Interpreting the zodiac signs, tracking the lunar cycle, and studying moon phases are often dismissed as whimsical pastimes. Yet, many believe that applying astrology, tarot, zodiac or other celestial beliefs to your life can boost your well-being—even if these aren’t considered serious by science.

If you’d like to learn more about potential the connection between your general wellness and the effects of the moon, take a look at these apps for following the lunar cycle.

What Are Moon Phases? A Refresher

Also known as lunar phases, the phases of the moon refer to the eight visible stages that the moon goes through as it orbits the earth. These phases are: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent.

Moon phases are thought by some to bring about different energies. The new moon presents quiet energy, for example, and is seen as a perfect time to reflect on the previous month and set goals. A waxing gibbous moon, on the other hand, can bring about tensions and low energies.

How Tracking the Lunar Cycle With Apps May Affect Your Well-Being

The idea behind moon tracking apps is to harness the energy of each lunar phase to improve your well-being. These lunar apps encourage users to improve their health through a variety of features, including astrological affirmations, positive mindsets, self-care ideas, and articles on well-being linked to the phases of the moon.

1. Moonly: Daily Affirmations and Healing Practices

Moonly is an astrology app that can help boost your well-being by understanding the current energies of the lunar cycle and practicing meditative and healing practices. The main moon features that can help boost your well-being include:

Calendar: Understand the energies of the current Moon Day, planetary influences, and Zodiac events to help you make the most of your day. Affirmations: Receive daily affirmations to start your day the right way. You can personalize your affirmations by selecting topics that you’re interested in pursuing. Practice: Read the Tarot card and runes of the day to help harness the energies of your day. Healing: Listen to relaxing vibrations, mantras, or meditations for self-care. Wisdom: Practice gratitude, learn about chakras, and practice yoga within Moonly’s Wisdom features.

Moonly is a great app for starting to learn about the lunar phases and how to improve your well-being, with a significant focus on meditations and affirmations.

Download: Moonly for Android | iOS (Free, subscription or premium version available)

2. Stardust: Sync Your Cycle to the Moon

Stardust is an all-in-one astrology and menstrual tracking app, based on the alignment of the average length of a menstrual cycle and the length of the moon cycle. It offers users fun and sassy insights based on the moon phase and your own menstrual cycle stages.

You can find the best well-being features in the following sections of the app:

Moon tab: Learn about the current phase of the moon and how the day’s energy can affect your day and decisions, as well as your Cycle Forecast (if tracking your period). Calendar tab: See an overview of the moon phases at a quick calendar glance. Alien tab: Learn about your Cycle Type based on what stage the moon is in when you have your period, and fun insights about your personality, based on which type of moon you were born under.

If you choose to track your period with Stardust, you’ll receive daily insights and predictions for your menstrual cycle, horoscopes, and tips for making the most of the current moon phase. If you’re not interested in tracking your menstrual cycle alongside the moon, you can select just here for the moon in the app’s settings. (Read our guide on how to use the Stardust app to learn how to use the app).

Tracking the moon using Stardust can help you manage your hormonal cycle in an unconventional way or simply receive daily mood-boosting messages using its lunar interpretations.

Download: Stardust for Android | iOS (Free)

3. MoonX: Find Simple Answers to Complicated Questions

MoonX incorporates moon phases and lunar days with affirmations, moon zodiacs, and personalized horoscopes to boost your mood and emotional well-being. You can find the best lunar-related wellness features in the following sections of the app:

Moon: This is the homepage where you’ll find all information on lunar phases as well as well-being features. Find lunar practices to give you energy and motivation each day, along with moon affirmations, tarot reading, and moon insights. Astrology: Learn about your birth chart, receive personalized horoscopes, and learn how to read tarot. Calendar: Check what phase the moon is in as well as any special events (e. g. planetary retrogrades, celebration days, and more). Insight: Learn about the moon’s energies, find well-being and physical exercises, and follow guided meditations.

MoonX can be beneficial to anyone wanting to boost all areas of well-being, including mental, physical, and spiritual. You can find more mobile apps for spiritual growth in our handy guide.

Download: MoonX for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. My Moon Phase: For Simple Self-Care

If you’re after a simple and fuss-free moon tracking app, then My Moon Phase is your best bet. While My Moon Phase doesn’t offer specific well-being features, you can still use it as a self-care tool. Cross-referencing this simplified app with lunar and celestial bodies using resources such as Moon Omens (a popular website dedicated to providing lunar insights and tools for living), My Moon Phase can be the key to leveraging the lunar phases for your well-being.

Alternatively, you can use My Moon Phase to give structure to your life. One of the essential skills for successful freelancers, for example, is time management. As a freelancer, you could use the phases of the moon to plan your projects, starting with the new moon and creating a deadline on the next full moon. You could harness the motivational energies of the waxing moon to crack on with your workload, and allow yourself more rest during the waning phases.

You can also set notifications for different phases of the moon—which you can use as deadlines or reminders for your work.

Download: My Moon Phase for Android | iOS (Free)

Tracking the Moon Can Be a Useful Tool for Managing Your Well-Being

Not only can the specific well-being features of moon tracking apps encourage self-care, but you can also use the moon phases to structure your life. Try using the next new moon to set your goals, the waxing phases to knuckle down with a project, and the waning moon to be gentle on yourself. Have fun and see what the lunar cycle can do for your well-being.