Moon Mondays: Why setting intentions leaves you stuck

For years, I was the queen of new moon intention-setting. Ceremony after ceremony, moon after moon, relentlessly without fail, I’d gather under the stars or at my altar, surrounded by crystals, candles, and the cleansing scent of sage. I’d write my longed-for intentions on beautiful paper, anoint them with sacred oils, and tuck each one into my special carved sandalwood box — convinced I was manifesting my dreams.

Month after month, nothing changed. I’m embarrassed to confess, I often couldn’t even remember what I’d written the cycle before. It became a kind of cosmic “set it and forget it” game, but I wasn’t manifesting squat.

Here’s the truth no one on spiritual Instagram reels will tell you: Just setting intentions with the new moon isn’t enough. Wishing on a moonbeam, double crossing your fingers, sprinkling essential oils on your altar isn’t going to cut it. The cosmos doesn’t work like that.