S4 Ep 1 18.6 Years and Counting - Lunar Standstills and How to Use a Moon Tracker for Planning
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of lunar standstills and how lunar cycles can be an invaluable tool for planning your return to work and school after holidays.
As the ease of relaxing holiday rhythms fades and September rolls on, many of us naturally seek effective strategies to manage our time as we return to the structured environment of work and school. In our latest episode, we delve into how tracking the Moon can serve as an intuitive guide to better align your goals and energies with natural cycles.
Part of our episode began when Jenn Page, from "Self to Systems”, worked on an off-the-grid island off the coast of Maine. It was an essential fact-of-life for Jenn and her students to engage with tidal cycles and modify their activities to accommodate the high or low tide whether it be day or night. Living in this environment spurred Jenn into the world of Moon tracking, helping her draw connections between natural rhythms and daily life.
The practice of Moon tracking lies in a cyclical approach to managing time and energy—an approach that can seem diametrically opposed to the consistent and unyielding structure of the solar calendars we take for granted. By observing lunar cycles, perhaps there is more permission to ebb with low energies and flow with highly productive spurts.
One of the intriguing lunar cycles discussed in the episode is the 18.6-year lunar precession. This cycle influences the Moon's maximum altitude in the sky. As the Moon orbits Earth, the elliptic plane it follows is tilted, causing the "nodes" where its orbit crosses the ecliptic to shift, or precess. This precession brings significant periodic changes in where and how high the Moon appears in the sky.
Understanding this longer cycle can help us anticipate significant shifts in our natural environments and potentially even our personal rhythms over longer periods. This awareness adds depth to our understanding of lunar influences.
Complementing this, the 19-year Metonic cycle offers a fascinating synchrony between solar and lunar calendar as every 19 years, the lunar phase and calendar dates align almost perfectly. This cycle has been used historically to reconcile solar years and lunar months, useful for planning agricultural activities and festivals.
Incorporating awareness of these cycles can serve as a backdrop for our shorter-term Moon tracking, providing a rich tapestry of celestial influences guiding our earthly activities.
Here are some of the way we discuss in the episode that can be used to apply a lunar tracking method to your personal and professional life:
1. Observe the Moon Phases:
Use a Moon tracker to monitor the cycle from New Moon to Full Moon and back. Jenn’s innovative semicircle tracker divides the cycle into 30 sections, allowing for precise daily observation.
During New Moons, focus on introspection and planning. Full Moons, on the other hand, are perfect for high-energy activities and goal accomplishments.
2. Set Intentions and Reflect:
Just as Jenn used Moon phases to coordinate activities with children on the island, you can align major work projects or study sessions according to your energy cycle mapped on the Moon tracker.
Reflect on your goals during different Moon phases. This reflection can help bring about a balance between high-output periods and necessary downtimes.
3. Track and Analyze Patterns:
Color code your Moon tracker based on your energy levels, mood, activities, or other chosen metrics.
Over time, you’ll notice significant patterns—whether it’s the impact of Moon phases on your productivity or mood. This data can guide effective scheduling, reducing burnout, and increasing satisfaction in both work and personal life.
4. Acknowledge Downtime:
Our society often emphasises constant high productivity, but lunar observation encourages a rhythm that includes cycles of rest. The key is to consciously program downtime.
Reflecting on Jenn’s experiences and the shared insights from our episode, it’s clear that integrating lunar tracking into your post-summer planning can provide variety and intuitive guidance. Here are some additional tips:
Weekly Check-ins:
At the start of each week, compare your upcoming schedule with the Moon phase. Prioritize demanding tasks during the waxing Moon (leading up to full Moon) and leave less strenuous tasks or creative brainstorming sessions for the waning Moon (after full Moon).
Personal Reflection:
End each lunar cycle with a personal evaluation. What goals did you set? What did you achieve? What needs adjusting? This cyclical check-in leverages natural energy rhythms to enhance personal growth and work efficiency.
Jenn Page offers various Moon tracking tools and templates. You can contact her directly via email at jenn @ selftosystems.com or download customizable trackers from her resource library to start your Moon cycle journey.
Whether you find yourselves more naturally in tune with consistent daily output or cyclic highs and lows, lunar tracking offers a unique, introspective, and intuitive approach to goal setting and achievement. Our return to work after the holidays, filled with fresh starts and aspirations, stands to benefit immensely from aligning with these ancient, natural rhythms.
I’ll also take this opportunity to invite you join me on Patreon patreon.com/fionamarques for my regular “Moon and Transit” live online discussion. And even join my "Moon Investigation" group. Hope to see you there!