My New Moon and Full Moon Rituals

For as long as I can remember, I have been a “Look at the moon!” kind of girl.

I was fascinated with the sky even as a child, always gazing out of the car window to admire the sunset colors. When we were driving somewhere in the evening and there was a crescent or full moon, I would stare at it until a building or tree line blocked the view and forced me to look away.

I used to laugh to myself, thinking the moon was following us home because no matter which road we turned down, it was always right behind.

So, it comes as no surprise that since I became more curious about witchcraft and embarked on my spiritual journey a few years ago, the moon has become the centerpiece of the monthly rituals I have developed.

In my opinion, the best part of moon rituals (and most of witchcraft, really) is that you can completely DIY them. Anyone can gather inspiration from wherever they wish and create a ceremony that is unique to them! Here are the steps that I follow in my own personal full moon and new moon rituals.

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New Moon Ritual

1. Set the mood.

Creating the right environment for your moon ritual is an essential first step! If I am outdoors (as I like to be in the spring through fall months if it’s a clear night), I will light the backyard torches and lay a blanket down. For indoor rituals, I like to draw the curtains, burn a candle or a stick of incense, and turn on my Himalayan salt lamp for some nice mood lighting. This serves as a subconscious “cue” to my brain to let go of the day, slow down and sink into a deeper mindset…and it works like a charm, pun intended.

Some people might prefer to perform rituals with nothing but their own words or in complete silence, but playing the right music is a must for me! I created (and continue to add to) a Spotify playlist of songs that make me feel empowered and extra magical. If I really need to chill out, I will search for recordings of wind chimes, ocean waves, or other soothing nature sounds to keep me calm and focused throughout the ritual.

2. Do some research.

Now I admit, at first glance this does not sound like a very fun or “witchy” activity, but it can be helpful in giving the ritual some added direction and significance.

I have a certain process that helps me better contextualize the particular new moon and full moon of each month. I follow a variety of spiritual & astrological accounts on Instagram, so a few days before, I will start taking screenshots of relevant posts about the upcoming moon as they appear in my feed. On the night of the lunar event, I’ll read more in-depth posts on astrologically inclined blogs or websites. I keep my phone by my side before and throughout the ceremony so I can refer to it as needed!

I like to read information on planetary themes for that month’s new moon or full moon, healing crystals with specific attributes that are a good fit for the spiritual significance of the event, upcoming individual or collective energy shifts, questions for inner reflection and more.

It can seem overwhelming just knowing that there are so many people and organizations out there who give slightly different “takes” on the same new moon or full moon, but I gravitate towards content that is easy to understand and suggests individual actions I can take to contribute to what is needed in society, tend to my inner Self, or reflect and assess the personal relationships in my life.

Here are a few of my favorite sources of information:

• Time Passages mobile app (available for iPhone and Android)
• Moon & Rock blog posts
• Rising Woman (@risingwoman on Instagram)
• Spirit Daughter (@spiritdaughter)
• Moon Omens (@moonomens)
• Sisters Village (@sistersvillage)

3. Write out a list of your intentions.

The new moon is often thought of as the “birthing cycle” that kicks off the moon’s phases, so it is the ideal time to start fresh and think about what you want to manifest in your life the coming month.

Here is where the research from step #2 comes in handy! Based on what I’ve read about the month’s new moon and the specific astrological sign it will occur in, I like to write out main themes and key questions to ask myself. This helps me sort through my thoughts and emotions, ruminate, and eventually settle on my intentions for the new moon.

Intentions are a very personal and powerful thing. I like to think of them as mini-resolutions that I can return to and continue to act on throughout the lunar cycle. Much like my typical New Year resolutions, I make no promises that I will actually achieve every item on the list. But sometimes it’s more about putting your energy into the intentions and feeling your dreams and desires with your whole heart. In this hectic, fast-paced world, it’s a pretty big deal to sit down with yourself, be still, and ask, “How am I doing right now, really?” When I write out my new moon intentions, I am taking precious time to identify the areas of my life (inner and external) that need more attention and care.

4. Perform the solidifying ceremony.

I tend to follow the same loose structure for all of my new moon rituals, though of course yours can be as spontaneous or routine as you’d like.

First, I like to do a Tarot card reading. I use the Revelations Tarot deck and accompanying guide created by Zach Wong. I am a beginner to Tarot and far from regularly using it for deep inner work, so I need some more help in this area. I usually turn to Pinterest and look up different spreads for whatever sign the new moon is in.

After this, I close my eyes and meditate for 5-10 minutes, acknowledging and allowing whatever thoughts or feelings might come up. Then I read my list of intentions out loud, repeating it a few times over so it can really sink in. I end the ritual by chanting this mantra:

“My spirit is awake,

My path is revealed,

I am ready to receive!”

5. Dance it out.

Spoiler alert: I do this at the end of my full moon ritual, too. It just wouldn’t feel right to sit still and be solemn the entire time! I feel extra motivated after the intention setting and chanting parts of the ceremony, so why not keep the good times going? Dancing puts me in the mood to manifest and enter the new month with a positive attitude!

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Full Moon Ritual

The full moon is the peak of the lunar cycle, the point when the moon is at the height of its energetic pull. It also symbolizes finality, the end of a chapter, making it the perfect time to rid yourself of the things that no longer serve you in your spiritual and physical life. Here is how I do that through my full moon ritual.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 from new moon ritual, but applied to specific full moon for the month.

3. Write out a list of things you want to release.

In addition to coming up with things to release, I will also use this time as a “halfway point” to check in with my list of intentions from the new moon and measure my progress. If I’ve neglected to put effort into them, I will rededicate myself to following through.

To write the list for my full moon ritual, I reflect on my emotions, habits, behaviors, and every relationship in my life and identify what is not working for me anymore. This requires some serious self-awareness. It is not easy to be brutally honest with yourself about that things need to end, whether you’ve outgrown a person, a job, or a negative mindset that’s been affecting your daily routine. But I believe that we have to break out of these things and leave them behind in order to keep growing and evolving in this life.

4. Perform the solidifying ceremony.

My full moon ceremony begins much like the one I perform for the new moon, with a Tarot card reading and a brief period of meditation. After that I read my list, pausing each time I speak to feel the full weight. This part can get pretty intense and emotional, but I let the tears fall as they may and focus on how much lighter I will feel by releasing the burdens holding me down.

Then, I chant the following mantra:

“I choose to let go

Of all that no longer serves me.”

The final step is probably my favorite. I grab a lighter and burn the paper to a crisp (safely, of course) to make the symbolic release final.

While doing this I like to visualize each item being carried away in the flames and being absorbed by the moon’s radiant glow. I recognize all of the worries and shortcomings I have carried over the last month…and I let them go.

6. Set a glass of water out to charge.

I always end the ceremony by “making” moon water. This is super easy to do – all you need is a glass and running water. I have a little collection of glass vials and bottles that I’ve picked up from various craft stores, so I will grab one and fill it with tap water from the kitchen, put a lid or covering on it, and leave it outside overnight to soak up the lunar energy!

I try to use up this charged moon water in the week following the full moon when its power is still strong. I love to treat my houseplants with the water or add it to a nice bubble bath! As I mentioned, I am still starting out in my journey (no grand spellwork or anything like that) so I am all about finding small, practical ways to incorporate that witchy touch into my daily life.

5. Dance it out!

This is truly the perfect conclusion to the full moon release ritual. Nothing feels better than getting things off your chest and then getting your groove on under the light of the moon!

So there you have it — my personal new moon and full moon rituals! Whenever I feel far away from myself or disconnected from the Universe, my ceremonies help me return home and step into my power. Every month I look forward to these stages in the lunar cycle because they allow me to regularly take time for introspection, mindfulness, learning to listen to my intuition as I move forward, and most importantly, connecting with my inner Self. If you are also spiritually inclined, I hope this inspires you to experiment and create a moon ritual of your own!