Full Moon Symbolism: Spiritual Meaning and Significance

The full moon is the opposite moon phase of the new moon in the lunar cycle. During the full moon, the side of the moon we see from Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. This means we can see the moon as a full, glowing circle at this time. The full moon also carries deep spiritual symbolism across various cultures and religions.

Full moons shine a bright light onto Earth (so long as the clouds don’t conceal it), casting a mysterious and mystical radiance. During the full moon, many communities and individuals alike will gather to celebrate or host release ceremonies to surrender to the moon’s power. Here’s everything you should know about the full moon, including its spiritual symbolism and significance. 

What Are the Different Moon Phases?

The eight different phases of the lunar cycle include the new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Every phase of the lunar cycle holds its meaning, significance, and appearance. For example, the waxing and waning crescents look like slivers of the moon, while the full moon looks — you guessed it — full.

Fully illuminated by the Sun’s glow, the moon appears larger than any other phase in the cycle at this time. Many believe the full moon is a time to express gratitude for all your blessings while releasing what no longer serves you — making room for the manifestations you called in during the new moon. 

What Is a Full Moon?

The full moon is the phase of the lunar cycle when the side of the moon facing Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. During this time, the moon sits opposite from the Sun as viewed from Earth, rising around sunset and setting around sunrise. The full moon carries potent energy that many people believe causes intense emotions and heightened sensitivity. 

Full Moon Symbolism: Spiritual Meaning and Significance

Full moons are significant symbols of various themes, from closure to celebration. Many cultures even worship the full moon as a god. In fact, some communities even host full moon rituals or ceremonies to celebrate the exciting time.

Here are the symbolism and spiritual meanings associated with the full moon.

Closure

The full moon is often viewed as a period of release when we should let go of the people and patterns that are no longer serving us. Throughout our lives, we will find that we outgrow certain relationships, situations, or even habits. This is simply a part of growth and healing.

To make room for new and exciting blessings, you often must first close previous chapters. This closure is something you must give to yourself rather than seeking it from someone else. While you might want to tie everything in a nice bow or have an open conversation with someone before moving forward, this isn’t always possible. You have the power within you to provide yourself with the necessary closure to move on. 

Release

As mentioned earlier, the full moon is typically a time for releasing what no longer serves you. The moon is said to be at its peak energy during the full moon, which is why many people believe our own energies rise, too. For example, it might be more difficult to fall into REM sleep, or we might feel more sensitive at this time. When our emotions are high, we can typically better determine what we need to work on or release to clear that energy.

If you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed with sadness, grief, or even rage during the full moon, this is a great time to practice meditations or breathing exercises to release that energy. In fact, many people choose to write letters to the people or things they’d like to leave behind and burn them during the full moon. Its potent energy supposedly supports the release.

Celebration

The full moon is a prime time for celebration. The Sun is fully illuminating the Earth’s side of the Moon at this time, basking in its full glory. It’s a beautiful time to celebrate Mother Nature and all her beauty and blessings.

In fact, many early Native Americans would celebrate the full moon by gathering with members of their community. Specifically, women were known to celebrate their own “moon time” as a time to cleanse their energy and find empowerment in “Grandmother Moon.” Additionally, Native Americans even named every full moon as a way to commemorate its unique power. 

Sensitivity

Have you ever noticed you felt more sensitive or emotional during the full moon? Maybe you’re crying more often than you normally do, or perhaps you’re experiencing more nostalgia than usual. While there might not be much scientific evidence that the full moon increases our vulnerability or reactivity, many people do notice a surge in their emotions during this time. As a result, the full moon commonly symbolizes sensitivity.

Sensitivity gets a bad reputation, but it’s actually a beautiful quality to have. Sensitive individuals can sense shifts in energy that others might not be able to tap into. Additionally, they often can tap into their intuitions and access opportunities for deeper healing.

Hope

As a beacon of light in the darkness, the full moon is a great symbol of hope. During trying times, we might search for any sort of “light at the end of the tunnel. The full moon reminds us that even in the darkness, we still have access to that light. Hope is a crucial feeling to hold onto, as it can get us through the most troubling times. When you lose your hope, you lose your expectation and desire for better days and blessings ahead. This can ultimately leave you defeated and unwilling to push through the pain and move forward with resilience. The full moon reminds us that there’s always hope in even the darkest situations.

Abundance

As the moon reaches its full peak, it reminds us of the natural beauty all around us. We can see the bright glow of the moon through our windows or over the natural landscapes around us, recognizing all of our blessings. The full moon symbolizes both completion and abundance. Additionally, during this time, you might realize the manifestations you pursued during the new moon are now coming to fruition, and you’re achieving the prosperity and desires you’ve been calling for. Bask in the full moon’s glory and energy as you move forward in the moon cycle, and continue to release anything that’s holding you back from your fullest, most abundant self.

Mysticism

Many people associate the full moon with Halloween and other mystical themes. You’ve likely seen the full moon featured in spooky movies or other media, as it carries a mysterious aura with it. In fact, many spiritual individuals believe that we can tap into the spiritual realm or “universe” by connecting with the full moon and its energy. Some people will even use the moon to “charge” their crystals or transform regular water into “moon water” with supposed healing properties. Others will simply sit under the moon in its glowing light in quiet meditation. 

Gratitude

It’s difficult not to feel grateful when you’re admiring the beautiful full moon. The full moon symbolizes gratitude in various cultures and religions, as it’s commonly associated with blessings and abundance. Many people will express their appreciation during this time by gathering with loved ones, writing gratitude lists, or even simply connecting with nature. Additionally, practicing gratitude helps cultivate a more positive, hopeful mindset, which can better align you with the manifestations you called in during the new moon. 

Clarity

The full moon is a common symbol of clarity. Many people claim to discover hidden messages during this time of the lunar cycle when the truth ultimately reveals itself. Additionally, our desires tend to become clearer when the moon is full, “shedding light” on what we must do to manifest them. This is why full moons are a great time for reflection and release, as you can identify any areas of resistance or blocks you’re facing. For instance, maybe you’re looking to manifest love and romance into your life, yet you’re holding on to a past relationship or feeling unworthy of a healthy love. You might consider releasing that person you’re tied to and addressing your unworthiness wound so you can start putting yourself out there more openly and authentically. 

Positivity

As a highly potent, prosperous time, the full moon cultivates positive energy. While you might experience heightened emotions during the full moon, there’s a sense of hope and gratitude in the air. Many people choose to gather with their communities or loved ones to celebrate, which can foster more love and light in our hearts. Additionally, you might also be experiencing the manifestations you called in during the new moon at this time, which can increase that positive attitude even more.

Chaos

The full moon is typically viewed as a time of high energy and erratic emotions. That being said, it often symbolizes chaos. While there’s no scientific proof that the full moon actually causes mayhem, many people do report a link between the full moon and disrupted sleep patterns and aggravation of some health conditions.

During the full moon, we might feel a surge of chaos in the air. That’s why many people say, “It must be a full moon” when something goes wrong or strange occurrences keep happening. 

Feminine Energy

The moon (especially the full moon) represents feminine energy, and the lunar cycle can resemble the menstrual cycle. In fact, various ancient cultures worshiped the moon as a goddess and feminine symbol. She represented birth, fertility, and the essence of life.

Today, the Moon remains a popular symbol of feminine energy due to its ties to our emotions, intuitions, and instincts. Society commonly associates these attributes with femininity. The moon is everchanging and holds empowering energy we can all tap into.

Celebrating the Full Moon

The full moon rises around every 29.5 days, as the lunar cycle repeats typically once per month. Many people celebrate the full moon in all its glory by expressing gratitude to Mother Nature or writing letters of release to the people and patterns that no longer serve them. If you’re falling short of your manifestations or goals at this time, it’s an excellent phase to reflect on any resistance you’re facing, clear it, and continue aligning yourself with the right path.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Quaoar/Shutterstock.com