As the Sun crosses the threshold into Capricorn and the longest night tips back toward the light, the Moon is just beginning to grow again. Last weekend’s New Moon reset the sky; this week, the waxing crescent carries those fragile intentions forward—small, steady, and a little bit shy to be seen.
We’re in building energy now. Not the loud, resolution-style overhaul, but the kind that happens quietly: choosing a different response, rearranging your days, deciding what your time is actually for. With the Sun now in Capricorn and the Moon waxing from Capricorn to Aries, the question becomes: What am I willing to commit to, one brave step at a time?
This is a week for gentle beginnings, structured hope, and actions that match your inner promises.
Your Cosmic Toolkit
Moon Phase:
Waxing Crescent → First Quarter in Aries – Saturday, December 27
The Moon is gaining light, and so are you. Waxing phases are for beginning, experimenting, and putting tiny roots down. By the First Quarter, tension builds between comfort and growth—perfect for taking a clear, courageous action toward the life you’re calling in.
Herb of the Week: Pine
Resilient, evergreen, and quietly protective. Pine needles in a simmer pot or bath can help clear stagnancy and call in fresh, clean energy. Think: “forest air for the soul,” especially if the holidays feel heavy or stale.
Crystal Ally: Carnelian
Warm, steady courage. Carnelian helps you move from “thinking about it” to actually doing the thing. Keep it in your pocket when you’re having a hard conversation, starting a project, or breaking an old pattern.
Elemental Focus: Earth (with a spark of Fire)
Earth gives you structure—lists, schedules, rituals, real-world containers. Fire gives you the motivation to show up for them. Light a single candle while you do one grounded task (pay a bill, wash a dish, send an email). Let the pairing of flame + action be your spell.
A Closer Look at the Week Ahead
Sunday, December 21 – Solstice Grounding
The Sun moves into Capricorn and the Moon waxes. This is a double dose of earth: sobering, stabilizing, clarifying. You might feel the weight of responsibilities and dreams at the same time. Let today be simple. Make space for a small solstice moment—a candle, a quiet walk, a toast to how far you’ve come. Ask yourself: What do I want the returning light to illuminate in my life?
Monday, December 22 – Structure as a Love Language
It’s practical magic day. Not glamorous, but powerful.
Great for:
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Mapping your next three months
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Setting work or money boundaries
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Creating realistic routines (sleep, movement, creative time)
Let your calendar and to-do list reflect what you actually value, not just what you think you “should” do.
Tuesday, December 23 – Future-Self Frequency
Emotional weather gets more airy and observational. You may feel a bit detached—this is actually useful. Zoom out. How is Future-You living? What does their day look like? What are they no longer tolerating? Jot down a few bullet points and pick one tiny behavior you can try on today that matches that version of you.
Wednesday, December 24 – Weird Traditions Welcome
If you’re gathering with others (or consciously opting out), give yourself permission to do it differently this year. Lean into: unconventional rituals, chosen family, group chats, online hangs, or solitary celebrations that still feel meaningful. You don’t have to perform the “correct” holiday feeling. Your authenticity is the offering.
Thursday, December 25 – Soft Focus
You might feel extra tender, nostalgic, or tired.
This is a day for:
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Long baths or showers
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Quiet prayers, meditations, or tarot spreads
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Letting yourself cry if you need to
Watch for emotional over-functioning (trying to fix everyone’s experience). Compassion doesn’t have to mean self-erasure.
Friday, December 26 – Emotional Low Tide, Energetic Turn
You may wake up with an emotional “hangover” from the week—too many feelings, too many dynamics. Hydrate. Take a walk. Put your phone down for a few hours. As the day goes on, a subtle restlessness builds: you’re starting to feel ready to do something differently, even if you’re not sure what yet.
Saturday, December 27 – First Quarter Moon in Aries: Brave First Steps
This is the classic tension between safety and growth, routine and risk.
It’s not about impulsive leaps; it’s about one bold, honest action that honors your New Moon/Solstice intentions:
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Sending the email
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Applying for the thing
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Saying “no” where you usually hedge
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Booking the appointment
Let your action be small but sincere. You’re telling the universe—and yourself—“I meant what I wished for.”
Relational Spellwork
1. Solstice Seed Intention (best on Dec 21–22, but anytime this week works)
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Write down three words that capture how you want to feel in your relationships (with others and yourself) in the coming season—e.g., “respected, playful, supported.”
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Fold the paper into a tiny square and place it under a plant, candle, or a stone on your nightstand.
Each time you see it, ask: Is what I’m doing right now aligned with these three words? Adjust gently where you can.
2. Waxing Crescent Micro-Action Ritual
For one relationship that matters (romantic, platonic, family, or your relationship with your own body/work):
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Name one small action that would nourish it: a check-in text, a sincere compliment, a 10-minute stretch, cleaning your workspace.
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Do that action each day (or most days) while the Moon is waxing this week.
Let the repetition be the magic. You’re teaching your nervous system that change can be steady, not shocking.
3. First Quarter Courage Conversation
On or around Saturday:
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Think of a conversation you’ve been avoiding—asking for clarity, setting a boundary, or sharing a truth about how you feel.
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Before you speak, put a hand on your heart and say: “I can be honest and still be kind. I can be kind and still be honest.”
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Aim for one clear sentence. Not the whole story, not your entire thesis—just the next truest line.
Even if you only manage a fragment of what you wanted to say, you’ve shifted the pattern.
As the light slowly returns and the Moon grows, let this week be proof that you don’t need a grand reinvention to change your life. A series of small, sincere moves in the direction of your own truth is enough.
Build quietly. Act bravely. Let each night’s increasing moonlight remind you: you’re allowed to take up a little more space, one day at a time.
