The full moon symbolizes completion, enlightenment, and the height of power. It is a time of celebration, gratitude, fullness, and letting go of that which weighs us down rather than lifting us up.
For thousands of years, humans have celebrated the beauty, mystery, and magic of the full moon by gazing up at the night sky, and passing down myths and legends about its divine significance. Many pagans celebrate the full moon each month with special rituals, commonly known as full moon rituals.
Personally, the moon plays a major role in my spiritual belief system and practices…in case my website name doesn’t already give that away 😉 I view the moon as a symbol of the divine feminine, and associate it with the Greek Goddess Selene.
The moon also plays an important role in secular witchcraft; many witches view the full moon as a source of power, wisdom, and inspiration in their magical workings. Below are seven of my personal favorite ways to celebrate the full moon each month.
Rituals to Celebrate the Full Moon
- Meditate in the Moonlight
- Cleanse and Charge Your Crystals
- Read a Poem to the Moon
- Collect Moon Water
- Release and Let Go
- Practice Divination
- Celebrate the Divine Feminine
1. Meditate in the Moonlight
So simple, yet so effective. On nights when I don’t have time for a lengthy or elaborate full moon ritual, I always make time to spend a few moments sitting outside in the moonlight, gazing up at the bright, round full moon.
Sit in a comfortable position on the ground or in a chair, and look upwards at the full moon. Allow your gaze to soften, focusing only on the brightness of the moon. Imagine that moonlight beaming down towards the earth, bathing you in its silvery-white glow.
Hold this visualization for as long as you desire, allowing the energy of the full moon to empower and protect you. As you do this, reflect on the blessings in your life and the things that you are most grateful for; visualize the moon’s energy amplifying those blessings and your feelings of gratitude and joy.
2. Cleanse and Charge Your Crystals and Jewelry
If you work with healing crystals such as amethyst, rose quartz, lapis lazuli and obsidian, you may already know that they should be cleansed and charged regularly to restore them to their natural state and imbue them with positive intentions.
The full moon offers the benefit of cleansing and charging your crystals at once: the white moonlight is deeply restorative and effective at cleansing away negative energies that may have been been absorbed, while also charging the crystals and enhancing their power.
On the night of a full moon, set your crystals outside on a blanket or in a dish (or on a windowsill if outdoors is not an option) and leave them for at least one hour to cleanse and charge. I also like to set my jewelry in a dish and allow them to cleanse and charge alongside my crystals.
3. Read a Poem to the Moon
The moon may be a 4.5 billion-year-old astronomical body…but who says ancient celestial bodies are immune to the effects of flattery and adoration?
I jest, but only a little bit; one of my most intense, worldview-shattering spiritual experiences occurred after an evening spent sitting outside reading poetry to the moon goddess Selene. True story!
Search online for a poem or hymn about the moon or about one of the moon goddesses you worship, and read it out loud in honor of the full moon. Let the feelings of gratitude, appreciation, joy, devotion, or whatever comes up in you flow freely as you read.
I’ve shared a poem below to get you started, but I recommend finding one that resonates with you.
Invocation to Selene
Lady of the Full Moon
White Lady whose rays shine on us
Lighting our path through the darkness
Round as a full belly
Pregnant with possibilities,
White as mother’s milk
And snow on high mountaintops,
Moon mother who sings to us
Lullabies of imagination,
Cascade through our dreams,
Sail us through the ebb and flow
Of our heart’s tides,
And light our spirits
With your serene love.
You could also chant, sing, or simply share whatever is on your heart—the idea is to connect with the moon on an emotional level. Pagan prayer beads may help you get into the right rhythm.
4. Collect Moon Water
What is moon water, you ask? Quite simply, moon water is any water that has spent time sitting under the light of the moon.
Why would you collect moon water? Well, moon water is believed to be “charged” with the power and energy of the full moon. You can think of moon water as a powerful ingredient for all sorts of spells, charms, and protective magic.
Making moon water is simple: fill a dish, jar, or glass with fresh water, and place it outside where the moon’s light can reach it. Add your collected moon water to a ritual bath, bottle of facial toner, spray bottle (perfect for adding a protective barrier when cleaning windows, mirrors, counters, and floors), or keep it on your altar for use in future rituals and spells.
Quick safety note: if your moon water has been sitting outdoors, please do not ingest it!
5. Release and Let Go
The full moon is a time of peak fullness and energy, but as we know, the lunar phases are cyclical. In the days and weeks following the full moon, the moon’s light will wane and shrink—making the full moon a wonderful time to release anything that is weighing you down (regret, guilt, anger, judgment, fear, etc).
Energetically speaking, the idea behind performing a release ritual on the night of the full moon is that those feelings or things you wish to let go of will wane and disappear along with the moon’s light; think of it as the opposite of a manifestation ritual, which is an excellent choice for the new moon.
To perform this ritual, think of something you wish you let go of and write it down on a loose piece of paper. You can write in as little or as much detail as you wish, but at a minimum, allow yourself to mentally go through those heavy thoughts, feelings, and external influences that are weighing you down.
Let yourself really feel the heavy emotions; crying is absolutely welcome during this ritual. Then, place your piece of paper in a fireproof bowl or dish, light it on fire, and let it burn completely. Dump the ashes in the dirt, in the garbage can, or flush them down the drain—then don’t look back, figuratively or literally.
Another easy way to release negativity on the full moon is by steeping a cup of tea, and stirring counterclockwise while you recite your intention to let something go. Drink the tea and affirm that your intention has been fulfilled.
6. Practice Divination
Full moons have long been associated with strange behavior and events, and many spiritual practitioners believe that full moons are an ideal time for tapping into the spirit realm. After all, full moons are linked with wisdom and intuition.
Celebrate the full moon by allowing it to “illuminate” your divination practice. I prefer to work with oracle cards, but other methods of divination include tarot, pendulums, scrying (gazing into a dark, reflective surface), casting lots, reading tea leaves, and automatic writing.
If your ancestors play a role in your spiritual practice, full moons are a wonderful time to honor them and ask them to share wisdom or insights with you through your preferred form of divination.
All of these methods require practice, so don’t get discouraged if you aren’t getting strong messages or are unsure how to interpret something. I recommend taking notes so you can always come back to review these messages at a later time.
7. Celebrate the Divine Feminine
For many pagans and witches (though not all), the moon is an important symbol of the divine feminine. What better way to honor the divine feminine than by celebrating the divine feminine energy in you on the night of a full moon?
It is important to note that the divine feminine is an energy form that is present in all beings, no matter where they fall on the gender spectrum. Even the manliest man can tap into his divine feminine energy, just as the most womanly woman can tap into her divine masculine.
Whereas the divine masculine is courageous, bold, logical, direct, and strong, the divine feminine is gentle, flexible, nurturing, sensual, and creative. Even if you do not subscribe to the idea of dualism, the full moon is still a wonderful time to turn inwards and indulge in self love and self care.
Here is one full moon self-love ritual I highly recommend: Prepare a ritual bath (or shower) by adding a bath bomb or essential oils to your bath water. Flowers or Epsom salt can also be added. Light candles and incense and place them near the tub, then turn the overhead lights off.
Relax and enjoy your time in the tub—listen to music, read a book, drink tea or wine, or simply let your thoughts drift. When you are ready, dry yourself off and look into the mirror by the light of the candle.
Look at your body as if through the eyes of a devoted lover; see and appreciate every part of your body, even those you have a tough relationship with. Thank your body for supporting and carrying you.
All of these full moon ritual ideas are simply suggestions. There are many different types of witchcraft and pagan belief systems, and what feels right for an eclectic pagan may be quite different from what feels right for a secular witch or a Reconstructionist Heathen.
For the most meaningful ritual, celebrate the full moon in a way that feels authentic and powerful to you. Have a blessed full moon!
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