Working with the cycles of the moon and engaging with lunar energy on a regular basis can help you grow, evolve, birth your dreams into this world, and find fulfillment in your life’s journey. In this article, I share my process for working with the lunar cycle through intuitive movement and creative explorations that are timed with each of the four main phases of the moon.
The four main phases that most people who work with the moon recognize are the New Moon, the 1st Quarter Moon (or the Waxing Moon), the Full Moon (which is the 2nd Quarter Moon), and lastly the 3rd Quarter Moon (or the Waning Moon). These are the phases I work with each month in my practice. They provide an anchor point or a weekly focus that I can attune my energy to. I've given my own title or theme to each of these phases as it relates to my dance and movement practices. Those are…
- WEEK 1 - Embody (New Moon Phase): In this first week of the lunar cycle, I spend time meditating on the element, sign, and ruling planet of the New Moon and create space to listen (to spirit and/or my body) through Channeled Movement. Then I journal all the things that come into my awareness through those activities and start to narrow down what I want to focus on over the coming month. Initially, there are usually 2-3 different goals I’ve identified. But in the days that follow, I try to pick just one that really stands out for me.
- WEEK 2 - Create (1st Quarter Moon Phase): In this phase, I set aside time to build structures that will support the dreams, goals, or desires I’ve identified for myself. This is a time to design and build a container that can hold my vision. As a dancer, I work with a practice called Cosmic Choreography to craft a movement sequence I can use to help align my whole being with the energy I long to see manifested in my life.
- WEEK 3 - Express (Full Moon Phase): By the time the Full Moon arrives, I'm usually really comfortable with expressing the sequence I've created. Now it's time to let it exist outside of myself. I will set aside time to perform it multiple times in a row (often to a musical track I've selected). I try to make sure I record this moment because I'll use it in the last phase. I also let myself continue moving spontaneously after I feel complete with that sequence because often new movement will come through that is inspired by that energy. So my video typically contains the repetition of my lunar movement sequence and some form of Channeled Movement either from my body, my soul, or from spirit. The Full Moon is also a great time to share your movement with others. You may want to perform it for some close friends, share it online, or simply offer it to the cosmos, outside under the night sky. If you are interested in being a part of an online community that is also doing this work, check out my Lunar Rhythms Dance Community on Patreon. We hold an online gathering each month around the full moon to share our dance sequences with one another.
- WEEK 4 - Reflect (3rd Quarter Moon Phase): In the last phase of the lunar cycle, our energy begins to wane and we have an opportunity to reflect on the movement that came forth during this cycle (which is why it’s so helpful to use a recording device). This is where I dive into my Dance Divination process, which is the observation and interpretation of any messages that were communicated to me through the movement sequence I created and expressed, as well as any spontaneous movement that flowed afterward.
I try and set aside approximately 30 minutes once a week to connect with each of these phases. Ideally, you would want to choose the day of, the day before, or the day after each phase so that you can connect with the energy present in the sky.
BONUS TIP: It’s helpful if you can prepare an area in your space and gather any supplies ahead of time. I share a lot of practical tips for this process in my free PDF guide on starting a Spiritual Dance Practice, which you can access by joining my mailing list. But essentially, you want to have a space that is free of distractions, safe for you to move around in, and that has everything you need so your flow isn’t interrupted. It’s also really helpful to have something you can record yourself with, such as your phone and a tripod if possible. Rewatching your movement makes it easier to discern the information or messages being communicated by your physical body, especially if you’re engaging in a Channeled Movement practice. If you do not have recording equipment available, then do your best to journal everything you experience right away.
If you want to learn more about embodying the energy of the moon or working with these four phases, I speak about these things in depth in episode eleven of my Spiritual Dance Podcast titled "Dancing with the Moon." CLICK HERE to listen or read the transcript. And if you'd like support in this process then I invite you to join me in the Lunar Rhythms Dance Community where I provide weekly guidance and resources for making the most of the lunar cycle.
