The moon
The moon and the rhythm we live by
The moon has been calendar, clock and source of wonder for as long as there have been people. Here is the moon phase right now, what it has meant in tradition, and what we actually know.
Right now
Full Moon
- Illuminated
- –
- Age
- –
- The moon is in
- –
The next phases
Why the moon changes shape
The sun always lights up half of the moon. What changes is how much of that lit half we can see from Earth. A full round from new moon to new moon takes about 29.5 days on average.
At new moon the moon sits roughly between Earth and the sun, and we see its dark side. At full moon it is on the opposite side of Earth, and the whole lit side faces us. The phases in between are called crescent, quarter and gibbous.
The eight phases
How the phases have been used in tradition, and how we use them at Arvekraft. This is rhythm and symbolism, not a claim that the moon controls your life.
| Phase | Theme in tradition | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| New moon | Beginnings, seeds in the dark | Setting intentions, fresh starts, rest |
| Waxing crescent | The first light | Planning, sowing seeds, first steps |
| First quarter | Action | Decisions, courage |
| Waxing gibbous | Growth | Building, refining, patience |
| Full moon | Fullness and light | Gratitude, celebration, charging crystals |
| Waning gibbous | Harvest | Sharing, passing on, teaching |
| Last quarter | Clearing | Forgiving, tidying, letting go |
| Waning crescent | Stillness before the new | Rest, reflection, preparing |
“I ny og ne”
The Norwegian phrase “i ny og ne” means “now and then”. But “ny” is old Norwegian for the time when the moon is waxing, and “ne” for when it is waning. The phrase carries the rhythm of the moon inside it.
In the old farming society many tasks were tied to the waxing or waning moon. What was done when varied from valley to valley, and the advice was handed down together with the primstav. Read more about the marked days on the primstav.
The moon in Norse myth
In Norse mythology Máni is a boy who drives the moon across the sky, while his sister Sól drives the sun. Both are chased by wolves, and when the wolves one day catch them, the end of the world is near. The story explained why the heavenly bodies never stand still.
Does the full moon affect sleep?
Many people feel they sleep worse at full moon. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute went through sleep data from 1,265 people and 2,097 nights and found no link between moon phase and sleep.
They suggested that earlier findings may come from small studies, and from the fact that studies that find something are published more often than those that find nothing. That does not mean your experience is wrong, only that it probably has other explanations, such as light nights, restlessness or expectation.
The tides, on the other hand, are a real and measurable lunar effect: the moon’s gravity pulls on the sea.
How we use the moon
We use the moon as a gentle calendar for reflection. At new moon we write down an intention. At full moon we look at what has grown. It costs nothing, needs no belief and gives a lovely rhythm through the year.
Want to try? Make your own moon card under manifesting, or find the stone that belongs to the phase in the crystal bank.
The Moon Letter
Get the moon’s crystal, intention and ritual at every new and full moon.