Infused by the Moon

I have always been a time-oriented person. This has its benefits and downsides. The benefit is I get a lot done. The downside is I’m hyper-strict about my schedule. I tend to live in extremes. However. my sign is Libra and I’m always seeking balance. I started looking at the Moon phases when gardening, learning from the Farmer’s Almanac, and in my Wicca studies. One helpful practice is setting intentions and goals with the Moon phases. As I have been paying more attention to the Moon, I have also been paying more attention to nature which has brought me peace in my mental space.

The new Moon can be seen as a fresh start. It is a good time to start new projects and set new intentions for the cycle. I focus on intentions that are increasing something or focused on abundance. I focus on the Moon and my intention throughout the waxing period as the Moon becomes full. The full Moon is a time for gratitude and reflection on your intentions and what needs to be changed. The next cycle is for decreasing. As the Moon wanes, the powers are focused on banishing and decreasing anything holding you back or causing self-harm. I continue to monitor the Moon daily and check in with my intention for the cycle. This has been good for me, as it pinpoints my focus on getting things done and evolving myself and my thinking.

As a novice herbalist, I infuse oils for my natural beauty products with flowers and herbs from my garden. This year I made rose-infused almond oil, lilac-infused almond oil, and vanilla-infused almond oil. I did not grow the vanilla beans, but I love the warm and cozy love energy it adds to any infusion. This Fall I will be making coffee-infused almond oil for lip and eye balm, body scrubs, and lotion bars.

This also works for creating your own infused potions and elixirs on the new Moon. It is considered good luck to start an infusion on the new Moon. Also, in keeping with the Moon’s phases it is a time of increase, so I think of infusing my creations with abundance. I also consider the magical properties of the herbs and flowers and put that energy as a guiding intention for the infusion. Roses are associated with love and beauty. Lilac flowers are a contradiction, they are associated with banishing on one hand, and a sense of sweetness and play on the other.

Vinegar infusions can also be made with the Moon cycles. I have only experimented with tangerine-infused vinegar and I would highly recommend it. I saved the skins from a bag of cuties in a large jar until it was halfway full, then filled with white vinegar. I put it together on the new Moon, then strained it on the next new Moon. This works amazing as a cleaner by itself. The tangerine adds a punch to the cleaning power. The smell is also divine, the tangerines add that happy cheerfulness to the blend. I have also used this in my DIY all-purpose cleaner here. You can vary the essential oils. To make it all citrus use lime, grapefruit, lemon, orange, or tangerine essential oils.

The Moon is a powerful source of energy. When you appreciate her beauty and her cycles, she will help you manifest your desires.

Shining white light,
embrace me.
Dark sky, 
shining full to amplify.
Waning by degree 
Release into the night.

- Mila