New Moon vs. Dark Moon: How to Work With Dark Moon Energy

New Moon Manifesting never felt right to me. At the beginning of my healing journey, I’d go to moon ceremonies and read up on monthly New Moon rituals, ready to bring all of my desires earthside. 

I’d furiously write down everything I wanted, roll the paper into a scroll, set it on my altar, and wait.

It wasn’t until I started taking a more holistic approach to the energy of the moon’s many phases that I started to actually see some traction in my healing, spellwork, and goals. And that might be because of a moon phase I didn’t learn about until much later: the Dark Moon phase.

If you’ve ever felt the same way, like moon magic simply doesn’t work for you, I suggest that you start working with the Dark Moon and see how you feel. I’ll go over the basics in this post and add a couple of simple Dark Moon practices at the end.

The New Moon vs. Dark Moon

Most people understand that the New Moon represents new beginnings. Marking the first day of a new lunar cycle, the New Moon is a time to plant the seeds of your desires and ask for guidance for the weeks ahead.

If the New Moon represents a fresh start, then the Dark Moon is the death of the old — the calm contemplation that allows newness to flow in.

Some may argue that the New Moon and the Dark Moon are the same thing. But I think you’ll agree with me in saying the two are very different after you feel out the distinct energies. 

The New Moon is most often defined as the date and time that the moon is at 0% illumination. Boom: zero illumination and a new moon cycle begins, right? Well, close… 

Zero percent illumination is technically the Dark Moon, and the New Moon is when the moon begins to show the very first sliver of illumination in the sky. This is exactly why I’ve never felt comfortable “manifesting” on what most people designate the New Moon.

Because the Dark Moon isn’t for manifesting, or honestly, even thinking about the future. The Dark Moon is all about embracing the Void. Don’t worry, we’ll get more into the “how” of this in a second. But first…

When Should You Observe the Dark Moon?

You don’t need to know the exact point that the moon reaches 0% illumination —you can simply look up at the sky. Is it pretty dark up there? No moon or just a ghostly outline of the moon? That’s the time to practice your Dark Moon rituals.

When in doubt, start feeling into Dark Moon energy 1-3 days before the New Moon. 

Dark Moon Energy

Working with the Dark Moon is surrendering to the mysteries of the void. It’s a transitional space where we’re left to dream or tap into visions, allowing them to come organically instead of insisting that the future make itself known.

The Dark Moon is a sacred pause, where we’re meant to absorb and integrate everything that happened in the previous moon cycle. This is NOT a time to rush into planning the month ahead, frantically coming up with a whole new set of goals and manifestations. Let your mind wander. Pay attention to daydreams, synchronicities, and the playfulness of any messages or intuitive hits. Dark Moon energy doesn’t feel like work or forcing reflection into journal entries or lists of accomplishments. 

You can absolutely communicate with Spirit, with earth energy, with your guides, etc., but do attempt to do so with the frantic need to know the answers. Think of this more like a flow, a dance of energy; a practice in connecting to the nourishing, pure potential of the darkness.

The Importance of Integration

Constant movement and “doing” instead of “being” is a trauma response and addiction on par with using food, TV, sex, alcohol, or drugs to avoid the “Dark Moon” phases of our lives. As a recovering workaholic, I know how scary it can be to slow down… but it’s also critical to the integration process. 

It took me years of healing and folk magic practices to understand what “integration” really felt like. Even after years of tuning into the rhythm of the earth and tapping into my own unique energy cycles, taking time off to integrate makes me antsy. But I’ve also learned that there is much wisdom in doing nothing at all. 

Luckily, you don’t always have to take weeks or months, or years to integrate. A simple practice during the Dark Moon phase will offer some pretty incredible returns.

What Does Integration Look Like?

How you integrate will be unique to you, and it might require different tools or practices —especially if you have a hard time slowing down or getting out of your head. 

You can use breathwork, meditation, doodling, art, dance, or sex… You can go on nature walks, pet your dog, or simply sit silently at the base of a tree. Maybe an even better approach would be to do absolutely nothing… or even watching some TV or reading a good novel. Integration work doesn’t always have to look “spiritual.”

The point is to take a breather on the “needing to move forward” vibe that our society is so addicted to.

I wish I could tell you how to integrate your life’s lessons and energetic upgrades. I wish I could tell you exactly how long it takes and a step-by-step plan to get you there faster. But I can’t. Because that’s not a thing. 

I can say (from my own humble experience), that you’ll know when your integration is done. When the lessons and energetic codes are a part of your DNA. You just know. 

And you can start integrating every month with the Dark Moon for a taste of what this feels like!

Dark Moon Tools

My tools are like anchors that help me focus on the work at hand. Burn the herbs in a sacred smoke or brew a cup of tea with these Dark Moon herbs. Choose one or two crystals and carry them around in your pocket, meditate with them, use them in ritual, or sleep with them under your pillow.

Herbs

Rosemary

Rosemary is a beautiful cleansing and purifying herb, helping to remove any energy that you’re not meant to bring with you into the next cycle. You can burn some dried rosemary, add a spring or two to your altar, or take a bath with the fresh herb and some salt. 

Chamomile

Chamomile tea is excellent for relaxing the mind and body, perfect for a Dark Moon pause. Bonus points for its association with prosperity and abundance and its ability to banish negativity.

Butterfly Pea Flower

This stunning flower produces a bright indigo brew that’s said to help you connect to other realms and enhance third-eye activation. It’s also a mood enhancer and may help mitigate stress and anxiety. 

Crystals

Labradorite

To aid in transformation, adding strength, banishing fear, and revealing truth along the way. It also balances and protects energy, strengthens intuition, and promotes psychic abilities. 

Aquamarine

To calm energy, reduce stress, and quiet an overactive mind, aquamarine supports overwhelm and helps promote self-expression. Perfect for sharpening perception and intuition, it’s also useful for closure before new beginnings.

Obsidian

A powerful cleansing and purifying stone, obsidian is known for cleansing negativity and drawing out stress and tension. It also opens you to the unknown and clears confusion. Use obsidian to dissolve emotional blocks and help heal ancestral trauma to uncover who you really are.

Black Moonstone

All moonstones help you to connect to your intuitive powers and feminine energy. Black moonstone is especially powerful when it comes to clearing the mind of clutter and enhancing your psychic gifts.

How to Work With Dark Moon Energies

The Practical and Material

Let Yourself Wander

Do you remember being a kid and what it felt like to have nothing on the agenda? Maybe you played with your toys, watched some TV, or listened to some CDs while cutting pictures out of magazines?

Well, that is the PERFECT Dark Moon vibe. Give yourself a day, or a few hours at the very least, to do whatever feels right at the moment with zero agenda or ulterior motive. This isn’t self-care, this is divine childlike wonder!

Declutter

Ok, I know I said not to do anything, but there are a few exceptions. The Dark Moon is a great time to let go of clutter, and not just the physical kind. After you’re done cleaning out your closet, you might want to consider banishing all beliefs, thoughts, and ideas that are no longer a match as well!

Simply set the intention to release anything that’s no longer an energetic match. You might be surprised how effortlessly the old falls away.

The Creative 

Meditate

You saw this coming, right? I mean, the good news is that I don’t think you have to meditate for hours to get the benefits. I also don’t subscribe to the idea that you have to do it sitting up straight, in total stillness and silence. 

If you don’t have a regular meditation practice, consider a walking meditation or putting on a good rhythm and moving your body until you reach a trance-like state. The point is to let go of control and interrupt normal thought patterns by always returning your focus to the breath.

Freewriting 

Freewriting is a meditative art form that allows the words to simply fall onto the page via a higher state of consciousness. The only real rule is not caring about grammar, quality, or comprehension. Whether you do it with pen and paper or a computer, the key is to let a different state of consciousness take the wheel. It might feel weird at first but just go with it. 

Release all expectations that you’ll be able to show someone later or use it as a social media post. In fact, I always delete or burn my freewriting when I’m done. 

Earth Offering

The Dark Moon is an excellent time for grounding through contact with Gaia herself. You can do this by getting outside and sitting or lying on the grass or at the base of a tree. 

I like getting into nature around this time and making an offering of some herbs, stones, or water. As you make your offering, ask Gaia for guidance and assistance. See what comes through.

Another fun ritual is to prep a jar or pot of dirt during the Dark Moon by filling it with rich, loamy soil, adding a few crystals (I like using clear quartz or one of the Dark Moon crystals above), and letting it sit under the Dark Moon. 

Once you begin to see a sliver of the New Moon in the sky, you can begin to plant your seeds. Like, literally! Find some flowers, herbs, or veggies that grow in your region during this time of year and plant them in your prepped soil. At the same time, write your wishes or manifestations on a piece of paper and bury them deep into the soil. 

As you tend to your seeds and watch them grow, know that your wishes and goals are growing as well. 

I don’t recommend this spell for people who aren’t good with plants. If your seeds don’t grow, it’s just sad… And it doesn’t mean your wishes aren’t already in motion. It just means you suck at gardening.

That’s it for this Dark Moon offering and activation! I’d love to hear about your experience with Dark Moon magic and, as always, let me know if you have any questions!