Full Moon Rituals: Complete Guide to Harnessing Lunar Energy

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

The full moon is the most powerful time of the lunar cycle—a time of culmination, release, and manifestation. For thousands of years, people have gathered under the full moon to perform rituals, release what no longer serves, and harness the moon's potent energy.

Full moon energy is intense, illuminating, and transformative. It brings things to light, amplifies emotions, and provides the perfect opportunity to let go of what's holding you back and manifest what you desire.

This is your complete guide to full moon rituals—what they are, why they work, and powerful practices to harness lunar magic.

What Is a Full Moon Ritual?

A full moon ritual is a sacred practice performed during the full moon to work with its powerful energy for release, manifestation, and transformation.

Why Full Moon Rituals Work

• Peak lunar energy: Moon's power is at maximum
• Illumination: Things hidden become visible
• Completion: Natural time for endings and release
• Amplification: Intentions and emotions are magnified
• Collective energy: Millions doing rituals worldwide

Full Moon Energy

What Full Moon Brings

• Heightened emotions and intuition
• Things coming to light or culmination
• Release and letting go
• Manifestation power
• Clarity and insight
• Completion of cycles

How You Might Feel

• Energized or restless
• Emotional or sensitive
• Intuitive and psychic
• Ready for change
• Sleep disturbances
• Heightened creativity

Essential Full Moon Ritual

What You Need

• Quiet space (ideally where you can see the moon)
• Candles (white or silver)
• Journal and pen
• Crystals (moonstone, selenite, clear quartz)
• Sage or palo santo
• Bowl of water
• Optional: flowers, incense, ritual items

Step-by-Step Full Moon Ritual

1. Prepare Your Space (5 minutes)

• Cleanse space with sage or palo santo
• Set up altar with candles, crystals, water
• Create sacred atmosphere
• Turn off phones and distractions

2. Ground and Center (5 minutes)

• Sit comfortably
• Take deep breaths
• Feel connection to earth and moon
• Set intention for ritual

3. Moon Bathing (10 minutes)

• Stand or sit in moonlight (or visualize if indoors)
• Feel moon's energy washing over you
• Absorb lunar light into your body
• Thank the moon for her energy

4. Release Ritual (15 minutes)

• Write what you're releasing on paper
• Be specific: habits, beliefs, relationships, fears
• Read aloud: "I release [item] with love and gratitude"
• Burn paper safely (or tear and bury)
• Visualize releasing into moon's light

5. Manifestation (10 minutes)

• Write what you're calling in
• Present tense: "I am" or "I have"
• Feel the emotions of having it
• Place under moonstone or in moonlight overnight

6. Charge Your Crystals (Overnight)

• Place crystals in moonlight
• Let them absorb full moon energy
• Retrieve in morning

7. Moon Water (Optional)

• Place bowl of water in moonlight
• Let it charge overnight
• Use for blessings, cleansing, rituals

8. Close Ritual (5 minutes)

• Thank the moon and your guides
• Ground yourself
• Blow out candles
• Journal any insights

Full Moon Rituals for Specific Intentions

For Releasing & Letting Go

1. Write everything you're releasing
2. Burn list under full moon
3. Say: "I release all that no longer serves my highest good"
4. Visualize it dissolving in moonlight

For Manifestation

1. Write desires in present tense
2. Place under moonstone overnight
3. Read aloud under moon
4. Feel it as already real

For Emotional Healing

1. Moon bathe for 20 minutes
2. Let emotions surface
3. Cry, laugh, feel fully
4. Ask moon to heal your heart

For Clarity & Insight

1. Meditate under full moon
2. Ask: "What do I need to see?"
3. Journal what comes through
4. Trust the insights

Full Moon Crystals

Best crystals for full moon:

• Moonstone: Ultimate moon crystal, feminine energy
• Selenite: Cleansing, high vibration, lunar connection
• Clear Quartz: Amplifies moon energy, clarity
• Labradorite: Magic, transformation, intuition
• Amethyst: Spiritual connection, intuition

How to use:

• Hold during ritual
• Place on altar
• Charge in moonlight overnight
• Wear as jewelry during full moon

Full Moon in Each Zodiac Sign

Each full moon has different energy based on its zodiac sign:

• Aries: Action, courage, independence
• Taurus: Abundance, stability, self-worth
• Gemini: Communication, learning, connections
• Cancer: Emotions, home, nurturing
• Leo: Creativity, self-expression, joy
• Virgo: Health, organization, service
• Libra: Relationships, balance, harmony
• Scorpio: Transformation, depth, power
• Sagittarius: Adventure, truth, expansion
• Capricorn: Goals, structure, achievement
• Aquarius: Innovation, community, freedom
• Pisces: Spirituality, dreams, compassion

Tailor your ritual to the full moon's zodiac energy!

Full Moon Self-Care

Full Moon Bath Ritual

1. Draw warm bath
2. Add Epsom salt, essential oils
3. Float flowers or rose petals
4. Light candles
5. Soak under full moon energy
6. Visualize releasing and renewing

Full Moon Meditation

1. Sit in moonlight or visualize moon
2. Breathe deeply
3. Visualize moon's light filling you
4. Ask for guidance or healing
5. Stay 20-30 minutes

Group Full Moon Ritual

Full moon circles amplify energy:

1. Gather with friends or community
2. Create shared altar
3. Each person shares what they're releasing
4. Burn release papers together
5. Share manifestations
6. Close with gratitude circle

Full Moon Don'ts

• Don't start new projects (that's new moon)
• Don't make major decisions when emotional
• Don't ignore the energy (it will find you)
• Don't skip grounding after ritual
• Don't forget to release before manifesting

After Your Full Moon Ritual

• Ground yourself thoroughly
• Drink water
• Journal insights
• Rest (full moon can be draining)
• Notice what shifts in following days
• Take inspired action on manifestations

Your Full Moon Practice

Start this full moon:

1. Mark full moon dates in calendar
2. Gather ritual supplies
3. Choose one ritual from this guide
4. Perform with intention
5. Track results in moon journal
6. Build your personal full moon practice

Final Thoughts

The full moon is a gift—a monthly opportunity to release, renew, and realign with your highest path. When you work with lunar energy intentionally, you tap into a powerful force that has guided humanity for millennia.

Your full moon ritual doesn't need to be elaborate. What matters is intention, presence, and willingness to let go of what no longer serves while calling in what does.

Welcome to full moon magic. The moon is waiting for you.

What's your full moon ritual? I'd love to hear how you work with lunar energy.