Lessons from the Moon
When I was scrolling through my notes app, an extension of the deep, scattered caveats of my mind, I came across this note from March 5, 2019, written at 11:05 pm.
New moon goals:
Take my health seriously- physical and mental (blue apatite)
Shift to perspective: 5 days, 5 months, 5 years (black tourmaline and amethyst)
Put yourself first (rose quartz)
Care deeply and stay true to values (clear quartz)
Next: stay more connected (in person and tech)
To give you some context, the notes that preceded this one were poems, affirmations, and letters to myself as I was preparing to leave a toxic relationship. (Maybe one day, I’ll share some of those too.) I finally left that summer, moving to Baltimore City on my own and starting a new chapter. This journey in itself could be an entire blog series, but the point is that connecting to something so cyclical and intuitive like the moon, gave me the confidence to stand on my own two feet and remain grounded in my own desires. (And if you're wondering about the crystals, yes- I absolutely paired them with my intentions and carried them around in my bra.)
Before I ever intentionally followed the moon cycles, I could always tell you when the full moon was- thanks to the 30+ ten year olds I taught who would become incredibly hyper during this time. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “it's a full moon- the weirdos are out.” Whether you’re a parent, a nurse, teacher, work with the public, or are just sensitive to the energies around you, you likely know a full moon is coming without even realizing.
As someone with ADHD who sometimes struggles with routine, connecting with the moon cycles helped me ground myself in natural rhythms. As a Pisces Sun, it's easy for me to dream, but it's another thing to follow those dreams with actionable steps. Connecting to the moon cycles gave me a routined timeline for my goals and manifestations- I knew every 30 days or so, the next new moon would come around and I could assess where I’m at with my goals and course-correct.
Two weeks later on the full moon, I’d check in on my progress, celebrate my wins, and look back at how far I’d come since last month, year, etc. Even now, I always make a point to write down my manifestations, so that I can reflect and express gratitude for how far I’ve come. I also assess areas where I continue to dream but need to follow up more with intentional action. Connecting to these rhythmic cycles helps me feel more grounded, intentional, and in tune with the passage of time (during moments where my mutable big 3 makes time feel like it isn’t real).
Looking back at those intentions from 2019, I realize my higher self was calling out, reminding me of my worth.
Take my health seriously- physical and mental: I started therapy to work through past trauma, fell in love with yoga and finally found a fitness routine that stuck, taking intentional time to care for my body. Every full moon, I’d celebrate my body, her strength, and all that she’s endured.
Shift to perspective- 5 days, 5 months, 5 years: Not gonna lie, I probably found this 5x5 rule on Pinterest. But it’s been a game-changer for my mindset. When I get overwhelmed, I ask myself: will this matter in 5 years or even 5 months? If not, I don’t let it take up more than 5 minutes of mental energy. Six years later, I’m grateful that 27-year-old Chelsi had this insight because it’s saved me so much unnecessary worry.
Put yourself first: After leaving the toxic relationship, I intentionally stayed single, taking a break from the serial monogamy pattern I had found myself in. (This led to a whole awakening, but again- we’ll talk more on that at another time.) I lived on my own, reconnected with my interests and hobbies, found work/life balance, and deepened my friendships. I grew in ways I never could’ve imagined.
Care deeply and stay true to values: My moral compass has always been finely tuned; I’m a sensitive soul who cares deeply for others and wants to make the world a better place. But, after some unsurfaced trauma, the things I saw as a teacher, and the chaos of the world we live in, I found myself becoming jaded. I knew I needed to consciously reconnect with my values, or the emotional fences I’d put up would turn into concrete walls. Leaning into spirituality, belief in the universe, and creating meaningful rituals has helped me remain soft in a hard world.
Stay more connected (in person and tech): I’ve always considered myself to be an ambivert- or maybe my Gemini Rising just takes over during social situations. All I know is that once I left that relationship, I needed to rebuild my support system. A few months after I wrote these intentions, I moved just a few blocks away from my childhood best friend- a five minute walk door-to-door. Full and new moon dates became ritual; we’d plan our dinner menus around the moon’s energy, interpret each other’s cards, burn bay leaves of release over our cauldrons, and found a sacred space to explore our craft. I also started posting on Tiktok and found an online community that helped me grow into my own, which changed my life in more ways than one. (If only March 2019 Chelsi knew what March 2020 would bring.)
I’m passionate about sharing my moon cycle rituals because they’ve shown me the transformative power of intention, manifestation, and inner strength. Through these cycles, I’ve learned to trust that even when time feels like it’s slipping away, the universe is always guiding me. All I need to do is look up at the sky and see what phase the moon is in, a grounding reminder that time passing isn’t something to be feared, but embraced. In following the moon, I’ve found a steady rhythm, a path that aligns with my soul, and a reminder that all the magic I seek is already within me.
