Eyes to the sky on September 10, when the Harvest Moon will shine bright, the splendid full moon of September, the last of the summer. This is the name of the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which in 2022 is expected on September 23.
The Moon is all about our feelings, our reactions, our subconscious, our intuition, our need for emotional security, and our need to feel right about ourselves. The Moon is the closest celestial body to Earth, and it affects humans every bit as much as it does the oceans, animal life, and plant life. The Moon is considered to be of the utmost importance in astrology. As the Moon journeys around the Earth, it reflects the light according to the angle between it and the Sun, as seen from Earth.
The Moon makes this journey thirteen times a year; each trip is called a lunation. Each lunation is divided into four quarters. The First Quarter begins when the Sun and Moon are conjunct, meaning they are in the same place, and the Moon is dark. The Second Quarter begins when the Sun and the Moon are at a 90° angle, or squared, illuminated on the right. This is known as the Waxing period. The Third Quarter begins when the Moon is full, opposite the Sun, and completely illuminated. The Fourth Quarter begins when the Moon and the Sun are at 90° again, but this time the Moon is illuminated on the left. This is called the waning period.
Any Full Moon is about the completion of a cycle, and this is a time when you will see the results of your actions. You will see what is working in your life, and you will also see the stuff that is no longer serving you so you can take the appropriate action on what to change. For instance, if you have not watched your food intake over the past while, you will find that your clothes are tight during the Full Moon. This will reveal to you that it is time to get serious again and start tracking what you are eating.
The full moon is a very significant phase of the moon. During this phase, your natural traits get heightened, and there is a lot of energy for you to tap into. You can use this energy to gain clarity about what's working and what's not working, to let go of dead ends, and practice gratitude for everything you've accomplished.
The history and folklore of September's Full Harvest Moon
Eyes to the sky on September 10, when the Harvest Moon will shine in the firmament, the splendid full moon of September, the last of the summer. This is the name of the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which in 2022 is expected on September 23. It is not always in September: every three years, it falls in October instead, as happened in 2020, when it rose in the sky on October 1st.
It is known as the Harvest Moon because the great harvest work could be extended even at night under the light of the full moon, which was very popular. But this was not the only one, and in fact, other traditions come side by side and sometimes overlap. The Harvest Moon is also called the Corn Moon, for example, because one of the September products was corn.
The Harvest Moon is particularly important because it represents the moment we ideally reap what we sowed six months ago, during the Spring Equinox, which took place back in March. It is, therefore, a suitable time to take stock of the last six months of our life and try to identify and reap the fruits of our work.
This Harvest Moon falls in the sign of Pisces
This Harvest Moon falls in the sign of Pisces, a sign of Female Mutable Water, changing water that is already partially transforming. It is water that boils and easily transforms into steam, stirring in the turbid and bringing to the surface everything we have immersed in it.
Pisces is the exaltation of Venus, and therefore this Moon represents the union of two very important archetypes of the sacred feminine. This combination can cause particularly intense emotional tides. Venus seeks harmony and balance, and Pisces is a sign of empathy, compassion, and for others, the expression of love. If we are at peace with our emotional side, this can turn into a message, a lesson that is important to listen to and learn. Otherwise, this weekend can be difficult and problematic, as our emotions (from the past or related to our current condition) can come back to the surface and put us in trouble.
What to do during this Full Moon
Make a list of major events that have happened to you and what important lessons you have learned
Consecrate a new ritual space, your altar or small home temple
Make an invocation to Isis (or to another incarnation of the lunar divinity) by dedicating a part of your altar or ritual space to this entity
Make a list of the things you are grateful for
If you are outdoors, observe the moon and make an offer of milk, ask a question or make a request. If the offer is accepted, these questions or requests will be answered in a dream during one of the nights leading up to the next new moon
Starting a new magical diary or personal Book of Shadows
On the eve of a full moon, the night of a full moon, and the first day of a waning moon, EXPLOIT THE energy of the moon!
A Full Moon Amplification Ritual
This ritual is best performed when it starts to get dark, after sunset, and onwards into the night. With the increasing energy of the full moon, it's best to perform this ritual on the eve of or the night of the full moon.
You can start by invoking your chosen deity, preferably one who helps to live in harmony with the cycles of the moon and use their energies for crystals, stones, water, oils, and various objects, and ask to bless the objects that you will display out in the open, at the moonlight.
Goddess, I call you here and now. Bless my objects and desires by charging them with your energy and the lunar energy, while I give thanks for my many achievements and blessings. May my heart desires manifest themselves for my greatest supreme good and in the best way.
Put glass bottles filled with water out in the open in the moonlight, your favorite jewelry, your crystals, and - if you have other objects dear to you, display those too. Place the objects somewhere so that the moonlight illuminates them for at least 2 hours, preferably all night.
I will set out six bottles of water in glass containers to leave all night to charge them with the moon's full energy. Then I will also write out my intentions of what I hope to accomplish this lunar cycle. Make sure to write clearly so the message is well received by your subconscious and becomes clear to the Universe, which will help its realization.
You can also write your desires, goals, or wishes in a special notebook that you keep all your moon rituals in and expose the notebook page to the moon on the eve of or night of the full moon. This can be your Moon Journal moving forward to write on one side the desires, goals, and wishes you express during the new moon. Then on the other side, those that you expose during the full moon. Often they will coincide, but this is not necessarily the case. It is fulfilling to have proof of the evolution of your heart and soul, which are always similar but never the same, and then many are REALIZED, and others have outgrown due to growth in your path or simply because you don't want them anymore! Consider your Moon Journal on the next new moon, you will draw up another list and check the progress of this month's desires.
Entrust your hopes and desires to the moon, leave them to her, and feel that they are no longer with you. Trust me, let them go, and allow the Universe to fulfill.
Of course, you can drink the water exposed to the moon, use it in spells, or as an offering. You may also want to share your moon waters with friends or loved ones, as the energy of the full moon helps raise your energy and mood.
Remember, you co-create your reality with the moon and your energy together. Enjoy the upcoming full moon! I can't wait to hear how your rituals and celebrations come to life.