Simple Full Moon Ritual for Release, Energy, and Cleansing (2023)

In this post I’m going to reveal my full moon ritual for manifestation that’s designed to release negative energy and cleanse your soul.

Over the years I have experimented with many different rituals and am excited to share what I’ve learned with you.

A few benefits of performing a full moon ceremony include:

• Release negativity
• Increase energy
• Spiritual cleansing
• Set intentions that materialize
• Manifest abundance, love, or money
• Make your wishes come true

Ready to learn more?

Let’s get started!

What is a Full Moon Ritual?

A full moon ritual is a spiritual ceremony performed on the night of a full moon to release negativity and practice gratitude. The ritual does not need to be completed at the exact moment of a full moon, but should be performed within 48 hours before or after for best results.

When the Moon is completely illuminated by the Sun this is called a full moon. This happens about once per month and is noteworthy because the moon has a strong physical and spiritual influence on earth.

For instance, the moon’s gravitational pull is what causes tidal changes in the ocean. In addition, scientists have observed that coral in the great barrier reef coordinates its spawning with the full moon (source).

Isn’t that incredible?

Now that we know why the full moon is worth celebrating, let’s find out how to perform a full moon ritual.

What to do on a Full Moon?

The arrival of a full moon is a time to celebrate our accomplishments over the last month.

The moon goes through 8 different phases each month, beginning as a new moon, building to a full moon, and returning to a new moon again.

A new moon symbolizes new beginnings. When the sun, earth, and moon align to create a full moon, this represents completion and reflection.

There are many ways to perform a full moon ritual and you are encouraged to create your own. However, in this post I will share my favorite ritual to give you inspiration and guidance.

Supplies needed to perform a full moon ritual:

• Blanket, pillow, or chair
• Music speaker or headphones
• Pen and Paper
• Crystals (optional)

1. Find a Calm Space to Perform Your Full Moon Ceremony

To begin your moon ritual, I encourage you to find a calm space where you can focus without distractions. This ceremony may be performed either inside or outside.

If you can see the moon from where you are sitting, that’s great. However, if it is too cold to perform your ritual outside or the moon is blocked by clouds, do not worry.

Remember that the most important part of the ritual is practicing gratitude and self-care.

After you’ve found a calm space for your ritual, take a seat and get comfortable. Sit in a way that is most enjoyable for you.

You can sit on the floor, on a pillow, in a chair, or even on the couch. There is no right or wrong way to sit. I prefer to sit on a blanket outside on the grass, if it is warm enough.

2. Turn on Relaxing Music

During my moon ritual I enjoy listening to relaxing instrumental music. This helps me release stress and get into the right mood for this ceremony.

I like the “Ambient Relaxation” and “Peaceful Meditation” playlists on Spotify.

I prefer to listen to music with my headphones so I can block out any other noises that might be around such as cars driving by or barking dogs. You are welcome to play your music out loud on a bluetooth speaker or directly from your phone.

You can even skip playing music altogether during your ceremony if you prefer silence.

3. Charge Your Crystals or Spiritual Objects

The full moon is an excellent occasion to charge your favorite crystals or other spiritual objects. Spread them out in front of you and allow them to soak in the moonlight.

I believe you will get similar effects whether you charge your crystals inside or outside during the full moon. If you decide to set your crystals outside, do not let them get wet. Certain types of crystals cannot be exposed to water and can get damaged.

This is a great time to charge any other spiritual objects that are important to you. For instance, you can take this opportunity to charge your tarot or oracle cards, essential oils, pendulums, favorite books, incense, salt lamps, or clothing.

Including your favorite objects in your full moon ritual is a symbolic way to express your gratitude for the abundance in your life.

4. Write Down 5 Things You Are Grateful For

Now for the most important part of a full moon ritual: gratitude. I like to write down 5 things I am grateful for in my journal.

You can use a regular piece of paper or a simple notepad, too.

I prefer to use a nice journal dedicated to my moon rituals because I like to look back at what I wrote in previous months.

It is often eye-opening for me to remember what I was going through in the past and celebrate how much I have accomplished.

This is also a great time to review the intentions you set during your new moon ritual and reflect on how things went.

I believe that writing down what I’m grateful for helps me focus and appreciate each item on my list. Something magical happens when you put your ideas down on paper.

So what should you write in your gratitude journal?

A few things I am grateful for include: my supportive wife, good health, a roof over my head, food on the table, a good book I’m reading, beautiful sunsets, etc.

Even if you feel like you aren’t in a good place in your life, I encourage you to dig deep and be grateful for the things you do have. Take a moment and think about the blessings in your life, then write them down.

After you write down five things you are grateful for, feel free to journal about what you wrote down. Get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

Remember, your full moon ritual is about release. Journaling is a great way to release the emotions that have built up over the last month.

5. Meditate to Release Negativity

When I’m finished with my gratitude journaling exercise I like to meditate for a few moments.

Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention and releasing negative thoughts. To meditate all you need to do is sit in a quiet spot, close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and clear your mind.

During my full moon meditation I like to focus my thoughts on gratitude and abundance.

If you are new to meditation, you may notice your mind wandering to other places such as things on your to-do list or a negative interaction you recently had. When this happens, just refocus your thoughts back onto something you are grateful for.

When I am meditating I like to picture myself as a boulder in a stream. As negative thoughts enter my mind, I release them by imagining they are water in a stream flowing around me.

Plus, visualizing a beautiful stream as I meditate is a relaxing exercise. I encourage you to try it.

6. Say a Prayer or Blessing

To complete my full moon ritual I like to say a prayer or blessing of gratitude. The full moon marks an occasion to be thankful for the abundance in our lives.

Reading a short prayer is a beautiful way to end your full moon ceremony and celebrate the blessings we received this month.

How you pray during this ceremony is completely up to you. You may pray in silence by setting an intention of gratitude and meditating with your eyes closed for a few moments.

Praying out loud is also a beautiful way to end your ritual. Feel free to pray what’s inside your heart, or read one of your favorite prayers.

Here is the prayer I like to read at the end of my full moon ritual:

God, I am grateful for the light of the full moon that shines upon me. Please release any darkness that hides within me and replace it with light. Fill my soul with hope of a new day and another opportunity to bring you glory. Let my heart overflow with love for you, myself and others. Thank you for sharing your abundance with me. Amen.

7. Dance or Move Your Body

The final step of this full moon ritual is to celebrate your accomplishments during the past month by dancing or moving your body. A full moon is a spiritual reminder each month to be grateful for all that God has given us.

Use this opportunity to move your body and release any tension or negativity you have been holding within.

Let the light of the full moon fill your spirit and express how good it feels through dance.

When you are finished dancing, the full moon ritual is complete! Collect your supplies, put away your journal in a safe place, and prepare for a new day.

You are welcome to modify this ritual in any way you like. Feel free to remove steps or add new elements to your ceremony.

No matter how you celebrate the full moon, just remember to keep your focus on being grateful.

When is the Next Full Moon?

A full moon occurs when the Earth is aligned between the Sun and Moon.

From our perspective on Earth, a full moon appears when the Sun’s light shines on the surface of the moon that we can see. There is a full moon every 29.5 days, or about once per month.

Here are the dates when the next full moon will appear in the northern hemisphere:

• January 28, 2021
• February 27, 2021
• March 28, 2021
• April 27,2021
• May 26, 2021
• June 24, 2021
• July 24, 2021
• August 22, 2021
• September 20, 2021
• October 20, 2021
• November 19, 2021
• December 19, 2021

Can You Do a Full Moon Ritual the Next Day?

Yes, you can do a full moon ritual the next day without any side effects. It is best to perform your ceremony within 48-hours before or after a full moon for optimum results.

A full moon technically only lasts for an instant because the Sun, Moon, and Earth are constantly in motion. However, to the naked eye the full moon appears to last for several days.

And Now It's Your Turn

Now I’d like to hear from you.

Have you ever performed a full moon ritual?

What inspired you to add a full moon ceremony to your spiritual practice?

Either way, please leave a comment below and let me know.