A beginner's guide to lunar living

One of mankind’s most ancient practices, lunar living – or living by the moon – is now enjoying its moment in the sun. Thanks in part to the ease with which we can track moon cycles on phone apps or connect with fellow moon-followers on Instagram, this millennia-long tradition is helping combat the stresses of 21st century living. Here’s everything you need to know…

What actually is it?

Simply put, lunar living means matching up moments in your life to the phases of the moon and the energy offered by each period. This runs in a 28-day cycle, split into four: the new moon, the waxing moon, the full moon and the waning moon. For astrologer Sandy Sitron, who is the author of Moon Journal, a book written to help readers harness the energies of the moon, it’s an intuitive process. ‘I do like to think of the new moon as a time to be slow and more internal,’ she says. ‘The waxing moon is a time to be getting things done and then I try to celebrate something or do something fun around the full moon and then review and reflect in the waning moon phase.’

Why should you try living by the moon?

Keeping an eye on where the moon is at any given time can help you reflect more on how you’re feeling, says Sitron. ‘It helps you go in deeper. It’s a bit like school – you know what your little cosmic assignments are are for any given week. Even if you don’t get the results you’re expecting to get, you are going to feel more of a connection with yourself.’

What are the health benefits?

The evidence of the effect that lunar phases have on our mental and physical health is anecdotal, but those who follow the moon find they feel more grounded and in sync with their body’s own energy – helping them to get more out of life. It’s something that some wellness practitioners who are particularly conscious of the impact of nature’s energies subscribe to, including acupuncturists and those who follow Ayurveda. As one of our biggest forces of nature – the combined gravitational force of the moon and the sun controls our tides – it makes sense that it’s likely to make an impact.

Alexandria Vallely, who runs a women-only moon circle in London, uses the moon to help direct her through day-to-day life. ‘Since living this way I’ve become much more tuned into my energy’s natural peaks and lows’,’ she says. ‘It’s been a great journey getting to know my body better. For example, it loves to rest when it’s feeling overwhelmed around the full moon, with the strong and powerful energy this brings. It’s a good reminder for to take time out during my busy month and have a few days of spending lots of time alone and resting my body, so gentle yoga, lots of baths and self-care.’

What’s the hype?

Celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon – did you know that getting a tattoo of the crescent moon is a signifier of those who follow the moon cycle? By all accounts we can count Ariana Grande, Zoe Kravitz and Emma Roberts as fans, while Rumer Willis has gone all out with an inking of the moon phases.

And it’s not just applicable to your personal life: biodynamic farming, which takes the lunar cycle into consideration, is said to produce better crops and wines because of the effect of the moon’s energy on the soil. Biodynamic beauty (where ingredients are grown according to the same methods) is also on the up and used by brands like Jurlique.

One of the simplest ways to go about it is to download a moon app. Moon Phase, which is free and available on the App Store, is a good option – but there are a multitude of free options available online. Sitron advises: ’My feeling is that everything is cosmic. It’s mystical. If that’s not your frame of mind then it’s not really for you.’ 

Click here for a beginner’s guide to crystal healing.