Moon Gazing
Moon gazing is a peaceful and calming way to spend an evening. You can take a scientific approach and observe features such as its mounds and craters, or you can connect emotionally to its changing phases.
Benefits of Moon Gazing
It is believed that gazing at the Moon can activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system that’s responsible for calming the body and reducing stress levels.
Gazing at the moon regularly can help calm your mind and relax your body, leading to better sleep quality.
Moon gazing will often induce a state of deep relaxation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety, improving mood overall. This is especially true when practicing a Moon gazing meditation.
Moon gazing helps people tap into their intuitive sides. Learning to trust that gut feeling can lead to deeper insights into themselves and their lives.
Those who Moon gaze often report feeling more grounded, as well as being more connected to the world around them. It can often promote feelings of stability and embodiment.
Moon gazing is a great way to connect with the natural world and appreciate the beauty and vastness of the night sky.
By observing the moon’s phases, and actually interacting with them in this way, you can gain a deeper understanding of the lunar cycles and how they relate to your own life.
Observing the Moon
The best times to view the moon: Contrary to popular opinion, Full Moon is not the best time to observe our natural satellite. This is because during full moon the Sun lies behind the Earth, so the shadows on the lunar surface are at their minimum lengths, and so you won't be able to see much detail.
The best times to observe the Moon are: (1) from after New Moon until the First Quarter, and (2) from the Last Quarter until just before New Moon. During these periods shadows are longer and features stand out in sharp relief.
Instruments: When you start, don’t use telescopes or other optical instruments. Get hold of a map of the moon and look at it with your naked eye. Once you are familiar with its major features move on to binoculars.
The terminator: Aim your scope at the line that divides the Moon’s daytime from its nighttime (the terminator). You’ll see the tops of mountains protruding just high enough to catch the Sun’s light while surrounded by lower terrain that remains in shadow.
Notable lunar features and events you can observe without a telescope
Phases of the Moon: Observe the changing phases of the Moon as it orbits the Earth. This is a simple yet fascinating phenomenon to track over a lunar month.
Mare and Highlands: The dark, smooth areas on the Moon's surface are called maria (singular: mare), while the lighter, heavily cratered regions are the highlands. These contrasting features are easily visible with the naked eye.
Lunar Craters: Some larger craters are visible without a telescope. Look for prominent craters like Tycho, Copernicus, and Plato. Binoculars can enhance your view of these features.
Lunar Terminators: The line dividing the illuminated and dark portions of the Moon is called the terminator. The shifting terminator over time reveals the three-dimensional nature of lunar features.
Rilles: These are long, narrow depressions on the lunar surface that can be seen with the naked eye. The most famous one is Vallis Alpes.
Lunar Seas and "Man in the Moon": Various shapes and patterns on the Moon's surface have led to imaginative interpretations, like the "Man in the Moon." Observing these patterns can be a fun exercise.
Lunar Eclipses: During a lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow gradually covers the Moon, causing it to darken and change color. These events are visible to the naked eye and can be quite striking.
Lunar Transits and Occultations: Sometimes, planets and stars pass in front of or behind the Moon, an event known as a transit or occultation, respectively. These can be observed without a telescope.
Librations: The Moon's slight wobbling and tilting allow observers to see around 59% of its surface over time, revealing different features along the edges.
Earthshine: When the Moon is a thin crescent, the dark portion can be faintly illuminated by sunlight reflected off the Earth, creating a beautiful sight.
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Lunar X and V: Certain lighting conditions create an "X" shape on the rims of the craters Werner and Blanchinus (the Lunar X), as well as a "V" shape in the area between the craters Ukert and Krieger (the Lunar V).
Shoot the Moon
How can a celestial object that’s so easy to photograph be so difficult to photograph well? The Moon is large and bright, and you can use any camera connected to any size telescope to image it. That’s the easy part.
But the Moon also contains vast areas of low contrast that have little color differential. Recording those regions so they look like what your eyes see is the hard part. Luckily, we live in the digital age. It costs nothing extra to take 200 images instead of just one. Examine them, delete what you don’t like, change one or more parameters (including the techniques you used to process the images) each time, and shoot some more as you perfect your techniques.
How to Moon Gaze
Moon gazing can be as simple as heading out on a Moonlit night to stare up at the sky, but in terms of mindfulness practice, it helps to have a some kind of a routine.
Begin by finding a space outside where you can see the Moon clearly. Find a comfortable position to sit or lie down in. You can sit cross-legged on the ground or on a chair, or lie down on a blanket.
Focus your gaze on the Moon. Allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. Notice the beauty of the moon and the world around you. Take in the energy of the Moon and the universe beyond.
If your mind starts to wander, gently bring your attention back to the light of the Moon. You can also try visualizing the moon in your mind’s eye to help you focus.
When you feel complete, gently close your eyes and offer up a prayer of thanks to Old Grandmother Moon for her watchful gaze back at you.
Phases of the Moon
Moon gazing at New Moon
The new Moon has the energy of new beginnings. It's a good time to set intentions for growth and creation. As the sky darkens and the Moon is barely visible, it symbolizes a clean slate, an opportunity to start fresh. Engage in rituals that focus on planting seeds for the future, whether these are literal seeds in your garden or metaphorical seeds of new ideas, projects, or personal goals. Reflect on what you wish to manifest in the coming cycle and write down your intentions to revisit them as the Moon grows.
Moon gazing at the waxing phase
During the waxing phase, the Moon’s energy is gaining momentum and building in power. Moon gazing at this phase can help you to harness this flow. As the Moon transitions from a crescent to a gibbous shape, its increasing light can symbolize your own growing intentions and efforts. Use this time to take actionable steps towards your goals, riding the wave of expanding energy. Focus on development, perseverance, and forward movement, knowing that the efforts you invest now will come to fruition.
Moon gazing at full Moon
Most people do their gazing at this time because the Moon is powerful and bright, having reached the culmination of the cycle. The full Moon illuminates the night, making it a perfect time for clarity and illumination in your own life. Engage in practices that honor your achievements and bring awareness to areas that need attention. This phase is ideal for celebrating progress, expressing gratitude, and performing rituals that maximize the peak lunar energy. It's also a potent time for releasing any accumulated emotional or mental clutter, allowing the bright light of the Moon to cleanse and renew you.
Moon gazing at the waning phase
Under the waning Moon, when the light of the Moon is diminishing, there is a sense of retreat and letting go. This is a good time to reflect on what no longer serves you and what you want to let go of. As the Moon decreases from gibbous to crescent, focus on introspection and release. Let go of negative habits, thought patterns, or relationships that hinder your growth. Use this phase for cleansing rituals, meditation, and activities that promote inner peace and closure. Embrace the opportunity to declutter your life, making space for new beginnings with the next New Moon.
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a psychology degree from Nelson Mandela University and a diploma from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond.