The Magick of Each Month’s Full Moon

When you look up to the night sky, you may find yourself enamored by the glowing moon above. It serves many purposes, as a beacon for direction, a teller of time, and a giver of magick. We know that the moon can change shape and that each shape has a meaning and purpose, but the moon also has energies it offers each month. Each month, the moon’s energy changes to reflect a celebration going on, spells that are best performed, or energies that need to be honored and respected. It can seem a bit overwhelming trying to remember what each moon’s magick for each month is, but with a great reference guide, you can have the information on hand when you need it. We’ll go over each month's moons magick, what spells you can perform, and any other helpful information any Witch could use.

January: The Wolf Moon

January’s moon gets its name from observations made long ago by the Algonquian people; they learned that the wolves tended to howl during January nights to show their pain and hunger since food was scarce. The world is in great stillness as the ground is cold and the water frozen, and there is nothing to see, which is why the wolves have high hunger. The moon is also called Old Moon, the Moon after Yule, Cold Moon due to the weather, and the moon following the Yule celebration.

Since this is a time of endurance and survival, it is a chance to build your potential. Focus on the path that lies ahead of you, clean and pristine like land blanketed by snow. The clearer your vision, the better you will see the path you need to take to better yourself and have a brighter future. Start from an empty point and focus on how to fill it for yourself positively.

This is also a time to perform banishing spells. It is the beginning of the year, so you need to sever ties with any negative emotions you may be carrying and cast protection spells to keep the negatives from coming back. Perform a divination spell for guidance on what you need to do in the new year, as divinations will be stronger and have more precise readings.

February: The Storm Moon

The Storm Moon, also known as the Snow Moon and Quickening Moon, gets its name due to the heavy snowfall covering the earth in the north. The deep snowstorms would make it hard for people to travel, so they tended to stay inside, spending their time on other interests, like self-improvement.

The Storm Moon falls in the same month as the Imbolc Sabbat, which means it is a time for new beginnings. During this moon month, it is best to get rid of emotional baggage and clutter in your home so you can feel fresh and rejuvenated. On the full moon of the month, perform spells that revolve around purification, vitality, and health improvements. Since February is a month of love, it is also a great time to improve relationships under the Storm Moon. But remember that you cannot force emotions from someone; if you try, the moon will stop you and punish you for trying to force someone to feel how you want them to.

March: The Worm Moon

When the Worm Moon comes, it opens the gates for spring to start stepping through. As the ground begins to warm, earthworms are awoken and start wiggling back to the surface. This moon also falls with the spring equinox, welcoming springtime back and inviting eagerness to plant new life or await life being born. This moon is also sometimes called the Full Sap Moon since it was a time when people would tap maple trees for their syrup.

Since the seasons are shifting over, this is a time of unpredictability and building energy. You must make time to organize and bless any projects you need to complete that month and in future months. Also, take the time to analyze the status of your relationship and where you want it to go; springtime means a time for new beginnings, so you can grow your relationship to be closer and even prepare to start a family. On the night of the full moon, perform a spell revolving around fertility and blessings for luck.

Be careful, though, about letting too much of the moon’s magick influence you. The moon is as wild as winter storms, and it can easily consume you and send your spells astray. Stay focused during rituals, and you should remain in control.

April: The Seed Moon

Now that spring is in full swing during April, it brings with it the Seed Moon. It is time to plant seeds, both physically and metaphorically. You can plant seeds during this time to start your garden again for abundant crops or budding flowers blooming throughout spring. But it also means that it is time to plant seeds for your future.

Think about the projects you have lined up, the goals you want to reach, and what you need to do to reach the end goals. Even though the Seed Moon brings more tranquil energy than the moon prior, you still want to exercise caution so that your seedlings will grow properly and not be killed off before you even get a chance to see your desires bloom.

This moon is also called the Pink Moon, Full Fish Moon, and the Full Sprouting Grass Moon since it focuses on the different growth that starts during the springtime. On the full moon of the month, cast spells for prosperity and protection, making sure to focus on what projects you want to do better and who needs the protection most.

May: The Flower Moon

May is the month where flowers are in bloom the most, which is why the moon of the month was named the Flower Moon. During this time, farmers would start planting corn, giving the moon its alternative name, the Corn Planting Moon.

This moon falls in line with the Beltane Sabbat that celebrates fertility and passion. Not only should you be planting fresh seeds in your garden, but the seedlings of your projects and ambitions should be starting to bloom. Now, you should take time to evaluate your projects and see which ones you need to focus on the most, which you can hold off starting on, and which are not worth your attention or effort. Cut your losses early before they become an issue, like when you thin out seedlings in your garden to make room for plants with more potential.

It may seem a bit overwhelming to deal with the aftermath of decisions made in the previous month, but it will be well worth it for you in the next month. To help make a decision, take time to perform divinations to help seek guidance. To have a higher success rate, finish each divination reading with a prosperity spell.

June: The Strawberry Moon

Strawberries are their ripest when this moon comes to play. This moon is also called the Rose Moon since roses are in full bloom during this month and the Honey Moon due to the bees busy pollinating like crazy. The Midsummer Sabbat occurs during this month, celebrating the beginning of summer and the thriving of your garden, physically and metaphorically.

You should start to see positive results from your well-prepared projects. This moon month is unique for Wiccans since, compared to past months where everything was a frenzy of planning and preparing, Witches can finally relax and see the results of their efforts. The growth does not stop, though, but it is done in a more enjoyable way, and you are able to express yourself and your needs better.

During the full moon, perform spells to attract or improve sexual desire and desire in general since this month focuses on love and compassion.

July: The Corn Moon

July’s moon is named the Corn Moon as it is the time when the harvest season shifts and corn is ripe enough to pick. This moon is also called the Buck Moon since it is when male deer sprout new antlers, and the Full Thunder Moon due to frequent storms during the month.

Just as there are new crops to harvest, there are new connections that can be made. This moon offers magick that centers on building friendships and relationships. The moon helps relationships grow stronger and healthier and can help you learn more about someone to maintain respect. It is also a time to celebrate the blessings you have and be grateful for the life that you have. Spells focusing on gratitude and building relationships are ideal for performing during July.

If you have a patron god, perform a ritual honoring them, and if you do not have a patron god, perform a ritual asking the universe to guide you towards your perfect patron. Place a yellow cloth, green corn husks, and cornmeal onto your alter to harness the Corn Moon’s energy and store it until you choose to use it.

August: The Herb Moon

August contains the Lammas sabbat, which celebrates the first harvest. Many plants can be gathered and stored before the winter months. This is the perfect time to gather herbs to dry for future use; hence, the moon was given its name.

This moon is also called the Fruit or Barley Moon to symbolize harvest and the Full Sturgeon Moon in honor of the fish with the same name. Herbs harvested during the waxing and waning moon are the most potent and should be saved for spells and rituals. Any magick that is performed using herbs will be more potent than usual. It is also a time to practice divination with the tree alphabet or by using tea leaves.

During the Herb Moon, you should feel more balanced between growing and collecting, so focus on spells that can help you maintain balance or seek out truths that could help you grow as a person. Make bundles with the herbs you gathered for protection, cleansing, and purity. You can even use the herbs to make effigies of the gods of Lammas to welcome their power to you during August.

September: The Harvest Moon

During September, essential food grains are harvested; some farmers even work late into the night to have most harvested before winter. The nights are starting to get longer this month, meaning that the moon is out longer than in previous months.

September also contains the Mabon sabbat or autumn equinox. The equinox celebrates the sun and opens up the doors to the magick that can be done with the moon due to the longer nights. September is a busy month for moon spells. The moon’s magick can help improve your overall personality.

You can cast prosperity spells to ensure bountiful development, spells to improve your health and strength, and spells to fortify yourself for what the winter may bring. It is also a time to banish anything negative clouding over you to conquer the remaining months with little to no strain. On your altar, place elements of harvest on it so you can celebrate bountiful growth and development for your improvement.

October: The Blood Moon

During October, crops are not being harvested as often, so people turn to hunting. The blood of many animals is spilled so that people can stock up on meat and have enough food for the rest of the year. Since hunting was done heavily this month, the moon is also called the Hunter’s Moon.

The amount of meat collected led to feasts as there would be plenty of meat to enjoy and store. Humans rely on animals, so it is a time to honor the deep bond humans have with animals. It is a time to work with animal energies, but you do not need to hunt for that. You can place pieces of animals that have been collected humanely on your alter, like feathers and shed, hair, skin, or antlers, to bring protection, healing, and blessings.

If you have not found your spirit animal yet, meditating under a clear night sky will help the moon guide you towards your spirit animal. Honor your pets and the animals you may rely on, like sheep for wool and cows for milk. The more respect you show animals during each moonlit night, the more of a comforting feeling you should have and protection from negativity for the rest of the year.

November: The Cold Moon

November is the last autumn month with the weather turning cold but not yet the harsh winter cold that makes people want to burrow away in piles of blankets. The chilly weather grants the moon its name, another alternative name being the Frosty Moon. The moon has also been called the Beaver Moon since people would hunt beavers during November as they were more active and it was easier to trap them. Other alternative names are the Snow Moon, as snow would slowly start to come at the end of the month, and the Tree Moon to honor the trees before they became fully bare to withstand the approaching winter. If you did not have a chance to fully expel negative energies in the previous month, now is your last chance to do so. The Cold Moon will help freeze negative energies so you can banish them to have a clear conscience and lighter heart. Spells revolving around protection and banishing will have higher positive results under the moon, so cast as many spells as you need until you feel like you have been cleansed and no longer have any negative energies to carry over to the final month of the year.

December: The Oak Moon

We all know the story of the Oak King winning against the Holly King to regain control of the cold months; since it is the month when the Oak King regains control, the moon was rightfully given the name Oak Moon to honor the king’s victory. The Yule Sabbat is essential in the Wiccan religion because of this transition of power from one king to another.

The moon can be considered a symbol of the switch of power as it has waited all year to shine in the night sky and offer Witches its magickal prowess. Some beliefs call the December moon the Long Nights Moon as nights are at their longest during this month.

While the name seems essential, it helped people before calendars became common to identify the time of year. Since the nights are longer, people tend to get home sooner and stay at home longer. So, this time is ideal for performing spells that pertain to the home, family, hearth, and health as you will be around those energies longer and have the best opportunity to improve them.

Each month, the moon provides Witches with different magickal properties for spells, rituals, or monthly events. It is the same moon, but what controls what energies it offers is the events occurring on earth, like Sabbats, holidays, and even presences of different deities.

An easy way to remember what each month’s moon magick is by writing a note to yourself at the beginning of each calendar month what the moon’s magick will be. Then, you can plan on any spells, rituals, or blessings you may need to do and when you will perform them during the month. Do be aware of weather patterns since, if clouds cover the moon, you may not be able to perform spells, or your spells will be weaker. With the weather in mind and knowing what powers the moon will give each month, you should be ready to perform the needed spells effortlessly and with better results.