Hair Care

New Moon (Rest and Renewal)

Best for:
Cutting or trimming hair, hair treatments that promote growth and renewal.

Why?
The New Moon is associated with new beginnings, renewal, and rest. This phase is believed to be a time when the moon’s gravitational pull is at its weakest, and the energy for growth is minimal. Therefore, it is often recommended to cut or trim your hair during the New Moon if you want to slow down hair growth or simply give your hair a break.

Hair Treatments:
Use this time for deep conditioning or nourishing treatments to restore and hydrate your hair. It's a good moment to focus on scalp care and detoxification with natural oils or masks that can help rejuvenate your hair.

DIY Hair Mask:
Mix honey, olive oil, and a few drops of essential oils (like lavender or rosemary). Leave it on for 20-30 minutes to nourish and moisturize your hair.

First Quarter (Growth and Strength)

Best for:
Cutting hair to promote strong growth, using strengthening treatments.

Why?
The First Quarter is a time of growth and progress. The moon’s energy is building, and it’s a great time to cut hair if you want it to grow quickly and strong. The moon’s increasing gravitational pull encourages faster growth, so your hair will grow more healthily and quickly when trimmed or cut during this phase.

Hair Treatments:
Use this time for treatments that promote hair growth and strengthen hair follicles. Focus on oils and serums that help with scalp circulation and support healthy hair growth.

Hair Growth Oil:
Massage a mixture of castor oil, peppermint oil, and jojoba oil into your scalp. Leave it on for an hour or overnight before washing it out. Peppermint oil is known to stimulate hair follicles.

Full Moon (Peak Energy, Growth, and Shine)

Best for:
Cutting and trimming for thick, shiny hair, hair treatments that enhance shine and vitality.

Why?
The Full Moon is thought to represent the peak of energy and strength. This is an excellent time to cut your hair if you want it to be thick, shiny, and vibrant. It’s believed that the moon’s gravitational pull is at its strongest, so it encourages maximum growth, vitality, and energy. Many people also associate this phase with abundant results.

Hair Treatments
Focus on shiny, glossy treatments during the Full Moon. You can use hair masks that boost shine or get a hydrating treatment to lock in moisture.

Shine-Boosting Treatment:
Mix your choice of carrier oil with a few drops of essential oils like rosemary or chamomile, which are known to add shine. Apply it as a mask to your hair for 20-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Last Quarter (Detox and Maintenance)

Best for:
Cutting hair to reduce length, using detoxifying and clarifying treatments.

Why?
The Last Quarter is a time of release, letting go, and detoxification. It’s a great phase for cutting your hair if you want to reduce length or eliminate split ends. Haircuts during the Last Quarter are believed to keep your hair from growing too quickly or getting too thick.

Hair Treatments
This phase is ideal for clarifying treatments, deep cleansing, and detoxing the scalp. You can use clarifying shampoos to remove build-up, or oil treatments to detoxify the scalp and encourage healthy hair growth for the next lunar cycle.

Scalp Detox:
Use apple cider vinegar diluted with water as a scalp rinse to remove product buildup and stimulate circulation. Follow up with a moisturizing treatment to balance the scalp.

Moon Signs and Hair Treatments

Some advanced lunar hair care practices also incorporate the moon’s position in specific zodiac signs, which are thought to influence different aspects of hair health. This placement is detailed in the calendar:

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):
These signs are linked to emotions and intuition, and are believed to be ideal for hydrating and nourishing hair. Use these days for deep conditioning or moisture treatments.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
These signs are associated with practicality and stability, making them great for cutting and trimming hair to improve its strength and structure.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):
These signs represent energy and vitality, making them good for boosting hair volume and stimulating growth treatments.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
Air signs are connected to intellectual and communicative energy, so they’re thought to be the best for styling and finishing treatments like adding shine or improving texture.

Other Moon-Based Hair Tips

Timing Hair Washes:
Some people choose to wash their hair according to the moon’s phases, believing that doing so during a waxing moon (from New to Full Moon) can result in shinier, healthier hair, while a waning moon (from Full to New Moon) can prevent excessive growth and help manage longer hair.

Hair Masks:
Consider scheduling your more intensive hair masks and treatments during the waxing moon, when hair is growing stronger and healthier, and light, hydrating treatments during the waning moon for more balance.

Detoxing and Clarifying:
During the waning moon, when energy is decreasing, it’s a great time for detoxifying your hair and scalp. Consider using natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar or bentonite clay masks to cleanse the scalp and remove toxins.

A Simple Lunar Hair Care Routine

To incorporate the moon into your routine, you can simply follow the phases:

New Moon:
Focus on restorative and nourishing treatments. Deep condition your hair, and treat your scalp with gentle oils.

First Quarter:
Consider trimming your hair to encourage growth and use treatments that promote strength.

Full Moon:
Ideal for haircuts that add volume and shine. Use shine-boosting masks and treatments.

Last Quarter:
Time for clarifying and scalp detoxing. Remove product buildup and treat your scalp.

Gardening

New Moon (Rest and Preparation)

Planting:
The new moon is a good time to plant seeds that grow above the ground (leafy greens, annuals). It's also a good time for planting in general, as it’s when the gravitational pull is weakest and encourages root development.

Soil Preparation:
This is a great time to prepare your garden beds, amend the soil with compost, or till the soil.

First Quarter (Growth and Development)

Planting:
Focus on plants that benefit from steady, vigorous growth, like vegetables and flowers that produce above-ground fruits or seeds (beans, corn, peas, tomatoes).

Watering:
The moon is now pulling more moisture into the soil, so it’s a good time to water your plants.

Pruning and Trimming:
Trim back any plants you want to encourage strong, controlled growth.

Full Moon (Peak Growth and Flowering)

Harvesting:
The full moon is a time when crops reach their peak, and many gardeners believe this is the best time to harvest plants, especially fruits and vegetables. This is particularly true for those that grow above the ground, like fruits, berries, and leafy vegetables.

Planting:
It’s also a good time to plant flowers or crops that need a lot of energy to flower and fruit.

Pruning:
Pruning is best done during the full moon to reduce stress on plants and encourage healing.

Last Quarter (Rest and Cleanup)

Harvesting:
This is a great time for harvesting root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Weeding and Cleanup:
The gravitational pull is waning, so now is a good time to weed your garden and tidy up dead or dying plants. It’s also an excellent phase for preparing your garden for the next cycle by adding compost or other amendments.

Pruning:
You can prune back overgrown plants and cut back any spent flowers or leaves.

Astrological Influence

Some advanced lunar gardening involves astrological signs, which govern different aspects of plant growth. For example:

Water Signs (Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio):
Good for planting water-loving plants or for flowering.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
Best for planting root crops and for soil preparation.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):
Good for planting fruit-bearing plants.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):
Best for planting flowers or herbs.

While astrology isn't scientifically proven, many gardeners believe it provides additional guidance for planting and harvesting.

Other Lunar Gardening Tips

Watering by the Moon:
Water your garden more during the waxing (growing) moon and less during the waning (shrinking) moon. Some gardeners also time watering with the moon’s gravitational effects—watering early in the morning on the new moon when the moon’s influence is strongest.

Transplanting:
It's generally best to transplant seedlings during the waxing moon (new to full moon), as this encourages strong root systems and better establishment of plants.

Pest Control:
Some gardeners find that pests are more active during the full moon, so taking extra care with pest control during this phase can be helpful.

Fishing

Understanding the Moon's Influence on Tides

The moon has a direct influence on the tides, which impacts fish activity. The tidal cycle follows the moon's phases, creating a rise and fall in water levels that affects fish feeding and behavior. There are two types of tides to keep in mind:

Spring Tides:
Occur during the Full Moon and New Moon, when the moon and the sun are aligned. This creates stronger gravitational pulls, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides.

Neap Tides:
Occur during the First and Last Quarter moons when the moon and the sun are at right angles to each other. The tidal range is smaller, and there is less fluctuation between high and low tides.

Many anglers believe that spring tides (during the Full and New Moons) produce the best fishing conditions due to the stronger tidal movements, which stimulate fish activity.

Fishing by Moon Phases:

Each lunar phase is thought to influence fish behavior differently. Here's a look at how to use the moon phases to optimize your fishing:

New Moon (No Moonlight, Strong Tides)

Best for:
Fishing at night or in the early morning, targeting species that feed during low light conditions.

Why?
During the New Moon, the moon is between the Earth and the sun, meaning the moonlight is non-existent. This leads to darker nights, which can make fish feel more secure, encouraging them to feed more actively, especially species that prefer low-light environments. The strong spring tides during the New Moon can bring fish closer to shore and make them more active.

Best Time to Fish:
Early morning and late evening, especially for predatory fish like bass, trout, and snapper, which feed during the darker hours.

Tip:
If you're fishing from shore, target shallow waters at high tide, as fish move into these areas to feed during the New Moon.

First Quarter (Moderate Tides, Growing Moonlight)

Best for:
Fishing during the day or early evening, especially in areas with moderate tidal movements.

Why?
The First Quarter phase creates moderate tides, which generally results in more stable fishing conditions. While the moonlight is increasing, fish that are more active during the day, like trout, redfish, and catfish, may start to be more active.

Best Time to Fish:
Late afternoon and early evening. Fish may be more active as the moon’s light begins to increase, and the tide is moving steadily.

Tip:
Fish near structures like reefs, sandbars, or rock formations, where fish can shelter during moderate tidal movements.

Full Moon (Brightest Moonlight, Strong Tides)

Best for:
Fishing at night, especially for species that feed more actively under bright moonlight.

Why?
The Full Moon provides the most light during the night, which can sometimes make fish more cautious. However, the strong spring tides bring fish closer to shore, and they may feed more actively, especially during the high tides. Species like mullet, snapper, and bluefish are often more active during the full moon.

Best Time to Fish:
Night fishing is often best, but early morning or late evening can also be productive. Fish tend to feed more heavily during the peak of the full moon, so plan your trip around that time.

Tip:
Fishing around moonrise and moonset (when the moon is rising or setting on the horizon) can be particularly productive, as fish often feed more actively during these times.

Last Quarter (Moderate Tides, Decreasing Moonlight)

Best for:
Fishing during the day or early evening for species that feed during daylight hours.

Why?
The Last Quarter moon phase has moderate tides, similar to the First Quarter. As the moonlight decreases, fish are often more likely to feed during the day, especially in the early hours and late afternoon. The decreasing light encourages fish to seek shelter or feed more actively in the shallows.

Best Time to Fish:
Afternoon or early evening, particularly for species like flounder, bass, and striped bass.

Tip:
Fish during the transition from high tide to low tide, as fish may be foraging in the shallows and along the shorelines.

Moonrise and Moonset

Moonrise:
Fish often become more active just as the moon rises. The gravitational pull and the increase in light can encourage fish to feed, especially in shallow or coastal areas.

Moonset:
Similarly, fish may become more active as the moon sets. If you're fishing at night, fishing just before moonset can be an excellent opportunity.

Tidal Times and Fishing Windows

In addition to the moon phases, the timing of the tides plays a critical role in fishing success. Fish are more likely to feed during rising tides (when the water is coming in) and falling tides (when the water is going out).

Rising Tide (Flood Tide):
Fish move into shallower areas, and many species are more likely to feed as the tide comes in.

Falling Tide (Ebb Tide):
As the tide goes out, fish follow the retreating water, often feeding in deeper areas or along the bottom.

You can use tide charts to predict the optimal times to fish, based on the moon’s influence on the tides. Many anglers focus on high tide and low tide for fishing, as these periods often see the most fish movement.

Additional Tips for Fishing by the Moon

Water Clarity:
During the Full Moon, the extra moonlight can make the water clearer, making it more challenging for fish to hide. This may encourage more predatory fish to feed actively.

Fishing Depth:
During spring tides (Full and New Moons), fish may move into deeper waters during low tide and into shallower waters during high tide. Adjust your fishing depth based on the tidal movements.

Weather Conditions:
Keep in mind that weather plays a significant role in fishing success, so always check the weather forecast before planning your trip.

Features of the calendar

The right side panel of the calendar details the moon’s placement in the astrological constellations.

You will also see a small number to the right of the moon symbol, this number indicates which moon cycle number we are in with in relation to the start of the year. For example, the first moon cycle of the year will be labeled with a number ( 1 ) and so on.

In this image you will see there is a full moon on Thursday the 13th ( 2 ). This will be a total lunar eclipse occuring in the constelation of Virgo. It is part of the Lunar Saros cycle number 123.

A Saros cycle is a period of about 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours after which eclipses (solar and lunar) repeat with similar geometry. After one cycle, eclipses occur at nearly the same locations on Earth with similar characteristics.

Saros cycle 123 contains 72 eclipses that will follow it’s pattern before that repeating pattern stops occuring. This one will be 53rd eclipse to happen under this cycle.

This calendar also details the date of the equinoxes and the summer and winter solstice.

Sky & Telescope Interactive Sky Chart

Look up any date and see the exact, astronomically accurate placement of the planets, Sun and Moon

Making a manual Orrery

Wendy’s blog post on making your own celestial orrery at home using items you already have to help track the planets, sun and moon as they appear in space.

Wendy’s TikTok Channel

Covering topics of astronomy, botany, art, science, and strange unusual findings

Dearborn Observatory

Chicago’s best public observatory open for public sky viewing most Friday nights (Click on the image for more details).

2131 Tech Drive
Evanston IL, 60208

Palos Preserve

About 45 minutes from Chicago is was named the world’s best urban night sky for star gazing (go during a new moon).

IMPORTANT TIP: The park itself is closed at night but people have parked up near 107th St by Saganashkee Slough Woods lake and boat launch or 95th St by Maple Lake Overlook (both located within the Palos forest preserve expanse)

Days Before a New Moon

On the days before the new moon, go to Lake Michigan before sunrise on a cloudless night and see a tiny sliver of the moon rise up from the lake in its waxing crecent stage. (if you go on a new moon or after you’ve missed it and have to wait until the next moon cycle)