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A Simple Full Moon Ritual

This is a whole ritual, start to finish, for one person at the full moon. It takes about half an hour. It is the one we give to people who ask "but what do I actually do?" Do it once as written, then change everything that does not fit.

You will need

• A white or silver candle, and something to light it with
• A cup of something to drink: wine, juice, milk, water
• A small piece of something to eat: bread, cake, a biscuit, an oatcake
• A dish of salt and a dish of water
• A place where you will not be disturbed for half an hour, with the moon visible if at all possible, and if not, a window facing her general direction
• Your Book of Shadows or any notebook, and a pen

Optional: incense, a bowl of water for the moon to look into, a flower, a stone, a piece of music.

Before

Wash your face and hands. Set the things out on a cloth or a table. Turn off your phone. Stand still and ground and centre, feeling your roots go down and the moonlight come down to meet them.

The ritual

Cleanse

Put three pinches of salt in the water. Stir with your finger. Sprinkle a little around the edge of your space, walking clockwise, saying:

By salt and water, earth and sea, I clear this place for the Lady and me.

Cast

Point your finger at the floor and walk the edge once more, clockwise, seeing a line of silver light follow your hand and rise to enclose you. Say:

I cast this circle under the moon, a place apart, a time outside of time. Nothing enters but love; nothing leaves but love. So it is.

Call the quarters

Turn to the east, then south, west, north, pausing at each. You can simply say:

Air of the east, be welcome.
Fire of the south, be welcome.
Water of the west, be welcome.
Earth of the north, be welcome.
I stand at the centre, and the circle is whole.

Light the candle and call the Goddess

Light the candle. Look at the moon, or toward her. Say in your own words, or these:

Lady of the moon, Mother of all that lives, I have come out under your light as women and men have done since the first night. You are the tide in the sea and the tide in me. Be welcome in this circle. Look on me, and let me look on you.

Then be quiet for a while. Breathe. Look at the moon. Let whatever comes, come. This is the heart of it and there is no hurry.

Speak

Say out loud three things, as simply as you can:

1. One thing you are grateful for since the last full moon.
2. One thing you are letting go of, to wane with her.
3. One thing you are working toward, to grow with her.

If you have a working to do, a candle to charge, a charm to make, a reading, do it now. If not, write the three things in your book by candlelight.

Cakes and ale

Hold the cup up to the moon. Say:

Lady, I share this with you.

Drink, and pour a little into the salt water dish for her. Hold up the food the same way, eat, and leave a piece for her. If you have a bowl of water, let the moon's reflection fall in it and dip your fingers; touch them to your forehead, your lips, your heart.

Thank

Lady of the moon, thank you for your light and your listening. Go if you must, stay if you will. Hail and farewell.

Turn to each quarter in reverse, north, west, south, east, and say: Earth, thank you and farewell, and so on.

Open

Walk the circle anticlockwise, drawing the silver light back into your hand and down into the ground. Say:

The circle is open but never broken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed be.

Blow out the candle, or let it burn down if it is safe to.

After

Eat the rest of the food and finish the drink. Take the offering outside and pour it on the earth, or into a plant pot, with thanks. Write down what happened, including anything odd. Go to bed. In the morning, read what you wrote.