10 New Moon Rituals For Manifestation & Self-Love

In this article, discover 10 profound new moon rituals for connecting with your innermost self, letting go of what no longer serves you, and planting seeds of abundance in your inner and outer worlds.

New Moon Symbolism

Like the moon, we go through our own cycles and phases. Sometimes, we feel vibrant and energized, shining our light fully. Other times, we need to go inward and get in touch with our innermost selves for a little while.

The new moon offers an opportunity for just this: a chance to go within, refresh, let go, and start anew.

You might think of the new moon as a cosmic reset. During this time, you can check in with yourself. Are you aligned with your purpose? Are you holding onto anything you need to let go of? Are there any new habits or rituals you can start incorporating into your daily routine to support your mind, body, and soul? What is your heart telling you about your path?

The new moon offers a beautiful opportunity for any and all of these practices:

Setting intentions for who you want to be, what you want to manifest, and how you want to show up in your daily life
Connecting to your deepest dreams and desires
Releasing what no longer serves you to make space for new beginnings
Cleansing old and stagnant energy
Embracing your ability to co-create with the Universe
Honoring the light and love that flows to and through you in all moments

Below, you’ll find 10 profound new moon rituals for connecting to your inner self, letting go of what no longer serves you, and planting seeds for your dreams and desires to take root.

Every new moon, see if you can incorporate at least two or three of these rituals into your routine.

Use the magic of the new moon to create something truly beautiful in both your inner and outer worlds.

Related: 35 New Moon Affirmations To Embrace New Beginnings

New Moon Rituals

Plant Seeds Of Intention

This is one of my personal favorite new moon rituals, as you can complete this practice either through visualization or by actually planting physical seeds where, in time, you can watch them grow.

In this ritual, you’ll be planting three seeds that represent the intentions you want to set for the next month. I usually complete this as a visualization meditation, but there’s also something special about planting three physical seeds and watching them grow and thrive over time (just like your intentions).

Take the first seed and imagine yourself gently planting it in the earth in front of you. (Or actually plant it in the soil.) See your intention manifesting in your reality, and feel the positive emotions associated with this dream coming true. Express gratitude to the Universe for supporting you in your dreams.

Repeat this with the second seed, planting another intention in the earth in front of you. Finally, repeat this process with the third seed.

Once all your intentions have been planted, release them to the Universe. Feel peace, love, and abundance filing every cell of your being. End this ritual by expressing more sincere gratitude

Write A New Moon List

In a sacred space (or somewhere that allows you to truly connect with your inner self), take some time to consider your innermost dreams and desires. What is your heart telling you? What does your soul truly need?

Here are some topics you might want to include in your list. Consider your list to be a way of communicating with your highest self and the Universe. You might even read your list items aloud under the night sky.

Everything you want to manifest in the next month
Everything you’re releasing
What you’re grateful for
The primary feelings you want to embody (joy, peace, abundance, love, etc.)
Any other changes you want to make over the next month, such as starting a new morning routine or making more time for self-care.

Journal Your Innermost Feelings

The new moon offers the perfect opportunity to get in touch with your highest self, and one of the most profound ways to do this is through journaling. Allow yourself time and space where you won’t be interrupted. Create a space where you feel safe and at peace, whether that’s in your sacred space or outside under the stars. Consider what energies you want to release and what you want to embrace more of over the next month.

Here are a few sentences you can include in your new moon journal entry:

“I am releasing . . .”
“I am setting the intention to . . .”
“I am manifesting . . .”
You can also ask yourself: “What does my soul need?”

Related: 18 New Moon Journal Prompts For New Beginnings

Take A Detox Bath

A detox bath allows you to detox your total self: mind, body, and soul. This bath is meant for spiritual and energetic cleansing. During this time, put away your phone or any other distractions. Focus solely on your own inner tranquility. Sink into relaxation and self-care. By embracing your inner peace, you release stagnant energy within and make space for new energy to come forth.

Here are some items you might use in this bath ritual:

Essential oils, especially ones that promote relaxation, such as lavender, bergamot, and clary sage
Epsom salt
Himalayan pink salt
Candles
Dried flower petals
Crystals

Cleanse Your Space

Because a new moon represents new beginnings, this is an ideal time to cleanse your space – both physically and energetically.

Take some time to physically declutter the spaces you spend the most time in. As you go through your items, ask yourself, “Does this represent the person I used to be or the person I want to become?” Get rid of anything that doesn’t align with the person you’re becoming.

You can also cleanse the energy of the spaces you spend the most time in by burning incense or lighting candles in the room. If possible, open the window so any old, stagnant energy in the room can be released.

Do A Candle Manifestation Ritual

Candles can be a profound addition to your new moon ritual, as they promote inner peace, help you to release negative energy, and open your heart and mind to receiving.

It’s best to do this ritual with a new candle (or one that is specifically used only for this purpose).

Once you light your candle, start visualizing your dreams and desires coming true. What does your life look like when you have everything you desire? How do you feel? See and feel everything as if it’s happening in this very moment.

Then, speak your intention aloud to the Universe. Once you’re done, express sincere gratitude and let go, trusting that everything is working out for your highest good.

To learn more about how to use candles for manifestation, plus the meanings of different candle colors, you can check out my complete guide here.

Meditate Under The Night Sky

This one is exactly as it sounds: connect with the energy of the new moon by going outside to meditate. You might do a visualization meditation, such as planting your three seeds of intention. You could also do a walking meditation by taking a nice, moonlight stroll. Your meditation can also be rooted in affirmations for releasing what no longer serves you and embracing new beginnings.

Your meditation should center around whatever your soul needs most in the moment. If you need to release something that’s been weighing you down, visualize yourself letting go of these feelings, experiences, people, or things.

If you want to manifest your desires, let your meditation be about visualizing your dreams and setting intentions.

And if you’re not sure what you need, enter your meditation with the intention of clearing your mind and seeing what comes to you. You might ask the Universe for gentle guidance before you start.

Communicate With Your Guides

This can be especially helpful for you if you’re not quite sure what intentions you want to set for this lunar cycle.

Communicate with your highest self, your guides, or with the Universe itself. (This can be done through meditation or journaling.) Ask for clear, gentle, loving guidance.

What should you let go of? What should you embrace more of? Where should you focus your energy? See what answers arise, but have patience if the answers don’t come right away. Your highest self may know the path, or you may need to step back and allow the Universe to communicate messages through signs and synchronicities.

Over the next few days, keep an open heart and an open mind to whatever messages come through.

Related: How To Ask The Universe For A Sign: A Complete Guide

Express Gratitude

Gratitude can be incorporated into all of the practices on this list, and it can also be the center of its own special ritual. Expressing gratitude is a beautiful way to honor the abundance of all that you have in your life.

You can also express appreciation for all that’s on its way to you right now: your dreams, desires, and manifestations. In your sacred space, write down a list of all that you’re grateful for in your life – for what is, what has been, and what’s coming.

I’ve found it to be a deeply profound practice to also express gratitude for anything you’re releasing. Maybe these thoughts, beliefs, things, or experiences don’t serve who you are today, but they helped you to grow. Maybe the presence of what you don’t want has taught you what you do want. Even your fears can be teachers. Fears often exist as a way to protect yourself. You can thank your fears for protecting you and let them know you no longer require their service.

When you can step back and view your life through the lens of appreciation, you invite more beautiful people, experiences, opportunities, and feelings to enter your world.

Let Go

Let go has a couple different meanings here, and depending on where you are on your path, you may need one or both to help you move forward.

First, the new moon offers you the chance to let go of anything that no longer serves and supports your mind, body, and spirit. Let go of limiting beliefs that are weighing you down. Let go of fears that are keeping you small. Let go of the stories you’re telling yourself about why something can’t be done.

And, if necessary, let go of anything in your physical life that’s no longer meant to be a part of the chapter you’re in right now: people, things, and experiences.

Letting go also means turning over your intentions and desires to the Universe. If you’ve spoken your innermost dreams to the Universe, allow yourself to let go of control and trust that you are being taken care of and supported in all moments.

Trust that the Universe is working behind the scenes to make sure everything works out better than you can imagine.

Trust it all to unfold beautifully, exactly as it’s meant to.

Don’t focus on the absence of your desires in this moment; focus on the abundance of all that you have and all that’s on its way to you.

Because when you focus on your abundance, your abundance grows.

New Moon Rituals – Recap

Plant seeds of intention.
Write a new moon list.
Journal your innermost feelings.
Take a detox bath.
Cleanse your space.
Do a candle manifestation ritual.
Meditate under the night sky.
Communicate with your guides.
Express gratitude.
Let go.

What are your favorite new moon rituals? Share your tips and experiences in the comment box below!

And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.