Moon Mondays: Living by the moon, a path to real change

I used to religiously set New Year’s resolutions. I’d write them down, full of hope and determination, and by mid-January, I’d practically forgotten what they even were. Nothing got accomplished. 

Until I had a breakthrough.

I realized the winter solstice is the true new year, the moment the light returns for us northerners. That made so much more sense to me than the Gregorian calendar some pope invented. I decided to cut out the middleman and align myself with the sun’s timing instead. 

It felt different. I felt connected to something larger — like I was syncing up with the universe. Something in me shifted. 

My next insight: What if I used each new moon to support my solstice intentions? 

I broke those big yearly visions into smaller, monthly goals. Each new moon, I checked in, set shorter intentions, and kept moving forward step by step. And you know what? By the next winter solstice, I had accomplished everything on my list. Everything! I felt like I’d cracked the cosmic code. 

The magic was in the alignment, working with the Earth and sky. I was reconnecting to my ancestral ways, living in rhythm with nature and discovering a deeper sense of meaning. 

Many of us long for connection — to spirit, to nature, to the sky, and to the wisdom of our ancestors who lived by these cycles long before us. 

Last week on the equinox, I wrote about the sun’s yearly cycle. Today, I want to share how the moon’s monthly orbit reflects the sun’s and how working with them you can transform your life. 

The sun moves through its full cycle annually, marked by the solstices and equinoxes — the four seasonal points of the year. The moon moves through the entire zodiac in just one month, echoing the sun’s yearly journey in a faster, cyclical rhythm. 

Working with the moon cycle 

New Moon 
The beginning of the cycle. The moon is dark, meeting with the sun. This is the time to set intentions — to plant seeds. These goals should be concrete and doable within one month, ideally supporting your larger solstice visions. 

Often, we set intentions, like “open my heart.” While that is a beautiful intention, how will you know you succeeded? Open heart surgery? Be specific. Maybe it means offering your partner more grace or committing to a self-care practice. Make it measurable, so you’ll know if you accomplished it. 

First Quarter Moon 
This is the building phase. The moon is high in the sky at sunset, waxing, gaining light. It’s your first check-in point. Ask yourself: How’s my intention going? Am I making it happen — or did I already space it? This is the week to choose one micro-action, one small, easy step that keeps you moving forward. 

Full Moon 
The full moon rises at sunset, illuminating the night. This is the time for celebration and acknowledgement. I like to ask: What’s one thing you can celebrate about yourself right now? 

In our modern spiritual culture, the full moon is often framed as a time for release. But traditionally, it was a time of gathering — feasting, dancing, and honoring the light together. Let yourself moon-shine. Even if it feels small, acknowledge yourself for something. If that seems challenging, that’s a thread worth tugging on to understand why it’s so difficult. 

Last Quarter Moon 
In the waning phase, with the moon high at sunrise, its light diminishes as it returns toward the sun, preparing for the next new moon. This is your final check-in point before the cycle ends. Ask: What small step can I take this week to complete my intention before the next new moon? And the circle begins again. 

Working in this way, united with the moon and sun cycles, provides a framework to help us intentionally create the lives we most want — the one you know inside you came here to live. 

Today (Monday) is the first quarter moon in Capricorn — a potent moment to ground into this structure and commit to what you’re building. This moon reminds us that even the smallest step can move us closer to the life we most desire. 

What one small action could you take this week to support your dreams and keep you moving in the direction you long to go? 

Until then, I wish you a celestially connected week. I’ll see you next Monday for the Aries full moon — a perfect time to celebrate who you uniquely are! 

Sheridan Semple guides women to create meaningful change in their lives by reconnecting with the natural rhythms of the earth, sun, and moon. She is an astrologer, astrology life coach, and founder of Moon Sisters Circle. Find her work at sheridansemple.com or email her at sheridan@sheridansemple.com.