Once the full Moon has passed and the Moon has been waning for just over a week, look up into the night sky and you’ll see the waning crescent moon slowly disappearing from view…
It’s one of my favourite phases of the lunar cycle, appearing just before the dark Moon, and it’s known as a time of quiet reflection and introspection before a brand-new cycle begins.
Spiritually, the waning crescent meaning revolves around release and letting go, making it an ideal time to shed old habits and patterns, and banish negative energy from your life.
Waning Crescent Moon Meaning
The waning crescent moon is generally recognized as the final phase of the lunar cycle, occurring just before the new moon. Not many people realise that the dark Moon sits between these two phases, though this mystical, dark lunar phase isn’t only just coming back into our collective consciousness)
During the waning crescent phase, the Moon is less than half illuminated and appears as a thin crescent shape. As the Moon moves further behind the Sun, only a small sliver of light is visible on one side of the Moon. (It shows up on the left side of the Moon in the northern hemisphere, and the right side of the Moon in the southern hemisphere).
The waning crescent phase continues for about three days, marking the end of the waning phases of the Moon’s phases. It’s also known as the balsamic Moon.
What’s the spiritual meaning of the waning crescent Moon?
The waning crescent moon is one of our most powerful symbols and can be a truly significant Moon phase to work with, in your spiritual practice.
Appearing close to the end of the cycle, this crescent phase represents the end of one lunar cycle, before the beginning of a new one. Spiritually this means it’s associated with release, retreat, self-reflection, intuition, spiritual growth, and the shadow.
The waning crescent Moon appears in the early morning sky and offers less and less light each day.
I know that a lot of people prefer the waxing Moon phases, when light and energy are rising. So I’ll go out on a limb and say that sometimes I love the waning Moon even more. I truly appreciate how the disseminating waning crescent shape mirrors the dimming of my personal inner light, yet this is modelled as an empowering thing.
It’s not that I’m becoming spiritually weaker under this lunar energy. But in this very moment, the Moon reflects my inner darkness back at me. So the waning crescent brings validation that this is a natural part of life, and a necessary part of my personal growth journey.
The waning crescent Moon spiritual meaning has a LOT to do with offering permission to be in the darkness. It creates the best opportunity to retreat even further into my inner world and focus on rest, healing, and renewal.
Here in the West, the dark has been demonised and many people resist dropping into their inner worlds. But the waning crescent phase of the lunar cycle not only reveals the gifts of the darkness, but offers a pathway through to the other side.
Also read: 33 Different Spiritual Meanings of the Moon
How to work with the waning crescent moon phase and the shadow
When the waning Moon reaches her crescent phase, the shadow can rise.
You probably already know this part of the Moon’s cycle is time to let go of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you – the internet tells us this on repeat!
But how do you know what to release? How do you recognize those old patterns and beliefs, when most of them exist in the depths of the unconscious!? The answer is, of course, by getting to know your shadow. And this means shadow work.
You can’t really grow, evolve, develop and live as your highest, most expansive self if you don’t dive into the shadow, connect with your inner self, and look at what’s there, holding you back.
The waning Moon phase is the ideal time to do this healing work.
What’s the meaning of the crescent Moon symbol?
The crescent moon has been a symbol of spirituality and the feminine for centuries. In many spiritual traditions, the crescent Moon represents the divine feminine, and it is regarded as a powerful symbol of inner knowledge and intuition.
Unlike the symbol of the full Moon – a simple circle, that could be confused with the Sun – the crescent is an iconic symbol of the Moon. The crescent Moon shape reminds us of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of embracing change.
In the context of the triple Goddess, the waning crescent Moon represents the crone aspect. Together, they look like this:
To the ancients, the Moon and the lunar cycles were often seen as a reflection of the divine power of the Goddess. It was believed that the mystical powers of the Moon could be harnessed to bring about healing, spiritual growth and the gifts of your deepest desires.
The crescent moon was also believed to have mystical powers, and it was often used in ancient spiritual practices, rituals and ceremonies.
All of the Moon’s phases…
If you’re curious to read about the rest of the lunar cycle, check out these posts on the eight Moon phases (well, actually there are 9!)
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New moon: The new Moon phase arrives when old Grandmother Moon has just become visible. She is a sliver of light, emerging into the daytime sky.
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Waxing crescent: The waxing crescent phase has an obvious crescent shape, rising during the daytime and setting in the western evening sky.
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First quarter: The first quarter Moon forms an astrological square with the Sun, this phase is revealed as a clear “half Moon” shape. Light will expand, overtaking the dark quarter.
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Waxing gibbous: The waxing gibbous Moon phase is closer to the full Moon than to the new. Appearing as a blossoming disc of light, the waxing gibbous Moon is illuminated from the right in the northern hemisphere, and the left in the south.
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Full moon: At the Full Moon phase, the Moon’s surface is completely lit up, as the Moon rises with the Sunset, and sets when the Sun rises.
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Waning gibbous: Past the cycle’s climax the sun begins to overtake the Moon. The waning gibbous phase of the Moon is almost a mirror image of the waxing gibbous Moon – a swollen round disc ebbing away from one edge.
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Last quarter: The last quarter Moon phase (also known as the third quarter) forms another astrological square with the Sun and appears as a clear “half Moon” shape. This time, though, dark will overtake the light.
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Waning crescent: The waning crescent Moon is closer to the next new Moon, than to this cycle’s full Moon phase. It appears as an ebbing, almost disappearing arc in the daytime sky.
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Dark: The dark Moon appears between one and three days before the new Moon, and is invisible. During the dark Moon, la Luna rises with the Sun, but is bleached out by sunlight, and absent completely from the night sky.
These phases occur due to the geometric relationship between the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon causing the angle between each to keep changing.
The position of the Moon relative to the Earth and Sun determines which part of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun, leading to the different lunar phases we’re able to observe.
Spiritual things to do during the waning crescent Moon phase
As the Moon continues to retreat, the waning crescent offers the ideal time to let go of anything that no longer serves you, and prepare for the new beginnings that come with the new Moon.
During the waning crescent Moon phase, you may feel a sense of completion or closure, as you reflect on the lessons you have learned during the previous lunar cycle.
This Moon represents a time of slowing down, resting, reflection and release. It’s not the time to focus on manifesting or setting intentions. So any activities you plan for this phase should center around letting go of what no longer serves you.
Some recommendations of spiritual things to do during the waning crescent Moon include
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Shadow work
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Decluttering
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Meditation
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Stargazing
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Journaling
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Resting
In my years of working with the phases of the Moon, I’ve come to love and honour the waning crescent Moon phase as a super powerful time to reflect on my life and let go of what no longer serves me. It has profound spiritual meaning for all of us! But particularly for those who want to anchor in the energy of the divine feminine, as la Luna holds these energy codes most strongly.
So before you even think about embracing those new beginnings promised in the new Moon, and waxing crescent phases, pause here.
Take a moment, and see what Moon magic you can discover in this hidden corner of the lunar month…
