Full Moon Fever

©Anne Calzada Herbalist

The full moon has been celebrated forever and by everyone. We are always in awe of its potent powers whether we recognize it or not. Hospitals and jails fill up more quickly and the passion of lovers and fighters is enhanced by it's intense and drawing energy. As an Herbalist, I know that it is best for me to make medicine if I can on a new moon and to finish up these projects on a full moon. I know that the full moon is the time for letting go, completion and therefore celebration. Here are a few ceremonies for you to experience and build upon when working with the energy of the full moon.

*Preparation Of Self

Whenever you are preparing for something special or spiritual, it is always advantageous to prepare yourself. You are a Queen or King and deserve to beauty up. Pray and prepare yourself for your spiritual practice. You can meditate to ground and center for the day. Move on to some yoga or some form of exercise. In Ayurveda, we like to exfoliate the body with a dry skin brush first, shower and then oil the body in the shower or after showering. This increases circulation, is moisturizing and enhances natural beauty. Nourish your body with plants and high vibrational foods. Wear sensuous fabrics or something that makes you feel special, because you are you know! Anoint yourself with essential oils, because synthetics are not where its at. Choose your favorite jewelry or stones.

*Preparation Of Home

Begin with prayer, over yourself, loved ones, the Earth mother and the sister moon. Bless the home inside and out. Cleaning your house is making it sacred. Smudge yourself and the home with Sage, Roses, Lavender or even Mugwort. Burn nag champa incense to purify your space. Use your intuition. If you are not into smoke, maybe you are into essential oils! Make a spritzer and use this to cleanse energetically. Use 10 drops of EO to 1 oz. Of carrier. Bring some beautiful flowers and candles into the space. Make some herbal blends like bath salts, oils, spritzers, balms or herbal incense that you use only during your Moon ceremonies. 
 

*Write It Down

Write out anything that you want to let go of in your life. Anything that you need to say goodbye to such as addictions, behaviors, relationships, thought beliefs...

Take this list and on the day of the full moon, you can burn it or bury it. Fire is purifying and so is the Earth. There is no right or wrong, follow your own heart. I personally like to burn mine, as I really feel the release for me in the purge of fire. You can keep a journal from one moon phase to the next, working with energies of the moon whether new or full.

*Meditation

Bask yourself in the light of the full moon and increase your soul power. Find a spot in nature to relax at. Sit at the trunk of a tree. Sit next to a creek or river. Climb up on a mountain side or chill at the beach. The purpose here is to recharge your complete endocrine system in the light of the full moon.

Practice gratitude, forgiveness and send blessings to whomever you feel needs more Love. This includes people, animals, plants and the Earth. Remember, this is the time to send love and light and simply let go!

*Recharge

This is the ideal time to cleanse and recharge your healing tools such as crystals and stones. You can lay them out on a special cloth that you use every month for your ceremonies. Anything or anyone that may need healing, you can write these down and leave in a glass bowl in the moonlight all night after you have prayed over them. In the morning, you can again burn this paper or you can bury it in the Earth. Follow your intuition. I like to bury this blessed paper in the ground, as I feel that the energy of the Earth is healing and nourishing. She will help to restore balance, for all of nature is balance.

*Indulge

Now is the time to be with the moon. This is different for each person. Maybe you want to celebrate with loved ones and share food, music and heart. Maybe you want to practice alone at this time. Maybe you just want to lie on a blanket on the ground and bask in the moon's glow. Follow your heart, as your soul will speak to you through it. There is no right and wrong for working with natural energies, just that you “harm none” and that you cannot manipulate the energy of other beings and send love always. This is my personal philosophy. Whether you want to dance naked in the moonlight or just make some lunar tea, experience it! Get up and out and live! The moon will remind you of the beautiful cosmic ebb and flow of nature and the cosmic universe.

I wish you full moon blessings!

Lunar Tea

It is the same principal as making sun tea! Fill a glass jar with your herbs and place directly in the full moon and let it infuse overnight. Strain and imbibe her feminine energy into your soul. Roses, lavender, violets, jasmine, chamomile, lemon balm........

Full Moon Essence

Whenever you make an essence, you should never touch any of the items directly with your skin. You want a clean and pure vibratory essence. Use clear glass only and steel carriers a neutral vibration, such as steel scissors or surgical tools. Use a paper strainer if needed to strain your essence.

You can bring a glass bowl of water out to the moonlight. For some this may be enough. To partake of the essence of the moon. Some may wish to make a lunar flower or gem essence. You can add a special flower that you have gathered during the day. Maybe you have an infinity with a special tree? Maybe you want to use a stone such as moonstone, selenite or rose quartz to create your essence.

To preserve the vibration, take a 4 oz. Bottle and fill half with moon water and the other half with brandy to preserve. The essence must now be succussed. Which means to shake it up strongly. This is done to provide integration of the molecular structure. This is called your “Mother” essence. From here, you will want to make a “stock' essence. This is made by adding half water and 4 drops of essence and to that add half brandy to preserve. Then succus the essence. From here, you can make your dosage bottle. Fill a 1 oz. Bottle with ¾ water and ¼ brandy and 4 drops from the stock bottle. Succus it! This is your full moon essence. Take 4 drops as desired or through to the next full moon. Make your own ceremony!