Moon Circles: Your Guide To Harnessing Potent Lunar Energy

A moon circle is exactly what it sounds like: a group of people—typically women, but moon circles are all-inclusive—gathering in the evening to harness the potent energy of the moon. We consulted Desiree Pais, a Kundalini teacher and moon circle host; Dages Juvelier Keates, a modern urban witch; and our resident astrologers, The AstoTwins to get the download on these mystical circles.

People come to moon circles to set intentions, clear energy, work through something, gain clarity, and connect with themselves through communal energy. The main difference between a moon circle and a women's circle is that a women's circle is primarily sharing stories and discussions, whereas moon circles are largely based in communal ritual and personal reflection.

When it comes to showing concrete and significant effects that the moon has on human beings, one study found that people have a harder time sleeping during a full moon, suggesting once again that we're affected by lunar energy.

With a baseline understanding of what moon circles are all about, let's go over the elements that they typically incorporate.

First, you'll set up your altar and then tell your guests about the orientation. Afterward, invite them to come up and place their objects on the altar, one at a time, without speaking. Keates says the positioning of these objects matters:

Bring a journal—one that you're not afraid to write in. You'll be asked to reflect, envision, and express during the ceremony and writing on the "notes" app in your phone just takes out the zen.

Whenever I've done a moon ceremony, we've sung and chanted kriyas from Kundalini yoga. Typically we chant mantras for a certain amount of time (anywhere from five to 30 minutes), which grounds us in the present moment and also helps bring us closer together as a community.

Whether it's before or after chanting, there is a guided meditation or visualization that will direct your unconscious to show itself to you. Often, in this step, people will have and share revelations, unexpected visions, or finally will process something that's been stuck.

Lighting a candle for someone or something is a great way to begin to bring the circle to a close. Candles (unscented—otherwise there are too many competing scents!) are pragmatic because participants can bring their freshly charged candles home and use them to keep the lunar vibes going.

In theory, you can host a moon circle at any time in the lunar calendar, but the type of ceremony you have will depend on the current phase of the moon. Here, the AstroTwins break down the nature of each moon phase and what kind of moon ceremony can best correspond with it.

Here's our complete guide to hosting a new moon circle.

Waxing moons are a good time to take action—big or small—toward your dream. And as mentioned before, use the moon's current zodiac sign for guidance on your actionable area.

Here's our complete guide to hosting a virtual full moon circle.

This is a time to get personal and go deep. Ophi suggests lighting a candle, brewing a pot of tea, and pouring your heart out in your journal. "You might even write a goodbye letter—but instead of dropping it in the mailbox (or hitting send), do a ceremonial release by burning it safely in a fire. If you lost someone important, create a special altar to honor their memory and leave it up until the new moon."

While the "essentials" really are just a pen and a notebook, these things can add to the experince:

Pais reminds us that at the end of the day, we should shake it out and focus on being in the present moment! "Just have FUN. people take spirituality so seriously. I always have tea and treats at mine. Talk, share, build community. Enjoy each other's company!"