Celebrating the Full Moon

Prelude To The Supermoon
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The full moon has long had an aura of mystery and magic about it. It is tied to the ebbs and flows of the tide, as well as the every-changing cycle of womens' bodies. The moon is connected to our wisdom and intuition, and many Pagans and Wiccans choose to celebrate the full moon with a monthly ritual. Here are some of our most popular moon rituals, as well as ideas for craft projects and recipes that will help you honor the power of the full moon.

Monthly Moon Phase Correspondences

Woman Holding Plant While Standing On Field Against Moon In Sky
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Every full moon is surrounded by legends and lore of its own. Each month is a bit different from the last, and as the year progresses, magical energies change and flow, just like the moon and the tides. Here's where you can learn about the monthly full moons that emerge each year, and the magical correspondences for each.

Moon Phases and Magical Workings

Witch's hand specifies on the black candle on a marble white round tray. The place for witchcraft with magic things around. View from above
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Does it really matter what the moon phases are, when it comes to magical workings? In some traditions, it does. Read on to learn about what sort of magic you may wish to perform during the various phases of the moon.

Lunar Gods & Goddesses

Lighthouse Against Majestic Moon
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For thousands of years, people have looked up at the moon and wondered about its divine significance. It should come as no surprise that many cultures throughout time have had lunar deities - that is, gods or goddesses associated with the power and energy of the moon. If you're doing a moon-related ritual, in some traditions of Wicca and Paganism you may choose to call upon one of these deities for assistance.

How to Draw Down the Moon in Ritual

Moon descends between stones of Stonehenge
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This beautiful and powerful ritual is one in which the practitioner invokes the Goddess directly into herself (or himself, as the case may be). In some variations of this ritual, a High Priestess (HPs) may go into a trance-like state and speak the words of the Goddess, and in others, it may be a formal monologue calling upon the Goddess in her many forms.

Hold a Full Moon Esbat Rite

Cornfield at Night
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In addition to the eight Sabbats, many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate regularly with an Esbat. This is a time of spellwork and magic, as well as of communing with the Divine, traditionally held at the time of the full moon. You can hold this Esbat ritual either alone or as part of a group.

Autumn Full Moon Ceremony

Maple Eclipse
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This ritual can be held during any of the Autumn full moon cycles. Celebrate the Corn Moon in September, the Harvest Moon in October, and November's Blood Moon. Although this ceremony is designed for a group, it could easily be adapted for a solitary practitioner.

Spring Full Moon Ceremony

Low Angle View Of Cherry Blossom Tree At Night
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Celebrate the arrival of spring with a seasonal full moon. Welcome spring with a water-themed ritual adaptable for either groups or solitaries.

Summer Full Moon Ceremony

Silhouette Woman Standing At Beach Against Sky During Night
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Instead of a regular Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups tailor their full moon celebrations to the season. This ceremony is designed for a group of at least four people, and can be held during any of the sunny summer months.

Moon Phases & Tarot Readings

Tarot Cards on stand in Altar space with Moon phase design
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Do you have to wait for a certain phase of the moon to do a Tarot reading? Not necessarily - but here some ideas on how specific phases may impact the results.

Bake Your Own Moon Cookies

Half moon pastry with peanut
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Make these crescent-shaped cookies to celebrate during an Esbat rite, or for your Cakes and Ale ceremony. You can dip them in chocolate or decorate them with frosting and silver sprinkles for an added bonus!

Moon Phases in the Southern Hemisphere

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House & full moon
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If you live in the southern hemisphere, your moon phases will be different from the ones on traditional neo-Pagan calendars. Here's how you can calculate the name of the moon cycle if you live south of the Equator.

Plant a Magical Moon Garden

MoonFlower Bush Blooms At Night With Bright Moonlight
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Many Pagans love to garden, but a lot of people don't realize you can grow plants and flowers that bloom at night. Cultivating a moon garden is a great way to get in touch with nature, and it provides a beautiful and fragrant backdrop for your moonlight rituals in the summer. If you plant these lovelies close to your house, you can open the windows and take advantage of their aromas as you sleep.

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Wigington, Patti. "Celebrating the Full Moon." Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/celebrating-the-full-moon-2562406. Wigington, Patti. (2020, August 28). Celebrating the Full Moon. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/celebrating-the-full-moon-2562406 Wigington, Patti. "Celebrating the Full Moon." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/celebrating-the-full-moon-2562406 (accessed March 29, 2024).