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Article in App of the Week category.
Moonly Uses the Moon to Improve Your Mental Health
These days, mental health is more important than ever. Whether you just need some time not thinking about mile-high gas prices or just want some sanity…
These days, mental health is more important than ever. Whether you just need some time not thinking about mile-high gas prices or just want some sanity while working from home alone every day. Meditation apps are a dime a dozen on the App Store but Moonly has its own take.
I’m speaking a bit outside my realm of expertise, but Moonly says it is based on the Eastern moon cycle and helps you utilize the changing moon phases to “achieve your goals.” Furthermore, they claim it is more precise than the Western moon cycle and the lunar calendar can affect your energy.
The app looks incredible with soft, pastel colors throughout that lend themselves well to relaxation and meditation. Many of the UI elements have soft gradients and a bit of grain that makes them look almost paper-like. It reminds me of Taro cards or your horoscope in the newspaper. It’s bolstered by a card-based interface that you can swipe between.
In that app you’ll find positive daily affirmations to help you feel inspired and motivated for your day. It gives you a reason to come back to the app each day and any that you feel particularly connected to you can share to social. You’ll also find sounds, articles, rituals, and tips to help improve your mental health.
Very recently, Moonly got a welcomed new update. Developer Cosmic Vibrations has integrated a full radio station within the app to help promote meditation, relaxation, and sleep.
They’ve partnered with Metaverse musician Brian Larson for a series of therapeutic tracks. As you listen, it relies on the native media player to on your lock screen or cast to any AirPlay speakers.
The app is also aiming to be an outstanding App Store participant. The app self reports that it collects very little data, only your anonymized device ID and no other personal data. It’s very privacy-focused and doesn’t track you across various ad networks. It’s also taking advantage of Apple’s new in-app event promotions. When visiting the app on the App Store, you’ll see new or limited time events promoted. These are complete with all the details and a small video to show it off. Currently, there’s new content surrounding your chakra and learning about all seven.
You don’t have to necessarily believe in moon cycles and their effect on the human body and mentality but everyone can appreciate a well-designed app. The UI is serene with wonderful, calming colors and plenty of attention to detail. It feels purpose-built for iPhones and all the included meditations are above the bevy of cheap apps flooding the App Store.
But enough about other people's apps.
