How Moon Phases Affect Us

Every month, we watch that gorgeous lunar orb in the night sky grow and shrink, depending on where it is in its ever-changing cycle. Moving from new to full to new again, the Moon’s cycle influences fertility and creativity, with waxing phases being good for growth (fertile) and waning phases being good for reducing growth (barren). 

Did you know that understanding the Moon’s phases can help you plan your beauty treatments and hair appointments? But more importantly, knowing the Moon’s phases can help you make the most of extra fertile times -- or avoid them, depending on your intentions with fertility and conception.

The Moon moves through eight different phases each month. They are:
New
Crescent
First Quarter
Gibbous
Full
Disseminating
Third Quarter
Balsamic

The Moon has no light of its own, it simply reflects, at various angles, the light of the Sun. The Moon reaches her peak at the full Moon, a time when emotions run high. Many employees in hospitals, on police forces and even stockbrokers will confirm the extra “craziness” they experience in their workplace as a result of the Full Moon each month.

From new to full, the Moon gets brighter and brighter. This is called “waxing” and incorporates the phases of new, crescent, first quarter and gibbous. This two-week period is considered the fertile time in the Moon’s cycle. If you are trying to conceive, these are your best two weeks in which to do so. Creative inspiration is said to be higher through these waxing phases too. And, believe it or not, if you get your hair cut or legs waxed then, you’ll get thicker regrowth!

From full to new, the Moon is shrinking in size and losing light. This is called “waning” and incorporates the phases of full, disseminating, third quarter and balsamic. This two-week period is considered the barren time in the Moon’s cycle and is about retreat and completion. It’s best for beauty and hair treatments where your intention is to reduce or thin regrowth. And these two weeks of the month are when your chances of conception are said to be less.

Take a look at the fertile/waxing periods and barren/waning periods listed below that will occur over the next few months. Beauty treatment-wise, you’d do well to plan hair appointments where you want lots of lush regrowth in the waxing period, but schedule leg or bikini waxes in the waning period when regrowth can be reduced. And if you’re focussed on achieving something that calls for a great deal more commitment, your hopes around conception can be boosted through the waxing phase but might be less successful through the waning phase.

Full Moon dates 2011
Year	Month	Day	Time	Day of week
2011	Jan	19	21:21	Wed
2011	Feb	18	8:36	Fri
2011	Mar	19	18:10	Sat
2011	Apr	18	02:44	Mon
2011	May	17	11:09	Tue
2011	Jun	15	20:14	Wed
2011	Jul	15	06:40	Fri
2011	Aug	13	18:57	Sat
2011	Sep	12	09:27	Mon
2011	Oct	12	02:06	Wed
2011	Nov	10	20:16	Thu
2011	Dec	10	14:36	Sat
Full Moon dates 2012
Year	Month	Day	Time	Day of week
2012	Jan	9	07:30	Mon
2012	Feb	7	21:54	Tue
2012	Mar	8	09:39	Thu
2012	Apr	6	19:19	Fri
2012	May	6	03:35	Sun
2012	Jun	4	11:12	Mon
2012	Jul	3	18:52	Tue
2012	Aug	2	03:27	Thu
2012	Aug	31	13:58	Fri
2012	Sep	30	03:19	Sun
2012	Oct	29	19:49	Mon
2012	Nov	28	14:46	Wed
2012	Dec	28	10:21      Fri