A Ritual for Setting New Moon Intentions and Manifesting with Intuition
Setting intentions with the moon is a powerful practice that will help you find alignment in your everyday life and manifest more with your intuition.
I’ve been setting intentions with the moon for years and now I’m sharing my best ideas with you. Bookmark this and come back on the next new moon. Set your intentions and start manifesting!
What Is the New Moon?
The new moon is a time to set intentions and examine progress. It’s a great time to rest and reflect. Even through troubling times, there are still things to count on — the sun rises and sets, the moon cycles through her phases, and there are tiny moments of magic to appreciate.
The new moon is the beginning of the moon cycle. The moon appears dark or gone because you’re looking at the side of the moon that is not illuminated by the sun. The moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, which is why there’s a new moon just about once a month.
Why Set Intentions with the New Moon?
The fresh darkness of the new moon is a supportive time to try new ideas and set intentions. Starting your manifestation practice is good now too because this is a quiet, contemplative time. Plant your seeds under the new moon. When the illumination of the full moon arrives, you will start seeing the fruits of what you planted… or if you’re not feeling aligned, you can release it. The opportunity to reset mid-month feels perfectly and divinely timed.
You will sometimes pick an intention that doesn't end up serving you. The beauty of a full moon is that she shines on what needs to be released. She reminds you to let go and allow.
How to Practice Manifesting with Intuition
Manifestation is the process of calling in your desires. People have been teaching manifestation forever and every teacher has their own process for bringing desires into existence.
Here’s what most people get wrong when it comes to manifesting – manifestation that isn’t aligned with your inner wisdom will always leave you wanting more. When it comes to manifesting, intuition is the missing ingredient!
This new moon, try these ideas for intuition-led manifesting:
Turn your focus inward and listen. Close your eyes. Steady your breath. Take your awareness to where you hear your intuition. Listen to the voice of wisdom within you. It might be quiet or even silent to begin. That’s okay!
Pause, breathe, ask yourself, “What do I need? Instead of manifesting from the mind, turn to your intuition to discover your desires. Notice what feels inspiring and exciting to you. These are all signs you’re manifesting in alignment with intuition.
Access abundance through appreciation. Celebrate what feels good and is working well in your life. Write a gratitude list in the morning or simply appreciate the small things as you go about your day. When you focus on appreciation, you open the door to abundance.
Adjust your frequency. Tend to your energy by finding gentle ways to get into alignment. Turn the dial up on the things you want to cultivate. Turn the dial down on the things that aren’t bringing you joy. Attune your frequency to your desires.
Allow and receive. Manifestations are flowing to you all the time. Loosen your grip. Soften your gaze. Open yourself to possibility. Allow, receive, and celebrate what comes.
Learn to access your intuition through the ups and downs of daily life. Easily.
Don’t wait for inspiration to strike… or for intuition to warn you before making the wrong choice. Cultivate your connection and start living in alignment with your inner voice now.
The Season Sessions is my signature yearlong coaching program and community. Private sessions, group calls, resources, and rituals to help you live with more intuition every day.
Try this Ritual to Set New Moon Intentions
Your new moon ritual can be simple or elaborate. The most important thing is to pay attention to what works for you and your life. There are seasons when you only have time to jot a few words down in the notes app on your phone. There are other seasons when a three-hour long ritual feels perfect. Most of the time, you’ll fall between the two.
The next time the new moon arrives, try this ritual to set your intentions and practice manifesting with intuition. For each step, there are two choices to explore — one for busy days and one for when you’re looking to spend more time with your ritual.
Cleanse the energy.
Take a few deep, clearing breaths, focusing on the exhales.
Burn sage, palo santo, or even a candle. As you watch the flame burn, bring a cleansing energy to yourself and the space you’re in.
Connect with intuition.
Ask your inner voice these three questions, “What should my intentions be this month? What do I need to release? What am I ready to receive?”
Pour yourself a drink, grab your journal, and set a timer for 8 minutes to journal with your intuition on the intentions to set this month. Learn more about inner voice journaling here or watch a quick tutorial.
Welcome your manifestations.
Turn your hands with palms facing up in a gesture of receiving. Say a gentle welcome to your manifestations, whatever feels natural. Here’s an example, “I am welcoming more peace in my relationship and more joy in my work.”
Go deeper by creating a vision board, making a playlist, or doing something else that helps you align with the manifestations you’re calling in.
Close in compassion.
Place your hands on your heart and feel it beating within. Close your new moon ritual by expressing compassion and love for yourself. Say something kind, maybe something you’ve been hoping to hear from someone else, like, “You are doing so well.”
Give yourself more time to close out your new moon ritual. Practice compassion in the form of nurturing self-care. Do something for yourself that feels indulgent or that you’ve been putting off, something that nurtures and supports you.
My Intentions for this New Moon
Here are my intentions for this new moon. Yours do not need to look like this — just use it as an example to inspire your own practice!
To breathe and flow, to trust, and revel in the journey.
To dive into the pockets of awareness as they bubble up. To allow the waves of emotions, thoughts, fears, and inspirations as they arrive.
To have fun and dance, to laugh and sing. To trust that joy is my birthright.
And to be kind to myself when I stumble, lose my grip, and forget all of it.
What about you? I’d love to hear your new moon intentions. Share yours in the comments below or send me an email to let me know.
FAQs About Setting New Moon Intentions
What does it mean to set intentions?
Setting intentions is a practice of gathering a word (or group of words) that act as an anchor back to yourself and what you want. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Intentions are a conversation you get to have with yourself. Learn more about setting intentions here.
How do I know when it’s a new moon?
You can always start following the moon cycles by looking up into the sky. After a few months, you’ll start to recognize the pattern of the moon cycle. I also really like The Moon Calendar app.
What rituals should be done on a new moon?
New moon energy supports rest, reflection, brainstorming, and planting seeds for things to come. Connect with your intuition and practice any rituals that feel restorative and supportive.
Do I have to wait for the new moon to set my intentions and start manifesting?
Nope! You can set new intentions and start manifesting at any time. There can be a certain kind of magic to aligning with the moon, but you can also align these practices with your menstrual cycle, your birthday, or any other timing that feels good to you.
