A few days after the New Moon, a thin sliver of light appears in the west, just after sunset, fattening night after night. First visible phase of the cycle.
The pattern
Gradual rise in energy for starting things. Not the peak. The push. A good phase for pulling a project out of the drawer, making the first call, opening a new book.
With more moonlight at night, some people start sleeping a bit lighter. That shows up as more morning waking or more trouble falling asleep early.