that were maybe a little too ambitious. Promised you’d cut the caffeine? Now is a great time to acknowledge that actually, a latte once in a while might be exactly what you need.

• Full Moon

The full moon is a time of BIG emotions. You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed and a bit snappier than usual. The full moon also signals a few sleep changes, so you may find yourself lying awake at night or not sleeping as deeply as usual. This phase tests us, so, don’t be too hard on yourself – and feel free to blame it on the moon. This is the ideal time to let go of anything that is no longer serving you and to do a Full Moon letter. Find out more on how to write a burn letter here.

• Waning Gibbous (typically lasts 5 days)

After the tension of the full moon, during the waning gibbous you will find yourself begin to loosen up. You may also find yourself beginning to reap the benefits of the work you have made towards achieving your intentions. It can also make you feel more open to sharing. So call your besties, it’s the ideal time for a catch-up.

• Third-Quarter Moon

As the moon is gradually decreasing in size, you will want to rid yourself of any grudges or resentful feelings. Feelings of cleanliness will be strong here too, as you’ll want to physically and emotionally purge the negativity from your life. Tackle your kitchen drawers or even just your diary, the third-quarter moon is a good time for a clear out. 

• Waning Crescent (7 days)

This is a great time for early nights. With the final stretch of this lunar cycle, you will feel exhausted by the past month and want to unwind as the new moon approaches. As you reflect on the cycle, you may feel thoughtful and start to consider what you did well and what you could have done better. This is a time of reflection, so settle in for some journaling and remember that there’s a new moon on its way.

There is great power in harnessing the rhythmicity of the moon to manifest. Whether you want to improve your health, your career, or your relationships, the moon phases are a roadmap to manifestation and can help you to set your intentions, and release what is no longer serving you.

One of the best ways to connect with the moon and start leveraging its energy is with a moon ritual. Learn more about moon rituals and how to manifest with the moon.