Today marks the beginning of the 2-3 day period that occurs before every New Moon, known as the Balsamic Moon phase. I was born during this moon phase, so I am very comfortable right now; this is my time.
During a Balsamic Moon, I will release the past month, allowing the events and challenges that were met to dissolve out of my conscious mind. I may say something like, “That is no longer mine to do. It is already done/resolved/no longer serving me.”
I am not sticking my head in the sand when I do this. Instead, I am letting go of the resolved (or resolving) issues that I no longer need to keep in the forefront of my thinking. Releasing them helps me stop or slow down the swirling of thoughts in my mind so that I can focus on the present moment, and rest.
For instance, I did not get the third course that my boss told me he was going to giving me. He forgot (again). So, I will send him a gentle reminder later on in February reminding him that he told me he would assign a summer course to me. Okay, write that task down (carry it forward to the next month). It is resolved for the time being. Let it go for now.
After I have released these things, then I can start thinking about the next month. What is in store for me? What is mine to do during this next month. I don’t dwell on anything in particular. I allow ideas or plans that I will focus on during the New Moon to be gently placed in my mind (or on paper) for further contemplation after the New Moon.
By the way, at the First Quarter Moon, I will make any necessary adjustments to keep on my intentions. During the Full Moon, I will appreciate having followed through on the intentions. The Last Quarter Moon is when I will gently analyze what I have done so far, and then prepare to let them go during the next Balsamic Moon phase.
Why is the Balsamic Moon phase so important for ritual? I cannot do a New Moon intention ritual of accepting new ideas or plans until I have released the old ones. It is like trying to put a new couch in the living room in the same place as the old couch, but without having taken out the old couch. Am I going to put the new couch on top of the old couch and sit on it? No, that’s silly. I have to move out the old couch first. Then, I have room for the new couch. Same goes for new ideas or intentions. They cannot fill the space in my mind that is already occupied.
So, I will sit quietly, gently and lovingly letting go of those old ideas saying something like, “Thank you for you service. Go now and peacefully transform. I no longer need you.” I may light a black candle to absorb the old ideas’ energy, letting it “burn” up, transforming the energy as a Phoenix transforms from the ashes of the previous body. I may have hematite, black tourmaline, or green fluorite stones with me. I may burn soft incense such as Myrrh or Lavender. Then, I may drink some tea and sit in the calmness of having released what may have felt like burdens, smiling as I sit. I will rest a while.
Once the releasing ritual is done, then I may get up and walk out any remaining energy in my body, or take a shower, wash the dishes or the laundry–something useful, cleansing, and not too energetic.
Now here is the key point of the Balsamic Moon phase: become the Hermit or the High Priestess (tarot), withdrawing into the gentle, contemplative world and rest peacefully knowing that things fall into place as they are supposed to as long as you allow them to do so. Now is not the time to push or force. Now is the time to release and “sleep” on it. Both the Hermit and the High Priestess take a “wait and see” approach, never pressing for action. Put it on the back burner. Let it go for the time being. Follow the Moon’s example and disappear for a while.
To make this ritual even more powerful, I might base some of the things that I release upon where the Balsamic Moon currently falls in my natal chart. In this manner, I am personalizing the Moons and not wasting time intending for something when the time is not right or appropriate; the energies are not at their best to help me. I think of it as the preferred time. If the Balsamic Moon falls in your first house this time, then release maybe you could release old ideas of the body (too fat, too short, etc.) and instead value the vehicle (your body) that you use to experience all the wonderful events that come from living on earth. Sometimes, the Balsamic Moon may wander through two houses. That’s okay–more stuff to release.
However, if I need to intend or focus on something pressing that has little to do with that Moon phase’s house, then I will go ahead and perform the intention. Somehow it always comes back around to the “right” house anyway. I just was fixated on something else and didn’t see what my Higher Self knew.
For instance, I may be pressed to understand why I did not get the job that I thought was already mine. But the Balsamic Moon phase falls in my seventh house, not the fourth, sixth, or tenth houses (the houses more likely to be associated with careers and jobs). I go ahead and perform the releasing ritual letting go of the fact that I did not get the job that I thought was already mine. In the releasing ritual, I would add something like, ” And tell me or show me what or why my seventh house needs me to let go of this.”
A few days later, my husband might tell me that he appreciates our life together as a couple, which only deepens our love (seventh house stuff). Plus, the person who got the job was not a friend of mine (enemies are also seventh house stuff). Now, I get it–that particular door of opportunity was not mine to open. The time was not “right.” The true opportunity was to let my relationship with my husband deepen and not worry about that job that I didn’t get. My attention was now deservedly on my relationship with my husband.
Since, in this example, the New Moon would fall in my eight house (the house of transformation, sex, other people’s money, and death), my intention to totally and finally let go of that pesky, swirling thought (of why didn’t I get that job) is easier to perform and follow through on. It would be easier since I began to let that problem “die” during the Balsamic Moon. Then, during the New Moon, I could focus my attention on something more applicable such as seeing what is in me that I could change or transform. My mind is clearer and I feel safe to do such transforming. Those feelings of self-doubt are no longer controlling my mind, distracting me.
To Summarize:
Determine where in your natal chart the Balsamic Moon phase falls, even if it falls in two consecutive houses over the course of the next two to three days before the New Moon (more stuff to release before the New Moon). Perform releasing rituals so that when the New Moon occurs, the New Moon intention ritual will be cleaner, easier, and more powerful. And get plenty of rest. Be in peace.
JBelle
Jeanette Belle, M.A. 
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