Use the New Moon to Set Goals

The new moon is the time to plan, and hope, and design our wishes. This is how our ancestors did it:

The night is dark tonight. When the moon is full, we dance along the edges of the firelight, confident that the moon will light our way. 

But when the moon is new (like tonight) and its light is barely a silver sliver in the night sky, that is when we sit in contemplation. Everything slows down as the village draws nearer to the fire than ever. 

In the thin light of the new moon, we can focus on ourselves and one another rather than the things in the shadows we can’t fully see. When we know how to tap into the mystical energy of the new moon, we can make the right plan, learn the right lesson, and shine brighter than even the moon at its fullest.

“Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law to our to-day.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human

The new moon has always invited us to consider what comes next. Not because it grants magical powers or changes our destiny, but because it creates a natural pause in the cycle. The sky grows darker. The world becomes quieter. We are given an opportunity to stop reacting to life and start imagining how it really could be.

Why Do We Care About The Moon?

Long before we had calendars hanging on our refrigerators or reminders buzzing from our phones, humanity looked upward to understand the passage of time. The moon was our first calendar, clock, and glowing nighttime entertainment. 

Ancient farmers planted crops according to lunar cycles. Sailors navigated by its light. Religious ceremonies, farming cycles, and communal gatherings were often scheduled around its phases. The moon provided a rhythm that helped organize human life, transforming a chaotic world into one that felt predictable and meaningful.

The moon is our constant companion when we’re depressed.

Human beings need hope. We need goals. We need a reason to believe that tomorrow can be different from today. The new moon provides a recurring opportunity to ask ourselves a simple but transformative question:

What kind of future am I trying to create?

We rely on the moon for relief from our nightly anxiety. 

What can we always count on to illuminate the darkness, if only a little bit? Naturally by virtue of its very being, the moon soothes our fears of that which goes bump in the night. The new moon invites us to find our own light and ask: 

How can I find comfort in darkness?

The moon inspires something in us, spiritually, artistically, and logically.

When we look at the moon, we are reminded that darkness is temporary. Every phase changes. Every shadow moves. Nothing remains hidden forever. The new moon demands that we wonder: 

What is waiting in the shadows, about to come into the light?

How Would A Counselor Help Me Harness the Power of the Moon?

A counselor probably won’t tell you that the moon controls your destiny.

What they might tell you is that rituals matter.

Human beings thrive when we intentionally create moments for reflection. We benefit from stopping long enough to assess our lives, identify our values, and decide whether our actions align with the future we want.

“Things shift and change, just as the moon shifts and changes. Yet through every phase, it remains the same. In many ways, we are no different. While our circumstances, emotions, and experiences evolve, our core selves remain present underneath it all. During the new moon phase, I encourage clients to reflect on what is emerging in their lives, identify intentions that align with their values, and consider small, actionable steps they can take toward meaningful change. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, the practice invites curiosity, mindfulness, and self-awareness. The moon offers us a rhythm that helps us become more intentional about the changes we wish to create.” –Alli Cravener, Counseling Intern

DIY Therapeutic Activities To Harness The New Moon

The new moon is an ideal time for reflection, intention-setting, and deliberate planning. You can embody the energy of this new moon by setting aside thirty minutes tonight to engage in one or more of the following exercises.

What Can I Do For Reflection During The New Moon? 

When we cannot see the moon’s reflection on the water, we are called to pay attention to our own reflection in the water. What is there to learn from looking at ourselves and the things we’ve accomplished? 

Reflection is not the same thing as self-criticism. The goal is not to build a case against yourself; the goal is to gather accurate information about the life you have already lived. Therapists often help clients look for patterns, strengths, unfinished grief, recurring fears, and moments of genuine resilience. The new moon is a natural time to do a smaller version of that work.

• What am I proud of that I rarely acknowledge?
• What challenge did I survive that would have overwhelmed an earlier version of me?
• What habits have improved my life, even slightly? What has been my life raft in stormy waters?
• What keeps happening in my relationships, work, or self-talk that I need to pay attention to? What have been the habits that seem to sabotage myself?
• What am I still carrying that belongs to the past rather than the future? What have I been unable to move past?

How Can You Visualize With The Tools You Learn In Therapy? 

Visualizing is distinct from wishmaking. Both are inspired by desire, but while a wish made is the way we dream the dream, visualization is the way we plan the plan. 

When we visualize, we’re seeing the future we want so that we can zoom out and figure out which interstates, toll roads, and scenic detours can get us there. 

Describe the life you want in practical terms. Be as specific as you can. Talk about the things you can touch, see, hear, and feel.

• How do you spend your mornings?
• Who do you spend time with?
• What does your nighttime sleep routine look like?
• How much are you working? What kind of work are you doing? 
• How do you treat yourself when you make mistakes?
• What do you have that’s worth holding on to?
• What are you working towards? 

Therapeutic Tools For Deliberate Planning In The New Moon 

The future is built twice. First in our imagination, then in our actions.

The new moon gives us permission to dream, but therapy reminds us that a dream without a plan is merely entertainment. Once you’ve reflected on your past and visualized your future, the next step is to begin building a bridge between the two.

• Treat Your Anxiety Where It Lives (In Your Body). Your heart races. Your shoulders tense. Your stomach knots itself into a sailor’s knot. Your breathing becomes shallow. Before your mind has fully identified a threat, your body has already begun preparing for one. This is where the anxiety lives in your body. You will not always be able to change your environment, but you will always have the ability to listen to and treat the anxiety where it arises. You control your breath. You control your clasped hands as they gently open. 

• Stay Optimistic Without Being Delusional. Many people swing between two extremes. Some become trapped in pessimism, convinced that failure is inevitable. Others become attached to unrealistic fantasies that ignore genuine obstacles. Being a practical optimist means that you can move beyond egoic judgments of failure or success, and instead see plainly that which is possible.

• Set The Right Intentions For Yourself. An intention is a waypoint we’ve set on the horizon. We may or may not reach that distant goal on the edge of what can be seen. But when we set ourselves in the right direction, we can steer the ship safely and calmly in the knowledge of where we’re going.

If you’re feeling stuck on your healing journey, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our intake specialist will take the time to understand your needs and connect you with a therapist who is the right fit. 

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.