Throughout history, the moon has held a particular fascination for humans. Admired by poets, philosophers, and artists alike, its beauty has inspired masterpieces. But you might be surprised to learn that the moon is more than just a pretty celestial body. You can use its energies for healing, especially those of the full and new moon.

Don’t worry—you don’t need to be an advanced practitioner to take advantage of nature’s rhythms in this way. This is where full moon rituals for beginners come in.

The moon’s power is beneficial for increasing spiritual force and balancing the body’s natural rhythms. Moon healing can be done at each lunar stage, allowing you to focus on different aspects of healing and manifestation. For instance, by using a simple full moon ritual or meditation, you can balance your energies, energize your energy centers, and let go of old patterns and ways of thinking.

In this article, we’ll look at how the moon’s cycles affect us on both an emotional and spiritual level. You’ll learn how to heal yourself using nature’s rhythms through simple activities, such as the full moon rituals for beginners mentioned above. We’ll also provide additional ways in which you incorporate moon healing into your routine.

The Importance of the Lunar Cycle

Think back to a few recent celestial events. In July 2018, there were two different eclipses, each coinciding with either a full or new moon. There was also a partial solar eclipse on August 11th. Did you happen to notice any big changes in your life at those times? What about during the full moon that happens each month? How do you feel then?

Humans have always kept a close eye on the movements of the Heavens. A large part of our interest has to do with the need to plant and grow food. This fascination has prompted the development of many beliefs regarding lunar cycles. Eclipse records have been found dating back as far as 4,000 years in China and Ancient Babylonia. The Egyptians recorded lunar events in their mythology as long as 4,500 year ago.

And who can forget the Mayan calendar? This marvel of human ingenuity shows that the ancient world had an incredibly sophisticated understanding of the lunar cycle. Being accomplished astronomers, the Mayans placed great importance monitoring nature’s rhythms for both ceremonial and practical purposes.

Today, we still acknowledge that the moon exerts some form of influence in our lives. It’s commonly said that people act differently during a full moon. We even refer to it in our everyday language. The word lunatic, for example, refers to someone who has been temporarily driven mad by the moon.

As you can see, lunar and solar cycles are an undeniable part of our existence. But what is the Daoist perspective?

The Moon’s Influence from a Daoist Perspective

Daoism considers the human body to be a microcosm of nature, complete with an inner landscape. We shouldn’t forget, however, that the macrocosm, or the universe surrounding us, also plays an enormous role in this inner world and in our lives.

It’s no secret that the moon is responsible for the ebb and flow of ocean tides around the world. Since the human body is made up of 70 percent water, it should come as no surprise that it would exert some effect on us as well.

This idea of the moon’s influence on the human body is supported by Daoist thinking. Numerology, for example, is incredibly important in Daoism. We can extrapolate from this alone that there are guiding forces at work in our lives. Taking this one step further, Daoist astrology teaches that the Big Dipper constellation controls our destinies. Add to this the moon’s association with water and that water is necessary for life, and the correlation becomes evident.

Honestly, it's amazing to think about how each and every one of us are influenced by these cyclical changes. The lunar cycle, for example, is reflected in women’s health. The menstrual cycle takes 28 days to complete. For this reason, it’s also sometimes referred to as a moon cycle.

New Moon Spiritual Rituals

According to Daoist medicine, the new moon is ideal for fresh starts. This is a great time to perform a new moon ritual for new beginnings. In your ritual, set your new moon intentions for those things that you want to come into your life. You can do this by adding essential oils to your bath or meditation. Bitter orange (Qing Pi), peppermint, and coriander can help sow the seeds for these new endeavors. You can find Qing Pi oil in our Completion blend and Peppermint oil in our Refinement blend. A light fast or eating a clean diet of fruits, vegetables, and water is another good way to enjoy the energies of a new moon.

Full Moon Spiritual Rituals

During the full moon, lunar energies are at their peak. Just as the pull on the tides is at its strongest, so it is on the body. If allowed to run amok, the energy of a full moon can be chaotic, whipping emotion and other aspects of daily life into a frenzy. This is where a simple full moon ritual comes in handy.

Full moon healing brings a chance to do away with anything that no longer serves a purpose in your life. It’s also ideal for letting go of past emotional trauma. Essential oils like Cinnamon oil, found in our Initiation blend, can be used to bring warmth and comfort while processing some of these harder experiences that tend to constrict us and draw us within.

A Simple Full Moon Ritual for Balance

If you find yourself feeling burned out due to the frenetic energies of the full moon, take some time to be reflective. This may mean simply spending a little time alone away from others. You might also find it helpful to do a balancing ritual.

Balancing Ritual Ideas

There is no limit to the number of new moon or full moon ritual ideas you could try. To give you a little inspiration, consider the following:

Light a candle or some incense to activate your senses and bring you into the meditative state. This will make it easier to access to specific energies of nature that are present at that time.
Create an altar in your home or outdoors in nature using objects that represent seasonal changes. You may even include things that represent your connection with your ancestors.
Use recommended essential oils in your bath, or place them on a cotton ball or cloth and inhale the scent throughout the day. You can also apply them to acupressure points that represent the healing energies of that cycle. Visit the blends in our website to see illustrations of acupressure points and the healing properties of each one.

A Timeline for Emotional and Spiritual Healing

The full moon rituals for beginners presented above utilize the natural rhythms of the lunar cycle. As we’ve seen, the cyclical changes within our bodies reflect those in nature. But when should you expect to see results?

When you undertake healing, Daoist medicine tells us that it takes at least three months of consistent practices for changes in your essence to become subtly noticeable. This is the deepest level, affecting your temperament and genetic code—essentially anything that has been passed along by your parents.

The second level of healing takes place in the blood, which governs your mental and emotional states. Changes here can include healing afflictions such as anxiety, depression, PMS, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). They begin to become apparent after at least one month.

The final level of healing takes place at the surface. Here, you may see mood changes, such as a lessening in irritability, in as little as one to three days.

Give these new and full moon rituals a try for a month and see how they how they impact your life. In the next newsletter, we’ll take a look at the basics of acupressure and its benefits, and provide you with tips and suggestions on how to use it and essential oils in your daily life.

Thanks for reading and hope you are inspired to try something new! The next new moon is Sunday, September 9th, 2018.

Wishing you moonlight and magic,
Mary and Jennifer - Your Daoist Drop blenders

Full Moon Rituals for Beginners