Lunar Calendar for Friday, May 23, 2025
Moon in Aries · waning crescent · lunar day 26
- 19% illuminated
- Element Fire
- Warm day
- 226,423 miles (364,393 km)
Energy rises fast and asks to be used at once. Aries days reward decisiveness, but patience is scarce, so hold back the hasty word.
Waning crescent
Only a crescent remains, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. The lunar cycle is closing. In lunar tradition, these quiet days suit rest and wrapping up—the next new moon is near.
On its monthly path across the sky, the Moon is now climbing: seen from the Northern Hemisphere, each day it crosses the sky a little higher than the day before. In planting tradition, the ascending Moon is the time of rising sap—a time for grafting and for harvesting fruit meant to stay fresh.
Element of the day
- Element
- Fire
- Day character
- Warm
A warm fire day in Aries brings a burst of drive. Pace yourself and spread the effort across the day.
Lunar day 26
The twenty-sixth lunar day asks for economy with words: less judging, more silence.
Lunar days are counted from the new moon: day 1 begins at the new moon, and a cycle has 29 or 30 of them. Tradition gives each day its own character.
Health by lunar tradition
In lunar tradition, extra care goes to the head, brain, eyes, and nose.
With the Moon waning, tradition favors rest for the head and eyes. A dark, quiet room for a few minutes does more than usual.
Aries days belong to the head. Simple eye exercises, a scalp massage with the fingertips, and a splash of cold water on the hands afterward are the classic routine.
Keep a glass of water within reach today; a dull headache often turns out to be simple thirst.
May favors exercise outdoors; build fitness gradually. Do not underestimate the first strong sun: half an hour of it is plenty at first, and a hat helps.
Food by lunar tradition
- Favored today
- Protein and fruit
On Aries days, lunar tradition puts protein and fruit at the top of the table. A meal rich in protein can feel especially satisfying today, yet a sensitive stomach may find even a small portion heavy.
With the Moon waning, tradition favors lighter protein: fish, eggs, and legumes rather than a large roast.
In lunar lore, the last days before the new moon prepare the body for a new cycle.
May brings asparagus, strawberries, young lettuce, and radishes. Fresh dairy with spring vegetables makes a simple May meal.
Reach for seasonal foods that suit the day: strawberries, cottage cheese, and eggs.
Tip of the day: yogurt with fruit for breakfast covers both of the day’s foods in one bowl.
Garden by the moon
- Plant part
- Fruit
May belongs to planting out: once your last frost date has passed, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini can go outdoors. Sow beans and corn, and plant celeriac and leeks. Harvest the first lettuce and radishes, and late in the month the first strawberries.
In the herb-gathering tradition, Aries days are for herbs meant for the heart and circulation.
Fruit picked today is said to keep well in storage. A good day to spread compost.
Aries days are fruit days in the planting-by-the-signs tradition: tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and the fruit trees get the attention.
Under a waning Moon, tradition says, the parts of plants below ground take the lead.
Sow and plant everything that bears below ground.
Transplant seedlings and prune trees and shrubs.
Everything that grows below ground is said to do well under a waning Moon; now is the time for celeriac.
On fruit days everything that bears fruit asks for attention: zucchini, the first strawberries, and beans.
The harvest is coming in: the first strawberries, lettuce, and radishes.
Seasonal advice is for the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zone; south of the equator, swap the seasons. For the best days of the month, see planting by the moon and the lunar hair calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What moon is May 23rd?
On May 23, 2025, the Moon was a waning crescent, 19% lit, in the sign of Aries. It was day 26 of the lunar cycle.
Is May 23, 2025 a full moon?
No. On May 23, 2025, the Moon was a waning crescent. The nearest full moon after that date was June 11, 2025.
What day is the full moon in May 2025?
The full moon in May 2025 was the Flower Moon on May 12, 2025, at 4:56 PM UTC.
The whole month day by day: lunar calendar May 2025; the whole year at a glance: lunar calendar 2025. Full moon in May 2025 · New moon in May 2025