A full moon in the night sky is a captivating sight to behold. There are many, many moons orbiting the planets in our solar system, yet Earth is the only planet to have one, beautiful moon. Earth is also the only planet we know to be inhabited by conscious living beings who worship their moon, and derive magic and meaning from its phases.
The belief that the moon possesses mystical powers is ancient. In many cultures, the full moon is seen as a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinnest; when magic and mayhem happen; when spirits are invoked and rituals are performed.
The moon has long been a source of inspiration and wonder. Its luminous presence in the night sky has inspired mythologies, beliefs and spiritual practices, and artistic works across time and geography.
Once a month, the moon is full when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, allowing the Moon’s entire illuminated side to be visible from Earth. For millennia, this astronomical event has served as a powerful metaphor wholeness, completion, and enlightenment, representing the culmination of cycles. Its circular form and reflected silver light symbolises eternity, unity, and the divine feminine.
In all the ancient religions of the world, the moon is mythologised as a powerful deity, who rules fertility and transformation, bestows wisdom and spiritual enlightenment, and helps humankind to track time, as the moon travels the night sky and completes its monthly cycle.
The Moon in Mythology
Sumerian mythology: The moon god Nanna (or Sin) was a key figure of timekeeping and fertility.
Ancient Egypt: The moon was linked to gods like Thoth and Khonsu, symbolising knowledge and time, healing and fertility, and traveller’s protection.
Ancient Greek and Roman: Selene is the personification in Ancient Greek and Luna in Roman mythology, both goddesses who drove chariots across the night sky and ruled over fertility, inner transformation, emotions, dreams and the subconscious realm.
Hinduism: Chandra is the lunar deity and a timekeeper, associated with the realm of emotions, the psyche and fertility. Full moon days, called Purnima, are spiritually significant, with rituals and celebrations being held in honour of various deities each month.
Buddhism: the full moon is a highly auspicious time (Poya) for Buddhist rites of cleansing the purification, clearing the mind for contemplating the Buddha’s teachings and attaining peace and joy. The Buddha is believed to have been born, attained enlightenment, and passed away on full moon days.
Islam: The Islamic calendar is lunar, and the full moon marks the midpoint of the lunar month. In Islamic mysticism (Sufism), the full moon can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual illumination and the perfection of the soul.
Modern Magic and Mysticism
The full moon is one of the most powerful times for magical practice. It is celebrated as a time of heightened energy, psychic power, and connection with the divine feminine, particularly the Goddess, who is often seen in her triple aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Rituals during the full moon, known as Esbats, are conducted to draw upon lunar energy for spells, divination, healing and transformation.
Alchemy and Occult Traditions
In medieval alchemy, the moon (often represented by silver) was associated with transformation and the unconscious mind. Alchemists believed that the phases of the moon influenced the success of their experiments and practices. In modern occult traditions, the full moon is seen as a time when the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinner, making it easier to access spiritual realms and perform divination or psychic work.
Folk Magic and Superstition
Many folk traditions around the world associate the full moon with increased supernatural activity. Full moon nights are commonly believed to enhance psychic abilities, affect emotions, and even allow for shapeshifting magic (e.g., the legend of the werewolf in European folklore). Many farmers still believe that planting, harvesting, and fishing during certain phases of the moon, especially the full moon, will yield better results.
Art, Literature, and Popular Culture
The full moon has been a frequent subject in paintings and poetry, often symbolising mystery, romance, melancholy, or the passage of time. It has been depicted in works by artists like Caspar David Friedrich and the Romantic painters as a symbol of the sublime and the unknown.
In Asian art, particularly in Japanese and Chinese traditions, the full moon often symbolises beauty, autumn, and reflection, frequently appearing in landscape paintings and prints.
Literature
In literature, the full moon is a powerful symbol of transformation, change and emotional intensity. In mythological literature, the full moon is connected to cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth, as well as feminine power and wisdom. The full moon often features in Gothic novels, fairy tales, and romantic poetry. Writers like Shakespeare often used the full moon as a symbol of madness, transformation, or romantic intrigue, such as in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Astrology
In astrology, the full moon is a time of heightened emotions and significant realisations, symbolising completion or culmination of cycles that began during the new moon. Astrologers believe that the full moon illuminates hidden truths and creates opportunities for breakthroughs or closures, depending on the zodiac sign in which it falls.
The full moon is especially significant in personal and spiritual development, encouraging us to reflect on their growth and emotional states.
Meditation and Ritual
Many spiritual traditions involve meditating or performing rituals under the full moon to harness its energy. The full moon is an especially potent time for releasing old habits and resentments, for gaining clarity and clearing the path for the future.
Many people enjoy the cleansing energy of the full moon, leaving crystals, charms and sacred objects under the moonlight to be charged with lunar energy. Making moon water is another popular lunar rite, as water left to charge under the full moon will receive its healing properties.
Full Moon Psychology and Wellbeing
The full moon has long been associated with fluctuations in human behaviour, giving us words like ‘lunacy’ and ‘lunatic.’ Though the scientific evidence on the full moon affecting mental health or human activity remains inconclusive, there is a widespread belief in the full moon’s capacity to stir emotions, disrupt sleep, or increase incidents of unusual behaviour. Many people feel the effects and have their own subjective experiences of the full moon, especially women who have an intimate relationship with the moon and track their menstrual cycle by the lunar cycle. For many, the full moon is as a time when unconscious feelings rise to the surface, leading to heightened awareness or emotional release.
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Throughout history, the full moon has been a symbol of illumination, transformation, and power. The powerful and auspicious full moon is a continuous source of magic and wonder, embodying the themes of wholeness, divinity and spiritual enlightenment. When you look to the full moon, you receive connection, inspiration and spiritual fulfilment, which is its gift to conscious life on Earth.