I have always had an overactive mind. As a child, this was a great gift, as I had a wild imagination that took me to some really interesting places. However, as I got older that curiosity for the unknown took a negative turn and led me down the path of worrying all the time and creating unrealistic expectations in my head, which meant that I was always disappointed with reality. Even after embarking on the new adventure of starting my business 5 years ago, things didn't feel quite right — I was still yearning for something I didn't quite understand.

Overthinking and overworrying as a business owner can be crippling, so at the end of 2016 I was determined to explore new (to me) means to help me work through all of the challenges we face as humans, and also as solo business owners.

Everyone has different mechanisms to help them work smarter, and for me, the most effective ones haven't been an app or the best new project management tool. Instead, I've found support and solace in an analog method of tactile tools, hand writing my thoughts, and paying more attention to what's been here all along.

Learning to listen to the moon

I had never really gotten into astrology until a few years ago, but I remember seeing so many people talk about Mercury Retrograde on social media, and I knew I had some exploring to do! Starting down that wormhole, I discovered the concept of moon phases, and that felt like a great place to start my astrological education.

The first resource I explored was the Many Moons Workbook by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener, which I worked through religiously. Since then, I’ve had readings with Jeff Hinshaw and Stefanie Caponi, and for the past few years I’ve worked through Chani Nicolas’ The Year Ahead offering at the end of the calendar year to help me prepare for the next one. I also have Chani’s app, which offers so many wonderful resources and weekly readings. I also really love Bella deLuna’s approach to astrology, which incorporates her background in psychology with the cosmic energetics to support deep self-reflection and self-knowledge.

What I really love about the moon is that most societies think of the moon as a female entity. Many people say that being in tune with the moon allows you to bring out your Inner Goddess, and as a female-identifying person who had embraced the societal norms of apologizing too much, being meek, and often thinking about everyone else before myself, I was finally ready to break free from that. I wanted to discover this powerful version of myself, even if it really meant just being more honest with who I am and what I want.

Over the past few years of working with the moon phases, I can recognize certain patterns within myself. There are moments when I feel more energetically depleted, and when I can honor that as my real and true experience and give myself the rest I crave, then everything benefits. I can come back to work more creatively inspired, I am less resentful showing up for friends, and I am able to relax into the truth that my body is a wise vessel. Overall, being honest with myself about my fluctuating capacity and allowing in a natural rhythm of rest and work has allowed me to more clearly establish and state boundaries, which then makes me feel stronger than ever.

So here's the quickest recap possible for those of you who are just coming to moon phases. Each phase (New Moon to New Moon) is roughly 29.5 days. There are four main phases:

New Moon
First Quarter Moon
Full Moon
Last Quarter Moon

Each phase corresponds with a certain type of energy and a proclivity for certain types of activities.

NEW MOON: WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN AND SETTING NEW INTENTIONS

When the moon appears to be absent from the sky. This is a time for reflection, renewal, letting go of the past, and starting something new. This is when you'll want to plant those seeds of intention that you'll nurture over the next couple of weeks until the Full Moon.

FIRST QUARTER MOON: WORKING HARD TO REALIZE YOUR GOALS

This is the waxing period when the moon appears to be growing in the sky, and it is typically a highly energetic time. This is when you want to be working towards realizing the intentions you set during the New Moon. It's a great time for planning, writing, and creating.

FULL MOON: MANIFESTING YOUR DEEPEST INTENTIONS AND DESIRES

The moon is most powerful during a Full Moon, and this is the time where you want to dream big and manifest what you've been working towards. This is the time to reach for the stars and verbalize, write out, put clear thoughts around the dreamiest version of what you're seeking.

LAST QUARTER MOON: RELEASING THE THINGS WHICH AREN'T SERVING YOU

The period between Full Moon and New Moon is the waning moon period where the moon appears to be getting smaller. During this time you may feel energetically depleted, and it's a great time to let go of those things which aren't serving you to help you prepare for another New Moon where you can start with a clean slate once again.

After paying close attention to my energy levels and my thoughts & feelings in conjunction with the moon over the past few years, here is what I've learned:

My energy levels are absolutely tied to the moon phases. The week in between the Last Quarter Moon and the New Moon — I am zonked. I used to push through it, but now I embrace it. I lean into that restful period and make sure I use it to really rejuvenate myself. For me, that means I need to work from the sofa, not take as many meetings, and not go to as many social engagements. I crave alone time, and I need a lot of sleep. Knowing this ahead of time, I'm able to better plan my projects and my calendar.

There is a different moon phase approximately once a week, so this is allowing me to dedicate time on a consistent basis to really check in with myself. Having these regular intervals for self-reflection has been especially grounding for me.

I am just at the beginning of my studies, so I would love to know: Do you have any resources that you use to help you work with the moon phases? Is there something else you use that may be considered "untraditional" that has been instrumental for your business? I would love to know! Let me know in the comments below or always feel free to send me an email at hello@maggiegentry.com.