Using moon cycles to plan creative projects

The aim of working with the moon’s cycles is to create a rhythm in my life replacing menstrual cycles during perimenopause, menopause and beyond. There is a lot of information online about moon phases and the effects on our energy, but to keep things simple, I used Kirsty Gallagher’s book, Lunar Living as a guide.

This is all new to me. I didn’t even know the names of the moon phases, so I am still getting used to the ideas and right now, still a little skeptical that the moon can have such an effect on our energy! But with all of these things, I like to find out as much as I can and then use the parts that are meaningful to me. The most useful thing I’ve done so far was to plan creative activities and a writing project for the month on the new moon. I enjoyed having a different start date for creative projects to the rest of my life, which I plan using calendar months.

I began by creating a table to make a note of everything I had already committed to in that month - events, other work and family activities. Then, I made a column for moon phases. I wanted to keep the moon activities flexible so I used small cards and sticky notes to assign an idea to a day.

I am working with eight moon phases - new moon, waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, first quarter, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent - but to give you an idea, below are some notes on the four main phases. The activities are just suggestions to pick from - no one has to do all of them! As I said, I planned something depending on time and energy available, but with no obligation to do it at all.

As well as the moon activities, my writing project for the month is to complete a first draft of a 3000-word essay inspired by my birch tree and send to my feedback group. I have already done research and writing on this, but I wanted to bring it all together. I have never given myself one achievable writing project for a month like this, but I think I will repeat it.

New moon

The sky is dark and you can’t see the moon at all. This is the lowest energy point and the time to rest, reflect and check in with how you are doing. It is an inward facing, highly intuitive emotional time to process the lessons of the month just gone. A time to make plans and get clarity on what you want and how to get there.

Moon activity ideas: a candlelit bath, collaging a vision board, reflective journalling, looking at art.

Writing project ideas: decide on a goal for the month, review writing and journal entries from the past month to notice any emerging themes or notes that can be written up.

First quarter

Looks like a half moon. You have energy, ideas and inspiration to bring hopes and dreams to fruition. Say ‘yes’ to invitations and notice nudges from the universe. It might be hard to sleep, so a good time to write at night. There is a big push of energy. Challenges may come but don’t address them yet. Focus on doing. Take action.

Moon activities: Create a moon playlist and dance in the kitchen or around the garden, go outside with a telescope, walk in moonlight, visit an observatory or moon-related exhibition.

Writing project: Writing a draft. Set daily word count or time goals.

Full moon

Celebrate goals reached and successes so far. Express gratitude for abundance and magic in life. Evaluate doubts and things that have held you back and release them.

Moon activities: sound bath, swim in the sea, outdoor fire with a ritual around forgiveness or releasing doubts.

Writing project: Keep going with writing a draft. Reflective journalling on what feels hard or is holding you back in some way.

Third quarter

Another half moon (this one is the shape of a D). Time to process all that has happened so far. It’s a phase for communication and difficult conversations, to be seen and heard. A good time to get a message out into the world. Don’t start anything new. Finish things off, especially things you have been putting off. Begin to get quieter and more inward in time for the return of the new moon.

Moon activities: create a mandala, research folk tales and moon goddesses, write a letter to the moon or a dialogue with the moon, write a moon memory.

Writing project: Finish a draft. Review and edit. Send out - this could be submitting to a journal or prize or to a trusted friend for feedback or if you’re working on a longer project not ready to be seen yet, add your draft to a file for completed drafts.

This was to give you an idea of my planning process this month, but I hope it will be a new way of working for me and that I can share with more people as I refine my ideas.

Part of my Arts Council funded Moonpause project.