Lunar Living, Structure and Business Planning in my Life

That sounds weird, doesn’t it? It does to me :-) But I have tried a lot of planning and goal setting systems. They have all taught me a lot, but none ever worked for me. And I am battling a bit with a story around that – did the system not work, or did I not put enough effort in, or did I give up too early? 

If you are curious about this topic and would like to read this article, get yourself a cup of coffee please - it is long :-) I am going to talk about planning, the moon phases in relation to planning, Human Design gate 5 in my bodygraph, my experience with it and my reasons and intentions for experimenting with the lunar cycle for my business planning and overall life organisation. 

I have learned for myself to trust the nudges and things that float into my life and to try them out if they speak to me. I have a 3 in my Human Design profile and channel 29-46, the Channel of Discovery, both inviting me to try things out. And I think trying things out is something that is good for everyone. Because often we can't think our way to an end result. Often we need to take action and simply trial and error our way to success.

Thanks to my Lifebook I have thought deeply about my life and dreams. One of the categories you think about in Lifebook is your spiritual beliefs (or religious beliefs or atheist views) and business planning with the lunar cycle sounds a bit woo woo, I admit that :-) Today is the last day of May, and in Lifebook May is the month dedicated to the spiritual category in. Every month I contemplate the current category in my life and so I feel this topic fits beautifully at the moment :-) 

I am personally open to the idea that there is something greater than me, that I can't explain and that supports me. I no longer feel the need that everything needs to be rooted in science or facts for me, that there are certain things that I can't explain, and that I simply need to try things and see for myself if they work for me or not. And if they do, to trust that, even if I don't have any proof. That over time my experience and life become my proof. As always, I am not proposing that this is the path forward for everyone. It is my path, what I believe and what works for me. 

I have little interest in convincing people of my ideas and way of thinking. I hope to inspire you to contemplate what could maybe work for you. What could make your life better and potentially easier? My way is only one of many ways. Often my way is a bit unconventional, such as experimenting to work with the moon phases in general and my business in particular :-) I am introducing my experiments and what is working for me here in the hope that they might inspire you to think about what you need. Maybe what is going to inspire you is what I am writing about here, maybe not. My way is only one way - trust your own way and path.

I have a long history of trying to find a structure or systems that work for me.... because I have a very flowy and intuitive mind that picks up inspirations everywhere leading to over committment or simply getting lost en route.

I struggle with systems that are too rigid. For two reasons: 1. I tend to have a lot of intuitive hits. Good ones too :-) How do you fit them in if they happen frequently? What do you focus on - the plan, the intuitive hit, a combination of the two? Which one is more relevant? How do you ensure you keep going in your direction? I need a system that allows me to flow within.... 2. I get bored. Anything that goes on for too long, is predictable and lacks variety drains my energy and motivation fast and intensely. Not in an ADHD kind of way. I can focus intensely, but when something doesn't interest me or is repetitive, I lose all my energy and turn into Miss Super Procrastination. It's a lose-lose situation for me. A combination of unsuccessful and exhausted. I have been there many times and it feels terrible for obvious reasons. But certain things need doing. I can't just avoid the things that I don't like doing. For example, accounting bores all my energy out of me, but it needs doing! It is part of running my own and my husband's businesses. Cooking, cleaning or shopping are other things that drain my energy fast. But I need to eat something, wear something and prefer living in a clean space....

However, no system at all doesn't work for me either. I have consciously experimented with that too :-) Last October I decided to plan nothing and just flow with my intuitive hits until the end of the year. That was an interesting experience! It did get me quite far but none of the tasks that I dislike got done... So it's clearly not a system that works for me. In fact, I have not picked up my accounting pen since then..... I am going to pick it up next Tuesday and I am already dreading that day :-) But my best friend has offered to help me to set up a system I can float within again. I am so grateful for her offer and her!

If you by now are thinking "gosh, she has her head in the clouds" - I do :-) I have battled that side of me for decades. Unsuccessfully. And decided that rather than keep battling I need to find ways of working with myself. To embrace myself. To find the systems I function well with and within. That it is ok, when I do things differently. That even though business planning with the lunar cycle might sound stupid to some, that I need to try it out, because five year and annual goals with quarterly planning don't work for me unfortunately. I have tried. A lot. But I can't work with that. I get lost and waste so much time correcting plans! For me the time has come to figure out what works for me. Even if it is not best practise :-) Yet ;-) 

Listening to myself is something I have learned from my own life experience and found encouragement in Human Design. There is a channel called the Channel of Rhythm (or 5-15). The channels in Human Design come from the old I-Ching and always combine two opposing, seemingly conflicting, energies or themes. But there is always a spot where together they create harmony and balance, as well as a better solution than the two energies or themes alone could create. Gate 5 is the Gate of Fixed Rhythms. Gate 15 is called the Gate of Extremes. This channel is all about structures, patterns and yet flow. It's the deep understanding that there are many ways, many rhythms, many cycles. That certain things have their natural flow. Such as the seasons in a year or the moon phases in a lunar cycle. People with the whole channel, tend to have a deep understanding of the flows and patterns in life, and that everything has its place and time. Leaves grow in spring in nature, not autumn. Of course we can artificially challenge that by growing things in greenhouses, but there are nonetheless rhythms and patterns we can observe everywhere. And we can observe many of them. When we look closely around us we notice that we all seem to have rhythms and patterns we work well with too (or not). Some people like to get up early for example. That is close to impossible for others.

I only have gate 5 defined in my chart. The Gate of Fixed Rhythms. Not the whole channel. By itself gate 5 is all about creating healthy habits, rhythms and rituals. And OMG is that part of my story! Gate 5 is the most defined gate in my chart, twice through Neptune as well as the moon on my conscious side. From an astrological perspective Neptune is a bit elusive, it's a bit like walking in the fog, where you know something is there, but you can't quite see or grasp it. And that is so my story with healthy habits! I can kind of see them. And not... The moon placement in Human Design gives us an indication as to what drives us. And it's interesting to look at yourself from this perspective. A lot of my journey, especially in recent years, when I finally allowed myself to figure myself out, the search for how to support myself best, has indeed been my driving force.

And lunar living is another stop on that quest! 

I have learned that I need structure in the form of a border or container, in which I can flow. The classic description of yin and yang, male and female energy. I love flowing, it's deeply satisfying and enabling for me. Anything too rigid paralyses me a bit. But if I allow for flow only, I tend to float everywhere. Towards my goals eventually, but along massive detours. And certain things don't get done at all... I have successfully procrastinated on them for years. But that really isn't an option anymore (accounting is such an example....). So I need a structure, that male energy part, around me. Something that holds me together and in place. Something that allows me to fully embrace and express my abilities and talents within. Something that prevents me from falling off the edges when I explode in excitement and create from a place deep inside of me, letting me forget where I am, why I am there, what I am supposed to do and what time it is. 

I am hoping to find that structure, that allows my energy to flow, in lunar living. We'll see if I will! It's my latest experiment that I started at the beginning of May and scheduled three months for before evaluating it :-)

Lunar Living is the title of a book written by Kirsty Gallagher (please note that this an Amazon affiliate link). In her book Kirsty describes the moon phases and Zodiacs and how working with these can support you. 

I have been full moon and new moon journaling for about a year now, and have never missed a date. It works really well for me and I love the concept as you are asking yourself these two useful questions on a monthly basis: On the full moon you ask yourself what is no longer serving you, what you should let go of. On the new moon you set intentions. Doing this on a monthly basis really connects you deeply to what you need to do and what you need to stop doing. It's powerful. Especially when done consistently! (and no, you don't need to do this on the full moon or new moon if you don't want to, I am 100% certain it's successful on any other day of the month too, provided you do it).

In April this year I learned that there is more to the moon cycle though. That it is actually a cycle, where the different phases build upon each other. Not just in terms of the moon's illumination. That there are phases of doing and receiving, phases of noticing and gaining clarity, as well as phases of pushing projects through to the finish line, or phases to face difficulties as well as phases of resting.

I have been following Kirsty Gallagher over on Instagram for a year now and love her weekly cosmic weather report, an astrological forecast of the coming week. It has been very helpful for me to look at my life from that perspective too. It was one of her posts in April that made me realise that there is more to the lunar cycle than just setting intentions and letting go. I bought her book Lunar Living and started summarising it. I am very much a visual learner and ideally need all the information on one sheet or Whiteboard :-) in order to understand it! If my post here intrigues your interest in this topic, please consider buying her book and diving into the topic on a much deeper level than I can share here. If I can, I would also love to encourage you to buy it from your local bookshop rather than through my link above. 

Lunar Living is another system you can dive deeply into that has more than one layer. There are the moon phases, but additionally you can add the Zodiacs in as well as the planets' transits! However, for my little experiment I have decided the following: for three months I am going to work with the moon phases and observe if and how it is potentially helping me. What am I hoping for? I am hoping to have found a framework that gives me a structure to float within. That keeps me focused despite my floating. That allows me to stay flexible to my intuition but helps me to stay on track with my longer term goals and direction. That supports me and doesn't drain my energy and motivation. That might even align with my natural levels of energy, or lack thereof. That won't bore me because the focus shifts every few days. A system that might even help me to rest. Something I am really bad at. And if the moon can move entire oceans, maybe it does indeed influence me too? Let's find out! 

Depending on what source you use, there are a variety of moon phases. In Kirsty Gallagher's book Lunar Living she lists eight moon phases in one cycle, which I would love to briefly introduce. Each phase lasts for about 3 to 4 days and Kirsty likes to start with the end of the last cycle, when the moon is almost fully dark, as this is the best time for reflecting on the last cycle and gaining insights for setting intentions on the new moon. After the new moon we have the waxing phase where the moon is more and more lit leading up to the full moon. From there we are entering the waning phase again, where the moon is less and less lit. Closing the cycle and starting another one with the next new moon. 

1. Dark moon (3/4 dark):

This is a time for self-care and self-enquiry. It's a time to simply notice what is working and what is not. It's a time that helps to gain clarity. And a time for closure. It's a time to rest, reflect, retreat and pause. This is also the time of the month where we have the lowest energy. But are equally very intuitive and potentially emotional. It's a time to take stock.

2. New moon (not lit at all):

This is the beginning of a new cycle. The darkness starts to lift again and the way forward becomes clear. It's the time of the lunar cycle to rest and journal and set intentions of where the journey is going to go for us. It is not a time to take action. It's not the time to plan. It's about what you want, not how you are going to get there. It's also a time to notice resistance to change and understanding what areas of your life need attention. If you feel the need to take action, Kirsty suggests creating a soul vision board and affirmations for this coming lunar cycle.

3. Waxing crescent moon (1/4 lit):

Our energy is starting to rise slowly, it's the beginning of the phase of starting to take action. It's the time to take the first steps towards our intentions from the new moon. But not full power yet. It's still a time to take care of yourself too. It's the time to make a clear plan on how to bring our intentions to life and determine the actions that take you towards your goals. It's also a time where inner doubts are starting to surface. Be aware of them and notice them. Reflect on how you can gain more trust in yourself and your dreams. What is coming up? Stay focused and keep doing.

4. Waxing first quarter moon (1/2 lit):

This moon phase brings energy, ideas and inspiration for you to go after your plans. This is the time to pay attention to everything around you, to notice the doors that are opening and to say yes to what feels aligned. It's the time of the month to go with the flow. But keep an eye on your intentions to not go off track too far. Doubts can creep in here. Notice them, keep focusing and save anything that you need to let go of for the waning cycle.

5. Waxing gibbous moon (3/4 lit):

Your energy levels are still growing, often leading to difficulty sleeping the closer we are getting to the full moon. This is the time to take action. This is the time to dedicate your time to progressing with and finishing your project(s). Tune deeply into what you still need to do and focus on getting that done. This is also a phase where challenges are likely to arise. Again, don't solve them now, leave them for the waning moon phase. But take note. Also notice, if you are trying to open a door that is not meant for you. Practise patience and trust.

6. Full moon: 

This is the peak energy time of the month. The full moon highlights and is a wonderful time to evaluate what went well so far, and what didn't, and why. It's the time of the month to notice, celebrate the wins, evaluate and what you need to release that isn't truly aligned with you. The full moon illuminates not only and it gives you the energy to finish your projects you set out to do during the new moon phase, it also illuminates the problems. The day of the full moon is a rest day though. A day to evaluate what went well and celebrate your wins, while also evaluating what stood in your way. Create a list of what to release during the upcoming waning moon phase. The tangible things that you actually need to do differently, but also the beliefs that keep holding you back. Notice what the light of the moon is highlighting to you, including your emotions. These are all valuable pieces of information for us. 

7. Waning gibbous moon (1/4 dark):

This is a time of great insight and taking action towards change. This is also a great time for communication, including difficult ones. This phase is about releasing and healing what stood in your way or kept you small. This is not a phase to start new things. This is a phase to finish off your projects and intentions you set during the new moon phase. With the moon starting to become smaller again, your awareness is starting to draw inwards again, helping you to process what you have learned this month. It's also a good time of the month to gather missing information and knowledge that you noticed you need in order to move forward. But this is also still a high energy phase, potentially keeping you awake and giving you the time to work on your projects into the early morning hours if necessary.

8. Waning last quarter (1/2 dark):

This is the halfway point between the full moon and the new moon. It's the time to give a last push to your projects, wrapping them up and making necessary changes. Do what needs doing. This is the full moon side. But we are now starting moving towards the new moon again too, so this is also a time to go back inwards, to let go, release and surrender. This is the time of the month to do the work of letting go of what is holding you back. It's a time to take responsibility and face up to potential challenges that might catch up with you now. Your energy will start to drop again, while your intuition starts to heighten again.

And the cycle starts all over again.

By the way, the cycles can also be called waning crescent, new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous and third quarter. And maybe there are even more names. I am not an expert on this topic yet. But I am deeply fascinated. Why?

I have noticed over the past few years that I seem to have phases each month where I have tons, or likewise very little energy. Initially I thought they reflect my female cycle, but they don't always do. I tend to have an energy dip that doesn't fit into that cycle necessarily (or maybe it does and I still know too little about that too; also my cycle and the moon cycle are not perfectly synced) but maybe these phases make more sense from a lunar perspective. I am hoping to find out.

Working with the lunar cycle appeals to me because I am hoping to find a system that helps me to align working and resting with my natural energy levels. It's something I want to observe: do my energy levels match the above phases? If yes, then I will have found a system I can work with! If not, then I will have potentially found a system to alter to my needs :-)

I am deeply intrigued by the things you notice during the moon phases: doubts, problems, what is holding you back, your intuition, your dreams, challenges, your energy to work or rest with, synchronicities and paying attention to them. I have a little notepad for each month, where I note down the different phases and what comes up for me. It offers extremely interesting insights so far and I can also work with my intuitive hits - and if it is just to note them down so they don't get lost.  

And lastly, I love the fact that the moon phases only last for about 3 or 4 days. That helps me not to feel too boxed in. These frequent shifts in energy and focus feel aligned with me.

Talking of focus. This system also helped me to stay focused on my intentions and get less side tracked!

From having tried one month of business planning with the moon phases I can say that I have observed so many interesting things!

My moon journal from May is full of interesting observations, thoughts and inspirations that are a wonderful source of what to work with and what to move forward with. I have had doubts and beliefs coming in that I wouldn't have paid that much conscious attention to for example. They would have been just a yucky day. But by looking at them from a lunar phase perspective and their timing, I noticed how well they actually fit into a period of "notice your doubts" for example. So now these doubts are not just a yucky day or thought. They are information. Something to work with. And they informed my list of what I need to release on the full moon in order to move forward. I also noticed the tons of ideas that floated in and wrote them down too, but I stuck to my new moon intentions and focused on finishing my projects. Probably my biggest win this month! No deviation. I got almost everything done I wanted to get done :-)

Today a new cycle starts again and I am not done with all my intentions, but I am looking back on a lot of things achieved! I have an amazing list for new projects that really excites me. I have a whole host of emotions and doubts that have had their time in my life and that I am willing to let go of, so I can keep moving towards my dreams. I have way more clarity of what I want and need too! As well as what I need to do.

This week alone was so intense emotionally but it highlighted some issues to me that I need to start addressing in my life. They are a bit scary and I lack full clarity as to what to do and where to go, but I am grateful that they have made it into my conscious awareness, so I can start working with them.

I have learned over the past few years to trust my process. Things seem to come at the right time. As if by magic not only the problem arises, but the helpers and solutions too. Which doesn't make solving the problem less yucky but easier. The same has been true for opportunities.

I hope I could inspire you a little to think about what you need, or by laying out my thoughts about my life, give you something to relate to or move forward with. It's not about being right or wrong. It's about what you need and what helps you, and that can sometimes seem a bit weird too. And maybe it's not the solution to everything. For example, I am not proposing that business planning with the moon phases is the solution for all businesses. I am a one woman business and can totally flow with myself. Once you work with people or once people are working with you, you enter a different level of complexity of individual needs and business needs - which in true fashion of channel 5-15 can be very opposing needs! It's finding what works for you. It's about noticing what you or your business needs and finding a system that fulfills your criteria. 

And if you need support in figuring out what you need, feel free to contact me. I follow the classic understanding of Human Design but don't do classic Human Design readings. I won't tell you who you are and that is it. To me Human Design is a starting point for our conversation. It's a perspective, not an answer or a truth (certainly not on its own). But it's a great perspective to start from. During this waning gibbous moon phase a post about what Human Design actually is and how I consider it useful, wrote itself on my "future things I should maybe write about list". It's coming soon  :-)

I hope this blog post inspired you to think about what structures, systems and habits could support you. What do you need?

Trust yourself x