Astrologers Explain How The Moon Can Affect Your Mood

If it feels things get a little more chaotic under a full moon, it might not just be your imagination. A report published by the U.S. Department of Justice titled Criminal Violence: Biological Correlates and Determinants notes that while they can’t assert that moon causes crime or madness, studies have certainly found correlations. The report describes an analysis of police records in select counties which studied cases of aggravated assault, homicide, suicide, traffic fatalities, and psychiatric emergency room visits in connection with the moon phases — and the results showed that all types of crime aligned with certain phases of the moon. (For example, homicides and aggravated assaults cluster around full moons, while psychiatric emergency room visits clustered around the first-quarter moon.)

According to astrology, new moons are times of natural introspection, during which we’re inclined to retreat into our emotions and reflect on our feelings. "During the new moon, the moon isn’t visible in the sky and there’s no light, which means the energy available to us is low," astrologer Kristen Fletcher tells Bustle. "People often report feeling tired during a new moon and naturally crave turning inward." If you're looking to make a fresh start, the new moon is also a great time to think about what you want in your life and set intentions to get it. That’s because new moons mark the beginning of a fresh lunar cycle, so the cosmic energy is naturally supportive of starting new things.

The new moon is is the point in the lunar cycle when the moon is least visible, but it’s all about setting goals and intentions in astrology. So as the moon grows (or waxes) in the sky during the first half of its cycle as it leads up to the full moon, you may notice that you have an increase in energy and motivation, too. "During the waxing phase [of the lunar cycle], people will intuitively start new projects, take action, and refine," Fletcher says. "The moment the moon begins increasing in size, we can feel a sense of renewal and possibility." Pay attention to your motivation and energy levels during the two-week period between a new moon and a full moon and see if it grows.

Pre-electricity, it makes sense that the nights surrounding the full moon would be a more active period, since people would be able to enjoy more visibility at night. But according to studies, that may still be the case in modern times. A 2013 study published in Current Biology found that sleep can be significantly affected by lunar phases. Participants in the study experienced sleep disruptions and spent less time in the deepest phase of sleep during a full moon. They also slept less and reported having the lowest quality of sleep during these times, despite being kept in a controlled environment in which they didn't know what time it was. Additional studies show that even in urbanized environments with artificial light, people tend to sleep less in days leading up to the full moon — which can obviously affect your mood. "The moon may or may not make us behave erratically, but it can affect sleep," energy healer Serena Poon tells Bustle. "And for some of us, the lack of adequate, restful sleep can definitely affect our mood and behavior."

In astrology, the full moon (which is the midpoint of the monthly lunar cycle) marks an energetic high point during which we can bring things in our life to a climax, conclusion, or release point. The moon is at peak visibility, and it’s forming an intense opposition aspect with the sun during this phase — which can definitely cause us to feel tension. "Because of its intensity, [the full moon] can make us feel anxious, manic, and emotional," Dr. Carrie Pitzulo, founder of Ancient Magic, Modern Living, tells Bustle. The full moon can also intensify your dreams or nightmares, which can leave you feeling more anxious.

If you ever find yourself feeling more active and outgoing during full moons or more low-energy and introspective during new moons, it could actually be an intuitive sense based on years of human evolution under the lunar cycle. "Full moons were [historically] times of social activity, while under the darkness of the new moon we would go inward and stay in our homes to reflect," Rice says. "Now that we're in a modern society, we don’t need the moon’s light to gather — but our innate and intuitive evolutionary system is still wired to follow the cycles of the moon." It makes sense that pre-electricity, the well-lit nights of the full moon were times of greater energy and social activity, whereas the pitch-black new moon eves were a time to seek safety and quiet.