The next new moon is August 17 (2012). The period of the new moon is when the moon and the sun align in the sky (are in conjunction), making the moon dark from earth's perspective.

The dark time of the moon is a time for setting intentions and goals, and planting metaphorical seeds. It’s a chance to refresh ourselves and decide what projects we'll focus on in this upcoming moon cycle. The quiet energy of the dark moon is the energy before the manifestation of a new project, the waiting darkness that comes before creation.

If you don't already follow moon cycles, it’s a good idea to start, to keep from missing this brief lunar phase. Set aside a few minutes each month during the new moon to plant new seeds or do cleansing work, to he past when you began new projects or did new things for the first time.