Moon planning + 2026 lunar phases
Moon planning has been one of my regular practices for over five years now. On every new moon and full moon, I answer a set of reflective questions. These regular touchpoints, which happen every two weeks or so, help me in two main ways:
They help me stay focused on what I want out of life.
They help me regulate my emotions.
If you’re interested in trying this practice, please scroll down for my reflective questions and a summary of the moon phases in 2026.
This month’s reflective questions
Instead of reflective questions this month, I’m going to invite you give moon planning a try! The reflective questions are included below and I also have a more detailed write-up of my process here.
Themes & reflective questions
Here are the general themes and reflective questions that I use during my moon planning sessions. This is based on a whole bunch of research that I did in 2020. There are many online articles about using the moon for manifestation — unfortunately I didn’t make a note of the ones I referenced as I was just doing research for my personal interest at the time. Thank you to everyone who believes in the power of the moon. 🙏
New moon planning sessions
New moon
Theme: Dreams
Reflective questions: What does your heart truly desire? How do you want to feel moving forward? What dreams, wishes, intentions, and goals do you want to manifest? What specific projects and tasks will you focus on during this lunar cycle?
Waxing crescent moon
Theme: Courage
Reflective questions: What actions are you taking to align yourself with your dreams, wishes, intentions, and goals? How can you build courage and determination to follow through with your plans?
First quarter moon
Theme: Momentum
Reflective questions: What challenges or obstacles do you anticipate will arise during this time? How will you overcome the challenges and obstacles in your path? Is there anything holding you back that you need to let go of? How can you continue to build momentum?
Waxing gibbous moon
Theme: Adaptability
Reflective questions: What adjustments, tweaks, or refinements do you need to make to your intentions, goals, projects, and tasks? What are some ways you can course correct or recommit to your dreams?
Full moon planning sessions
Full moon
Theme: Gratitude
Reflective questions: What are you grateful for? What progress are you celebrating? Have you experienced any moments of synchronicity? What emotions are you feeling?
Waning gibbous moon
Theme: Connection
Reflective questions: How can you express kindness to yourself and those around you? How can you share your experiences to better connect with the people in your life? How can you better connect with yourself?
Third quarter moon
Theme: Release
Reflective questions: Are there any conflicts, habits, behaviors, or patterns of thought that you need to let go of? What do you want to carry forward with you and what do you want to gently release? Is there anything toward which you need to practice forgiveness?
Waning crescent moon
Theme: Rest
Reflective questions: What do you need to allow yourself to fully rest and restore? How can you create an environment of gentleness, compassion, and healing? What reflections do you have during this lunar cycle?
Moon Calendar
Here are all of the dates that correspond to each phase of the moon. I referenced Astro-Seek and Google Calendar for this information. All times are in the Eastern time zone.
2026
Full moon in Cancer — January 3 @ 5:02 am
Waning gibbous moon — January 4 to 9
Last quarter moon — January 10
Waning crescent moon — January 11 to 17
New moon in Capricorn — January 18 @ 2:51 pm
Waxing crescent moon — January 19 to 25
First quarter moon — January 26
Waxing gibbous moon — January 27 to 31
Full moon in Leo — February 1 @ 5:08 pm
Waning gibbous moon — February 2 to 8
Last quarter moon — February 9
Waning crescent moon — February 10 to 16
New moon in Pisces — February 17 @ 7:44 pm
Waxing crescent moon — February 18 to 23
First quarter moon — February 24
Waxing gibbous moon — February 25 to March 2
Full moon in Virgo — March 3 @ 6:37 am
Waning gibbous moon — March 4 to 10
Last quarter moon — March 11
Waning crescent moon — March 12 to 17
New moon in Pisces — March 18 @ 11:23 pm
Waxing crescent moon — March 19 to 24
First quarter moon — March 25
Waxing gibbous moon — March 26 to 31
Full moon in Libra — April 1 @ 10:11 pm
Waning gibbous moon — April 2 to 9
Last quarter moon — April 10
Waning crescent moon — April 11 to 16
New moon in Taurus — April 17 @ 7:51 am
Waxing crescent moon — April 18 to 23
First quarter moon — April 24
Waxing gibbous moon — April 25 to 30
Full moon in Scorpio — May 1 @ 1:22 pm
Waning gibbous moon — May 2 to 8
Last quarter moon — May 9
Waning crescent moon — May 10 to 15
New moon in Taurus — May 16 @ 4:00 pm
Waxing crescent moon — May 17 to 22
First quarter moon — May 23
Waxing gibbous moon — May 24 to 30
Full moon in Sagittarius — May 31 @ 4:44 am
Waning gibbous moon — June 1 to 7
Last quarter moon — June 8
Waning crescent moon — June 9 to 13
New moon in Cancer — June 14 @ 10:53 pm
Waxing crescent moon — June 15 to 20
First quarter moon — June 21
Waxing gibbous moon — June 22 to 28
Full moon in Capricorn — June 29 @ 7:56 pm
Waning gibbous moon — June 30 to July 6
Last quarter moon — July 7
Waning crescent moon — July 8 to 13
New moon in Leo — July 14 @ 5:43 am
Waxing crescent moon — July 15 to 20
First quarter moon — July 21
Waxing gibbous moon — July 22 to 28
Full moon in Aquarius — July 29 @ 10:35 am
Waning gibbous moon — July 30 to August 5
Last quarter moon — August 6
Waning crescent moon — August 7 to 11
New moon in Leo — August 12 @ 1:36 pm
Waxing crescent moon — August 13 to 19
First quarter moon — August 20
Waxing gibbous moon — August 21 to 27
Full moon in Pisces — August 28 @ 12:18 am
Waning gibbous moon — August 29 to September 3
Last quarter moon — September 4
Waning crescent moon — September 5 to 9
New moon in Virgo — September 10 @ 11:26 pm
Waxing crescent moon — September 11 to 18
First quarter moon — September 19
Waxing gibbous moon — September 20 to 25
Full moon in Aries — September 26 @ 12:48 pm
Waning gibbous moon — September 27 to October 2
Last quarter moon — October 3
Waning crescent moon — October 4 to 9
New moon in Libra — October 10 @ 11:49 am
Waxing crescent moon — October 11 to 17
First quarter moon — October 18
Waxing gibbous moon — October 19 to 25
Full moon in Taurus — October 26 @ 12:11 am
Waning gibbous moon — October 26 to 31
Last quarter moon — November 1
Waning crescent moon — November 2 to 8
New moon in Sagittarius — November 9 @ 2:01 am
Waxing crescent moon — November 10 to 16
First quarter moon — November 17
Waxing gibbous moon — November 18 to 23
Full moon in Gemini — November 24 @ 9:53 am
Waning gibbous moon — November 25 to 30
Last quarter moon — December 1
Waning crescent moon — December 2 to 7
New moon in Sagittarius — December 8 @ 7:51 pm
Waxing crescent moon — December 9 to 16
First quarter moon — December 17
Waxing gibbous moon — December 18 to 22
Full moon in Gemini — December 23 @ 8:27 pm
Waning gibbous moon — December 24 to 29
Last quarter moon — December 30
Waning crescent moon — December 31 to January 6