Full Moon Pagan Ritual for Releasing and Purging

New moon ceremonies have to do with creation, manifestation, birth, and rebirth. It is the full moon that completes the cycle. The full moon is the representative for marking a time for death or change. It is also a time for gathering up your wits and tying up loose ends. Basically, the full moon symbolizes the end chapter, shedding light on the things that we no longer need to hold on to.

Using a Full Moon Ritual to Illuminate and Remove Obstacles

The presence of a full moon is an opportune time of the month for purging rituals to take place. The light the full moon offers illuminates those things that are interfering with our spiritual advancements. Once we have become enlightened to ways that are blocking us, the easier to let go.

The full moon ritual is for releasing or purging the things in our lives that no longer serve us such as addictions to food, drugs, or sex, relinquishing suffering involved in hurtful relationships, discharging physical and emotional pains, etc.

Several years ago on an episode of the television show Party of Five, the character Charlie was throwing personal items that were connected to his cancer into a bonfire. His actions were in celebration of his cancer going into remission. He even tossed the clothing he was wearing into the fire because it was what he wore when he was first diagnosed with cancer. This televised scene could have easily been portrayed as a full moon ceremony.

Full moon ceremonies can be simple, with perhaps a pinch or two of pagan tradition thrown in. For example, each person in the circle may take his or her turn throwing in scraps of paper into a fire that is then watched turn into ashes. The scraps of paper have words written down on them of those things you'd like to release or change in your lives.

Yes, a full moon ceremony can be as simple as that. Give it a try. It's very freeing and healing to declutter for your health.

Full Moon Purging Preparation

• Calendar - Check a moon phase calendar for the next upcoming full moon.
• Sacred Space - Create a sacred space and arrange a time to perform the ceremony (preferably at nighttime and outdoors under the moonlight).
• Paper and Pen - Write down on separate slips of paper the things you want to release or change.
• Supply Suggestions - A fire-proof cauldron or cooking pot to toss the burning paper inside, a candle with matches or a lighter, water (to put out the fire afterward), and smudging herbs for cleansing.

Full Moon Purging

1. Cleansing: Cleanse your sacred area with an opening prayer, a sage smudging, and/or by burning some incense. Invite your guides, angels, masters, or teachers to be at your side throughout the ceremony.
2. Breath and Light: Light one or more candles. Look to the skies. Breathe in the night air.
3. The Ceremony: One by one, read out loud the words you have written on each slip of paper. Set your intention to release the item/addiction/attitude from your life. Set it on fire and place it in the cauldron. If you have a campsite barbecue or bonfire going that's cool, just toss the slips of paper into the fire one by one. If you are doing this ritual with a group of others take turns reading your words. If these things are too personal to read out loud, read them silently to yourself. Just remember that our words have power. Saying "be Gone" audibly and loudly can be very freeing. Go ahead, howl at the moon if you have a mind to. Have some fun!
4. Show Gratitude: Thank the spirits.
5. Be Cautious: Put out the fire.