Working With the Lunar Cycles

We are far more affected by the moon than many of us realise.

The lunar cycles exert a powerful pull on our earth - as evidenced by the tides - but they also influence our bodies and our psyches. It’s not surprising really when you think about it as our bodies are between 60% and 80% water, which is affected by the moon in the same way as the oceans are. Our biorhythms and cycles of rest and renewal mirror the lunar cycles and the moon affects us both physically and emotionally.

How the moon affects healing

If you are giving or receiving any kind of healing, the phase of the moon will have an influence on what type of healing is best at that time and how well it will be received. At Leaves Institute, our workshops are timed to coincide with the New Moon which is a time of new beginnings and renewal, when our systems naturally reset. By contrast, the Full Moon is a time of conclusion and climax, when things tend to come to fruition and we manifest whatever is ready to manifest since the preceding New Moon.

Understanding the lunar cycles

It is helpful to understand the lunar cycles and their impact on us as humans so we can work with these natural rhythms rather than fighting against them.

The New Moon

Some people notice themselves feeling tired or vulnerable at the time of the New Moon, or their mood can be low, particularly if they are not tuned into the natural cycles. For others though, a New Moon can cause them to feel excited or hopeful.

New Moon is a time of greater awareness when you can become more attuned to your intentions. This is a good time of the month to set new intentions and make conscious choices that are aligned with these. Sending healing at this time can be particularly effective at connecting (or reconnecting) an individual to their spiritual and soul purpose.

The New Moon acts as a time of renewal when it can be easier to receive healing energy. If you have a healing session around the time of the New Moon, it can help to smooth the days and weeks ahead and provide more energy to move forward in a positive way. Healers practising at New Moon will focus on connecting their clients to the most appropriate source of energy for them at that time, which may be heart energy, universal energy, energy from spiritual guides or other sources.

The Full Moon

At Full Moon – the time of manifestation – you can sometimes feel heavy or unfulfilled if you lack sufficient mental and spiritual energy to bring things to fruition. Again, this can be an especially good time of the month to receive healing, although the intention of the healer needs to be different to those at New Moon. A Full Moon healing needs to focus on helping the person to integrate and allow the intentions of their spirit and soul to manifest. The tiredness that so many of us feel in our lives is due to resistance, explains Leaves Institute’s founder, Yumiko Asakura. If we resist the intentions of our true self as it tries to move us in the direction of our soul’s purpose, we dissipate our energy and this can lead to fatigue.

As the lunar cycle reaches its culmination at Full Moon, our focus needs to be on greater self-realisation. We might find our attention drawn to whatever is missing in our lives. At this time, it can be helpful to focus on what we need to do, or who we need to be, to integrate our different intentions.

During Leaves Institute workshops, Yumiko uses Shamanic drumming to ‘awaken’ the cells in the body using the drum’s powerful vibration. When the cells are ‘awake’, it is easier to receive spiritual healing and to integrate mind, body and spirit – a process that continues long after the workshop has finished. Even someone who has a hard time accepting the existence of their spirit and soul will be able to feel the vibration of the drums, which can give them a sense of the invisible energies that surround us.

An awareness of natural rhythms and the lunar cycles will help you to feel more in tune with the workings of the universe. We are a part of the natural world and when we work with it rather than against it, our life becomes easier and things manifest into reality more easily.

At New Moon, focus on setting intentions and creating what you want in life. At Full Moon, focus on expressing into the world whatever it is you have created. One is an internal process, the other external – working in harmony to help you to achieve your soul’s purpose.

Join us for our New Moon Healing Workshop in London on the 23rd of November - Limited spaces left!