How to Do a New Moon Ritual: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Intentions

The Full Moon gets a lot of attention. And, it should. After all, it’s gorgeous and has been linked with magic for centuries. But, the New Moon is powerful too even though you can’t see it in the dark sky. And, New Moon rituals are best for manifesting or intention setting if you want to call in new things.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to perform a New Moon ritual, what makes this phase so ideal for setting intentions, and other moon magic you might want to consider during this lunar phase.

Why Work with the New Moon?

The New Moon is a time of possibility. With the sky dark and the Moon hidden from view, you’re offered a clean slate. It’s a moment to go inward and plant the seeds of whatever you want to call in. This is typically when witches and other spiritual practitioners set intentions, perform spells for growth, and ask the universe for support.

What you begin now will grow with the waxing moon, the period between the New Moon and the Full. That moon phase is the time to take action, build momentum, and nurture your intentions as they start to take shape. Whether you’re calling in love, money, clarity, courage, or new creative projects, the waxing phase supports movement and expansion.

Then the time the Full Moon arrives, your intentions have reached their peak. That’s when many practitioners perform rituals for culmination, illumination, and release. But the magic starts here, in the stillness of the dark sky, when all things are possible and nothing has yet been written.

How to Perform a New Moon Intention Setting Ritual

If you are looking to do a powerful intention setting for the next New Moon, here’s your step-by-step ritual.

1. Prepare Your Space

Take a few moments to prepare your space with intention. Dim the lights, light a few candles, and create an atmosphere that feels peaceful and sacred. Find something to sit on that will be comfortable. You might also want to gather any tools you plan to use, such as a journal, pen, crystals, or personal altar items that hold symbolic meaning.

2. Center Yourself

Once your space is ready, turn your focus inward. Spend a few quiet minutes in meditation to ground your energy and connect with your inner self.

If sitting in silence feels challenging, simply focus on your breath. I love the four fold breath, where you inhale deeply through your nose for four counts, hold for four four counts, then exhale slowly for four counts. Repeat until you feel calm and centered. If you’ve had a busy day, it might take some time. Be patient with yourself.

3. Visualize Your Intention

Close your eyes and visualize your desire. See your intentions unfolding, feel the emotions they bring, and allow yourself to fully believe in their possibility. This technique is rooted in science and is used by many successful people, including professional athletes to help them achieve their goals.

4. Write As If You Are Living It

Now it’s time to name what you want to call in. What is it that you truly want to manifest in this new cycle? When you’re ready, write your intentions down in the present tense, as if you are already living this experience. For example, “I am surrounded by love and abundance.”

If you’re feeling stuck, here are some New Moon prompts to guide you.

• What do you most want to call into my life?
• Where in your life are you ready for a fresh start?
• What limiting beliefs are you ready to release so you can move forward?
• Which goals light you up and which feel like they’re coming from someone else’s expectations?
• What is one small, intentional habit you can begin that supports the future you want to create?

5. Affirm and Release

To strengthen your ritual, speak your intentions aloud. As you do, take a moment to release any lingering doubts or limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. Let them go. Physically shake them out if that helps. This is a clean slate, and you don’t need to carry anything that no longer serves you.

6. Close the Ritual

When you feel complete, take a moment to express gratitude. Thank the Moon, the universe, your guides, or any deities you work with for supporting your journey. Snuff out the candles, close your journal, and allow yourself to sit for a moment in the energy you’ve created. Your ritual is now sealed and your intentions are in motion. So mote it be.

More New Moon Ritual Ideas

1. Take a ritual bath

A herbal ritual bath is one of the most soothing ways to work with the New Moon’s energy, especially if it’s during late fall or winter. Add herbs like lavender or rosemary, a handful of sea salt or Epsom salt, and place a favorite crystal nearby. (Not all crystals are water safe, so check before chucking it in the tub with you.). As you soak, imagine releasing the last lunar cycle and preparing for the next one.

2. Write a letter to your future self and seal it until the next New Moon

One ritual you can do on days that feel like resets (birthdays, New Year’s, the Full and New Moon) is write a letter to your future self. Share what you’re feeling now, what you’re hoping for, and how you’d like your life to shift by the next New Moon (or next birthday, etc.).

Then seal it in an envelope, tuck it away somewhere safe, and don’t open it until the Moon goes dark again. When you open it, see what manifested and what still needs to adjust in your life for that to take hold.

3. Do a tarot or oracle card pull for insight into what’s shifting or beginning

The New Moon is the perfect time for divination. Pull a single card or a simple spread to explore what’s opening up for you this cycle. For beginners, a one-card pull is more than enough. Ask the tarot what is beginning for you this lunar cycle or ask it what energy does the Universe what you to step into.

4. Charge moon water

Now, Moon water is usually made under the Full Moon. But, creating a batch under the New Moon charges it with energy for fresh starts. And, that’s great for ritual baths, cleaning, or anointing your self during the moon’s waxing phase. To make moon water, simply pour water into a jar or bowl, set an intention for it, and place it outside or on a windowsill overnight.

5. Draw or paint intuitively to explore your subconscious

Now, ok, the last time I did this things went a bit… off the rails. But, it probably won’t for you. Intuitive drawing taps into your subconscious and can surface things your conscious mind hasn’t quite caught up to yet. Do it to see what colors, symbols, or forms come through.

6. Try automatic writing

This is similar to the drawing exercise, but this one involved writing. Grab a pen and paper. If you can, write by hand that reportedly helps you work with your subconscious more than typing does. Then let yourself write freely for five to ten minutes and see what comes without editing it.

7. Sit in the dark and and listen for messages from the natural world

There’s something deeply grounding about sitting in the dark under a moonless sky. Bundle up if it’s chilly, step outside, and simply listen. What do you notice? The rustle of leaves? A far-off siren? A coyote’s howl? Let your senses open and observe what the environment is mirroring back to you. If you’re a witch who lives in the city, your messages might come through overheard snippets from the street below or your neighbor’s music.

8. Declutter

Whether it’s your closet, inbox, or altar, clearing stagnant stuff creates space for something new to enter. You don’t have to tackle everything, Virgo. Just focus on one area that’s been nagging you.

9. Refresh your altar to reset your spiritual space.

Dust everything off, swap out dried herbs or flowers, and add symbols of what you’re calling in. For each New Moon and Full Moon, I include a list of the monthly correspondences in the post if you want to work with those colors, plants, and symbols.

FAQ

What is the purpose of a New Moon ritual?

New Moon rituals are meant to align you with the energy of new beginnings. The new moon phase is an ideal time to slow down, reflect, set intentions, and plant energetic seeds for what you want to grow during the next lunar cycle.

Do I have to do my New Moon ritual at the exact time of the New Moon?

No. You don’t have to align your ritual to the minute. Most practitioners perform their rituals within a 48-hour window, either on the night of the New Moon or the following day. (Dark Moon rituals are done the night before the New Moon.) Trust your intuition and choose a time that feels most aligned for you.

How is a New Moon ritual different from a Full Moon ritual?

New Moon rituals are about beginnings. Planting, calling in, setting intentions. Full Moon rituals, on the other hand, are for culmination and release. If you want to do a Full Moon ritual, check out our guide.

What’s the difference between a New Moon and a Dark Moon?

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can refer to slightly different moments. The Dark Moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the sky. It’s sacred to Hekate and those who work with her perform rituals to her during the Dark Moon. The New Moon is the moment the moon and sun align, beginning a new lunar cycle.

What should I avoid during a New Moon?

Avoid overcommitting, rushing into decisions, or trying to force clarity. (All things you should do in general…) You might not have all the answers yet. And, that’s okay. Let this be a time for reflection, not pressure.

Can I do a New Moon ritual even if I’m not a witch?

Of course. Many cultures have been working with the moon for centuries and the majority of those peoples were not witches. You don’t need to follow any specific spiritual path to honor the moon’s phases. Whether you meditate, journal, or just sit with your breath and take a moment to pause, you’re connecting to those who came before.