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The Moon's Phases
The Moon waxes and wanes in a cycle of about twenty-nine and a half days. That rhythm — from New Moon to Full Moon and back — has guided for centuries what is best done at each moment.
Waxing Moon
From New to Full, the light grows. A time to begin, grow, sow and gain: whatever you want to increase.
Waning Moon
From Full to New, the light fades. A time to reduce, prune, trim, end and release: whatever you want to decrease.
The four quarters
- New — a fresh start; sowing intentions.
- Waxing — momentum and building.
- Full — culmination and harvest.
- Waning — release and clearing.
In practice
This is why the Almanac marks waxing days for cutting hair for length or planting leafy crops, and waning days to trim, reduce or end.
The tradition
Farmers and almanacs have long aligned sowing and harvest with the Moon's phase (Lilly, Robson, among other public-domain authors).