How to Do a Full Moon Ritual: A Complete Guide for Release and Renewal

The full moon rises tonight, and you feel it.

Maybe it's restlessness. Maybe it's clarity. Maybe it's just this sense that something's shifting, and you need to do something with this energy instead of scrolling through your phone.

Learning how to do a full moon ritual isn't about following rigid rules or needing fancy crystals. It's about creating a simple, personal practice that helps you release what's holding you back and make space for what you actually want.

Let me show you how.

What Is a Full Moon Ritual (And Why You Should Care)

Throughout history, cultures worldwide have recognized the full moon as a time when energy peaks. Things feel amplified. Emotions run higher. Power is more accessible.

The full moon marks completion in the lunar cycle, which makes it the perfect time to let go of what no longer serves you.

Think of it like this: the new moon is for planting seeds and setting intentions. The full moon is for harvesting what's grown and releasing what didn't work. It's the closing ceremony before the next cycle begins.

When you learn how to do a full moon ritual, you're essentially giving yourself permission to:

• Process emotions you've been carrying

• Release patterns that keep you stuck

• Clear mental and emotional clutter

• Make peace with what is

• Create space for what's next

And no, you don't need to be "spiritual" to benefit from this. You just need to be open to pausing, reflecting, and being intentional about letting things go.

When to Do Your Full Moon Ritual

The full moon's energy is strongest for about three days: the day before, the day of, and the day after the full moon.

Don't stress if you can't do your ritual exactly on the full moon night. Working within this three-day window is perfectly fine. The key is your intention and genuine engagement with the practice.

Some people prefer doing their full moon ritual at night under the moonlight. Others do it during the day. There's no wrong time, just whenever you can create uninterrupted space for yourself.

How to Do a Full Moon Ritual: Step-by-Step

Here's a simple, powerful full moon ritual you can do with things you probably already have at home. No fancy tools required (though you can certainly add them if you want).

Step 1: Create Your Sacred Space

First, find somewhere you won't be disturbed for at least 30 minutes. This could be your bedroom, a corner of your living room, or even outside if the weather permits.

Your sacred space is wherever you feel comfortable and safe. Don't overthink it.

Bring things that help you feel grounded:

• A journal and pen

• Candles (if safe to use)

• Comfortable cushions or blankets

• Calming music

• Tea or water

• Any crystals, oracle cards, or meaningful objects

Tell anyone you live with you need this time. Lock the door if you need to. This is your moment.

Step 2: Cleanse Your Energy (Optional But Powerful)

Before setting intentions to release and let go, it helps to clear your energetic space.

If you have sage or palo santo, or your favorite incense. Light it and move the smoke around the room and around yourself. As you do, say something like:

"I release all negative energy, old patterns, and anything that isn't serving my highest good."

Don't have sage? That's fine. You can:

• Open windows to let fresh air in

• Clap your hands loudly in corners to break up stagnant energy

• Simply state your intention to clear the space

• Take several deep, cleansing breaths

Step 3: Get Into Your Body

This step gets skipped a lot, but it's actually really important when learning how to do a full moon ritual effectively.

Movement helps you get out of your head and into your body, where your true feelings and wisdom live.

Put on one song and just move. Dance, stretch, sway, shake. Let your body do whatever it wants to do. No one's watching.

This isn't about looking good. It's about feeling what you need to feel so you can release it.

Step 4: Write Your Release List

Now grab your journal or a piece of paper. This is the heart of your full moon ritual.

Write down everything you're ready to release. Be specific. Be honest. No one else will see this.

Examples of what to release:

• "I release the fear that I'm not good enough"

• "I let go of comparing myself to others"

• "I release resentment toward [person]"

• "I let go of the belief that I need to be perfect"

• "I release control over things I cannot change"

• "I let go of relationships that drain me"

Keep writing until you feel complete. Let it flow without judgment.

Step 5: Burn It (Safely)

This is where the magic happens in your full moon ritual.

Burning your release list symbolizes transformation. You're literally watching what's been holding you back turn to ash and disappear.

Take your paper to a fire-safe location:

• A sink

• A metal bowl

• Your fireplace

• Outside in a safe spot

Light it on fire and watch it burn. As it burns, you can say:

"I release these patterns, beliefs, and emotions. They no longer have power over me. I am free."

If burning doesn't feel safe, you can rip the paper into tiny pieces and throw them away, or bury them in the earth.

Step 6: Fill the Void With Gratitude

You've just released a lot. Now it's time to fill that empty space with something positive.

Take a moment to think about what you're grateful for. Write down at least three things, but feel free to keep going.

This gratitude practice shifts your energy from release to renewal. It reminds you what's actually working in your life, even as you let go of what isn't.

Step 7: Set an Intention for What's Next

While the full moon is primarily about release, it's also powerful for clarifying what you want to invite in.

Now that you've let go of what was holding you back, what becomes possible?

Write down 1-3 intentions for the coming lunar cycle. Keep them simple and present-tense:

• "I am open to new opportunities"

• "I trust my intuition"

• "I attract aligned connections"

• "I move forward with clarity and confidence"

Step 8: Close Your Full Moon Ritual

To complete your ritual, take a few deep breaths. Place your hands on your heart and acknowledge yourself for doing this work.

You can close with a simple statement:

"I honor this practice. I trust the process. I am open to what comes next."

Blow out any candles. Sit quietly for a moment before returning to your regular activities.

Advanced Full Moon Ritual Practices

Once you're comfortable with the basic full moon ritual, you can layer in additional practices:

Make Moon Water: Fill a clear glass jar with water and leave it outside or on a windowsill overnight to absorb the full moon's energy. Drink it the next day or use it to water plants.

Charge Your Crystals: Place any crystals, oracle decks, or meaningful objects on a windowsill under the full moon to cleanse and recharge them.

Pull Oracle or Tarot Cards: After your release work, pull a card to guide you through the coming weeks.

Take a Full Moon Bath: Add salt, essential oils, or flower petals to a bath and soak under the full moon's energy while visualizing what you're releasing washing away.

Journal Prompts for Deeper Reflection:

• What patterns showed up this month that I'm ready to release?

• What am I holding onto that's actually hurting me?

• Who do I need to forgive (including myself)?

• What would I do if I wasn't carrying this weight anymore?

Full Moon Rituals for Women Living Abroad

If you're living abroad, full moon rituals can be especially grounding. They connect you to natural cycles when everything else feels foreign and unpredictable.

The moon is the same wherever you are in the world. While everything else changes around you, the lunar cycle remains constant, a monthly reminder that you can release, renew, and begin again.

For women navigating life in a new country, consider releasing:

• Homesickness and longing for what was

• Fear of not belonging

• Comparison to the life you left behind

• Pressure to have everything figured out

• Guilt about wanting more

Then set intentions for:

• Feeling at home in yourself, wherever you are

• Creating meaningful connections in your new place

• Trusting your journey

• Opening to unexpected opportunities

Understanding Your Unique Lunar Connection

Here's something most guides on how to do a full moon ritual don't tell you: different people respond to lunar energy differently.

Your astrological makeup influences how you experience the moon's cycles and what practices will feel most powerful for you.

Fire signs might need active, dynamic rituals with movement and bold declarations. Earth signs might prefer grounded, sensory experiences with tangible objects. Air signs might connect through journaling and oracle cards. Water signs might resonate with emotional processing and intuitive practices.

Understanding your natural element changes everything about how you work with the moon.

Discover Your Element and Personalized Moon Practices

I've created a free quiz that reveals your personality element and how it affects your relationship with lunar cycles.

👉 Take the Personality Element Quiz

You'll discover:

✨ Your natural lunar rhythm and how to work with it
✨ How to create rituals that actually resonate with who you are
✨ The best timing for your personal release and renewal work

Working With the Moon Consistently

One full moon ritual won't change your life (though it might... I've seen it happen). The real transformation comes from consistent practice.

Think of moon rituals as monthly check-ins with yourself. In our busy modern lives, time escapes us. The full moon becomes a regular, constant cue to pause and set intentions.

It's like New Year's resolutions, but 12 times a year instead of once. And because you're doing it monthly, you actually stick with it.

You don't have to be spiritual to benefit from this practice. You just need an open heart and a desire for growth.

Signs Your Full Moon Ritual Is Working

How do you know if learning how to do a full moon ritual is actually making a difference?

Watch for these signs:

• You feel lighter after your ritual

• Old patterns start losing their grip on you

• You catch yourself before repeating behaviors you released

• Synchronicities and opportunities start showing up

• You feel more aligned with your true self

• Decision-making becomes clearer

• You're less reactive to triggers

• You feel more grounded despite external chaos

The changes might be subtle at first. Trust the process.

Your Next Full Moon Ritual Starts Now

You now know how to do a full moon ritual that actually works. You don't need expensive tools or years of experience. You just need willingness, a piece of paper, and 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.

The next full moon is your invitation to release what's been weighing you down and create space for what you actually want.

Will you take it?

Ready to discover how your unique element influences your lunar practice?

👉 Take the Personality Element Quiz and get guidance that actually resonates with who you are.

The moon is waiting. So is the best version of yourself.