FlexMami’s Guide To Harnessing New Moon Magic

Reset, realign and refresh.

There are a few shared experiences that almost everyone will encounter throughout the course of their life: Dreaming, dancing, binging Netflix (okay, maybe that one’s a little less universal), and gazing up at the sky.

For as long as civilization has existed, humans have been observing the moon and correlating it with the ebbs and flows of our lives. Whether for spiritual, agricultural, or social reasons, we’ve tracked the skies long before we could record its movements with written word. The moon is something universal that bonds people across cultures and time-periods. Even those who scoff at the earnestness of astrology (I’m looking at you, Capricorns) have some kind of connection with the cosmos. Regardless of whether or not it’s your thing, there’s a feeling of renewal and connection with our innate rhythms that comes with celebrating nature’s cycles.

Lillian Ahenkan (aka FlexMami)’s illustrious career has had more phases than the moon itself. She’s scaled the ladders of media success, occupying (and flourishing in) all the quintessential millennial slashie spaces: DJing, running a business, writing, hosting and presenting. Forever a deep-thinker, Lillian has always teetered on the edge of philosophy and psychology, gravitating toward introspection and radical honesty wherever she goes. However, 2024 saw her move away from the hustle and fully dive into mysticism and art, now focusing her time on astrology readings and spiritual musings.

With the new moon upon us, Lillian is preparing to harness the lunar calendar for self-exploration and growth in the month and year ahead. But in the world of astrology, what does the new moon actually represent? Lillian suggests that we should “Think of the new moon like a monthly reset button (kind of like New Year’s Resolutions, but on a 30-day cycle),” she continues, “It’s a chance to decide what kind of life you want to live over the next month and set intentions around it. A lot of us struggle with manifestation because we’re either too attached to how we expect it to show up or haven’t clarified what it will look like and how we’ll shift our actions to align with it.

It’s a reminder that our emotions are the bridge between who we are and who we want to be. When we set intentions with energy that matches our vision, we create space to actually receive it. Why wait for the end of the year when you can recalibrate every month?”

Rituals, no matter how you choose to practice, can be valuable for marking transitions and processing feelings. They can give us a sense of structure, meaning, and belonging when moving through the seasons of our lives. You might be imagining chanting, candles and potions, but this doesn’t have to be what a ritual looks like, it might be as simple as writing down some intentions or going for a long walk. If you’re interested in embracing the lunar cycle through rituals, but you don’t know where to begin, this new moon might be the time to start.

“The new moon is the perfect time to intentionally recommit to the practices that make me feel good, because when I feel good, I have the energy to actually do the things I want to do.” says Lillian. “If I’ve fallen off with yoga, meditation, breathwork, morning pages, nature walks, or laughing with my favourite people, this is when I refocus on those things. Like my mom always says, ‘Start as you intend to finish.’

And if you can weave in full moon work too, your new moon rituals become even more powerful. Clearing space by releasing what no longer serves you makes it so much easier to welcome in the new. If there’s weird energy between you and a friend, address it. If there’s clutter in your space that irritates every time you see it, donate it. If there’s someone you hate watch online, block them!”

Being intentional and aware is enough to mark a new beginning or reflection. Focusing on a goal, writing it down and deeply considering what you want and need is the key. Lillian advises, “The best way to work with new moon energy is to remember its purpose: it’s a time for fresh starts, new beginnings, and planting the seeds for the life you want to create by recognizing that life is made up of todays. The easiest way to tap into this energy is by making a living list.

Start with a list of everything you want to call in or make progress on over the next 30 days... But here’s the key—don’t just write it down. Feel into it. Imagine what it would feel like to experience those things. Feeling is everything. Then, spend the month reflecting on what’s already in your life that can express a version of this joy right now.

The secret to attracting more of what you want is fully appreciating what you already have. And if you haven’t shown you can make magic out of a little, why would you be trusted to do more with a lot?”

Once you’ve started focusing on your intentions and you want to lean further into the celestial world, it’s worth understanding how you’re impacted by your birth placement, according to astrology.

As Lillian says, “This is the real major key… During every moon cycle, everyone is impacted, but how they’re impacted and their ability to work with the energy is heavily affected by their birth chart (the blueprint of their life as told by the positions of the planets, points and luminaries at the time of their birth).

The next new moon will be in Aquarius, so to understand what area of life to best plant seeds of intention. Remember Aquarius is an air sign that does its best work thinking outside the box. It's two steps ahead, a way maker, a tastemaker and relies on changing its perspective to change its life.

Then find what house Aquarius rules in your birth chart. If it’s ruling your first house and you’re an Aquarius rising, this is the perfect time to set intention around who you want and need to be to truly be consistent in living out your values. Recognizing that you’re not afraid of failing, you just have experience that has opened your eyes to the possibility that life happens and sometimes you need to pick yourself up, take what you’ve learned and start again. Rebirth!”