Humans have been fascinated with the moon for as long as we’ve been on this great big rock. She sits in the sky looking down on us every night - that same moon looking down on you looked down on Shakespeare, Nefertiti, Sappho, and so many men and women before them. She sits in the sky watching and observing us. Some nights she’s shy and hides and others she’s confident and shows up bright and beautiful. Each night she lends us her magic, but on the nights where she is full she lends just a little more. 

The full moon is an excellent time to do magical workings. The energy of the full moon lends itself to workings focusing on things like purification, psychic development, letting go, and divination. Perhaps the most powerful of these is the way her energy helps us to let go. I mean what is more magical and freeing than just letting go of all of the people, ideas, thoughts, and things that are holding us back and holding us down.

What do you need to let go of?

Grab your journal, it’s time to think about what we are in need of letting go. Try one or more of these journal prompts to determine what you may want to consider letting go of.

We all give in to bad habits from time to time - some more often than others. What habits have taken hold in your life? How do these habits affect your emotional and physical well being? 

Think of a situation that you have struggled to move on from. What made the situation so difficult for you? What emotions does thinking of this situation bring up in you? How would letting go and allowing yourself to move on affect your wellbeing? 

Think about your self-talk. When you talk to yourself are you positive or negative? Do you build yourself up or tear yourself down? When you make a mistake do you forgive yourself and move on or do you dwell on it and think about how you messed up over and over again? Maybe it’s time to let that negative self-talk go. I know this one can be hard - personally it is something I need to let go of. 

Ideas for simple ‘Letting Go’ rituals.

My goal is for these rituals to be accessible to anyone without needing special tools.

Asking mother moon for help.

Find a comfortable spot and sit outside under the full moon. Take some time and really think about what you are ready to let go of. Think about how letting go will positively influence your life. Now talk to the moon. Talk to her like you’d talk to a parent or grandparent when you need help. Ask her to wash her energy over you and lift these things from you. Now, visualize the light of the moon washing over your body and your soul. Watch these things that have been holding you down float away, freeing you from their bonds. Thank the moon and leave an offering if you feel drawn to.

Take a ritual bath.

On the night of the full moon fill a vessel with tap water and close it to prevent dirt or debris from entering your container. Leave it out to absorb the energy from the moon. Use it the following night in a ritual bath. (While any container will do, have a peek at our gorgeous moon water bottles here.)

Before you bathe, meditate on the things that you need to let go of. If mediation isn't your thing light a candle or burn some incense - do whatever helps you slip into a ritual mindset. Focus on them and on life without them. Think about how much happier you will be once you set them free.

Run a bath and add your bottled moon water. As you pour the moon water into the bath, visualize the moon's energy filling up your tub. As you step into the bath feel the energy on your toes, wiggle them so that it can wrap around them. Feel it wrap around your legs and your torso as you slowly sit down. Relax into the tub and allow the water and the energy to climb up your back and over your shoulders. Dip your head into the water, or take a cloth and rub the water across your face, neck and head. Focus on the energy, feel it drawing out what you're letting go of. 

Sit in the bath for as long as it takes for the energy to draw the negative out and replace it with the glowing radiant light of the mother moon. When you feel like you have let go, drain the water and watch it wash down the drain. It’s gone. You’re free of that which was holding you back. 

As with any magical working take what works and leave what doesn’t. Make these prompts and rituals your own. Not into baths? Try anointing your body with the moon water instead. Use the anointed areas as power points for the magic to take hold and watch those points draw the negative out and then fill you with light. Don’t have a place to put your container of water outside? No problem, place it in a windowsill. Raining or overcast? No big deal. Sit on a porch or inside by a window. The moon doesn’t have to be visible - she is still there in all of her energetic glory. 

It’s time to let that shit go, witches!