Grandmother Moon: Cycles, Rituals & Feminine Balance

Discover how Grandmother Moon affects our cycles, emotions and energy, and learn rituals to restore balance through full moon release and new moon reflection.

In today’s world, it is easy to become disconnected from the natural cycles that once guided our ancestors. The Moon offers us an anchor — a reminder that every phase of life has its purpose and that we too are cyclical beings. By weaving simple rituals into our lives, we can return to balance, honor our own rhythms and deepen our connection with Grandmother Moon.

The full moon is a moment of brightness, amplification, and often intensity. Whatever is within us — joy, grief, restlessness, or clarity — tends to be magnified. This is why hospitals and police stations often notice more activity during a full moon; it amplifies what is already there.

Instead of resisting this energy, we can choose to channel it through conscious ritual. Here are some simple practices:

• Fire Ceremony: Write down on a piece of paper what you are ready to release — old habits, fears, limiting beliefs. Offer it to the fire or burn it in a safe bowl, watching the smoke carry it away. You may also offer dried herbs or a special stick gathered on a medicine walk – let your intuition guide you here.

• Moon Bathing: Sit outside under the moonlight, letting her glow wash over you. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, imagining her light filling every cell of your body.

• Cleansing Bath: Fill a bath with warm water and Epsom salts, light a candle and allow yourself to soak and relax. Let the water draw out tension and emotional heaviness.

• Journaling: Reflect on what has been illuminated in your life. Ask yourself: What is ready to be released? What is ready to be celebrated?

• Fasting or Detox: Some choose to lighten the body during the full moon with simple foods, herbal teas, or short fasting to clear the system.

• Meditation: Because emotions can run high, meditation or breathwork helps ground and balance the heightened energy.

• Smudging: Cleanse your home with Palo Santo, white sage, or Imphepho. As the smoke rises, visualize old energies lifting and fresh clarity entering.

• Crystal & Card Cleansing: Place your crystals, oracle cards, or tarot cards under the moonlight to clear stagnant energy and recharge them.

• Parasite Cleansing & Gut Health: Did you know that intestinal worms and parasites are most active around the full moon? This makes it the most effective time to do a natural parasite cleanse, especially when supported by enemas. You can read more about aligning this practice with the moon cycle here: Enemas as a Sacred Act.
  

The full moon is not only about letting go, but also about gratitude. Celebrate what has come into fruition since the last cycle and honor the journey so far.

Where the full moon brings illumination, the new moon invites us into darkness, silence and renewal. It is the fertile soil for new beginnings. Just as our ancestors planted crops in rhythm with the moon, we can also plant our intentions during this time.

Try these practices to align with the new moon:

• Intention Setting: Light a candle, sit quietly and write down your intentions for the coming cycle. Focus on what you wish to grow, rather than what you lack.

• Silent Reflection: Allow yourself to withdraw from busyness. Spend time in meditation, or simply sit in stillness, listening for the quiet voice of your intuition.

• Journaling Prompts: What do I wish to call into my life? What seeds am I planting now that I want to nurture over the coming month?

• Ancestral Planting Wisdom: The new moon was traditionally the time to plant seeds, when the roots would grow strong. You can mirror this by literally planting something in the earth as a living prayer for your intention.

• Moon Water: Leave a bowl or jar of water outside overnight under the new moon. This “new moon water” can later be sipped, used in baths, or infused into Cacao for ceremony.

• Charging Crystals & Cards: Place your crystals and oracle or tarot cards under the new moon to absorb fresh, subtle energy for the cycle ahead.

The new moon teaches us that darkness is not emptiness — it is potential. Every ending creates space for something new to begin.

Not every ritual needs to be grand. Sometimes the simplest practices are the most powerful:

• Lighting a candle in honor of the moon.

• Stepping outside at night to look up and breathe with her.

• Keeping a moon journal, noting how you feel during each phase.

• Creating space for self-nurturing — whether through tea, movement or rest — in rhythm with her cycles.

By returning to ritual, we allow ourselves to remember what our bodies already know: that life moves in cycles and balance comes from honoring them.

And remember — ritual does not need to be complicated. You don’t have to do everything at once or follow anyone else’s prescription. The Moon asks only that you listen. Choose one or two practices that feel nourishing and let them become your way of marking the rhythm. Over time, these small acts of honoring weave a deeper sense of connection and balance into your life.

While our ancestors looked to the night sky to follow Grandmother Moon, today we have the gift of modern tools to help us stay connected with her cycles. Moon calendars and apps can be powerful companions, especially when you are just beginning to notice how her phases affect your body, emotions, and energy.

One of the most popular apps is Moonly, which not only tracks the current phase of the Moon but also shares insights, affirmations, and guidance for each stage of the cycle. There are many other moon-tracking apps available as well, offering features such as:

• Moon calendars with daily phase updates.

• Reminders of when the moon shifts into new phases.

• Astrological insights connected to the Moon’s position in the zodiac.

• Journaling prompts to help you reflect on your own rhythm in relation to hers.

In addition to apps, I also like to stay connected through energy update channels that offer fresh perspectives and intuitive guidance. Three that I personally enjoy are:

• Victor Oddo on YouTube – sharing practical tools and energy updates to help navigate shifts in consciousness.

• ReWilding with Sabrina Lynn – offering teachings, practices, and insights for women to reconnect with their inner cycles and wild feminine wisdom.

• Life-Force Academy – rooted in Kundalini Yoga, breathwork, Ayurveda, and astrology. By subscribing to their newsletter, you’ll often receive invitations to free events around eclipses, full moons, and other cosmic portals.

These resources are not meant to replace your own awareness, but to support it. The most important practice is still to pause and ask yourself: How do I feel today? Over time, you may notice patterns — like sleepless nights around the full moon, or a deep desire for solitude at the new moon.

Using these tools and resources can help you anticipate shifts and align your rituals with the natural rhythm of Grandmother Moon.

Grandmother Moon invites us to surrender. Just as the tides do not resist her pull, we too can allow ourselves to be guided by her flow.

Surrender does not mean passivity. It means aligning action with timing. It means honoring that there are moments for illumination and visibility, and moments for darkness and retreat. It means trusting that rest is as essential as growth.

When we live this way, balance naturally returns. Our emotions feel less chaotic because we understand their timing. Our energy feels more sustainable because we no longer expect ourselves to be “always on.” We recognize that sensitivity is not a weakness to fight against but a compass pointing us back to harmony.

The Moon shows us that life is not linear. It is cyclical. By surrendering to that truth, we find peace in the ebb and flow — and learn to meet ourselves with greater gentleness.

Take a deep breath in… and let it go.

Feel yourself arriving once more in the rhythm of your breath, steady and gentle.

Grandmother Moon reminds us that we, too, are part of a greater rhythm. There will be times of brightness and celebration, and there will be times of stillness and release. Both are sacred. Both are necessary.

I leave you with this blessing:

🌙 May Grandmother Moon guide you back to your own rhythm.

🌊 May her tides remind you that change is natural.

🔥 May her light illuminate what is ready to be released.

🌱 And may her darkness nourish the seeds of your becoming.

Go gently, dear sister, and flow with the Moon.

1. How does the full moon affect emotions and energy?

The full moon amplifies what is already present. Just as it pulls the tides of the ocean, it can stir our inner waters — emotions, dreams, and sensitivities. Some people feel restless, energized, or more emotional during this time. Others experience heightened creativity or clarity. Awareness and ritual help us channel this intensity in a balanced way.

2. What rituals can I do on the full moon?

Full moon rituals are all about release and celebration. You might:

• Burn written intentions in a fire ceremony.

• Take a cleansing bath with Epsom salts and candlelight.

• Meditate or journal about what is ready to be let go.

• Dance, sing, or gather in circle under the moonlight.

  Choose whatever feels authentic — the key is to create a conscious act of letting go.

3. What is the best way to release energy during a full moon?

Release can be physical (movement, fasting, detox), emotional (journaling, crying, breathwork), or symbolic (burning herbs, offering to the fire). A simple practice is to write down what you no longer wish to carry — fears, habits, limiting beliefs — and burn or bury the paper as a gesture of release.

4. What should I avoid doing during a full moon?

Because the full moon amplifies energy, it is wise to avoid unnecessary conflict, overstimulation, or suppressing emotions. Hospitals and police stations often notice more activity at this time, as heightened energy can overflow into chaos. Stay mindful, grounded, and intentional.

5. How do the moon cycles connect with women’s menstrual cycles?

The lunar cycle (around 29.5 days) mirrors the menstrual cycle (around 28 days). Many women bleed at the new moon (white moon cycle) and ovulate at the full moon, while others bleed at the full moon (red moon cycle). Each alignment carries different teachings, but both reflect a natural rhythm of rest, renewal, and expression.

6. What are simple new moon rituals for beginners?

The new moon is about beginnings. Start small:

• Light a candle and write down one or two intentions.

• Spend time in silence or meditation.

• Plant seeds in the earth as a symbolic act of growth.

• Keep a journal to track how your intentions unfold through the cycle.

7. Which moon phase is best for manifesting intentions?

The new moon is the most powerful time for planting intentions, just as our ancestors planted seeds when the soil was fertile and dark. As the moon waxes, energy builds, supporting growth. The full moon is a time of harvest and gratitude, while the waning moon supports release.

8. Why do people feel more sensitive around the full moon?

Because our bodies are largely made of water, we respond to the Moon’s gravitational pull much like the ocean tides. Sensitive individuals often notice stronger shifts in mood, sleep patterns, and emotions during the full moon. Awareness and gentle practices like meditation, grounding, or ritual baths can help ease this sensitivity.

9. Are moon rituals only for women?

Not at all. While women often feel a strong connection through their menstrual cycles, the Moon influences all beings. Men, children, and those who no longer menstruate can benefit from honoring the Moon’s rhythm. Rituals like journaling, fire ceremonies, and moon bathing are available to everyone.

10. What apps can I use to track the moon phases?

Popular options include Moonly, which offers lunar phases, affirmations, and rituals, as well as other moon calendar apps available on iOS and Android. These tools help you track the phases, receive reminders, and plan your rituals — but the most important teacher will always be your own body’s rhythm.