Waning Moon Rituals: Release & Letting Go Magic

Understanding the Waning Moon: The Time of Release

The waning moon is the period between the full moon and new moon, when the moon appears to shrink each night. This is a time of releasing energy, letting go, banishing, and clearing away what no longer serves you. As the moon wanes (decreases), so too should the things you want to remove from your life.

The waning moon has two distinct phases: the waning gibbous (just after full moon) and the waning crescent (just before new moon). Each offers unique magical opportunities for release, banishing, and transformation through letting go.

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to harness the powerful releasing energy of the waning moon for banishing, cleansing, and creating space for new blessings.

Waning Moon Energy: What It's Good For

Releasing & Letting Go: Releasing old patterns, habits, relationships, beliefs that no longer serve

Banishing: Banishing negativity, bad luck, obstacles, unwanted energy

Decreasing: Decreasing debt, weight, illness, stress, anxiety

Ending: Ending toxic relationships, bad habits, negative cycles

Cleansing: Deep energetic cleansing of yourself, your space, your life

Breaking: Breaking curses, hexes, bad luck, negative patterns

Removing: Removing blocks, obstacles, unwanted influences

What NOT to Do During Waning Moon

❌ Manifestation or attraction work (save for waxing moon)
❌ Starting new projects (save for new/waxing moon)
❌ Growth or increase spells (save for waxing moon)
❌ Inviting or drawing things to you (save for waxing moon)

The waning moon is for REMOVING, not adding. For RELEASING, not attracting.

Waning Gibbous Moon (Days 1-7 After Full Moon)

Energy: Gratitude, reflection, beginning to release, gentle letting go

Best For:
• Giving thanks for what the full moon brought
• Reflecting on what needs to be released
• Beginning the letting go process
• Gentle cleansing and clearing
• Identifying patterns to break
• Preparing for deeper release work

Waning Gibbous Ritual: Gratitude & Release Preparation

You'll Need:
• White candle
• Journal and pen
• Smoky quartz or black tourmaline
• Sage or palo santo

The Ritual:

1. Light candle and cleanse space with smoke
2. In journal, write: "I am grateful for..." (list blessings from full moon)
3. Then write: "I am ready to release..." (list what needs to go)
4. Hold crystal and read release list out loud
5. Say: "I acknowledge these things and prepare to let them go."
6. Place crystal on list overnight
7. Each night, review list and notice what's already shifting
8. Prepare for deeper release during waning crescent

Waning Crescent Moon (Days 8-14, Before New Moon)

Energy: Deep release, banishing, surrender, rest, completion

Best For:
• Deep banishing and release work
• Cutting cords and ties
• Breaking curses or hexes
• Removing obstacles and blocks
• Surrendering and letting go completely
• Resting and preparing for new moon

Waning Crescent Ritual: Cord Cutting & Banishing

You'll Need:
• Black candle
• Scissors or knife
• Black thread or cord
• Paper and pen
• Bowl of salt water
• Obsidian or black tourmaline

The Ritual:

1. Write what you're releasing on paper
2. Tie black cord around paper
3. Light black candle
4. Hold cord and say:
"I cut all cords and ties,
To [what you're releasing], I say goodbye.
You have no power over me,
I am released, I am free."
5. Cut the cord with scissors
6. Burn the paper safely in candle flame
7. Drop ashes in salt water
8. Pour salt water down drain or into earth
9. Hold crystal and affirm: "I am free. It is done."

Powerful Waning Moon Rituals

1. Bad Habit Breaking Ritual

Best Timing: Waning crescent, especially Saturday

You'll Need:
• Black candle
• Paper and pen
• Smoky quartz
• Salt
• Fireproof bowl

The Ritual:

1. Write your bad habit on paper in detail
2. Sprinkle salt in circle around candle
3. Light candle and hold smoky quartz
4. Read what you wrote out loud
5. Say:
"This habit has no hold on me,
As the moon wanes, I am free.
I release this pattern, break this chain,
This habit will not return again."
6. Burn the paper completely
7. Bury ashes in earth or flush down toilet
8. Carry smoky quartz for 7 days
9. Each time you're tempted, hold crystal and affirm: "I am free."

2. Toxic Relationship Release Ritual

Best Timing: Waning moon, especially Saturday or Tuesday

You'll Need:
• Black and white candles
• Photo or name of person (optional)
• Black tourmaline
• Scissors
• Black thread
• Salt water

The Ritual:

1. Tie black thread between the two candles
2. Light both candles
3. Say:
"I release [name] from my life,
I cut all cords, I end this strife.
You go your way, I go mine,
Our paths no longer intertwine."
4. Cut the thread between candles
5. Let white candle (you) burn completely
6. Extinguish black candle (them) and dispose of it
7. Wash hands in salt water
8. Carry black tourmaline for protection
9. Block/remove person from your life if possible

3. Debt & Financial Burden Release

Best Timing: Waning moon, especially Saturday

You'll Need:
• Black candle
• Paper with debt amount written
• Smoky quartz
• Cinnamon
• Fireproof bowl

The Ritual:

1. Write your debt amount on paper
2. Sprinkle cinnamon on paper
3. Light candle and say:
"This debt decreases day by day,
As the moon wanes, debt fades away.
Money comes to clear this sum,
Financial freedom has begun."
4. Burn paper (safely) while visualizing debt shrinking
5. Hold smoky quartz and see yourself debt-free
6. Bury ashes in earth
7. Keep crystal in wallet
8. Take practical action: make payment, create budget, etc.
9. Repeat each waning moon until debt is cleared

4. Anxiety & Fear Banishing Ritual

Best Timing: Waning moon, any day

You'll Need:
• Black or purple candle
• Lepidolite or amethyst
• Lavender
• Paper and pen
• Bowl of salt water

The Ritual:

1. Write your fears and anxieties on paper
2. Light candle and hold crystal
3. Read list out loud, acknowledging each fear
4. Say:
"These fears are not my truth,
I release them, I am proof.
Anxiety fades as the moon wanes,
Peace and calm are what remains."
5. Tear paper into small pieces
6. Drop pieces in salt water
7. Add lavender to water
8. Let sit overnight under waning moon
9. Pour down drain in morning
10. Carry crystal for continued calm

5. Negative Energy Cleansing Ritual

Best Timing: Waning crescent, especially Saturday

You'll Need:
• White and black candles
• Sage, palo santo, or incense
• Black tourmaline
• Salt
• Broom or besom

The Ritual:

1. Open all windows and doors
2. Light black candle and say: "I banish all negative energy from this space."
3. Light sage and walk through entire space counterclockwise
4. Use broom to sweep energy out the door
5. Sprinkle salt at all entry points
6. Place black tourmaline at corners of home
7. Light white candle and say: "This space is cleansed and protected."
8. Let white candle burn completely
9. Close windows and doors
10. Repeat monthly during waning moon

Waning Moon Banishing Practices

Daily Waning Moon Practice:

Morning:
• Identify one thing to release today
• Visualize it leaving your life
• Take one action to let it go

Evening:
• Look at the waning moon
• Thank it for helping you release
• Visualize what you're releasing shrinking like the moon
• Journal about what you've let go

Waning Moon Affirmations:

Repeat these while looking at the waning moon:

• "As the moon wanes, so does [what you're releasing]."
• "I release what no longer serves my highest good."
• "I am free from [specific thing]. It has no power over me."
• "I let go with love and gratitude."
• "I create space for new blessings by releasing the old."

Waning Moon Crystals

Best Crystals for Waning Moon Work:

Black Tourmaline: Banishing, protection, grounding
Obsidian: Cutting cords, shadow work, truth
Smoky Quartz: Releasing, transmuting negativity
Lepidolite: Releasing anxiety, emotional balance
Apache Tear: Grief release, emotional healing
Jet: Protection, banishing, grounding
Hematite: Grounding, releasing, protection
Labradorite: Protection during release work

How to Use:
• Charge under waning moon
• Carry during waning moon phase
• Place on release altar
• Hold during rituals and cord cutting

Waning Moon Herbs & Ingredients

For Banishing: Black pepper, cayenne, garlic, onion, vinegar
For Cleansing: Sage, salt, lemon, rosemary, frankincense
For Release: Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, cedar
For Protection: Basil, bay leaf, rosemary, salt, iron
For Cord Cutting: Scissors, knife, black thread, vinegar

Waning Moon Spell Timing

Monday: Releasing emotional patterns, psychic cleansing
Tuesday: Banishing enemies, cutting cords, protection
Wednesday: Releasing mental blocks, communication issues
Thursday: Decreasing debt, legal issues
Friday: Releasing toxic relationships, self-love blocks
Saturday: Banishing, binding, breaking curses (most powerful!)
Sunday: Releasing ego, pride, health issues

Combine waning moon with appropriate day for amplified results!

Waning Moon Journal Prompts

Reflect on these during the waning moon:

• What am I ready to release from my life?
• What patterns keep repeating that I need to break?
• Who or what am I holding onto that I need to let go?
• What fears are holding me back?
• What would my life look like without [what I'm releasing]?
• What am I grateful for that this experience taught me?
• What space am I creating for new blessings?

Signs Your Waning Moon Magic Is Working

• You feel lighter and freer
• The person/situation naturally fades from your life
• You stop thinking about what you released
• Synchronicities support your release
• You feel relief and peace
• Old patterns stop repeating
• You have more energy and clarity
• New opportunities appear as you create space

Common Waning Moon Mistakes

❌ Doing manifestation work (wrong moon phase)
❌ Holding onto what you're trying to release
❌ Not taking practical action to support release
❌ Releasing with anger instead of love
❌ Trying to control HOW the release happens
❌ Not protecting yourself after banishing work
❌ Forgetting to fill the space with something positive

After the Release: Fill the Space

Important: After releasing during waning moon, use the NEW moon to set intentions for what you want to REPLACE it with.

Example:
• Waning Moon: Release toxic relationship
• New Moon: Set intention for healthy, loving relationship

Nature abhors a vacuum. Fill the space you've created with something positive!

Final Thoughts: Let Go to Grow

The waning moon teaches us one of life's most important lessons: you must let go to grow. You cannot fill a cup that's already full. You cannot plant new seeds in soil choked with weeds.

Releasing isn't about loss—it's about liberation. Every time you let go of what no longer serves you, you create space for something better. Every pattern you break, every cord you cut, every burden you release makes you lighter, freer, more aligned with your highest self.

The waning moon is your permission slip to let go. To release. To say goodbye. To cut ties. To banish what's holding you back. Use this powerful phase wisely, and watch how much lighter and brighter your life becomes.

Ready to harness waning moon magic? The moon is shrinking—let your burdens shrink with it.