Witchy Wonderings: Full Moons

A Basic Primer
The moon phases are a popular celestial event that cycles every month, and
many new members are fascinated by it and want to know more. We’ve
noticed a cycle that follows the Full Moon around the community here that
brings up a lot of recurring questions and topics, so the admins thought we’d
build this thread to host links to our Full Moon informational posts, as well as
answer some frequently asked questions.

Image: Getty

FAQ
Is anyone else having the worst time trying to sleep, or feeling super
emotional and drained right now?
Scientific studies even have shown that there could be a correlation
between the Full Moon and sleep. Though, science is still a little
unclear exactly how. Research by scientists at Basel University in
Switzerland found that, around a full moon, people may take longer
to fall asleep, sleep less, and sleep less deeply. Other research has
had similar results but final conclusions among the scientific
community haven't yet been made. But witches and astrologers
aren’t particularly surprised by this!
The gravitational pull from the Moon on the Earth controls the tides
of the ocean, the moisture in the Earth and the tap flow in trees, so
it’s not particularly strange to look at human beings, who are made
of 50-70% water (depending on age and other factors) and consider
that the moon may have an effect on us too.

Common effects experienced are:

1. Disrupted REM sleep
2. Increased difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep
3. Intense or more active dreams
4. Feelings of restlessness, or bouts of energy/inspiration
5. Increased emotions (for better or worse)
6. Feeling like you need less sleep than usual
7. Lethargy or the feeling of being ‘hungover’ in the morning
8. Headaches, or any other symptoms of poor quality sleep

You’re probably not surprised to see emotions and sleep being a

common theme, as mood and good sleep hygiene are intrinsic to
one another. The full moon can affect everyone a little differently,
but if it interests you, you may want to talk to an astrologer or do a
bit of research in that area and understand your own natal chart.

Generally, these experiences only last for a few days. If you are
experiencing any of the less desirable effects of the Full Moon
regularly, it is always advised that you check in with your doctor or
health professional to make sure that you don’t have any underlying
emotional or sleep-related health concerns.
Image: AntonMaltsev/Shutterstock
To read more about it, check out
these sources:
 Can a full Moon really affect your
sleep? By BBC
 How the Moon Messes With Your
Sleep By TIME
 Does a Full Moon Disrupt Your Sleep?
By Michael J Breus
What is this full moon called? How come I looked it up and there are
a lot of different names for full moons?
You’ve probably seen various news sites talk about the “Strawberry
Moon”, “Wolf Moon”, “Beaver Moon”, etc. but these names often
don’t seem to fit our seasons (especially since we don’t have Wolves
or Beavers in Australia). These names were given to the full moons of
each month and season, usually by Native American groups in North
America. However, some are Old English or Celtic, and others are
Neo-Pagan in origin. The short answer is that there is no correct name
for each full moon, and you may even prefer to make your own
based on the seasonal changes happening in your local area.

Further Reading
 Angela/Miss Tea’s Post about the Full Moon names in Australia that she uses
 The Full Moon in the Southern Hemisphere by Springwolf
 Heka Arcane Apotheca’s Full Moons for WA (2020)
 Other Culture’s Names for the Full Moons by Keith Cooley
 The Names of the Moons by Richard Minutillo
 Full Moon Names by Space.com
What is a Super Moon/Blue Moon/Eclipse? How is that different?
Very briefly, a Super Moon is when the moon appears slightly larger than
normal due to how close the Moon is to the Earth. However, this is often
not noticeable unless using a telescope and it is not an official
astronomical term. Some believe that the Full Moon’s powers are
amplified while others believe that it makes no difference.

A Blue Moon however can mean 2 different things, neither of which refers
to the actual colour of the moon. The first, a Seasonal Blue Moon refers
to the third full moon in a season of four full moons that usually only has
three (confusing, I know). The next, a Monthly Blue Moon, refers to the
second full moon in one calendar month. Some believe that the Blue
Moon is good for communication and connection with spirit as the colour
blue is associated with communication in both the chakra system (throat
chakra) and colour magick. You may like to use it to work on things that
seem difficult or impossible, given the perceived rarity of Blue Moons (thus
the phrase “once in a Blue Moon”).

There are three types of Lunar Eclipse: Total, Partial, and Penumbral. The
rarest (and most spectacular) is a total eclipse when the Earth’s shadow
blocks the Moon completely. This is when the Earth is perfectly between
the Sun and Moon. Many believe that during this time, the Earth and the
Moon’s energy become one and the Moon’s energies are amplified. It is
a great time for transformations, huge changes and releasing rituals.
However, the power can be unpredictable too. Partial Lunar Eclipses are
when the Sun, Earth and Moon are not perfectly aligned but a
noticeable shadow can still be seen on the Moon. A Penumbral Eclipse
is the least interesting as it is almost unnoticeable. The Earth casts a slight
shadow against the Moon, making it appear slightly darker than a regular
Full Moon.

Further Reading
 What is a Super Moon and when is the next
one? By TimeAndDate
 What is a Blue Moon by Space.com
 When is the next Blue Moon by
TimeAndDate.com
 Lunar Eclipses: What are they and when is
the next one? By Space.com
When is the Full Moon? Does it count if it isn’t 100% illuminated?
There are thousands of websites and phone apps that will tell you
when it is the Full Moon in your location (it varies slightly across the
world). Generally, if you search “Moon Phase”, you will find
something to tell you.

Many believe that the energy of each Moon phase lasts for 3 days,
so the day before, of, and after is considered the Full Moon. The
difference in fullness is barely noticeable to the human eye and our
ancestors would not have known when it was 100% and when it was
98% before telescopes and other scientific instruments were
invented. So if you are unable to celebrate the full moon on the day
that it is 100%, do not despair! The day after or before is perfectly
fine.

Further Reading / Suggested Resources

 Current Moon Phase by Moon Giant
 Moon Sign Today Website
 Phases of the Moon App (Android) and (Apple)
 Deluxe Moon (Android) (Apple)
What should I do for the Full Moon?
Whatever you like! But really, the list is endless and we all have
different beliefs. Some use the Full Moon for celebration, while others
use it for releasing rituals. It is a great time for divination such as tarot
and scrying, and there are many tarot spreads available online for
the specific astrological phase that the Full Moon is in. Many like to
‘cleanse’ and ‘charge’ their crystals under the light of the Full Moon,
and others like to infuse water with the light of the Moon to make
“Moon Water” which can be used for a variety of things. Different
astrological phases will affect the energy of each Full Moon too. If
you do choose to work with the Moon, there are no rules. You may
choose to charge your crystals or moon water for only a few hours,
or all three days, the choice is yours!

Further Reading
 Our monthly Full Moon posts in the Australian Witchcraft Facebook Group
(#AusFullMoonGuidance)
 Muse With The Moon by Jo Cauldrick
 Pagan Portals: Moon Magic by Rachel Patterson
 Moon Magick by DJ Conway
 Moon Spells by Diane Ahlquist

What does it mean when the Full Moon is in a Zodiac Sign?

Every day or so, the Moon moves into a different ‘zodiac sign’ or
‘astrological sign’. The Full Moon is always in the sign opposite to the
Sun (what people sometimes call the ‘star sign’). For example, in April
when it is ‘Aries Season”, the Full Moon will always fall in Libra (as long
as there is a Full Moon during this time, that doesn’t always happen).
Each astrological sign affects the energy of that Full Moon. For
example, as Virgo is known as the sign of the perfectionist, the Virgo
Moon is usually a time of great organisation and sorting things out in
our lives.

Further Reading:
 Information on the Astrological Signs and the Moon by Moon Sign Today
 Moonology by Yasmin Boland
 Queen of the Moon Oracle cards by Stacey DeMarco
 Spirit de la Lune Oracle cards
Final Fun Fact!
Many of us are familiar with the ‘Triple Goddess’ symbol of two
crescent moons flanking a full moon.

Did you know that imagery is indicative of viewing the moon from
the Northern Hemisphere? If you look up into our local sky, she
appears ‘backwards’ to us. Try getting out over the course of a
moon phase and take sketches of her to see for yourself!

If you’d like to find out more about the difference between the moon
from a Southern and Northern Hemisphere perspective, check out this
blog series by Aussie witch, Bekah Evie Bel (Part 1) and (Part 2).

This guide was created by Angela K and Jessica (cthonicmuse) for

the Australian Witchcraft Facebook group and cannot be shared
elsewhere. It is intended for personal use for educational purposes.