Full Moon Tarot Spread

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction: The Moon's Revelation

The full moon—that luminous moment when the moon reaches peak illumination, fully visible in the night sky—has captivated humanity across cultures and centuries. Unlike the new moon's introspective darkness, the full moon brings everything into light, revealing what's been hidden, bringing situations to culmination, and offering the perfect energetic container for release and gratitude.

The full moon tarot spread is designed to work with this revelatory energy, helping you see clearly what the waxing moon cycle has brought to fruition, identify what needs to be released to continue your evolution, and receive guidance for the waning moon phase ahead. This seven-card layout mirrors the full moon's completeness—a perfect circle of insight that illuminates your path with lunar clarity.

While the new moon is for planting seeds and setting intentions, the full moon is for harvesting what's grown, celebrating manifestations, and releasing what no longer serves. This spread is both a moment of gratitude for what's been achieved and a powerful clearing ritual for what must be let go. It's the exhale after the inhale, the completion before the next beginning.

Understanding Full Moon Energy

Before working with the full moon spread, it's essential to understand the unique energetic signature of this lunar phase and why it's ideal for release, revelation, and gratitude work.

The Full Moon in the Lunar Cycle

Peak Illumination: The full moon occurs approximately 14 days after the new moon, when the sun and moon are in opposition—the earth positioned between them. This creates maximum lunar visibility and energetic intensity.

Culmination Energy: Whatever was planted at the new moon reaches a peak. Projects come to completion, situations reach crisis points (in the original sense of "turning point"), and hidden matters are revealed. The full moon doesn't create new energy—it brings existing energy to full expression.

Emotional Amplification: The full moon is notorious for intensifying emotions. What you've been suppressing surfaces. What you've been building reaches overflow. This emotional intensity, while sometimes challenging, is precisely what makes full moon work so powerful—you can't hide from what needs attention.

Release and Letting Go: As the moon begins to wane after fullness, it supports the release of what's complete, what's no longer needed, or what's blocking your next evolution. The full moon is the ideal time to consciously let go.

Full Moon vs. New Moon Tarot Work

These two lunar phases serve complementary but opposite functions:

New Moon: Introspective, receptive, intention-setting, planting seeds, calling in, beginning
Full Moon: Illuminating, expressive, releasing, harvesting, letting go, completing

New Moon: "What do I want to create?"
Full Moon: "What has been created? What must I release?"

New Moon: Works with potential and possibility
Full Moon: Works with manifestation and completion

Ideally, you perform both spreads each lunar cycle—new moon to set intentions, full moon to assess results and release what's blocking your path forward.

The 7-Card Layout: Position Meanings

The cards are laid in a circle, mirroring the full moon's perfect roundness. Each position addresses a specific aspect of the full moon's revelatory and releasing energy.

Position 1 - What Has Come to Light: Revelations

The Illumination: This card reveals what the full moon is bringing into visibility—hidden information, unconscious patterns, or situations that have reached a point where they can no longer be ignored.

Interpretive Focus: This is often surprising or uncomfortable. The Moon card here might indicate illusions being dispelled; the Seven of Swords suggests deception being revealed; The Tower shows a truth that shatters previous understanding. Positive cards like The Sun or The Star indicate beautiful revelations or confirmations of hope.

Shadow Work: What's revealed isn't always pleasant, but it's always necessary. The full moon shows you what you need to see, not necessarily what you want to see.

Position 2 - What Has Manifested: Harvest

The Fruition: This card shows what you've successfully manifested or brought to completion since the last new moon. It's the harvest of seeds planted two weeks ago or efforts sustained over longer cycles.

Interpretive Focus: Celebrate this, even if it's not exactly what you intended. The Three of Pentacles might show collaborative success; the Ten of Cups indicates emotional fulfillment; the Ace of Wands suggests a creative breakthrough. Even challenging cards show what you've "successfully" created (perhaps unconsciously) and can now address.

Gratitude Practice: Acknowledge and appreciate what's manifested. Gratitude amplifies positive manifestations and helps you learn from challenging ones.

Position 3 - What Needs to Be Released: Letting Go

The Release: This card identifies what must be let go—old patterns, limiting beliefs, completed relationships, outdated identities, or anything that's blocking your evolution.

Interpretive Focus: This is the heart of full moon work. The Five of Cups suggests releasing grief or dwelling on loss; the Four of Pentacles indicates letting go of control or scarcity mindset; The Devil shows the need to release addiction, codependency, or unhealthy attachments. Even positive cards can indicate release—the Ten of Pentacles might mean releasing family expectations or inherited patterns.

Ritual Integration: Write what this card reveals on paper and burn it under the full moon, symbolically releasing it. Or create a releasing ceremony that feels meaningful to you.

Position 4 - Hidden Blessings: Unexpected Gifts

The Grace: This card reveals blessings, gifts, or support that you may not have recognized—the silver lining, the lesson within the challenge, or the unexpected grace present in your situation.

Interpretive Focus: The full moon illuminates not just problems but also hidden resources and blessings. The Six of Pentacles might show unexpected generosity or support; The Hermit indicates the gift of solitude and self-knowledge; the Three of Swords, paradoxically, might reveal the blessing of heartbreak that clears space for truth.

Reframing: This position helps you see challenges as teachers and obstacles as opportunities. It shifts perspective from victim to student.

Position 5 - Emotional Truth: What Your Heart Knows

The Feeling: This card reveals your authentic emotional truth about the situation—what your heart knows beneath mental justifications, social conditioning, or fear-based thinking.

Interpretive Focus: Cups cards are especially potent here, but any card reveals emotional truth. The Two of Cups might show that you genuinely love someone despite complications; the Eight of Swords indicates you feel trapped even if logically you know you have options; The Empress reveals deep contentment and creative fulfillment.

Honoring Feelings: The full moon asks you to honor your emotional truth, even when it's inconvenient or contradicts what you "should" feel. Emotions are information, not commands—you can feel something without acting on it, but you can't heal what you won't acknowledge.

Position 6 - Guidance for the Waning Moon: How to Release

The Method: This card offers specific guidance for the waning moon phase (the two weeks following the full moon)—how to release what position 3 identified, how to integrate what's been revealed, or what energy to embody as the moon decreases.

Interpretive Focus: Read this as actionable strategy. The Hermit advises solitary reflection and inner work; Temperance suggests gradual, balanced release rather than dramatic purging; the Five of Swords indicates the need to choose your battles and walk away from unwinnable conflicts; Justice recommends fair assessment and karmic balancing.

Waning Moon Work: The waning moon supports completion, rest, and clearing. This card shows you how to work skillfully with that energy.

Position 7 - The Blessing: What Comes from Release

The Promise: This card shows what becomes possible when you release what position 3 identified—the space that opens, the energy that's freed, or the new beginning that awaits after letting go.

Interpretive Focus: This is the motivation for doing the hard work of release. The Ace of Cups promises new emotional beginnings and open-heartedness; The World indicates completion and new cycles; the Six of Wands shows victory and recognition that comes from releasing what held you back.

Hope and Motivation: Release is difficult. This position reminds you why it's worth it—what you gain by letting go is always greater than what you lose.

How to Perform the Full Moon Tarot Ritual

Timing: When to Do This Reading

Optimal Window: The night of the full moon, ideally when the moon is visible in the sky. The energy is strongest at the exact moment of fullness (check lunar calendars for your timezone).

Extended Window: The day before through the day after the full moon is still highly effective, as the moon appears full for approximately three days.

Avoid: Performing this spread during the new moon or waxing phases, as the energy doesn't support release and completion work.

Preparation: Creating Sacred Space

Physical Space: If possible, perform this reading outdoors under the full moon, or near a window where you can see the moon. If that's not possible, bring lunar energy inside with white or silver candles, moonstone or selenite crystals, and images of the full moon.

Cleansing: Clear your space and yourself with smoke (white sage, palo santo), sound (bells, singing bowl), or visualization. The full moon's intensity can stir up heavy energy—cleansing is essential.

Energetic Preparation: Take a ritual bath with sea salt and lavender to cleanse your energy field. Wear white, silver, or light colors that reflect the full moon's luminosity.

Grounding: The full moon can be energetically overwhelming. Ground yourself through breathwork, standing barefoot on the earth, or eating something before the reading.

Invocation: Call in lunar goddesses (Selene, Diana, Artemis, Ix Chel, Chang'e) or your guides to support your reading. Light your candle and state your intention: "I open to the full moon's illumination and release what no longer serves my highest good."

The Reading Sequence

Step 1 - Moon Gazing: If possible, spend a few minutes gazing at the full moon before your reading. Let its light fill you. Notice what emotions or thoughts arise.

Step 2 - Shuffle with Intention: Hold your question clearly: "What does this full moon reveal? What must I release? What guidance do I need?" Shuffle until you feel ready.

Step 3 - Lay the Circle: Place cards in a circle, starting at the top (12 o'clock position) and moving clockwise. The circular layout mirrors the full moon's shape.

Step 4 - Revelation: Begin with position 1. What has the full moon brought to light? Sit with this revelation without judgment.

Step 5 - Harvest: Position 2 shows what you've manifested. Celebrate this, even if it's not what you expected.

Step 6 - Release: Position 3 is the core of the reading. What must you let go? Feel the weight of holding on, then imagine the lightness of release.

Step 7 - Hidden Blessings: Position 4 reveals grace. What gift is present that you hadn't seen?

Step 8 - Emotional Truth: Position 5 shows what your heart knows. Honor this truth.

Step 9 - Release Guidance: Position 6 offers your waning moon strategy. How will you release what needs to go?

Step 10 - The Blessing: Position 7 shows what awaits on the other side of release. Let this motivate your letting go.

Step 11 - Synthesis: Look at all seven cards together. What story do they tell? How do they weave into a coherent message?

Post-Reading Integration

Release Ritual: Based on position 3, create a releasing ceremony. Write what you're letting go on paper and burn it. Speak it aloud to the moon. Bury it in the earth. Choose a method that feels powerful to you.

Moon Water: Place water under the full moon to charge with releasing and cleansing energy. Use it to wash your hands, anoint yourself, or water plants over the next two weeks.

Journal: Write down the cards and your interpretations. Track what you're releasing and notice how it shifts over the waning moon phase.

Gratitude List: Based on position 2 (what's manifested) and position 4 (hidden blessings), create a gratitude list. Read it aloud to the moon.

Waning Moon Check-ins: Mark your calendar for the last quarter moon (day 21) to assess your release progress. Are you following the guidance from position 6?

Sample Reading: Full Moon in Cancer

Context: Full moon in Cancer (late December/early January), a time associated with emotions, home, family, and nurturing.

Position 1 (Revelation): The Moon - Illusions about family dynamics or home situation are being dispelled. What you thought was stable or secure is revealed to be built on fantasy or avoidance. Emotional truth is surfacing.

Position 2 (Manifested): Four of Cups - You've successfully created emotional withdrawal or protective apathy. This isn't failure—it's a defense mechanism that served a purpose but may now be limiting connection.

Position 3 (Release): Queen of Cups Reversed - Let go of over-giving, emotional caretaking at your own expense, or the belief that your worth comes from nurturing others. Release the pattern of drowning in others' emotions while neglecting your own.

Position 4 (Hidden Blessing): The Hermit - The gift within this situation is the opportunity for deep self-reflection and emotional self-sufficiency. Solitude is teaching you to nurture yourself.

Position 5 (Emotional Truth): Five of Cups - Your heart knows you're grieving—the loss of family ideals, the disappointment of unmet emotional needs, or the sadness of recognizing patterns you can't fix. This grief is valid and needs acknowledgment.

Position 6 (Waning Moon Guidance): Temperance - Release gradually, with balance. Don't swing from over-giving to complete withdrawal. Find the middle path—healthy boundaries with compassion. Integrate rather than reject.

Position 7 (Blessing from Release): Ace of Cups - When you release emotional caretaking and honor your grief, you create space for genuine emotional renewal. Your cup can fill again, but this time from a healthy source—including self-love.

Synthesis: This Cancer full moon is revealing (The Moon) that emotional patterns you thought were nurturing are actually depleting (Queen of Cups reversed). You've manifested protective withdrawal (Four of Cups) and are grieving (Five of Cups) unmet needs. The hidden blessing is the gift of solitude and self-reflection (The Hermit). The guidance is to release gradually and find balance (Temperance), which will open you to genuine emotional renewal (Ace of Cups). This reading says: honor your grief, release over-giving, and trust that letting go creates space for your own emotional fulfillment.

Working with the Waning Moon After Your Reading

Days 15-21: Active Release Phase

The week following the full moon is the most potent time for release work. Based on your spread:

- Perform daily releasing rituals (burning, burying, speaking aloud what you're letting go)
- Notice when old patterns arise and consciously choose differently
- Follow the guidance from position 6
- Journal on what's shifting as you release

Days 22-29: Integration and Rest

The final week of the lunar cycle is for integration and preparation:

- Rest more than usual—release work is energetically demanding
- Reflect on what you've learned this lunar cycle
- Notice the space that's opened from releasing
- Begin contemplating intentions for the next new moon

The Dark Moon (Days 28-29): Completion

The day or two before the new moon, the sky is darkest. This is the final clearing:

- Perform a final release ritual for anything still clinging
- Clear your altar and reading space
- Rest deeply
- Prepare for the new moon's fresh beginning

Enhancing Your Full Moon Practice

Astrological Considerations

Each full moon occurs in a different zodiac sign, coloring the release energy:

Aries: Release anger, impulsiveness, or excessive independence
Taurus: Let go of stubbornness, materialism, or resistance to change
Gemini: Release mental chatter, superficiality, or scattered energy
Cancer: Let go of emotional codependency, family enmeshment, or over-nurturing
Leo: Release ego attachment, need for validation, or pride
Virgo: Let go of perfectionism, criticism, or excessive control
Libra: Release people-pleasing, indecision, or loss of self in relationships
Scorpio: Let go of jealousy, vengeance, or fear of vulnerability
Sagittarius: Release dogmatism, restlessness, or avoidance of depth
Capricorn: Let go of workaholism, emotional coldness, or excessive responsibility
Aquarius: Release emotional detachment, rebellion for its own sake, or isolation
Pisces: Let go of victimhood, escapism, or boundary dissolution

Complementary Practices

Full Moon Bathing: Bathe in moonlight (literally or through visualization) to cleanse your energy field of what you're releasing.

Burning Ceremony: Write what you're releasing on paper and burn it safely under the full moon, watching the smoke carry it away.

Sound Release: Use your voice—scream, tone, sing—to release stuck energy. The full moon supports vocal expression.

Movement: Dance, shake, or move your body to release what's stored in your physical form. The full moon amplifies somatic release.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Emotional Overwhelm: The full moon can intensify emotions to uncomfortable levels. Ground yourself before and after the reading. Don't do this work if you're already in crisis—wait for a calmer full moon.

Forcing Release: You can't force letting go. If you're not ready to release what position 3 shows, honor that. Sometimes awareness precedes readiness. The next full moon will offer another opportunity.

Spiritual Bypassing: Don't use "releasing" as a way to avoid feeling difficult emotions. True release requires first fully acknowledging and feeling what you're letting go.

Neglecting Gratitude: Don't focus only on release and miss the celebration of what's manifested (position 2) and hidden blessings (position 4). The full moon is for both letting go and giving thanks.

Isolation: While full moon work can be solitary, don't isolate if you're struggling. Reach out to trusted friends, therapists, or spiritual practitioners for support.

Conclusion: The Gift of Release

The full moon tarot spread teaches one of life's most essential spiritual lessons: the art of letting go. In a culture that emphasizes acquisition, achievement, and holding on, the full moon offers a monthly reminder that release is equally sacred—that we must exhale to inhale, that we must empty to fill, that we must let go to receive.

This practice honors the truth that not everything is meant to stay. Some relationships complete. Some beliefs outgrow their usefulness. Some patterns served us once but now constrain us. The full moon illuminates what's ready to be released and provides the energetic support to actually let it go.

As you establish a monthly full moon tarot practice, you'll develop a more fluid relationship with change, loss, and transformation. You'll learn to trust the cycles—that what's released at the full moon creates space for what's planted at the new moon. You'll discover that letting go isn't loss but liberation, that release isn't ending but transformation.

May your full moon readings bring illumination, courage to release what no longer serves, and the deep peace that comes from aligning with natural cycles. The moon teaches us that fullness naturally gives way to emptying, that light inevitably yields to dark, and that in this eternal dance of waxing and waning, we find the rhythm of life itself.

Release what's complete. Celebrate what's manifested. Trust the cycle. The full moon is your ally in the sacred work of letting go.