Tonight, the last full moon of the year rises in its home sign of Cancer, opposite the Sun in Capricorn. Known as the Cold Moon or Long Night Moon, it’s energy prompts us to go inward. The Sun in Capricorn reminds us that it’s time to conserve our resources, and intuitive Cancer communicates it’s needs in order to feel safe. As we navigate the depths of the darkest time of the year, shadows may surface in order to be integrated. 

We reflect not only on this most recent lunation, but the entire year that’s now behind us. What lessons and triumphs will we take with us into the next? What burdens, regrets or outdated stories need to be left behind? In other words, what’s in and what’s out?

The full moon has been celebrated across cultures for millennia as a time of culmination and release. Incorporating a full moon ritual into your practice is a great way to get in tune with the cycles and rhythms of nature, and in turn your highest self, whether you find yourself immersed in the city or deep in the woods.

If you feel called to do a full moon ritual but aren’t sure where to start, following is a list of different ways you can create ritual to honor the full moon:

1. Take a ritual bath. Tonight’s moon is ruled by cardinal water, a powerful element used to cleanse and nourish. Water is also known for its miraculous ability to hold memory, and acts a vessel to release all that no longer serves you. Set an intention for your shower or bath to wash away any stagnant energy. Amplify your intentions by adding bath salts or essential oils.

2. Write it out. Write a list of everything you would like to release – and burn it (always use a fire-safe dish and never leave unattended). Return the ashes of all that no longer serves you to the earth, with deep gratitude.

3. Shadow Work. A full moon can sometimes act like a mirror into your deepest unconscious thoughts and beliefs. Use the power of writing to work out any deep seated shadows that may make themselves known at this time. Use your divination tools to help you explore these themes on a deeper level.

4. Cleanse your space. Cancer rules the fourth house representing our Home- rid your space of any lingering clutter, get organized, and burn herbs like cedar, sweetgrass, incense or sage with the windows open to cleanse out any stagnant energy. You can also wash surfaces with diluted Florida Water+add it to a spray bottle to create a linen spray (consecrated water creates a powerful barrier to negative energy).

5. Give your magical tools some love. Don’t forget about your magical tools! Putting your tools like crystals, spell candles, tarot and oracle decks directly under the moon’s light (or on a windowsill) will cleanse+charge them up for more powerful and on-point readings and workings.

6.  Get moving.  Full moons can often prompt anxiety by bringing emotions to the forefront. Give this energy somewhere to go with movement of your choice – a moonlit walk, yoga or gentle stretching, or just dance it out.

7. Mindful acts of selfcare.  Making a home cooked meal, having a meditation session, grounding in nature, or listening to your favorite podcast (personally, we love the Witch Wave) are all easy, gentle ways to honor tonight’s Cold Moon. 

8. Trust your intuition. Most importantly, this is a time to get in touch with your innate wisdom and intuition. There is only information outside of you, and true wisdom can only be accessed from within and through your personal connection to the divine. Give yourself an opportunity to get acquainted with and explore this realm.

How are you planning to spend the last full moon of the year? Let us know in the comments! Wishing you a blessed Full Moon, and happy new year from The Meta Muse!