Have you ever wondered: “is the moon waxing or waning?” Do you know how you can tell which it is? It’s easy but tricky because it’s not the same in the southern and northern hemispheres.
How do You Know If the Moon is Waxing or Waning?
How does this differ depending on the hemisphere? Simple! It’s the opposite.
The Difference Between a Waxing Moon and a Waning Moon
When the moon is waxing, it’s incomplete and growing. That is becoming fuller and fuller.
When the moon is waning, it’s becoming smaller and less complete. And, the new moon as well as a new lunar cycle is approaching.
But, when you look up at the sky and see an incomplete moon, how do know which is which?
Looking Up the Lunar Cycle
These days, you can always check your moon calendar app (yes, I have one). However, the moon is central to our natural experience so when you’re out in nature with your cell phone off or you don’t have cell coverage (yes, this is common in the US), what do you do?
Well, you do what people have done for centuries!
Just Look Up:
You use one of these three sight methods. To simplify, we’ll consider the experience in the Northern Hemisphere. Then, those who are in the Southern Hemisphere can do the opposite.
Visual Failsafe Methods For Pegging the Lunar Phase – In Both the North and South
Northern Hemisphere
Rules For the Waning Moon in the North:
- The moon is visible at dawn.
- The moon’s light side is on the left and the dark side is on the right.
- The moon is becoming darker from right to left.
Rules For the Waxing Moon in the North:
- The moon is visible in the evening.
- The moon’s light side is on the right and dark side is on the left.
- The moon is becoming lighter from right to left.
This is always true for the North Hemisphere. Even when the moon seems to be filling or depleting from the bottom up. This angle is distorting but look closely and you’ll see the lunar transformation is consistent.
Southern Hemisphere
But what about the southern hemisphere? When you cross the equator from north to south the sky changes. Quite literally, everything is upside down compared to the Northern Hemisphere. So, is the moon.
Therefore, in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite of each method is true.
Rules For the Waning Moon in the South:
- The moon is visible in the evening.
- The moon’s light side is on the right and the dark side is on the left
- The moon is becoming darker from left to right
Rules For the Waxing Moon in the South:
- The moon is visible at dawn.
- The moon’s right side is on the left and the dark side is on the right
- The moon is becoming lighter from left to right
So, here is what you do if you can only remember one set of rules.
When in the hemisphere that is NOT your home base, stand outside, bend over (upside down), and look at the moon. There you’ll find the answer according to your own home-based rules.
For Information On Working With Moon Energy, See:
- Starchaser Mind-Body-Spirit Blog posts and search with the term “moon.”
- See also information on the Moon energy too: e.g,
- And, Moon rituals
- And, here’s a good website for both northern and southern hemisphere moon calendars: The Moon Connection.
Updated January 28, 2024
