Harnessing the Power of the Moon: Using the Energy of the New and Full Moon in 2023

Whether or not you stop to think about it in your daily life, each and every one of us are intrinsically connected to the cycles of nature. Our bodies, minds, and spirits are impacted by the rising and setting sun, the changing of the seasons, and of course, the cycles of the moon. 

Reconnecting to this truth can be a source of peace and stability in a world that sometimes feels chaotic or overwhelming. When you begin consciously connecting to the cycles of nature and coming back into alignment with your natural rhythms, it can bring a feeling of certainty to your life. 

Personally, I love paying attention to the New Moon & Full Moon each month. This natural cycle helps me stay connected to the intentions I’m setting, and have a feeling for the unique energies that are present for me to work with at any given time.

The moon is never stationary. It is an ever-shifting influence that can support us to manifest more of the feelings & experiences we desire, and to feel more connected to our intuition and to the Universe. 

Setting Intentions & Manifesting with the Moon 

Each phase of the moon has specific influences that you can harness to work toward your dreams and to feel more connected. Each month, the moon cycles through different Astrological signs, bringing unique themes. But even without knowing about the specifics of each moon, there is so much you can do simply through knowing what part of the monthly moon cycle we are in. 

New Moon: New Beginnings

The New Moon is a perfect time for setting intentions, sowing seeds, reflecting, and starting anew. Each New Moon is the beginning of a new lunar cycle. During this time, you can harness the energy of the moon by starting any new projects or journeys that are on the horizon, and spending time journaling and planning for what’s to come. 

The first New Moon of the year is right around the corner on January 21st, 2023. 

If you haven’t already sat down to set intentions and think about your visions and goals for the year ahead, this is the perfect time to do so! You might want to do a New Moon ritual to help you connect with the moon and set intentions that align with your highest good. 

If you made a vision board for the year, the New Moon is also a great time to check in on your board and reconnect with your visions and intentions. 

Check out my guide for Manifesting with the New Moon & Full Moon for a step-by-step guide to some of my favorite New Moon & Full Moon Rituals – as well as more information on how to work the cycles of the moon throughout the year.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE]

Full Moon: Release and Letting Go

The Full Moon is the brightest time of the month – a time of illumination, release, and culmination. Have you ever had trouble sleeping on the Full Moon? That’s because there is a lot of potent energy moving around at this time.

If you’ve spent the New Moon setting intentions, the Full Moon is a great time to evaluate and course correct. It’s an opportunity to check back in with those intentions you set and think about what’s working and not. 

Take the opportunity during the Full Moon to release and let go of anything that isn’t working or isn’t serving you with a Full Moon Release Ritual. Remember, you are supported by nature to make changes and shake things up at this time! Think of it like taking out the garbage to the curb every 2 weeks. 

Staying Connected to the Moon Throughout 2023

In our fast paced, modern lives, staying connected to the moon cycles and the cycles of nature in general can sometimes feel challenging. Gone are the days when we lived outdoors and were deeply in tune with these influences. 

Today, if you want to live connected to the cycles of nature, it requires intention and effort. One simple hack is to harness the tool of technology to stay connected to nature’s cycles (a little bit ironic, but it works!). 

Try setting reminders on your phone before each New Moon & Full Moon in 2023. It might be helpful to set these for the day before, so you have time to prepare or set time aside for a Full Moon or New Moon Ritual, or an intention setting session. 

Here’s a List of the Dates of each Moon Cycle for the Coming Year: 

What are the 2023 New Moon Dates?

The 12 New Moon dates and times of 2023 are listed below in Eastern Time.

2023 New Moons	Date and Time (Eastern)	New Moon Sign
January 2023 New Moon	January 21, 2023 at 3:53pm	New Moon in Aquarius
February 2023 New Moon	February 20, 2023 at 2:06am	New Moon in Pisces
March 2023 New Moon	March 21, 2023 at 1:23pm	New Moon in Aries
April 2023 New Moon	April 20, 2023 at 12:12am	New Moon in Aries
May 2023 New Moon	May 19, 2023 at 11:53am	New Moon in Taurus
June 2023 New Moon	June 18, 2023 at 12:37am	New Moon in Gemini
July 2023 New Moon	July 17, 2023 at 2:32pm	New Moon in Cancer
August 2023 New Moon	August 16, 2023 at 5:38am	New Moon in Leo
September 2023 New Moon	September 14, 2023 at 9:40pm	New Moon in Virgo
October 2023 New Moon	October 14, 2023 at 1:55pm	New Moon in Libra
November 2023 New Moon	November 13, 2023 at 4:27am	New Moon in Scorpio
December 2023 New Moon	December 12, 2023 at 6:32pm	New Moon in Sagittarius

What are the 2023 Full Moon Dates?

The 13 Full Moon dates and times of 2023 are listed below in Eastern Time. 

2023 Full Moons	Date and Time (Eastern)	Full Moon Sign
January 2023 Full Moon	January 6, 2023 at 6:08pm	Full Moon in Cancer
February 2023 Full Moon	February 5, 2023 at 1:29pm	Full Moon in Leo
March 2023 Full Moon	March 7, 2023 at 7:40am	Full Moon in Virgo
April 2023 Full Moon	April 6, 2023 at 12:34am	Full Moon in Libra
May 2023 Full Moon	May 5, 2023 at 1:34pm	Full Moon in Scorpio
June 2023 Full Moon	June 3, 2023 at 11:42pm	Full Moon in Sagittarius
July 2023 Full Moon	July 3, 2023 at 7:39am	Full Moon in Capricorn
August 2023 Full Moon	August 1, 2023 at 2:31pm	Full Moon in Aquarius
August 2023 Full Moon	August 30, 2023 at 9:35pm	Full Moon in Pisces
September 2023 Full Moon	September 29, 2023 at 5:57am	Full Moon in Aries
October 2023 Full Moon	October 28, 2023 at 4:24pm	Full Moon in Taurus
November 2023 Full Moon	November 27, 2023 at 4:16am	Full Moon in Gemini
December 2023 Full Moon	December 26, 2023 at 7:33pm	Full Moon in Cancer

Working with the Astrology of Each Moon Cycle

Although there are consistencies among each moon cycle, there are also specific and unique influences that happen month to month, depending on which astrological sign the moon is currently in, and what the other planets are doing in relation to the moon.  

You can easily find out which sign the moon is in by doing a quick search online, but the best way to understand the astrology of each moon is to work with a great Astrologer. This is part of what we do in my Oracle Circle Membership. 

Each month, I partner with one of my favorite guest Astrologers and bring our community an exclusive video reading that covers the influences and energies of the present New Moon or Full Moon. Then we pull Oracle Cards together to find out what we can do to work with those energies and get the most out of them. You can learn more about the Oracle Circle here.

Knowing about the astrological influences of each moon cycle will help you know what particular areas of your life you need to focus on when setting intentions or doing any conscious releasing and letting go. This can be incredibly valuable guidance because it allows you to put the support of the Universe behind your efforts for personal growth and transformation. 

For example, the January 2023 New Moon is in Aquarius. This moon is all about breaking out of the past and trying something new. It’s a perfect time to focus on what’s unique about YOU, and how you can serve and give back in your own special way. You can watch a clip of the New Moon in Aquarius reading from my Oracle Circle Membership below, to get a sense of how you can work with the energy of this moon.

Resources for Working with the New Moon & Full Moon in 2023 

If you’re curious about engaging more with the cycles of the moon this year and educating yourself further on this topic, check out a few of my favorite resources below.

1. FREE Guide to Manifesting with the New Moon & Full Moon
This free guide will help you learn the basics of lunar cycles, and how you can use rituals to manifest more of the feelings and experiences you desire by aligning with the moon’s energies.

2. Join the Oracle Circle Membership
This is where you can get monthly readings and Oracle Card spreads for the Full Moon & New Moon, to help you stay in alignment with the energies and influences at play each month.

3. New Moon Rituals for Entrepreneurs by Leslie Targoda
This book by Astrologer Leslie Targoda is great for the business owner who wants to run their business in greater alignment with the cycles of the Universe

4. The Power of the Moon episode on INSIDE THE WOONIVERSE podcast
In this episode of my podcast, I talk about the significance of working with the Moon and how its role in astrology can greatly impact our lives.

There is so much that can be gained from beginning to foster an awareness of the cycles of the moon. If you begin to make connecting with the moon a regular practice, you might be amazed at the way you watch things in your life take on a natural and cyclical nature. This can truly help bring a sense of certainty and peace into your life, and help you bring even more of your dreams and desire into being. Enjoy exploring the magical moon! 

How do you work with the Moon?

Do you have any special New Moon or Full Moon rituals? Share in the comments how you work with the moon in your life. I love reading your comments!