The Full Moon Offers a Time for Forgiveness and Making Amends
Popular legend has it that the full moon brings all our emotions, good and bad, to the surface. In fact, the word “lunatic” comes from the belief that lunar phases caused temporary insanity. Superstitions persist to this day, including the myth that full moons cause aggression and an increase in emergency room visits.
According to astrologers, the full moon might indeed be a time of heightened emotion. Yasmin Boland, astrologer and author of the book Moonology, explains why. Every 28 days or so, the sun (which represents the ego in astrology) and moon (which represents the inner self) are aligned on opposite sides of the earth, resulting in the full moon.
“Because the sun and the moon are as far apart as they can get during the full moon, it’s like your ego and feelings are separate. You can actually deal with your emotions without your ego getting in the way,” Boland explains.
Whereas the new moon is a chance to set intentions for the cycle ahead, the full moon encourages us to let go. “It's about making amends and forgiveness," Boland explains.
Through full moon rituals, we can harness the moment’s energy to release burdens. In the time before the pandemic, astrologer Madi Murphy gathered monthly with friends on a beach for a full moon ritual that involved sharing intentions, pulling oracle cards—and yes, howling. Once, surfers even joined in.
Of course, your full moon ritual needn’t be quite as vocal as Murphy's. The key for believers, Murphy says, is just having a ritual. “A full moon ceremony is an invitation to drop into a liminal or mystical space. It creates a container for our intention. There’s a chance to tap back into something divine," she says.
Below are several astrologer-approved rituals, like salt baths and forgiveness lists, to try out during the full moon if you're so inclined. The ritual can be completed during the day-and-a-half period before and after the full moon. The next full moon occurs on May 26, 2021.
Meditate.
Before embarking on your full moon ritual, Boland recommends settling into a meditative state. Take deep breaths. Play calming music. And above all, concentrate on what the full moon offers. “At the time of the full moon, I let it all go. I make peace with what is and what isn’t, and I release any dramas," Boland says.
Boland's Moonology book offers a release prayer to use while meditating.
"Under the glorious Full Moon, I forgive everything, everyone, every experience, every memory of the past or present that needs forgiveness. I forgive positively everyone. I also forgive myself of past mistakes. The Universe is love, and I am forgiven and governed by love alone. Love is now adjusting my life. Realizing this, I abide in peace."
Write a forgiveness list.
Forgiveness work is the crux of any full moon ritual, according to Boland. Start your full moon ritual by writing down a list of grudges, grievances, and places of hurt that came to you while meditating. Then, Boland says, visualize forgiving each (deserving) person.
Boland emphasizes that forgiveness work is for your benefit. "Just because you're forgiving someone doesn’t mean that what happened is okay. It just means you’re deciding to release that emotional baggage and move on. Otherwise, you're dragging it around," she says.
Then, start a fire. Literally.
The next step in a full moon ritual is to destroy the forgiveness list—ideally, by burning it. Fire may seem dramatic, but according to Boland, it's an essential component of the ritual. "It's important to burn the list because you're putting your negativity out of your body and onto the list," Boland says. "You can't imagine how powerful it is."
During her virtual full moon ceremonies, Boland lights a fire in her London backyard and burns a forgiveness list to an audience of tens of thousands on Facebook Live. However, a safer option is to burn the piece of paper in the sink, or very carefully in the backyard.
Take note of what you're grateful for.
By this point in the full moon ritual, you've (temporarily) emptied yourself of resentments. The next step, according to Boland, is to fill the void with gratitude. "Spend a moment thinking about someone or something that you're grateful for," Boland says. Then, write down a gratitude list in your journal.
Gather in a full moon circle.
For more of a collective experience, complete your moon rituals alongside others in a gathering known as a moon circle. For Murphy, the presence of others intensifies the already powerful process of letting go. "It's bold to say what you want to release out loud. Once you say it out loud, it’s already set in motion. Now you have a group of people who are also envisioning it for you," Murphy says.
Make moon water.
The full moon only lasts for about three days. However, astrologers says it's possible to take a bit of its cleansing energy with you by making "moon water" infused with the light of the full moon.
Lisa Stardust, Oprah Daily's resident astrologer and author of Your Saturn Return Survival Guide, explains how. First, fill up a cup or bowl of water and leave it out overnight, beneath the moonlight. Feel free to add herbs, flower petals, or healing crystals to the water. In the morning, the water will be infused with "full moon energy," Stardust says. Moon water's uses are flexible: You can use it to wash your face, wash your plants, incorporate it into your bath, or however you see fit.
Take a bath.
According to astrologers, the full moon is an ideal time to take a relaxing bath. Boland and Stardust recommend adding high-quality Epsom salt to the tub. "You're getting rid of all your resentment, bitterness, jealousy—and the salt just draws it out," Boland says. And, even though that's not exactly scientifically sound, there are skincare benefits of a salt soak.
Pull an oracle card.
For Boland, no full moon ritual is complete without an oracle deck. Following the healing and release work, she pulls an oracle card to "see how it guides [her]" in the days to come. Unlike tarot cards, oracle cards require no previous knowledge to use. Each card is accompanied by a clear message. With themes ranging from animals to angels, there's an oracle deck for everyone who is interested.
Declutter, declutter, declutter.
Murphy compares the energy of the full moon to an overflowing closet. "It’s time to release something to make room for what’s come full bloom," she says. While this is a metaphor, Murphy also literally uses the full moon period as a time to clean her home.
Charge your crystals.
Before going to sleep, place your crystals, tarot decks, and oracle decks on the window sill. Let them sit overnight under the light of the full moon. "The full moon energy is beautiful for recharging and cleansing your crystals," Boland says.
Study the astrology of the full moon.
Each month, the full moon is in a different astrological sign, changing its effect slightly. According to Boland, the full moon brings out the challenges and "issues" typically associated with each sign. You can reflect on how you may have embodied those traits this month. "If it's a full moon in the sign of Cancer, you may think, 'Have I been insecure lately?' If it's in Virgo, you may think, 'Have I been too self-critical?'" Boland says.
Last but not least, take it easy.
Finally, astrologers say the full moon is not the time to start new projects. Rather, if you can, it's a moment for sitting back and relaxing. "Don't feel rushed to start something new," Murphy says. "The full moon is all about completion energy."
You Might Also Like
