“New Moon, New Spell: A Witch’s Guide to Lunar Beginnings”

The moon’s gone dark, and the sky feels like it’s holding its breath. No spotlight. No answers. Just the quiet hum of something beginning beneath the surface. This is the New Moon—not a clean slate, but a crossroads. A place where old ghosts get laid to rest and new stories start whispering through the cracks.

You don’t have to know what you’re calling in yet. You just have to show up. Light a candle. Bury a note. Sit with the silence and let it speak. This is the part of the ritual where the magic’s still raw, still wild, still yours to shape. As always take everything I say with a grain of salt, I am one person simply sharing my experiences, there is no right or wrong way to practice. I'm going to describe what lunar energy is, so if you read the previous full moon post you can skip this next part...or don't, do what you want.

What is Lunar energy?

To put it simply lunar energy is the spiritual and metaphysical qualities associated with the moon. How it can influence our emotions, intuition, and natural cycle. It is often linked to the phases of the moon. For example:

New moon: typically associated with new beginnings and fresh start. a good time for setting intentions.

Waxing Crescent: Associated with hope and promise. This would be the time for taking those first steps towards your goals. A time of growth and transformation

First Quarter: A time for action, decision making and to take risks. Plans are to be put into action and to push forward with determination.

Waxing Gibbous: Associated with trust, faith and staying focused. A time to keep moving forward and believe in your process.

Full Moon: A full moon signifies peak energy and intensity. This is a time of illumination, manifestation, and fulfillment. Where you'll see results of your efforts.

Waning Gibbous: Reflects fine-tuning, analysis and refining your plans. It is a time to assess your progress and make any necessary adjustments.

Third Quarter: This time is associated with facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and taking time to reevaluate your goals and make changes.

Waning Crescent: This is the end of the lunar cycle, a time for reflection and letting go of things that no longer serve you.

The new moon, often referred to as the dark moon, represents the beginning of the lunar cycle when the moon is in alignment with the sun and is not visible from Earth. But just because you can't see it doesn't mean you can't work with it.

New Moons are seen as a blank slate, new beginnings, and a time to set your goals for the next cycle. This is the perfect time to look inward and reflect on what you want to accomplish in the upcoming cycle. Also, a really good time for inner healing and shadow work, taking this time to reflect on oneself.

So, focus on self-care and explore the subconscious parts of yourself, the new moon is a time of letting go of old wounds and energies and making room for the new to come into your life.

Spells and Rituals

Taking into account the energies associated with the full moon this would be the perfect time for rituals and spells designed for new beginnings, manifesting intentions, releasing negative energies, and personal growth. How you go about this is entirely up to you, find what works for you. But if you are new to the craft or simply want some new ideas, here are a few of my go to's.

JOURNALING

I think we all saw this one coming; I love to journal. But during a full moon is the best time to write down what "seeds" you are planting as we go into the new cycle. Theres a multitude of journal prompts out there and that can make it hard to decide so let me help you narrow some down. You can write as much or as little as you like, remember there is no "wrong" way to journal and express your thoughts.

Write a letter to your future self. This could be goals you want to accomplish, books you want to read, maybe you want to try a tarot reading challenge, or start a dream journal. This could also be for short term or long-term future.

What is no longer serving you?

What do I want to focus on?

What do you want to accomplish in this upcoming month?

What part of yourself have you forgotten or neglected, and would like to nurture?

How can you maintain a good work-life balance?

How can you connect to the gods/goddesses more this month?

What spiritually are you wanting to work toward or do better at?

What old identities or mindsets no longer fit me?

How do you want to grow in the upcoming weeks?

How am I feeling mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually?

SET UP AN ALTAR

Setting up an altar is something almost every witch does or has done. Altars are a good way to have a designated space for offerings and can be a large or as small as you feel necessary. Some have multiple altars set for each deity, and sabbat, while some only have one that they use for multiple things. This section will cover both the large and the small altars.

Large altars offer a ton of space for you to add and decorate as much as your heart desires. Artworks, crystals, candles, incense, food, drink and more.

Small altars are perfect for those with limited space or who are still in the broom closet. They still hold just as much meaning as large altars and neither of the two are better than the other. I've seen altars inside of breath mint tins and shoe boxes. But it is nice to have a designated space for prayer.

Ideally you want to choose a quiet space, indoors or outdoors, like a shelf, stool, tree stump, shoe box or mint tin. Whatever works for you (be sure if working outside to clean up after yourself and not litter. we want to respect mother nature.)

What you put on is up to you, anything from crystals, herbs, candles, figures, etc. For the new moon try putting out things associated with new beginnings, manifestation and self-care.

Crystals: amethyst, apatite, chiastolite, citrine, clear quartz, labradorite, malachite, moonstone, peridot, etc.

Herbs: rosemary, lavender,

Candles: pretty much any candles will work but if you can get the little tea light candles those would be great.

CLEANSING

Whether it's your crystals, tarot decks or yourself, the new moon is a time for cleansing and renewal. You can smoke cleanse your space, crystals and tarot decks with incense. Or you can set them in a windowsill/ outside to cleanse in the moon light. Sound cleansing is also something you could do, typically with little bells or sound bowls.

TAROT READING

Since this is the start of a new cycle this could be a great time to give yourself a reading. With a quick search for "new moon tarot spreads" you will be met with literally thousands of results, and every new moon will be different to every individual. The best thing to remember is the new moon embodies new beginnings and a time to set your intentions/ goals for the next cycle (month). So, pick a spread that will assist you with your personal goals and aspirations.

As the sky darkens and the lunar cycle resets, we’re offered a quiet kind of magic—the kind that doesn’t shout, but hums beneath the surface. The New Moon is a threshold, a sacred pause, a chance to plant something tender in the soil of becoming.

Whether you light a candle, write a spell, or simply breathe with intention, know this: your desires are valid, your transformation is sacred, and the moon is listening. Let this be your beginning

As the sky folds into shadow and the lunar cycle begins anew, we’re offered a quiet kind of magic—the kind that stirs beneath the surface, waiting to be named.

So, I ask you, dear reader: What are you calling in this cycle? What wild seed do you dare to plant beneath this velvet dark?

Share your intentions, your whispers, your wishes. Whether it’s a single word or a full ritual, I’d love to hear what you’re manifesting. Let’s make this moon a mirror—reflecting not just our dreams, but our shared becoming.

The moon is listening. And so am I.

Signed your favorite emotionally unstable folklore cryptid <3