Celebrating the Full Moon
April's Pink Moon
The nights are getting shorter, the flowers are blooming, and the air smells fresh with the promise of new beginnings. April's full moon, known as the Pink Moon, signals a time of blossoming and potent transformation. While its name doesn't refer to the actual color of the moon, the Pink Moon gets its name from the vibrant pink phlox flowers that bloom in early spring. Just like these flowers burst forth after a dormant winter, this full moon encourages us to shed old layers and embrace vibrant, powerful growth within our own lives.
As a crone in the making, I find deep meaning and a sense of sisterhood with the natural cycles. Harnessing the energy of the full moon through ritual and reflection can bring a sense of power and clarity, especially as we transition into our wise woman years.
Pink Moon Ritual Ideas
Whether you're a solitary practitioner, like me, or gather with like-minded souls, here are a few moon rituals tailored to the energies of April's full moon:
Cleansing and Renewal Bath: Draw a warm bath infused with cleansing herbs like rosemary, lavender, and a touch of pink Himalayan salt. Soak, visualize tensions washing away, and set intentions for the areas of your life you want to blossom. I’m lucky to have a skylight in my bathroom. I can bathe directly under the full moon. Hot tubs might work for this, as well, but I’d put all herbs into a tightly closed sachet bag before I’d add them to my hot tub. And, of course, outdoor bath tubs are a thing, too. You do you.
Flower Power: Work with the essence of pink flowers, either by bringing a small bouquet into your sacred space, using an essential oil diffuser with scents like rose, or making a floral moon water. This invites beauty and a spirit of blossoming into your ritual. I spend much of this time of year surrounding by my burgeoning gardens, so I create outdoor sacred spaces within the gardens where I pause and set my intentions.
Seed Magic: Plant actual seeds (herbs or flowers aligned with your intentions) in small pots, or write your goals and dreams on slips of paper and symbolically ‘plant’ them. Water them in the light of the Pink Moon, nurturing both the physical and metaphorical growth to come. This is a favorite of mine—planting metaphorical seeds. I often write them out and put them in the bottom of a pot where I plant seeds and nourish them into growth. Taking care of that plant reminds me to take care of nurturing my own growth, as well.
Pink Moon Tarot or Oracle Spread: Choose a deck that resonates with you and lay down a spread focused on growth, transformation, and what wishes to blossom within you. Journal on the insights you receive. I particularly like The Green Witch Tarot by Ann Moura for this time of year.
Gratitude Feast: Honor the season's potential abundance with a shared meal. Feature spring vegetables, pink-hued foods (think grapefruit, salmon), and a decadent dessert. Express gratitude for what is blossoming in your life. My family is doing a grateful jar this year, inspired by Krystin Clark’s The Grateful Jar Project. We’ll add to it for the full moon, rather than hosting a separate gratitude event.
Charge magical tools: The full moon is also the time to “charge” your tools, if you want. Many set out their crystals or create full moon water to be used for cleansing, rituals, or even to drink. I have not made moon water, but I have definitely set out particular “tools” to gather full moon energy to use in specific ways.
I don't do a lot of direct "spells," as witchcraft is to me about a way of life. Spells, in general, are just prayers and / or manifestations (or both). I do try to practice positive thinking / manifestation, especially because when I have negative thinking I feel like the bad things that happen are my fault—that I attracted them. Generally, the full moon is used for banishing spells—spells to send back negative energy, to severe unhealthy ties, or to break bad habits. This year, though, I’ve been using my own version of a “honey jar spell” to attract positive energy for a specific situation. I created the spell in early February, and each full moon since, I’ve set it out to charge in the moonlight—to refreshen it and ask it to continue. I’ll do that again tonight.
My version of this spell is below.
Sweetening the Spirit: A Honey Spell for Positive Change
Ingredients:
A small jar: I used a tiny one bought for this purpose—cleansed first, but you could use a recycled one so long as you make sure to clean it and cleanse it of any previous energy.
Honey: Honey isn't just delicious, it's been revered for its magical properties for millennia. In various traditions, it's seen as a symbol of attraction, prosperity, and sweetness of life.
Candle: Choose a color that resonates with your intention. Yellow for general happiness, green for growth, or white for peace are all good options. I used pink for friendship.
Paper and Pen: To write down your intention.
Herbs (Optional): Chamomile for calmness, lavender for peace, or lemon balm for uplifting energy can be added. I added rose (rose water and rose petals).
Crystals (Optional): Some folks like to add crystals representing the “power” they need to enhance a spell. For example, clear quartz is considered to be the "master healer," which amplifies energy, promotes clarity, purification, and is highly programmable for specific intentions. Or amethyst, my favorite of all crystals, promotes calmness, protection, intuition, and spiritual connection; it’s often used for dreamwork and breaking addictions. For this spell, I used rose quartz, which amplifies love in all forms—including friendship.
Actions:
Gather your ingredients.
Take a few moments to center yourself. Focus on your intention – a more positive and agreeable attitude for the person you have in mind. Important: keep focused on your intention during the entire act of creating your jar.
Write your intention on a small piece of paper. You can be specific, but keep it positive. For example, "May [person's name] find joy in the little things" or "May [person's name] approach challenges with an open mind."
Fold the paper and place it in the jar.
Add your optional ingredients. I added rose petals and rose quartz (by holding it over the jar and scraping slivers into it.
Add honey—enough to cover all ingredients.
I actually added rose water to fill the jar up the rest of the way, but remember, my jar was tiny. I would not have wasted enough honey or added anything else to fill up a large jar.
Close off the jar (mine had a cork, but you can screw the lid on as needed).
Holding the jar, visualize your intention flowing into the honey. See the sweetness permeating the golden liquid.
Set the jar down on a fire proof surface (I used a candle plate), light your candle and drip wax on it enough to “seal” it. I had a small candle, so once the jar was sealed, I let the rest of the candle burn and dripped all of the wax over the candle.
If you do not use the entire candle, extinguish it.
Store the jar in a cool, dark place. Every few days, pick it up and visualize your intention being absorbed by the honey.
When a full moon is present, take the jar out and ask the moon to imbue your spell, your intentions, with her power. Leave it to charge under the moonlight and bring it back in before sunrise. This can be repeated each month until the spell is no longer needed.
Ethical considerations: this spell is a gentle nudge, not a forceful command. True change comes from within. But sometimes, a little sweetness can go a long way in shifting someone's perspective. This spell is about encouraging positive change, not controlling someone's will. If someone's negativity is causing serious harm, a different approach might be necessary.
Remember, It's Your Ritual
While I’m sharing my craft to spark your imagination, don't be afraid to personalize these rituals. Full moons are about honoring your own path. Here are a few questions to guide your adaptation:
What feels stagnant in my life that needs to be released?
Where do I crave beauty, softness, and blooming?
What do I truly want to manifest as I embrace my witchy power?
What needs "sweetened” to make your dreams come true?
Let the Pink Moon illuminate your path of vibrant growth!