How To Celebrate a Summer Full Moon

In addition to -- or instead of -- holding a monthly Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups prefer to have a season-specific full moon ceremony. During the warmer months, the summer season begins with the Strong Sun Moon in June, and continues through July's Blessing Moon and ends with the Corn Moon of August. If you'd like to celebrate one or more of these moon phases with a ritual specific to the summer, it's not hard. This rite is written for a group of four people or more, but if you needed to, you could easily adapt it for a solitary practitioner or a family coven.

Before You Begin

Summer nights are usually pretty warm, though, so after dark is the best time for an outdoor rituals (be sure to remember the Magical Bug Spray!). Ask each member of the group to bring an item to place on the altar that represents the warmth of the summer growing season. Some ideas would be:

You'll want to include quarter candles*, as well as a cup of wine, fruit juice or water. If you're including Cakes and Ale as part of your celebration, place your cakes on the altar as well.

• Fresh herbs or flowers
• Summer fruits such as strawberries, raspberries
• Solar symbols
• Sea water, sand or shells

Celebrate the Summer Moon

Assign a member of the group to call each quarter. Each person should stand at their assigned quarter holding their unlit candle (and a lighter or matches), and facing the altar. If there are more than four of you present, form a circle.

The person in the north quarter lights their green candle, holds it to the sky, and says:

We call upon the powers of Earth,
and welcome you to this circle.
The sun's heat has warmed the earth
and will bring us the bounty of the soil,
when the harvest time comes.

Place the candle on the altar.

The person to the east should light her yellow candle, hold it to the sky, and say:

We call upon the powers of Air,
and welcome you to this circle.
May the wind bring us fruitfulness
and togetherness of family and friends,
in this season of growth and light.

Place the candle on the altar.

Moving to the south, light the red candle and hold it to the sky, saying:

We call upon the powers of Fire,
and welcome you to this circle.
May the shining light of this season's moon
illuminate our way at night,
as the sun has brightened our lives by day.

Place the candle on the altar.

Finally, the person to the west lights the blue candle, holds it to the sky, and says:

We call upon the powers of Water,
and welcome you to this circle.
Although the earth may become dry and parched
during the long hot weeks of summer,
we know that again the rains will come
and bring with them life.

Place the candle on the altar.

Have everyone in the circle join hands and say:

We gather tonight by the light of the moon,
to celebrate the season, and rejoice.
May the next turn of the Wheel bring us love
and compassion, abundance and prosperity,
fertility and life.
As the moon above, so the earth below.

Go around the circle, passing the wine, fruit juice or water. As each person takes a sip, they should share one thing they are looking forward to. Summer is a time of growth and development before the harvest arrives. What do you plan to manifest for yourself in the coming month? Now is the time to state your intent.

Take a moment to reflect on the growth you've seen since Spring. When everyone is ready, either move on to your next ceremony -- Cakes and Ale, Drawing Down the Moon, healing rites, etc. -- or end the ritual.

FYI:

* Quarter candles are colored candles based on the colors of the four cardinal directions: green for north, yellow for east, red to the south and blue in the west.