As Mother Nature breathes a sigh of bittersweet relief, the last warmth of summer shivers from the trees and shakes the first leaves, wistfully, to the ground. For freshers and returning students alike, with a new season and a new term looming, the urge to turn over a new leaf within ourselves and set fresh goals is as tangible as the chill in the early October air. This time of year is second only to the start of the New Year when it comes to setting resolutions, and surprisingly, more often than not this can have negative effects on our mental wellbeing and sense of self-worth. Don’t get me wrong; setting personal goals can be extremely beneficial, but done in the wrong way it can provide a fast track to failure, feeding the critical voice in our heads and becoming a set-back, instead of a step forward.
One way to accomplish your aspirations is to manifest with the moon. As the moon makes her way through the lunar cycle, astrologists believe that certain energies can motivate and inspire us. The phases of the moon can be used as a structure to frame your plan around, even if you don’t believe in the atmospheric influence the moon has.
The first phase of the lunar cycle is the New Moon. This is when the moon is between the sun and the earth, making it almost completely invisible. The new moon is said to bring clarity and calm in a time of new beginnings, making it the perfect time to set a new intention for the month. Rather than setting yourself a goal like, ‘I want to focus on my work more this term’, or, ‘this year I’ll lose weight’, your objective needs to be precise, detailed, and have a plan. Instead, say, ‘I will do all of the recommended hours of independent studying this term and strive to do more, and I will do this by plotting in the hours to my schedule and sticking to it.’ The next New Moon is on the 16th of October, and it will be a Super New Moon, meaning it will be around the closest point to Earth, and is a powerful time to begin manifesting because the lunar energies will be heightened.
Next comes the First Quarter Moon, also known as a half moon, which is a time of action, decision making, and obstacles. During this time, you may experience hurdles that prevent you from realising your goal, but do not be deterred. Your objective must become an intention, with physical actions reflecting your goal. The hardest part is the process, but it is also the most rewarding.
The peak of the lunar cycle is the Full Moon. This is a time of release and sealing of intention, when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth. The Full Moon is today, the 1st of October, and it is the Harvest Moon; the time when farmers traditionally harvest their crops. Just as the farmers celebrated the abundance of their crop, now is the time to enjoy the profit of your endeavours. You may experience an increase of energy, strength and confidence at this time, but be aware of possible tension, as the sun and moon are in opposite zodiac signs.
The Last Quarter Moon is the final phase, signifying the preparation of the next lunar cycle. During this time, it is important to gratify your body and mind for seeing through the aspiration you set at the beginning of the lunar month. Perhaps meditate, or practise whatever form of self-care you prefer to release any anger, hang-ups or grudges and refresh your energy with a clean slate for the next New Moon.
Because of the nature of the lunar cycle, it is better to set smaller, more realistic and attainable goals month by month, which eventually assemble until a much bigger aspiration can be attained. For example, you may set specific intentions for studying outcomes over the coming months which conclude in you attaining the end of year result, or even the degree, you so desire. Of course, this method of manifestation can be used for all aspects of life, such as fitness, hobbies or skills, mental wellbeing and many more, and can be started at any point during the lunar cycle, although it is best to start with the New Moon.
This article is part of a themed content week exploring ways to embrace new beginnings at the start of the new academic year.