July/August 2023 Alchemical Voice

Alchemical Voice - L2M - Issue 21
MOON CYCLES
Sue Penney
The moon has long been gazed at since our ancestors
roamed the earth. Where our other major celestial
body, the sun, remains constant in our heavens, only
increasing or reducing in its daily span and gift of
warmth and light, the moon changes daily.
That the cyclical movement of the moon is important
there can be no argument. She governs our tides and is
essential to migrating animals and birds. She has a
positive effect on the earth's axis and directly
contributes to creating our relatively stable climate. The
lunar cycle is also known to have an impact on human
reproduction.
So let's explore the lunar cycle in more detail. There are
8 moon phases: the new moon (also known as the dark
moon); Waxing Crescent Moon: Waxing Moon; First
Quarter Moon; Waxing Gibbous Moon; Full Moon;
Waning Gibbous Moon; Last Quarter Moon and the
Waning Crescent Moon and each of these phases
should be utilised differently depending on what you
are looking to achieve in your life.
New Moon
The New Moon – This is the period in which to set your
intentions. It is a time of fresh starts and new
beginnings. Write down your goals and intentions for
each new moon so you can refer back to them and
check on your progress towards achieving them.
Waxing Crescent Moon
The Waxing Crescent Moon – this is when the moon
reappears after the new moon as a sliver of a crescent.
This is the time to think about your goals intensely and
spend time in meditation about them.
The First Quarter Moon – this is when half of the moon
can be seen lighting up the nights sky. This is the time
to start taking action to achieving your goals. Examine
them carefully and decide if you need to make any
changes to them.
First Quarter Moon
4