How to Channel the Power of a New Moon Into the Ultimate Wellness Getaway Full of New Beginnings

From Labor Day weekend getaways to jetsetting during an upcoming fall break, we typically can’t help but lean on our calendars to be the driving force behind the timing of any vacation. But when planning a trip that’s especially wellness-focused trip and tailored to recharging and preparing for a new chapter, you’ll do well to consider astrology, as well — specifically, new moons, which occur at least once (and more rarely twice) a month. By gearing your itinerary to the themes of a particular new moon and setting powerful, related intentions, you could find that, six months down the road, your vision comes to fruition. 

As an astrologer and author of Mercury Magic: How to Thrive During Retrogrades and Tap Into the Power of the Messenger Planet All Year Long, I make it a point to consult my astrological planner ahead of booking any travel. But I had the chance to put this new moon timing to the test during a two-night getaway with my husband at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, a family-friendly, luxury wellness resort, located between Malibu and Santa Barbara, California. (Full disclosure: The accommodations and parts of our itinerary were hosted, as I was on assignment.) 

Over the course of our stay, which has its very own Center for Health & Wellbeing and hosts monthly, expert-designed health retreats, we were able to truly unwind and capitalize on the action-oriented, romantic, optimistic energy of the Leo new moon by spending a restful day at the spa and poolside cabana, noshing on nourishing, gourmet cuisine at the property’s brasserie, Coin & Candor, and soaking up the vitality-bringing, Pacific coast sun. Decompressing at one of my husband’s and my favorite destinations (it’s also where we got married last year) was downright dreamy — and the perfect way to make the most of a new moon that happened to conjunct my ascendant (more on that in a moment!).  

Read on to learn more about how to take advantage of this monthly lunar event to plan your very own ideal, self-care-packed jaunt. 

Why a new moon presents the ideal timing for a wellness getaway 

The new moon occurs once — and once in a while, twice — a month when the moon and the sun share the same spot in the zodiac (for instance, in September 2024, that spot will be 11 degrees of mutable earth sign Virgo). Because the moon and sun are cozied up together, the sun’s vivid light doesn’t reflect off of the moon at all. Instead, from our point of view on Earth, the moon’s form appears hidden. In turn, you can think of a new moon as a blank canvas on which you can cast your wellness-related aspirations for the coming weeks and months. And you can take advantage of new moon energy by getting clear on and setting those goals for four days before and after the event occurs. 

In astrology, the moon colors your emotions, intuition and nurturing style as well as how you want to be nurtured. When it’s new, you could feel an amplified sense of possibility, anticipation and emotional self-awareness. New moons also present a chance to plant seeds that you can watch grow over the following two weeks and the following six months. 

By timing a self-care-related vacation to a new moon, you’re engaging in a conscious ritual that could set the stage for not only healthy results but even more of the energy you experience during your trip. Think of it as striving to lock in a reverberating tone you’ll get to enjoy well beyond the time you check out. 

In my case, my husband’s and my stay at the Four Seasons Westlake was tied to amplifying the energy of the new moon in fire sign Leo, which, along with Leo season, encourages all of us to tend to our sense of self and show up for ourselves by centering joyfulness, self-expression, luxury and overall well-being. 

Keep track of new moons and find one that works for your schedule

Whether you get an astrology-focused wall calendar (like Astrology: Guidance From the Stars, which features my horoscopes), a physical astrology planner (I love Llewellyn's Daily Planetary Guide) or you keep track of lunar events on a website (like Astro-Seek), you can note when each month’s new moon(s) occurs in order to find the one that fits best with your travel plans. Bear in mind the effect of a new moon (and full moon!) can be felt for about four days before and after the event itself, so you have a longer window to travel than you might think.

Funny enough, you could find that previous vacations have even unintentionally coincided with lunar events — new moons, if the trip occurred ahead of a bright new chapter, and full moons, if it was an itinerary related to the realization of a long-term goal or culmination point (like you were celebrating a loved one’s graduation, promotion or anniversary).  

Consider what zodiac sign the new moon falls in to make the most of related themes

Because all of the planets and celestial bodies move at different rates through the zodiac and change signs at different intervals, each new moon is unique — even from year to year. But you can bank on certain themes staying consistent, and holding those themes in mind can help you choose a new moon to travel during.

Here’s a quick overview of the themes associated with each sign’s new moon: 

New moon in Aries: Competition, action and inner drive

New moon in Taurus: Comfort, luxury, sensuality

New moon in Gemini: Communication, socializing, information-gathering

New moon in Cancer: Family, sense of security, self-nurturing 

New moon in Leo: Romance, self-expression, identity and self-care 

New moon in Virgo: Organization, everyday details and routine, health

New moon in Libra: Partnership, mediation, beauty and art

New moon in Scorpio: Transformation, self-empowerment and intimate bonding 

New moon in Sagittarius: Broadening horizons, exploring new philosophies and cultures and owning your unfiltered thoughts and opinions

New moon in Capricorn: Slow and steady industriousness, public image and professional path

New moon in Aquarius: Striking out on your own, humanitarian pursuits and group activities 

New moon in Pisces: Self-healing, mysticism and dreams

Consider other astrological events occurring at the same time

At any given time, there are a variety of astrological transits happening in addition to a new moon, and tracking all of them could get a little overwhelming! Take heart: There’s no need to take it all into consideration when planning your wellness getaway. But it could help to note anything major that’s affecting everyone universally (which you can get a sense of by looking at your astrological calendar or reading up on upcoming astrological transits in my columns) or you personally (which you can better understand by looking at how the planets are interacting with your birth, or natal, chart — a professional astrologer can help you with this, too!).

For example, a new moon could very well fall during a Mercury retrograde — a period you’ll hear is anything but conducive to starting anything new, because it involves the planet of communication and travel moving backward, nudging us to reflect on the past and tie up loose ends versus plow ahead. In fact, during my trip, Mercury was stationing (aka going) retrograde in Virgo. But this can be truly fitting, depending on your priorities and goals. That was the case for my husband and me, as the Four Seasons Westlake is a place we’ve been to many times before — for our intimate wedding, wedding reception and two previous wellness stays — so our trip, although tailored to a new moon, was also an opportunity to revisit a beloved destination.  

You can also make the most of a new moon by understanding its effect on your birth chart. The new moon fell at 12 degrees of Leo, just a degree off from my ascendant, or rising, sign. In astrology, your rising sign colors your personality as well as the skills, talents and strategies that you tap into as you pursue your life purpose. A new moon on your ascendant could heighten your sensitivity, intuition and experience of your emotions, and also bring you into the spotlight — all themes that could go hand-in-hand with getting clear on a health or wellness intention and taking the initial steps to achieving it. 

Get clear on your intention and plan related activities 

We tend to think of goal-setting as a super-active practice, perhaps involving journaling, lively conversations, research, etc. Sure, it might look this way, but it could also be more passive. Whether you already know exactly what you want to achieve and you want to better understand the best way to get there, or you’re still unsure of exactly what you want to set your sights on, slowing down, recharging and practicing mindfulness could create space for you to have a lightbulb moment. 

Going into our getaway, I was intent on prioritizing rest, given that the pace of our work and personal lives has been downright nonstop lately. I also wanted the trip to be an opportunity to spend quality time with my husband ahead of an exciting new chapter we’re kicking off this fall. And we were able to do this by devoting a day to grounding, restorative massages at the property’s spa followed by relaxing at a cabana at the resort’s new, two-acre Cove oasis pool. 

A final word on planning the ultimate new moon getaway

Whether you want to set healthy new habits, pour more energy into your most intimate bonds or zero in on and address your emotional needs, you’ll do well to clarify and then, launch your vision in the days around a new moon. And while there are a bevy of rituals you can do to set your goal, an intentional, wellness-focused getaway can be a particularly powerful, not to mention wonderful, way to harness the energy of this impactful lunar event. 

Under a blazing California summer sun and fire sign-ruled new moon, my husband and I were able to hit pause on all of life’s hustle and bustle to fully immerse ourselves in luxurious self-care, lots of laughter, playfulness and romance. Now almost two weeks on, and anticipating what’s on the horizon for us, I can say with absolute certainty that we’ll continue to revel in — and benefit from — these heartfelt new moon themes well beyond our magical, wellness-bolstering stay.

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