Let's talk astrology. You may have noticed, astrology has become a lot more mainstream lately beyond the usual horoscopes in the back of magazines. So what's the deal?
There are several types of astrology, and readers use different methods to read charts and provide lots of advice on all areas of life (Rebecca Gordon and Chani Nicholas are two of my favorites). One thing that they all have in common, is the recognition that Aries season (from March 21 to April 19 this year) marks the beginning of the new astrological year. Most of us follow the gregorian calendar and celebrate the new year on January 1. This makes see a lot of sense numerically, but when you think about what's going on around you on the planet, it's pretty weird. Where I live, the new year in January is still the middle of winter. It's cold, dark, with short days, and nature is still pretty dormant. Now compare that to March/April. This is the kickoff of Spring. Everything is starting to grow, bloom, and "wake" up. The days are longer and warmer. This feels like the new year!
Another topic you'll hear astrologers talk about is the lunar cycle. This gets a bit deeper, but tracking what phase the moon is in and where it is in the sky provides insights on how to focus on certain areas of your life. I found this fascinating as I began to learn about goal setting with the lunar cycle (I will share more about this in a future post, but Moonology by Yasmin Boland is a great intro). I now use the phases of the moon to reflect on goals, progress, learnings and the regular, cyclical nature is great to tap into, and is continuous so you never really miss out on an opportunity to set goals in any area of your life.
So what does this mean for you, and why is this my topic today? Well, today happens to be a new moon in Aries. So it's the first new moon of the new (astrological) year. Aries season is known for starting new things, getting fired up, setting big goals, and making it happen! Most of the people I know that are Aries are incredibly driven, go-getters. They are confident and don't let anything get in their way.
Today I am setting big goals for the near-term and long-term. I am keeping it simple by doing a few fun activities:
Journaling: I love my journaling rituals and during new moons I use my time journaling to get clear on what I want (deeper relationships, abundance in my life, travel, etc.), and any blocks that may be in my way (is there self-doubt or imposter syndrome showing up, am I hiding or playing small, etc.).
Make a vision board: Once you complete your journaling, make a vision board to see your goals come to life. This can be a physical vision board in a place you will see frequently (I love making a physical vision board and putting it in my home office where I spend most of my days) OR you can make a digital vision board. Digital visions boards can be made with free tools online, or you can simply create one on Pinterest. If you create a digital vision board try creating a background for your computer or your phone so you see it all the time.
Practice some self-care: After you set those goals and visualize them coming true, practice some self-care. Take a bath or a shower with your favorite scents, indulge in some of your favorite things (maybe a meal you like, a favorite book, even guilty pleasure tv), listen to music that makes you feel good, surround yourself with things you love.
As you can see, the new moon can be a lot of fun, and worthwhile as you get clear on what you really want and need. I recommend going back in a few weeks to read your journal and reflect on what your goals were and what blocks you were experiencing (maybe on the next new moon!). This has been a great practice for me, and I really look forward to each lunar cycle. I'll do another blog post for the full moon which is the phase we hear the most about.
Quick note! If you are reading this after the new moon, don't fret! You can do any of the things above on any new moon, and the new moon effects can be tapped into 3 days before and after the new moon. If you want to know more about the lunar cycles and phases, you can also check out the farmer's almanac for tons of information based on your location.
Happy goal setting!
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