New Moon, New Heart: Setting Soft Intentions

There’s a different kind of magic to be made when you set your intentions without a to-do list in hand.

Some moons ask us to bloom big, to harvest, to rise up and out. But this one? This one calls us in. The new moon in July, nestled into the breath before Lughnasadh, holds a rare kind of power, quiet, potent, and entirely yours to shape.

This is not about chasing goals or mapping achievements. It’s about soft intentions. The kind that come from your chest rather than your calendar. The sort you whisper rather than announce.

Because maybe you're not in a phase of stretching or striving. Maybe you're tending. Maybe you're still weeding. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly the point.

What is a soft intention?

A soft intention is an internal vow, not a performance. It's the gentle, sacred promise you make to yourself in the dark, trusting that it will shape the light. You don’t need a five-year plan or a Pinterest-perfect vision board. You need a quiet moment, a flicker of willingness, and a heart open to being met.

Think less “become a morning person,” more “wake kindly.”Less “run three times a week,” more “remember my feet can dance.”Less “stop crying,” more “let myself feel without shame.”

A soft intention leaves room for living. And that’s where the magic is.

A gentle ritual for setting soft intentions

You don’t need much. Just yourself, a little stillness, and a willingness to be truthful. Here’s one way to anchor your energy:

1. Prepare your space

Light a single candle or open the window to let the evening air in. You might burn lavender or mugwort if that feels right.

2. Ask a question

“What does my heart need this cycle?”Write it down and then wait. Don’t rush your answer. You might like to draw a card, hold a crystal, or simply place your hand on your chest and breathe.

3. Let your answer arrive in layers

When it comes, don’t write an action plan. Write a promise. One sentence is enough. Fold it into a tiny banner and place it somewhere sacred. Or press it under a stone in your garden. Or whisper it to your reflection in the mirror.

4. Plant something

If you’ve got seeds or herbs, now is a lovely time to plant something—literal or symbolic. A pot of thyme. A wish in the earth. A little spell folded inside your compost heap. Let your soft intention be rooted in the real.

What happens next?

That’s up to you. But here’s what I know: soft intentions ripple. They create space for grace, for rest, for a life that actually feels like yours. You don’t have to prove anything. Just keep returning to that small promise. Let it shape you.

And if you forget? That’s human. Come back to it anyway. The moon will be waiting.