Full Moon Rituals
Full Moons are for Releasing
A full moon marks the culmination of the lunar cycle — the point where whatever was set in motion at the new moon comes into full view. It's traditionally treated as a time of heightened clarity, making it a natural point for reflection, release, and recalibration. Below are four ritual options to choose from, or combine, depending on what the moon is illuminating for you this cycle.
Release Ritual
Set the space
Find a quiet spot, light a candle (white or black are traditional for release work), and have paper and a pen ready. Optional: palo santo, sage, or incense to clear the energy first + crystals associated with release like black tourmaline or smoky quartz.
Reflect
Sit for a few minutes and think about what's ready to go — a habit, a relationship pattern, a fear, resentment, or a belief that's no longer serving you. Full moons amplify and illuminate, making them well-suited for seeing clearly what needs to be let go.
Write it out
On paper, write down what you're releasing. Be specific. You can phrase it as a statement ("I release...") or just name it plainly.
Release it physically
Common methods: burn the paper safely (fireproof bowl, outside if possible) while saying something like "I release this, it no longer serves me"; tear it up and toss the pieces; or bury it in soil to let the earth transmute it.
Close with intention
Follow with something grounding: a short meditation, a bath, journaling how you feel afterward, or simply sitting with the moon's light for a few minutes. Some people like to state what they're making room for now that the old thing is gone.
Optional addition: make moon water!
Fill a clean glass jar with water and set it outside (or on a windowsill) overnight so it's exposed to the moonlight and cover it with clear plastic wrap. Make sure you bring it in before sunrise — sunlight is thought to counteract the lunar charge, so timing matters. As you set the jar out, you can state an intention for what the water should carry (clarity, renewal, release). Optional additions: placing a crystal like clear quartz or moonstone nearby (not directly in the water), or covering the jar with cloth if it needs to sit past sunrise.
Uses for your moonlit charged water afterward: watering plants, mixing into tea, cleansing crystals or altar tools, or dabbing on pulse points before meditation.
Pictured: an OG House of Stellium Journal and the Journal I took with me to Thailand.
First of the Month Rituals
First of the month rituals are rooted in folk magic traditions around setting the tone for the month ahead, similar to how full moons mark culmination.
One of the most common: blowing cinnamon across your threshold on the first, said to draw in money and good fortune for the month. Some pair it with saying "rabbit rabbit" upon waking, opening windows briefly to let old energy out, or sweeping the doorstep before sprinkling the cinnamon to clear the way first.
A variation of the above? Put cinnamon on top of a quarter on the ground in front of your door, picking it up with my left hand (to symbolize receiving). Put the quarter (with the cinnamon still on top) in your hand, standing in front of your door and say, “I welcome in abundance, health, wealth, love, and success, effortlessly and abundantly, without any blockages for the good of all and with harm to none.” Say it three times and then blow the cinnamon off of the quarter over your threshold, into your home. Then place the coin under the doormat overnight.
Others add a pinch of salt or sugar alongside the cinnamon — salt for protection, sugar for sweetness in the month ahead. It's a quick, low-effort practice compared to full moon rituals, more about intention-setting through small repeated gestures than an elaborate ceremony.
Ground cinnamon and a quarter is all you need for an abundance ritual.
Space Clearing Practices
Space clearing isn't one-size-fits-all — here's what I actually use.
When you move into a new space (or just want to reset the energy of your current one), there's a whole toolkit beyond just lighting some palo santo and calling it a day. A few of my go-tos:
Palo santo or sage to clear the air
Salt in the corners of each room to absorb anything heavy
Cinnamon blown through the front door for a little extra sweetness on the way in
A tingsha bell rung through each room to shake loose any stagnant energy
But the two I never skip:
Putting selenite over the doorways — I do my main entrance and bedroom — to keep things cleansed and protected
A glass evil eye displayed above the door frame or on an adjacent wall, somewhere clearly visible to anyone walking in
Your space holds energy just like you do. Give it the same care. 🌙
Burning sage to clear a space.
In Closing
Remember, your ritual doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be intentional. Let this Full Moon be a reminder to release what no longer serves you, celebrate how far you've come, and make space for everything that's waiting to find you.
