New Moon: The Magic of the Night & a New Way of Seeing
- Michelle MacEwan
- Dec 19, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 22, 2025
Our practice this month is The Magic of the Night and Shifting Perceptions.
Our prayer this month is for crossing thresholds.
May I be the light of lights
And my wisdom burn bright
As I journey through this change
Be my guiding star above me
And a clear way before me
May all love surround me
And bless me each way that I go
This day and every day.
It is the last new moon of 2025. The energetic threshold we are crossing as we move into 2026 heralds a profound shift. A new rhythm is evolving, and what matters now is your presence, your self‑devotion, and your willingness to open to new perceptions—about yourself and about the world around you. This is a time to open to your spiritual gifts, to be true to yourself, and to choose what brings you happiness.
Night Magic
The night is full of magic and mystery and offers us an opportunity to shift our perception of our environment and all that it holds. This shift supports our wellbeing and opens us to our spiritual gifts. The natural movement from day to night is itself a change in perception, inviting us to shift our own way of experiencing flow both within and with with the rest of life. Our surroundings influence our inner chemistry—the dark invites us to slow down, to open to mystery, to take more time for ourselves, and unwind, so we can truly rest and dream.
Perception
Perception is the lens through which we experience the world. It shapes our beliefs, our responses, and our reality. A shift in perception can open the doorway to a new way of being. Perception is always grounded in the present moment, and each of us meets the world through our own unique way of seeing.
Silver Branch Perception
Silver Branch Perception is a powerful way of seeing—one we are consciously cultivating this month. Drawn from Irish myth, it is Irish philosopher, writer, and mystic John Moriarty’s term for an awareness of the world as a seamless continuum of the physical world and the otherworld, or spirit world. It invites us to move from merely seeing to beholding — to recognising the inherent sacredness and interconnection in all things.
This is a potent moment to practise this way of perceiving, as it supports a shift into a new rhythm that is emerging both personally and collectively. It is a way of being in relationship—with the land, with one another, and with the unseen currents that move through life.
Rest
During this month’s practice, we also tend the art of rest. When we rest deeply, our spirit refreshes. Our vitality is renewed, and our capacity for contemplation—and for making gentle yet meaningful shifts in perspective—is strengthened.
This month we explore the mystery and magic of the night and shifting our perceptions so we can move forward with clarity, confidence, and belief in our dreams. 2026 is a time to embody what you are dreaming into being, and this is the perfect moment to begin imagining a new way of living and relating. Small shifts are enough—one step naturally leads to the next. Follow the signs and synchronicities; this is where your presence truly matters.
Old ways are dissolving, creating space for new ways of being. Clarity, creativity, and purpose may begin to break through in surprising ways. This practice is offered to prepare and support you as you transition through this potent time. The night sky is a wonder we all share. Sunset, dusk, dawn, and sunrise capture imaginations across the world, offering the awakening power of wonder and awe—opening our senses and our awareness to the possibilities and dreams held within us.
The Practice
Healing Perceptions
Our practice this month invites gentle shifts in our self‑perceptions and in our relationship with the world around us. These shifts help us become better equipped to create the changes we long for. The practice is also restorative, supporting greater balance and contentment as we learn to follow what brings us happiness and to embody our dreams. If you are not yet clear about your dream, this too becomes part of the practice during this magical threshold time as we move into the new year.
1. Choose a Perception
Choose one perception about yourself or your life that you would like to change. Reflect on what makes you happy. What is the dream you hold for your life?
Some people feel blocked when it comes to the flow of abundance. Others hold limiting beliefs about their abilities, or carry the perception that life is primarily about suffering. Perception is the key that unlocks the door to a new reality—it shapes how we interpret the world and how we respond to its challenges. What perception are you ready to shift?
2. Walking the Threshold
Practice a walking meditation each evening. Go out just before it gets dark if you can. If you feel drawn to being outside for the sunset, trust that feeling. Allow this to be a moment when the light is perceptibly shifting toward darkness.
Even if you only step outside for a few minutes or walk around your garden, this is a powerful time to be present with the natural world. In this moment, affirm the perception you are consciously choosing to change.
Cultivate gratitude and compassion—they are keys to genuine healing and transformation. Through gratitude, we shift our focus toward abundance and blessings. Through compassion, we open our hearts to hold space for change. Express gratitude for the shift already taking place within your perception.
As the night approaches, receive what is unfolding around you through all of your senses. Notice how your perception changes during this transition, and allow yourself to experience the peace and healing it offers. By cultivating awareness and presence through this walking meditation, we begin to see beyond the limitations of habitual thinking.
3. Under the Stars
Whenever you have the opportunity, go outside when the stars are out. Contemplate Silver Branch Perception and reflect on your relationship with the rest of life—the cycles of life, the rhythm of your own life, the beauty and abundance of nature, and the ways the natural world supports and sustains us. Reflect, or meditate on, the interconnectedness of all life.
Lean in to the experience of beauty, of wonder, evoked by the light of sunset or starlight and how it makes you feel. Take time to reflect on the magic offered by the night—the stars, the cycling of the moon, and the sense of continuity they offer amidst uncertainty. How do you feel standing beneath the night sky? Contemplate your own mystery. Feel into it. Bring your awareness to the real changes you wish to cultivate and the dream you want to embody. What perception about life can begin to shift in this moment?
4. Quality Rest
Taking time for restful practices will enhance the quality of your dreaming and your dreams. This month, rest begins with your walking meditation. As you walk or stand beneath the changing light or night sky, focus on deep, rhythmical breathing and on your appreciation of what you are seeing and what you are part of.
For a few moments, open to an awareness of your interconnectedness with all of life. Looking up at the stars can greatly deepen this experience.
5. Integration
Journal about your practice throughout the month and, if you wish, share your changing perceptions with someone you trust—someone who will support what you are creating in your life. Shared reflection creates space for new perceptions to take root. You may also like to add objects to your altar or table that reflect the shifts you are making in your perceptions.
Throughout the month, your sense of connection to your dreams and desires may deepen. You may notice a growing sense of belonging and purpose, and a clearer feeling for what the year ahead can hold.
Wishing you brightest blessings.
With love
P.S. Keep an eye out for our Notes from the Pathway of Wonder and Awe around 28 December, and our full moon practice due around 2 January.
As a special gift, I’d love to welcome you as my guest to our next Wild Membership call — a shared gathering normally held for members.
You’ll receive a personal invitation to join us and experience the practice in community.
Our next New Moon gathering • live + replay
