Everything You Need to Know About the Moon and Astrology

Early monday morning, a new moon will peak in the night sky, marking the beginning of the 28-day lunar cycle.

This particular new moon, which is in Aries, the first sign in the zodiac, also marks the beginning of the astrological year. “You’ll want to take action and initiative, and try something new,” astrologer Alice Bell tells L’OFFICIEL. “This is a high-energy new moon.”

While the upcoming new moon may be a good time to kick off new projects, each phase of the lunar cycle has its own unique energy. “Don’t live your life strictly by the moon, but it’s good to be aware of it,” says Bell. “It can be helpful to track it throughout the month to see why maybe things are slower or busier.”

Here, Bell breaks down what to expect during the phases of the lunar cycle, and how best to take advantage of each.

The new moon marks the beginning of the lunar cycle, and kicks off a new month (even if it doesn’t exactly align with the beginning of the calendar month). “The new moon is always time for a new start—for setting intentions and realizing what you want to be working on over the next four weeks,” says Bell. “It’s always important to pay attention to what interests you develop or what kinds of relationships are coming into your life at this time.” 

You may feel, right before the new moon, that your energy is low, and you might even feel anxious about what is coming up next. “In the day leading up to the new moon, there is often a release or a letting go, or wanting to start over somehow. A new moon can also be about endings in order to make way for new energy,” says Bell.

In the two weeks following the new moon, you’ll start to see a lot of activity pick up in your life, usually surrounding things that started at the new moon. According to Bell, this time is ideal for going on a first date, picking up projects at work, or investing time into a hobby. Anything that you have been wanting to get off the ground will gain the most momentum during a waxing moon.

The full moon happens two weeks after the new moon, when the moon is opposite the sun. “It’s like the sun shines a light on the moon, so any hidden emotions or repressed feelings come to the surface,” says Bell. “Everything you’ve ignored during the rest of the month comes up during the full moon.” This is a great time for taking stock of what is working in your life and what isn’t, whether it’s in your career, relationships, or lifestyle.

The full moon is also a time of activity and feeling connected with others, so you might feel more social. Often, you will also begin to see results or activity surrounding whatever you have been working on from the new moon. “The couple days leading up to the full moon is the busiest time of the month,” says Bell.

Bell also notes that, if you were born on or close to a full moon, you might feel especially emotional during this time.