Every culture has their own myths, legends, and meanings behind the Moon. In ancient times the moon, rather than the sun, was used to keep track of the days and months, so it held significant meaning to people around the world. The study of the Moon is complicated and detailed, so listed below is just the basic information.

In the Northern Hemisphere

           In the United States, the names used for the full Moon come from the Maine Farmer’s Almanac, which are mostly borrowed from the Algonquian tribe who once inhabited the New England area. We have also included the Wiccan name created by Gerald Gardner following the Algonquian name.  Then a brief explanation of the Algonquian name is given, followed by the energy of each Moon and the magick best carried out at this time.

January:

Wolf Moon ~ Hunger Moon

This Full Moon is named for the howling wolves that hunted closer to the tribes this time of year.

           The Energy this month is focused inward on ending the old, starting the new, and planning for the year to come. The most effective spellwork under this moon is working on personal problems or reversing unwanted magick.

February:

Snow Moon ~ Quickening Moon

So named because the heaviest snow falls during this time of year, and it was a time of true hardship.

          The Energy for this month is concentrated on growth. Seeds are germinating and the roots are growing strong under the Earth, preparing for the fertility to come.  This is a slow type of growth. It’s a great time for spell work dealing with purification of the home and self. It’s also a good time to face the challenges that have presented themselves through the reflection of the winter months, working on spiritual and mental growth. Magick dealing with perseverance and removing unwanted baggage is commonly practiced during this moon. The energy is best suited for spellwork using the energy of unseen growth, and building fertility before the arrival of spring.

March:

Worm Moon ~ Chaste Moon

The robins are returning, the ground is warming, and the worms are available for feeding on. This represents winter coming to an end, and the ground becoming ready for planting.

           The Moon has become a youthful maiden, reaching out encouraging the inner child in everyone. As the shift to spring is coming the change in energy can be felt; purity, newness, and youth fill the air. At this time for new beginnings the spell work that is most powerful deals with preparation, blessings, youth, innocence, growing, and developing. This is a great time to bless gardens both magickal and not.

April:

Pink Moon ~ Seed Moon

The Wild Ground Phlox or Herb Moss Pink in the North Eastern United States is the first flower to bloom, covering the ground in pink.

           Spring has arrived, and the energy has moved into the action phase.  The Moon is full with fertility, growth, planting, and time to sow new seeds.  This is a time for earth magick, a time to empower and encourage growth.  This is a great time to do spell work dealing with fertility, self-confidence, self-improvement, and for seeking knowledge and wisdom.  For Magickal gardeners it is the time to empower seeds.

May:

Flower Moon ~ Hare Moon

Flowers can be seen everywhere in full bloom.

           This is a time when love, romance, and lust are in the in full bloom; the Energy of the Moon is only an amplifier.  This is also a time of powerful divination when one’s intuition is strong.  The natural ability to connect to other realms and nature spirits of all kind is heightened.  This is a great time for planting empowered seeds and beginning the plans you have made throughout the cold months.

June:

Strawberry Moon ~ Dyad Moon

This Moon is so named because the very short season for ripe strawberries is now.

           The Energy under this Moon is of success and true love. Magickally this is a time to commune with nature.  It is a time for spells of protection, strength, and marriage.

July:

Buck Moon ~ Mead Moon

Bucks are maturing; their antlers have grown in fresh with fur.

           This is a time of shifting energy from action to harvest.  Early harvests have begun, and the land is ripening with enchantment.  The Energy felt now is if health, success, strength, and reward.  This is an excellent time for dream work and meditation.  Magick is centered on celebrating and prosperity.  This is also time to start collecting magickal herbs.

August:

Sturgeon Moon ~ Wyrt Moon

The migration of the Sturgeon, a large fish, has started making them abundantly available.

           The harvest has started.  The Earth is filled with the Energy of success, abundance, and agriculture.  It is a time of realization when one reflects on all they have.  Magickally this is a time of abundance, vitality, and friendship. This is the time to give thanks to the Gods for all they have provided, and thanks to those who have helped you throughout the year.

September:

Corn Moon ~ Barley Moon

The corn is ready for harvest.

           The Energy is again shifting, the Earth is in Full Harvest, and she begins her preparations for the winter months ahead.  It is best to complete tasks. Magickally this is a time of nurturing, healing, and treating chronic diseases.  It is a time for spell work dealing with protection, and prosperity.

October:

Hunter’s Moon ~ Blood Moon

The crops have been harvested, and the animals are fat in preparation for the winter to come; marking the change from harvest to hunting.

           The energy is shifting towards the inner journey and the cold of winter.  The veil between realms is thinnest now allowing connections to be easily made.  Time has come for preparation for the inward journey through the cold months; a time for reflection, and evaluation.  This is a time for new goals, resolutions, inner cleansing, and divination.  Purification, specifically the removal of stress, and negative energy around oneself are recommended.

November:

Beaver Moon ~ Snow Moon

This is the time when beavers are hunted; their pelts were collected before the water froze to keep people warm.

           The energy now becomes about one’s kin, and friends.  It is a time to say thank you for all that you have to both the Gods and one’s kin.  Magickally it is a great time to build bonds; these can be with Gods, friends, loved ones, and family.

December:

Cold Moon ~ Oak Moon

As the nights grow in length they become increasingly colder.

           The Energy is of hope and healing.  The Moon’s Energy reigns over the Earth, and it is a time of rebirth both divine and of oneself.  This is when spell work for letting go of negative energy, old patterns, and bad habits is most effective.  It is time to start new and allow the sun’s growing energy to shine through.

In the Southern Hemisphere

   The unfortunate truth of the matter is that much of the Pagan mythology has been lost, especially from the Southern Hemisphere. Even those cultures that still exist today have been suppressed to the point of forgetting their own history and we now search through archaeological research to uncover the lost truths. Most of these Pagan cultures did not have a written language before the Christian conquerors arrived, and the little that we do know was written down by those conquerors.

A brief look at the Myths of the Moon from a few Southern Hemisphere Pagan cultures

           For the Aborigines, the Moon and Sun take on a much different mythology. The Moon is a masculine energy and the sun a feminine. One tribe’s Moon myths tell of a husband who grows fat (waxing to full) with laziness and gluttony. This angers his wife and she then cuts off pieces of his fatness till there is nothing left (waning to dark). Another tribe tells a myth involving tides. As the Moon grows full it fills with water raising the tides, and as the tides go down the moon begins to wane.  

           The Inca believed that the moon was associated with the mother goddess Mama Killa. The Inca calendar is based on the lunar phases giving light to the importance of the Moon and her energy. Although there is Little Else known about their practices, we do know that there are temples filled with silver dedicated to Mama Killa.  

           In Africa, many cultures tell of the union of the Moon and Sun creating the Earth, stars, and people. Each culture places a different level of importance on the moon but in general not as much as the European or North American cultures.

The moons by month with the common Wiccan name used simply as a place of reference. Also provided is the appropriate seasonal energy for each Full Moon.

January:

       Mead Moon

           This is a time of shifting energy from action to harvest.  Early harvests have begun, and the land is ripening with enchantment.  The Energy felt now is if health, success, strength, and reward.  This is an excellent time for dream work and meditation.  Magick is centered on celebrating and prosperity.  This is also time to start collecting magickal herbs.

February:

Wyrt Moon

           The harvest has started.  The Earth is filled with the Energy of success, abundance, and agriculture.  It is a time of realization when one reflects on all they have.  Magickally this is a time of abundance, vitality, and friendship. This is the time to give thanks to the Gods for all they have provided, and thanks to those who have helped you throughout the year.

March:

Barley Moon

           The Energy is again shifting, the Earth is in Full Harvest, and she begins her preparations for the winter months ahead.  It is best to complete tasks. Magickally this is a time of nurturing, healing, and treating chronic diseases.  It is a time for spell work dealing with protection, and prosperity.

April:

Blood or Hunter’s Moon

           The energy is shifting towards the inner journey and the cold of winter.  The veil between realms is thinnest now allowing connections to be easily made.  Time has come for preparation for the inward journey through the cold months; a time for reflection, and evaluation.  This is a time for new goals, resolutions, inner cleansing, and divination.  Purification, specifically the removal of stress, and negative energy around oneself are recommended.

May:

Snow Moon

           The energy now becomes about one’s kin, and friends.  It is a time to say thank you for all that you have to both the Gods and one’s kin.  Magickally it is a great time to build bonds; these can be with Gods, friends, loved ones, and family.

June:

Oak or Cold moon

           The Energy is of hope and healing.  The Moon’s Energy reigns over the Earth, and it is a time of rebirth both divine and of oneself.  This is when spell work for letting go of negative energy, old patterns, and bad habits is most effective.  It is time to start new and allow the sun’s growing energy to shine through.

July:

Hunger Moon

           The Energy this month is focused inward on ending the old, starting the new, and planning for the year to come. The most effective spellwork under this moon is working on personal problems or reversing unwanted magick.

August:

Storm ~ Quickening Moon

          The Energy for this month is concentrated on growth. Seeds are germinating and the roots are growing strong under the Earth, preparing for the fertility to come.  This is a slow type of growth. It’s a great time for spell work dealing with purification of the home and self. It’s also a good time to face the challenges that have presented themselves through the reflection of the winter months, working on spiritual and mental growth. Magick dealing with perseverance and removing unwanted baggage is commonly practiced during this moon. The energy is best suited for spellwork using the energy of unseen growth, and building fertility before the arrival of spring.

September:

Chaste Moon

           The Moon has become a youthful maiden, reaching out encouraging the inner child in everyone. As the shift to spring is coming the change in energy can be felt; purity, newness, and youth fill the air. At this time for new beginnings the spell work that is most powerful deals with preparation, blessings, youth, innocence, growing, and developing. This is a great time to bless gardens both magickal and not.

November:

Seed Moon

           This is a time when love, romance, and lust are in the in full bloom; the Energy of the Moon is only an amplifier.  This is also a time of powerful divination when one’s intuition is strong.  The natural ability to connect to other realms and nature spirits of all kind is heightened.  This is a great time for planting empowered seeds and beginning the plans you have made throughout the cold months.

December:

Dyad Moon

           The Energy under this Moon is of success and true love. Magickally this is a time to commune with nature.  It is a time for spells of protection, strength, and marriage.