Invite the transformative power of the new moon into your life with these 7 new moon ritual practices inspired by the sea.
Many of these ritual practices encourage you to create and deepen your relationship with a sacred space in your own home – an Ocean Altar. This is somewhere that you can connect to the ocean, and go deeper.
They also offer a taster of the kind of rituals and practices I share with the community in Ocean Altar: The Journey. I would love you to join us.
We are open to new participants until 31 March 2025.
What is a home altar, and why might I want one for my new moon ritual practices?
A home altar is simply a space that you decide to make sacred in your home – in whatever shape and form feels good to you. It’s a focal point in your home where you can explore new moon ritual practices like those I share here. And honour energetically powerful times like new moons, full moons, solstices and equinoxes.
A home altar – especially an Ocean Altar, which brings a particular focus to the sea – doesn’t require you to follow a particular religion or set of beliefs. Although of course you can bring your religion to your altar if you wish to.
A home altar is simply somewhere that you visit regularly. For moments of pause, thoughtfulness, compassion, self-care, prayer, and song. Or whatever activity has meaning for you.
It’s somewhere to reconnect to your intention – and to the whole.
An Ocean Altar also invites the ocean to receive your blessings, and offer you support.
The more you bring your energetic focus and rituals to your Ocean Altar, the more power lives within this specific space in your home.
And the greater the benefits you feel.
For some people, your home Ocean Altar might simply be a small portion of shelf with a favourite shell and a postcard of the sea. It might be a much-loved poster or painting on the wall. It might even be the mat where you pause to do yoga or meditation.
So let’s dive into some new moon practices – that might also encourage you to create your own home Ocean Altar…
New Moon Ritual Practices 1: Set Your Intention
1. SET AN INTENTION FOR THE NEXT MOON CYCLE
The new moon is the darkest point of the moon cycle. It’s the moment at which a new moon cycle begins again.
Consider what intention you would like to bring into the light as the moon begins to rise again.
What do you want to move toward or create in your life right now?
You might commit to this intention by speaking it aloud at your home Ocean Altar as a new moon ritual practice. You might also call in your guides and the ocean for support there.
You might write your intention down and add it to your home Ocean Altar. Placing it somewhere that you can see it whenever you are there. Let it be a reminder of what you wish to move toward.
If you don’t yet have an altar, let your written intention be your first step towards creating one. Place your intention somewhere you can see it. Then pause there every day to revisit and recommit to your intention. Let this motivate you onward.
New Moon Ritual Practices 2: New Moon Water Blessing
2. BLESS YOUR WATERS
Instead of just gulping down your next glass of water today, why not pause to bless it first as another new moon ritual practice…?
You could write your blessing down and attach it to the vessel that holds your water. Or place it within the water.
You could speak or sing to the water, letting your heart guide you.
The words of your blessing might be as simple as:
“I bless this water, and offer my thanks to the ocean for holding me in this next moon cycle”.
You might then drink and receive this water, use it to anoint yourself, or offer it to the land.
You could also place some of this blessed water on your Ocean Altar at the time of the new moon. Offer blessings there on each day of the upcoming moon cycle. You might choose to release this water to the land on the full moon, bringing fresh water to your altar.
As you release your water, ask for support. Let the water support you to release anything blocking your progress toward your intention right now.
New Moon Ritual Practices 3: New Moon Bathing
3. BATHE PRECIOUS OBJECTS IN THE NEW MOON “LIGHT”
Most often, we associate the idea of “moon bathing” with stepping into the light of the full moon.
However, the new moon darkness can also be absorbed. By items that we cherish. By that blessed glass of water. Even by ourselves.
Place your water or items outside or beside a window to receive the new moon energy.
And then bring them to your Ocean Altar, cleansed and charged.
Try this with crystals, stones, shells, your written intention, an unlit candle, jewellery and anything else from your altar. By doing so, you are calling the power of the new moon and those peak tides into these items.Â
You can use this new moon water to clean precious items, clean your altar, or refresh a particular area of your home. Bring your new intention to mind as you do so. Or add some to your own bath or shower. Before you enter the water, connect to the sea and the new moon. Call in their support as you do so. As the water drains away, let go of anything you need to release.
You might also ‘charge’ yourself under the new moon! Take yourself for a walk and pause to absorb these energies. Or go for a new moon dip in the sea (being very aware of your safety in the dark).
New Moon Ritual Practices 4: Card Reading
4. ASK ORACLE CARDS FOR GUIDANCE
Choose some oracle or tarot cards as guidance for the next moon cycle.
You might choose three cards for guidance. Choose one to interpret the past moon cycle. A second card to consider the present moment. And a third card to reflect on the moon cycle to come.
Ask the cards for guidance on where to place your attention as you look back. Then, as you embrace the new moon energy today. Finally, as you step into the next moon cycle.
I’m going to be recommending my Sea Soul Journeys Oracle Cards for this practice. Because they connect us to both the ocean and the moon that pulls the tides within and around us.
Notice which cards most resonate with you at this time. Which might support you to move towards your intention? Use these cards and their themes as prompts to consider and reflect on in your journal.
Place an oracle card on your home Ocean Altar. Let it be a reminder to continue returning to this wisdom to support you throughout the month.
New Moon Ritual Practices 5: Silent Retreat
5. SPEND TIME IN SILENCE
Each moon cycle, I try to join a silent retreat with some friends – or to make space for quiet in my day.
There’s such power in coming together on the new moon to go within for a few hours. During this silent retreat, we look back on the period of the past moon cycle, and then ahead to the new.
Having this quiet reflective time at this point in the moon cycle, away from distractions and devices, deepens our intuitive connection.
It’s often a time when emotions arise and bubble through. A time where we get insight, or begin to interpret the learning from recent life lessons.
Perhaps you could put aside some time for yourself today to try some of these practices with a deeper focus.
New Moon Ritual Practices 6: Deepen Intuition
6. DEEPEN YOUR INTUITIVE AWARENESS
The new moon is often associated with a deepening of our intuition, and with opportunities to ask for intuitive guidance.
Practice tuning in to your intuition at your home Ocean Altar, and exploring what helps you to get closer to this.
As you tune in, you might ask for intuitive guidance on what your intention should be.
Or on what you might include in your own new moon ritual today.
Or which of these 7 new moon practices are most likely to resonate with you.
How do you sense this inner voice? Are you most likely to hear intuitive guidance, see it, sense it, or simply feel it as a deep knowing?
What helps you to tune into your intuition – space to go within, or external prompts like oracle cards, or seeking out signs in nature?
Are there particular items, places, or sounds that help (like the sea, whale song, or running water…)?
You can ask for guidance by speaking your question aloud and listening for answers. You might write a question in your journal and then free-write to see what answer arises for you. You might journey in a guided meditation, or intuitively use a collaging practice to offer up images and messages.
You might use oracle or tarot cards to seek an answer. But before you turn the card, tune into your intuitive knowing for a message to guide you deeper.
New Moon Ritual Practices 7: Journal
7. SPEND SOME TIME JOURNALING
Journaling can be a really powerful addition to your new moon rituals. It connects you to your intuition, encourages you to go within, and helps you to set clear intentions.
The new moon is the perfect time to look back and reflect. To consider all that you have experienced since the last new moon.
It’s a time for noticing patterns and acknowledging progress (even when that feels hard to do). And then using these to guide you forward into the next cycle.Â
Here are some prompts you might like to explore:
~ Looking back on the past moon cycle…
…What do I want to honour and celebrate?
…What do I want to release and move on from?
…What was my greatest learning? And how can I use that to guide me forward?
~ Looking forward to the month ahead…
…What would I like to invite in?
…What is my intention for this next moon cycle?
…What might stand in the way of my moving towards that intention?
If you enjoyed exploring these New Moon ritual practices, you’ll love Ocean Altar: The Journey. Find out more HERE.
At its simplest, my intention with Ocean Altar is to hold a sacred space for you by the sea. And to tend to it daily. Lovingly, and to my full capacity.
I create an energetic container in which you can connect to the ocean. And awaken compassionate dialogue with your inner wisdom.
Yet there is also a deeper intention beneath Ocean Altar: Journey: To build the loving strength that is required for us each to live into our soul purpose.
Because I believe that when we truly honour our connection to nature – and awaken our soul knowing through ritual and ceremony – everything else falls into place.
Come join us in Ocean Altar: Journey today.