Learning Lunar: New Moon into Waxing Crescent, Autumn Equinox 2025
If you’ve been following previous issues of Learning Lunar, you’ll see that we’ve looked at some of the major moon phases both generally and in relation to the specific time of year. This month, I want to get super specific and look at the exact phase and movement of the moon around the Autumnal Equinox.
Why? Because I love this time of year. The Autumn Equinox is very magical for me, and has seen me go through many changes, some good, some bad; some happy and some sad. This year’s equinox holds bittersweet mixed emotions, thanks to a run of events coming to an end, but with it, the opportunity to celebrate something very special with people who mean the world to me.
So I’d like to dedicate this moon article to tribe; to the people we hold closest to our hearts, no matter where they come from or how they are related to us, by blood or not.
Autumnal Equinox 2025 Moon Phase
The Autumn Equinox (or Fall Equinox) marks the point halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice. In the UK, this occurs at 19:23 on the 22nd of September, 2025.
It’s a myth that day and night are equal at the equinoxes. Indeed, there are similar amounts of dark and light, but this Autumn Equinox, there will be just over 13 hours of light. For a true equal day/night balance, you need to look to the equilux, a word which literally means equal light. The equilux where I live in England is more likely to be on the 25th of September. If your magic or ritual focuses on this aspect of balance, consider finding out when the equilux is in your location.
The moon phase for this equinox is classed as both a new moon and a waxing crescent. This is because the moon is calculated to have 0-0.5% illumination on both the 21st and 22nd September, so the “official” new moon is the 21st, and the 22nd is technically a waxing crescent, being the first night after the new or dark moon.
However, you could state that the 21st is the dark moon and the 22nd is the new moon. It’s entirely up to you and how you record your moon phases.
Learn more about dark moons and new moons here.
What Does a Waxing Crescent Moon Look Like?
The crescent is any portion of the moon visible that’s less than half. Sometimes, it can be a thin sliver, and sometimes, like a meagre scoop has been taken from a half moon.
A waxing crescent in the Northern Hemisphere appears on the right-hand side of the moon’s circle. As it fills, the moon gradually swells to fill up the right half of the moon.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite occurs. The crescent appears on the left of the moon’s circular shape and fills toward the right, gradually filling up the left-hand side of the lunar face.
On the Autumn Equinox, the moon’s visibility will be 0.5%, which is why it’s also still classed as a new moon. Many people refer to zero illumination of the moon as a dark moon, with a tiny sliver of crescent being a new moon. Some people class two or three days after the dark moon as the new moon. What’s your preference?
What To Do on the New Moon or Waxing Crescent
The new moon is often associated with new beginnings, starting over, refreshing your outlook or point of view, or kicking bad habits to the
curb. You may find that you’re more creative or full of ideas, so it can be a good idea to throw those ideas into a notebook or a digital journal, so you don’t forget them as the lunar energy changes.
Rachel Patterson, author of Pagan Portals: Moon Magic, states that now is the time to take the initiative, planning while the moon is very new, then grasping or creating opportunities as it moves into the thin, waxing crescent.
You might:
- Volunteer in your local or wider community
- Apply for a new job
- Consider changing your housing situation
- Clear out clutter or plan a renovation
- Start a new passion project or hobby
These are just some ideas for practical steps you can take. With the added astronomical certainty of the equinox, you can, perhaps, extend the planning phase with more reflection and goals that you want to see come to fruition in the coming cooler season.
Astrology
During the equinox, the moon will be in Libra, an interesting sign for the equinox, as both are closely linked to balance. Libra adds in the vibe of harmony, so you may feel like you don’t want to rock the boat or cause conflict. While this may be ideal, just ensure that you’re not being overwhelmed by this energy and avoiding confrontations that are actually necessary for change and growth.
Keep sharing your feelings and thoughts, and don’t bottle them up, even if you think it may cause an upset. The Libra energy, combined with the equinox, may help you find the right words to say, helping you to be truly you and not hide from things that are perhaps scary or making you feel uncertain.
Physically, a Libra moon governs the urinary system, the skin, and other internal organs. You can give your urinary system a little extra protection by drinking plenty of water and considering natural remedies like cranberry juice — always consult a medical professional before taking any complementary medicine, though.
Magic
The energy of the new moon and the waxing crescent can be very different, even though they are technically moments apart. I guess it’s like the moment between thought and epiphany; when something is invisible, it can draw reflection and curiosity, and once it becomes visible, you can be filled with realisation, confirmation, and certainty.
However, there are definitely some connections and continuity when looking at moon magic moving between the new moon and the waxing crescent. While the new moon is often about pausing and planning, the waxing crescent can be the first steps in bringing something to fruition. You can apply that in daily life, ritual, meditation, and even spell work.
Use the equinox new moon to:
- Reflect on the previous moon’s cycle and plan for the next
- Gather with magical/spiritual colleagues for quiet contemplation or ritual
- Connect to lunar deities who may be in a resting phase or a phase where energy is building
- Create or update banishment magic
- Reinforce boundaries
- Meditate on new beginnings or autumn plans
- Visualise your autumn goals coming to fruition
- Harvest seeds or other natural ingredients for spell bags or to place on your altar/sacred space
- Harvest remaining fruits, like berries and apples, if safe to do so (don’t eat anything you can’t confidently identify!), and consider making food for your friends and family, or offerings for your deities or guides
If your magical working focuses more on the waxing crescent, you could make it about the next steps toward goals and moving on from any planning phase to the “doing” phase — spring into action.
The Autumnal Equinox can be a lovely reset for many people after a hectic back-to-school season, or a spot of post-holiday blues. Take time to appreciate the changing season around you; the colours of the leaves, the wind and rain setting in; even the first frosts, depending on where you are in the world. As the moon darkens and then brightens as the equinox hits, so does the season darken yet still offer so much wonder and light. Enjoy it!
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About the Author: Mabh Savage
Mabh Savage is a Pagan author, poet, and musician, as well as a freelance journalist and content creator. She’s a nature-based witch, obsessed with Irish and British Paganism and Folklore, plus she’s a massive plant and bird nerd. She’s also a long-time Hekate devotee and a newbie Lokean. She works extensively with the UK Pagan Federation, including editing their bi-annual children’s magazine, Aether. Mabh is a passionate environmentalist and an advocate for inclusiveness and positive social transformation.
Mabh is the author of A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors, Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways, and most recently, Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Planet Friendly Living. Pre-order her upcoming book, The Magic of Birds, here. Search “Mabh Savage” on Spotify and @Mabherick on all socials.
Image credits
Photo by Vladislav Klapin on Unsplash
Image alt text: A new moon against a dark blue sky above silhouetted hills.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Image alt text: A black notebook with the text “Write Ideas” on it in red, on a wooden surface next to a pencil.
Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
Image alt text: A collection of beautiful, colourful autumn leaves.
Author headshot copyright Mabh Savage 2025
