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How To Supercharge Your Moon Rituals Using Positive Psychology
Many are surprised to hear that my background is in law, given my passion for all things lunar abundance. People wonder, how can you be interested in law, reason, and the moon at the same time?
My answer is that, like many people, I’ve been fascinated by the moon my whole life. She has always whispered messages of mystery and magic, nudging me toward a connection with something bigger than myself. When I felt stuck and burned out in my office job a decade ago, it was this innate curiosity with the moon that helped me to work toward a more fulfilling life. During this time of stress, tiredness, and disconnection from my body's rhythms, looking up at the moon at night served as a reminder to meditate and journal with her phases.
From there, I started to apply principles of positive psychology to the moon’s natural timekeeping. I set intentions at the new moon and began working toward these goals for the rest of the moon's monthlong cycle. In a short time, this practice helped me cultivate more self-awareness and become more relaxed, calm, and clear about my life’s purpose.
The aim of positive psychology is to help people to flourish. It is not about positive thinking but about embracing the entire emotional spectrum to create greater abundance, meaning, and happiness. Keeping this in mind on my lunar journey, I found greater peace and joy in my everyday life—and it's now my mission to help others do the same. Over the years, I've guided hundreds of people through their journeys toward peace and penned a book that dives into the principles of lunar abundance. Here are a few of my favorite tried-and-true moon rituals guided by positive psychology principles.
A sample new moon ritual.
New moon intention setting encourages us to take personal responsibility for our actions and clarify what we really want in life. It encourages us to find and set meaningful goals, which is the first step of increasing life satisfaction1. Here's how it's done:
- On the next new moon (you can find out when that is with this lunar planner), prepare a sacred space. Activate the senses by lighting a candle or sage, making herbal tea, and sitting on a comfortable cushion or rug. Lay out a journal and pen, close the door, and turn off your phone.
- Close your eyes, place one hand on your heart and one on your belly to connect with your physical body, and breathe deeply.
- Ask yourself what you most desire. Do you want a career more aligned with your purpose in life? Do you wish to start or improve a relationship? Do you crave more health and vitality?
- Notice how the answer feels in your body. Do you feel tingles of excitement? Do you feel peace and expansion?
- Tap into the power of elevated emotions by allowing yourself to feel grateful that you have already achieved your goal. Feel this in your body.
- Open your eyes, and write down your intention to declare what you are creating. Phrase it in the positive. For example, "I feel joy as I create a mutually loving and supportive marriage."
A sample full moon ritual.
The full moon is the perfect time to tap into the positive psychology principles of abundance, connection, and strength. Here's a sample ritual for the next one:
- Bring two or three friends together on the day of the full moon. Invite them to an afternoon in the park or to your house for a meal. Prepare two pieces of paper and a pen for each person, a large bowl, and a lighter.
- On the first piece of paper, ask each person to write down a goal they are working to bring to life. On the second piece of paper, ask them to write down whatever is holding them back from achieving this goal. What is keeping you languishing rather than flourishing? For example, if you are afraid of being judged if you step out and become more visible by writing a book, write down that you feel scared of being judged for who you really are.
- One at a time, ask each person to read their goal aloud, and share what is keeping them from moving forward. Then have everyone burn the second piece of paper in the bowl while identifying a specific action that they will take to move toward their goal.
- As each person burns their list, ask the other group members to identify and affirm a strength of the person who is burning the paper. For example, "I see your courage to be seen as who you really are."
- Repeat the ritual so that each person has publicly declared their goals, burned their fears, identified a specific action they will take to move forward and flourish, and felt their strength affirmed.
Abundance is not about accumulating more "stuff." It's the courage to dream bigger, to trust that you are worthy of creating a better life, and to believe that you will be supported to flourish if you set the right goals, show up to support others, and do the work.
Learn all about the lunar events in store for us this month here.
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