Embrace the Cold Moon: Set Your Intentions with the New Moon Journal by Namaste Studios
By Dennis Bluthardt at Namaste Studios
The Cold Moon shines for us in December as a time to look within. Winter is just beginning; we know a season of “death” is upon us, but that makes it the perfect time to decide what we want to see come alive again. This moon also typically falls around Yule and the end of the calendar year, creating a fantastic energy of release and renewal. The Universe pulls us shoulders and says, “Hold on a second. Think about what you’re doing and put some intention into it!” Better Humans.
Enhance your journey with this New Moon Journal: here! This journal was designed to help you create precise, more “SMART” goals. The physical act of writing is scientifically proven to cause the wheels in your brain to start turning immediately, creating a space of self-confidence.
Reflection and Journaling
“Reflection” is critical because it helps us become more self-aware and fosters personal growth. By taking a moment to reflect, we can learn more about our experiences, emotions, and behaviors. Reflection is a great thing to do when considering personal growth because it allows us to learn where these unseen things might be coming from.
We can see if we have any unhealthy or toxic patterns, predict and/or identify triggers, think about whether we are behaving in ways that align with who we are at our core, and change our behaviors to more closely align with who we want to become.
To name a couple of other great things, Reflection also trains us to point out + celebrate victories + achievements, putting us in a position to better plan for moving forward. Setting new intentions and keeping up with ‘old’ habits that are in line with allowing for more growth + change in our future is easy, we don’t need to know our ultimate destination or be perfect.
What is the Cold Moon?
“The final full moon of the year is the Cold Moon, often in December. Named by Native American tribes, the phase of the moon is in line with the cold temperatures and daunting weather that rears its head in December. At the end of the year, we are reminded of life’s cyclical nature, as this time of year offers such a bright, beautiful beacon of life when the earth starts to wind down and rest, preparing for it to be rejuvenated or reborn. This period often serves as a time to reflect on what has happened in the past 12 months, considering one’s own experiences, achievements, and failures. The Cold Moon has a historical place and cultural relevance throughout the world. In various societies, the cold moon is celebrated with festivals and rituals, with communities taking the moment when the moon is packed during the longest night of the year to celebrate the paradox of life. In some cultures, rituals are created to release the old and make room for the new, further enticing the idea of rebirth central to some schools of thought.
“This moon is a good time to reflect, so consider ridding yourself of any baggage and begin to focus your intentions. Think about what you’ve done in the last 12 months, where you are now, and the direction in which you’d like to take your life. The cold moon can also offer a good opportunity to develop some closure, as if you’re placing the period at the end of a long and wicked sentence.”
“This kind of release is… righteous! It’s so good, it feels delicious.”
Using the New Moon Journal by Namaste Studios
“How to Harness the Energy of the Cold Moon (December’s New Moon) with This Journal”
“The New Moon Journal sets and manifests intentions with the moon throughout the lunar cycle. The journal content includes guided prompts, reflective questions, and writing space, welcoming a deep dive into the abyss of what you currently want from this life. Each journal section offers a deeper personal understanding of the energy of the ‘New Moon’ offering to you, adding another delicious layer.”
“A powerful tool to cultivate setting New Moon intentions with the Cold Moon this December. Her energy carries you into introspection, a current of Reflection on the year. So, look back to last year at this time, reflect on what you’ve learned and what’s changed. What do you want to give away (release), and what do you plan to do for yourself? To stand close and ask for it here.”
‘Do the journal writing work’ Use the power of the urge and continue picturing/visualizing/self-feeling. Actively work to create the image you want with me in the vision of you and what our intentions and goals look like for you over your life currently. Every time you picture the problem, you create the pathway to it, designed to come in; it will expand your Collective.
FOCUSING ON HAVING ISSUES; AND ON WEEDING, YOURSELF, AND OTHERS? Or allowing yourself on your time to get there on your own?
Creating SMART Goals
SMART goals provide an excellent framework for optimizing your goal-setting process. They help ensure that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specifically, what exactly needs to be accomplished? Measurable: How will I know when I’m making progress? Achievable, what are the goals that I can achieve? Relevant: Which goals align most with what I want to bring into my life? Time-bound: Create a sense of urgency and responsibility.
When setting SMART objectives with the energy of the Cold Moon in mind, you might think of themes of Reflection and introspection. So, you’re making it your goal to set aside time for relaxation and Reflection during this time. You could make this specific by saying how many times a week you plan to do this (which aligns with the Cold Moon energy of allowing yourself time to “check in” with yourself and see how you’re emotionally and spiritually).
You should also ensure your goals are achievable and relevant to your current life. Let’s say you want to improve your mental health and, by doing so, your goal is to sit down and be mindful/peaceful for 10 minutes every day, and maybe to bring in a “Time-bound” aspect to this, you could tell yourself to do it every single day, for the duration of the moon cycle. That allows you to focus on your energy this month!
The Power of Affirmations
Positive declarations that can add a little sunshine to your life and help you cope with the ups and downs of a world that makes many demands of you. They can assist you in handling the half-seen visions you have of the life that could be yours. They can help you push through when negativity threatens to engulf you. An affirmation aims to enable a mindset conducive to personal growth by rewiring the “I can’t” part of the mind to “I can.” This new, encouraging voice will support you on your self-alchemy journey, giving you the resilience and confidence to become the vision of your highest self. In the lunar cycle, you can use your affirmations most fervently during certain times where manifestation is most potent, including at the new moon and in conjunction with lunar events.
For example, you may use manifestational affirmations for new beginnings, such as “I am worthy of new opportunities,” specifically during the new moon phase, which is associated with new beginnings and intentions, much like the start of the calendar month is for us. Here, you can set your intentions for the following month, “I am open to growth,” or, “I am open to change,” which, by implication, gets you to start in your mind, wondering where you want to be this time next month, and what you would be looking to achieve, based on the area of life looking at your birth chart. From here, you should know what steps would be helpful to get to that point and what the end goal looks like, based on using these sorts of cross-section conjunction opportunities. Then, consider maintaining momentum once you set your plan, and incorporate infusing waxing moon phases with affirmations that keep you going and amp up the planning energy of the lunar process.
You may wish to break down into categories positive statements for love and relationships (“I do attract healthy relationships”), work and career (“I am worthy at my core, as a unique being, of success in my career, and the making of life destiny”), depending on your data set, and how you relate to your intuitive findings to balance other areas of your life. For example, Venus in Aquarius in the 6th house, and 6th house stellium, based on “air” and “house” definitions given above, “astro.com,” “cafe astrology”. A byline for healing with Venus of “self-actualization through relating to others,” or “I can understand me better, through relating,” was found, even though the person does not think they are naturally very good with maintaining the strength of their relationships, which she specialized in, having built a bespoke role for herself, around her skills, at work (“formulate some for me, to see if it opens me better”).
Releasing and Letting Go
The Cold Moon, typically in December, is both reflective and releasing. As we near the end of the year, it provides the perfect occasion to consider what you might need to let go of. Those might be thoughts that don’t serve you or relationships that drag you down, not to mention bad habits and non-productive behaviors.
By letting go, you make room for the new growth that will take place in the next year. This process will align your rhythm more with that of the Universe, the Earth, and the cosmos. As you do this releasing, some ‘grounding ‘is appropriate. Try the grounding of walking barefoot on a natural surface. Try the “visualizing” way, in your mind’s eye, seeing roots sprout from the bottoms of your feet into the earth beneath you, as though you’re a walking tree.
Try journaling, too. Writing “Dear Diary,” as you elaborate on your thoughts and feelings about what you’re getting rid of, is always an A-OK way to release it from your possession. Since you’re reading an article about “moon magic,” you understand the three-fold “Rule of Return,” right? You wouldn’t wish to ground anything “heavy” into the earth, right? Nor “air” it, “fire” it, or “water” it. Ground something good: write about where you will begin tomorrow.
Moon visualization, a very relaxing and easy (but powerful) way to assimilate The Cold Moon, is to close your eyes, breathe, and picture a sacred, energy-light flowing through you, onto you, and around you. Visualize that the sacred energy-light is of the body of the moon itself, that the light is the color that best represents The Cold Moon. Breathe in the light a few times; breathe it throughout your internal body and your mind. Have the light transmute any and every “block” within you into “the good,” into what is best for you (core star energy). As you breathe, “exhale” the light outward to where it can go to heal others, too.
You attract like energy, remember? Make sure you are grounded to “planet earth” on this day, for when you do moon-centered visualizations and “moon guidance,” you might be surprised, but, er, just saying. Wait on the day after the moon arrives to be “moon surprised. You may notice that at least the next two people (you see in person or you receive a message from) are ‘Wikipedia hard’ at something you’d kind of like to try, too; something in which you have an ‘interest; something you have been involved in before, now, or in the future; or something different, but ready for you?
You will likely have to sign some NDAs for yourself or for other people, to prevent the overblown chaos you won’t want to see. Release whatever you are “carrying.” A lot is none of your business, but it is up to you. You oversee most of your life and what you become.
In everything I do, I remain functionally naive. I hope you adopt the same practice: it vaguely defines the ‘bad,’ highlights the ‘unlimited good,’ and beacons the ‘knowledgeable.’
Energy Healing and Gratitude Practices
“The Cold Moon” usually rises in December and is an excellent time for retrospection and energy magic. During this part of the lunation, you should do energy healings like crystal magic, sound healing, and meditation.
With “The Cold Moon” lunation, you could do crystal magic with crystals like Clear Quartz and Amethyst to strengthen manifestation requests. Sound healing can be done with sound devices like singing bowls to bring high positive vibrational peace into your energy. And why not meditate to create a peaceful setting for self-manifestation? As you perform your magic rituals, include the vibration of thanksgiving because the more we are thankful that all is well, the more outer conditions will reflect the color of our thoughts.
Journal this crystal/sound/thankful magic. Take a few moments to write all you are grateful for in your journal and your magical ritual(s) requests. From the above (inner) suggestions, the Cold Moon is a mystical, perfect time to be thankful for the year’s abundant harvest and move forward to a beautiful year ahead.
December’s Cold Moon holds significant meaning in various cultures and traditions, offering a time of Reflection, closure, and the lush opportunity to set our intentions for the coming year. As the last full moon of the year, one might ponder the accomplishments and challenges the year has presented, recognizing the passage of time and what you wish to release of habits, thoughts, and relationships that no longer serve you. This new guide prompts introspective questions about your life’s direction and how these changes align you with the calling of your soul’s purpose.
The New Moon Journal through Namaste Studios offers you the ideal mechanism for turning the wheels of your journey. Your purchase from Amazon contains insights, practices, structured prompts, and tools to engage each intention for your continued development deeply. The practices associated with the most prominent, intentional journal allow your soul to tell its own story. One reads on in quiet introspection. Who am I? What was I born to do? How will I use the talents and gifts I have been given to fulfill my intended purpose? Where is my tribe, my positive peer group, to influence my rising process? How can I make a difference, however small or significant, in this world? Those who wish to send the energy of an intentional motto into the Universe cannot fully appreciate these until you have released that new intention from the nib of your pen or pencil. Never writing it down diminishes its power and the validity of a new life-changing goal. Those that mean the most to you incorporate the research into each new moon to start your best list for your attitude of gratitude and visualization of your moon practice. What I love most about this moment is that it offers an opportunity to embark upon an entirely new pathway.
To learn more, visit our Moon Journal Blogs at Namaste Studios or buy a New Moon Journal on Amazon or our Namaste Studios Bookstore.
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