Full Moon Release Ritual: Complete Guide to Letting Go and Emotional Cleansing

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

The full moon is the most powerful time for releasing what no longer serves you and letting go of what's holding you back. This complete guide will show you exactly how to perform a full moon release ritual to cleanse your energy, release emotional baggage, and make space for new blessings.

Whether you're new to moon rituals or deepening your practice, this step-by-step guide gives you everything you need to harness the full moon's potent releasing energy.

What is a Full Moon?

The Lunar Cycle Basics

• Full moon occurs when moon is opposite the Sun
• Moon's illuminated side fully faces Earth
• Appears as complete, bright circle in sky
• Happens once every 29.5 days
• Peak fullness lasts about 3 days

Why Full Moon is Powerful for Release

• Peak energy: Moon's energy is at maximum
• Illumination: Light reveals what's hidden
• Completion: Natural time for endings and closure
• Emotional intensity: Feelings surface for release
• Cleansing power: Moon's pull helps wash away old energy

What to Release During Full Moon

Emotions and Feelings

• Anger, resentment, bitterness
• Fear, anxiety, worry
• Sadness, grief, heartbreak
• Guilt, shame, regret
• Jealousy, comparison, inadequacy

Patterns and Behaviors

• Self-sabotage and procrastination
• People-pleasing and codependency
• Negative self-talk and criticism
• Addictive behaviors
• Unhealthy relationship patterns

Beliefs and Thoughts

• Limiting beliefs about yourself
• Scarcity mindset
• Unworthiness and not-enoughness
• Fear-based thinking
• Old stories that no longer serve

External Things

• Toxic relationships or friendships
• Unfulfilling job or situation
• Physical clutter
• Commitments that drain you
• Anything that feels heavy

When to Perform Full Moon Release Ritual

Best Timing

• Ideal: Night of full moon
• Effective: 3-day window (day before, day of, day after)
• Check: Lunar calendar for exact full moon time
• Evening: When moon is visible (traditional)
• Moonlight: Outdoors under moon if possible

How Often

• Perform every full moon (monthly)
• Each full moon is in different zodiac sign
• Tailor release to that sign's themes (optional)
• Consistent practice creates powerful shifts

What You Need for Full Moon Release Ritual

Essential Items

• Paper and pen: For writing what you're releasing
• Fireproof bowl or cauldron: For burning ceremony
• Matches or lighter: To burn paper
• Water: For extinguishing and cleansing
• Safe outdoor or indoor space: For fire safety

Optional But Powerful

• White candle: Represents moon's light
• Selenite or moonstone: Moon-aligned crystals
• Sage or palo santo: For cleansing
• Salt water: For purification
• Journal: For reflection
• Bath supplies: For cleansing bath

Step-by-Step Full Moon Release Ritual

Step 1: Prepare Your Space (5-10 minutes)

1. Choose location: Outdoors under moon or by window where you can see moon
2. Clean physically: Clear the area
3. Cleanse energetically: Burn sage or palo santo
4. Set up: Place bowl, paper, pen, candle, crystals
5. Create safety: Ensure fire safety (fireproof surface, water nearby)

Step 2: Ground and Center (5 minutes)

1. Stand or sit comfortably
2. Look at the full moon (if visible)
3. Take 10 deep breaths
4. Feel moon's energy washing over you
5. Visualize roots connecting you to earth
6. Feel balanced between moon (above) and earth (below)

Step 3: Set Sacred Space (3 minutes)

1. Light your candle
2. Speak: "Under this full moon, I create sacred space for release. I am ready to let go of what no longer serves me."
3. Feel the space becoming sacred
4. Invite moon's energy to support you

Step 4: Acknowledge What You're Releasing (10-15 minutes)

This is the heart of the ritual:

1. Take your paper and pen
2. Write "Full Moon Release" and the date at top
3. Write everything you're ready to release
4. Be specific and honest
5. Don't hold back—no one will see this
6. Write until you feel complete

Examples of what to write:

• "I release my fear of failure"
• "I release my relationship with [name]"
• "I release the belief that I'm not good enough"
• "I release my anger toward [person/situation]"
• "I release my need to control everything"
• "I release my addiction to [behavior]"

Tips for powerful release:

• Use "I release" statements
• Be specific about what you're letting go
• Include emotions, not just situations
• Write from your heart
• Let yourself feel as you write

Step 5: Read Aloud (5 minutes)

1. Stand under the moon (or facing it)
2. Read your release list aloud
3. Speak with conviction and emotion
4. Let yourself feel the weight of what you're releasing
5. Acknowledge the pain or burden
6. Declare your readiness to let go

Step 6: Burning Ceremony (5-10 minutes)

The most powerful part:

1. Hold paper over fireproof bowl
2. Light the paper with candle or match
3. As it burns, speak: "I release this to the universe. I let go. I am free."
4. Watch it burn completely
5. Visualize everything on that paper leaving your life
6. Feel the weight lifting
7. See the smoke carrying it away to be transmuted
8. Let ashes cool completely

IMPORTANT SAFETY:

• Use fireproof bowl or cauldron
• Burn outdoors or in well-ventilated area
• Have water nearby
• Never leave fire unattended
• Ensure ashes are completely cool

Step 7: Cleanse and Purify (5-10 minutes)

After releasing, cleanse your energy:

Option 1: Smoke Cleansing

• Burn sage or palo santo
• Waft smoke around your body
• Visualize old energy being cleared

Option 2: Salt Water Cleansing

• Sprinkle salt water on yourself
• Or wash hands in salt water
• Visualize purification

Option 3: Moonlight Bath

• Stand in moonlight
• Visualize moon's light washing over you
• Feel yourself being cleansed

Step 8: Fill the Space (5 minutes)

Nature abhors a vacuum—fill the space you've cleared:

1. Place hands on heart
2. Speak what you're calling in to replace what you released
3. Examples: "I call in peace," "I invite love," "I welcome abundance"
4. Feel these qualities filling you
5. Visualize yourself embodying them

Step 9: Express Gratitude (3 minutes)

1. Thank the full moon for its support
2. Thank yourself for having courage to release
3. Express gratitude for what you're calling in
4. Example: "Thank you, moon, for helping me release. Thank you for the peace and freedom I now feel. I am grateful."

Step 10: Close the Ritual (2 minutes)

1. Speak: "This release is complete. I am free. So it is."
2. Blow out candle
3. Take three deep breaths
4. Ground yourself

Step 11: Dispose of Ashes

Respectfully release the ashes:

• Option 1: Scatter in running water (river, ocean)
• Option 2: Bury in earth
• Option 3: Release to wind
• As you do, affirm: "I release this completely. It is done."

After Your Full Moon Release Ritual

Immediate Aftercare

• Hydrate: Drink lots of water
• Rest: Release can be emotionally draining
• Ground: Eat something, walk barefoot, hug a tree
• Journal: Write about your experience
• Be gentle: Give yourself compassion

In the Following Days

• Notice shifts: Pay attention to changes
• Let go: If old patterns arise, consciously release again
• Stay committed: Don't pick up what you released
• Fill the space: Actively embody what you called in
• Trust the process: Release happens in layers

Emotional Release May Continue

• You may cry, feel angry, or experience emotions
• This is normal and healthy
• Let yourself feel without judgment
• Emotions are energy in motion—let them move through
• Seek support if needed

Full Moon Release Ritual Variations

Quick 20-Minute Version

1. Ground and center (3 min)
2. Write what you're releasing (5 min)
3. Burn paper (5 min)
4. Cleanse with smoke or water (3 min)
5. Gratitude and close (4 min)

Extended Ceremony (2-3 hours)

• Full moon bath before ritual
• Longer meditation and reflection
• Tarot or oracle card reading
• Movement or dance to release energy
• Sound healing or singing
• Extended journaling

Full Moon Release Bath

1. Draw warm bath
2. Add Epsom salt, sea salt, or moon water
3. Add essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus)
4. Light candles
5. As you soak, visualize releasing into water
6. Drain tub and watch it all go down drain
7. Affirm: "I release. I let go. I am cleansed."

What to Release Based on Full Moon Zodiac Sign

Each full moon is in a different sign—tailor your release:

• Aries: Anger, impulsiveness, selfishness
• Taurus: Stubbornness, materialism, resistance to change
• Gemini: Scattered energy, gossip, superficiality
• Cancer: Emotional dependency, past hurts, family wounds
• Leo: Ego, need for validation, drama
• Virgo: Perfectionism, criticism, over-analysis
• Libra: People-pleasing, codependency, indecision
• Scorpio: Control, jealousy, resentment, secrets
• Sagittarius: Restlessness, over-commitment, dogmatism
• Capricorn: Workaholism, rigidity, emotional coldness
• Aquarius: Detachment, rebellion for its own sake, aloofness
• Pisces: Victim mentality, escapism, boundaries issues

Crystals for Full Moon Release

• Selenite: Named after moon goddess, cleansing
• Moonstone: Emotional release, new beginnings
• Clear Quartz: Amplifies release intention
• Black Tourmaline: Transmutes released energy
• Smoky Quartz: Grounds and releases negativity
• Labradorite: Transformation and protection

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not Being Specific

• "I release negativity" is too vague
• "I release my fear of public speaking" is specific
• Specificity creates powerful release

Releasing for Others

• You can only release for yourself
• "I release my need to control my partner" ✓
• "I release my partner's anger" ✗
• Focus on your part, your energy

Holding On After Releasing

• Don't pick up what you released
• If old pattern returns, consciously let go again
• Trust that release is happening
• Don't second-guess yourself

Skipping the Filling Step

• Empty space will be filled—choose what fills it
• Consciously call in what you want
• Otherwise old patterns may return

Your First Full Moon Release Checklist

Before the ritual:

• ☐ Check lunar calendar for full moon date
• ☐ Gather supplies (paper, pen, fireproof bowl, matches)
• ☐ Prepare safe space for burning
• ☐ Reflect on what you're ready to release
• ☐ Ensure fire safety measures

During the ritual:

• ☐ Cleanse space
• ☐ Ground and center under moon
• ☐ Set sacred space
• ☐ Write everything you're releasing
• ☐ Read aloud with conviction
• ☐ Burn paper safely
• ☐ Cleanse your energy
• ☐ Fill the space with what you're calling in
• ☐ Express gratitude
• ☐ Close ritual

After the ritual:

• ☐ Dispose of ashes respectfully
• ☐ Hydrate and rest
• ☐ Journal about experience
• ☐ Notice shifts in following days
• ☐ Stay committed to release

Final Thoughts

The full moon is a gift—a monthly opportunity to release what's weighing you down and make space for new blessings. You don't have to carry everything forever. You're allowed to let go. You're allowed to be free.

Release is not a one-time event. It's a practice. Some things release immediately. Others release in layers, moon by moon. Trust the process. Keep showing up. Keep letting go.

The full moon is shining on you right now, illuminating what's ready to be released. All you have to do is say yes. Yes to freedom. Yes to lightness. Yes to letting go.

The moon is waiting. Your freedom is waiting. Let go.

What are you releasing this full moon? Share below if it feels right, and let's support each other in letting go.