- Author: Yesbelt Fernandez
- Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Books
- Publication Date: 01-Apr-2026
- ISBN: 978-57863-874-1
- RRP: US $19.95 / GB £17.99
- Reviewed by: Magenta
I was very pleased when this book came up for review as since my teens I’ve been fascinated with Astrology and the Tarot.
Set into three Parts, Part 1, ‘The Big Three; Lunar cycles, Astrology and Tarot’, is a brief introduction to these topics and is written in a clear concise way; easy for a beginner to follow. The first chapter is about the Lunar cycles and how each of the 8 phases of the Moon affects different aspects of our lives. For instance, a First Quarter Waxing Moon represents a critical turning point in the Lunar cycle; a time of action and decision making about seeds ‘sown’ at the New Moon.
I found the chapters on Astrology very informative on the qualities and representations of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. There’s also information on the influence of the planets, and the author also explains Birth Charts and the 12 Houses of a Chart. The chapter on the Tarot gives a lot of very useful key words and information for all the cards, with explanations of numbers on the cards and their energies which I found very interesting and enlightening.
Part 2, ‘Synchronicity: Tools for The Spiral Journey’ is a little more detailed and contains a lot more information, although the author herself says this part is not designed to be read from cover to cover, but to ‘take what resonates with you and to start your journey there’. This part is really for reference and anyone having a knowledge of Astrology and Tarot would find this an extremely handy and helpful guide. The author introduces her term ‘Moonth’ to describe a Lunar month rather than a calendar month. For example, May/June is a Gemini Moonth, which is a time of ‘harnessing the energy of social media, connections and short trips’. There is also a lot of information about the seasons and Sabbats of the year, plus their corresponding Tarot cards and other associations.
The final Part, ‘The Spiritual Practice: Weaving intentions into Life’s Cycles’, is all about the ‘How to’, including information on journaling and several spreads to use at the time of the New and Full Moon. The author gives examples of journaling guides, prompts and questions to ask. As a side note, I did have to re-read this part a couple of times to really understand and get my head round things.
There is also a chapter on Moon Circles and gatherings, which gives some very handy tips and suggestions on planning and holding a Moon event.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover! Being a paperback though, I think it might show signs of wear and tear eventually if used constantly. However, definitely a book to keep for future reference and I will be dipping into it frequently. I will be trying out some of the spreads at the next New Moon, which as I write this, is today!
About the author:
‘Yesbelt Fernandez is a writer, lunar guide and intuitive consultant who helps people align with the Moon’s cycles to live with intention, clarity and a touch of magic. She is the creator of YesSpiral, a personal growth practice that blends astrology, Tarot and lunar planning into real-world tools for transformation. She lives in New York City, where she writes, teaches and tends to her plant collection under the ever-changing sky.’
The book can be purchased direct from Red Wheel Weiser here: https://redwheelweiser.com/book/new-moon-life-design-9781578638741/. And from any good online bookstores.
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