Celtic Full Moon Names
The cycles of the moon have been followed by people for centuries. Monthly moons helped guide planting seasons, celebrations and religious observances. Full moon names were common among ancient peoples all over the world. Here is a list of common full moon names used by the Ancient Celtic people in Europe.
January
According to Celtic tradition, the January full moon is known as the Quiet Moon. The name Quiet Moon is likely in reference to the quiet season of rest before the beginning of the harvest season. The January full moon is also known as the Wolf Moon or the Cold Moon in other cultures. The Quiet Moon is a good time for connecting with your higher spiritual power and reflecting inward. Now is the time to rest and save your energy for the busy seasons ahead.
February
According to Celtic tradition, the February full moon is known as the Moon of Ice. It is also known as the Hunger Moon, Snow Moon and Quickening moon in other cultures. This is the season of Imbolc and a good time to think about what you would like to achieve during the coming year. It is also a good time to set intentions around how you want to feel during the coming year, as well.
March
According to Celtic tradition, the March full moon is known as the Seed Moon. It is also known as the Wind Moon, Storm Moon or the Worm Moon. This is the season of Ostara, celebrating the start of springtime. March is a good time to start planting seeds - both literally and figuratively, in order to bring new things into your life.
April
According to Celtic tradition, the April full moon is known as the Growing Moon or the Pink Moon. It is the season of love and conception and is a good time to focus on romantic relationships, conceiving a child, and taking continued actions toward your goals. It would also represent the beginning of growth of the harvest in Ancient Celtic communities.
May
The May full moon is known as the Flower Moon. As spring blossoms more fully in May, now is a good time to look at tending to your own life, including relationships, your career and your self care. Take action to make sure the seeds you planted continue to grow and thrive.
June
The June full moon was known to the ancient Celts as the Mead Moon or the Horse Moon. It was believed that a newly married couple should drink mead for one full moon cycle to promote good health, prosperity and fertility. June is a time to celebrate the longest day of the year with Litha and the Summer Equinox. Spend time outside, enjoying the long days and abundant sunshine.
July
The July full moon was known to the ancient Celts as the Claiming Moon or Horse Moon. Claiming Moon is likely derived from some sort of early legal system, similar to August’s Dispute Moon. July is traditionally the warmest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and as such is a good time to relax, meditate and reflect on your life. It is also a good time to think about how you can bring more positive things into your life.
August
The August full moon was known to the ancient Celts as the Grain Moon or the Dispute Moon. August was the time of the first harvest of the year, the Celtic and to celebrate the occasion with feasts and festivals. It was also a time to resolve disputes between neighbors. This tradition of summertime legalese continued well into the 19th Century in different parts of Britain, where August 1st (aka Lughnasadh & Lammas) was a traditional time to collect rent and pay workers. Today the August Full Moon is a time to celebrate all your work and progress during the year, knowing that you are also prepared for the months ahead.
September
The ancient Celts referred to the September full moon as the Singing Moon, Harvest Moon, or Wine Moon. Singing moon may refer to celtic rituals that included singing, along with other celebrations of the autumn equinox. It is a time to celebrate Mabon and the balance of light and dark. As the Wheel of the Year comes to an end it is also a good time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life.
October
Marking the end of the growing season, ancient Celts referred to the October full moon as the Harvest Moon, Seed Fall Moon, or Hunter's Moon. Aligning with the celebration of Samhain, October is a good time to honor loved ones who have passed on. It is also a good time to do spiritual and physical house cleaning, getting rid of what doesn't serve you in the coming year.
November
The November full moon was known by the ancient Celts as the Dark Moon or Oak Moon. In the northern hemisphere, the November full moon falls among the shortest days of the year. The first full moon in the Wheel of the Year, November is a good time to cultivate healthy habits and continue to let go of negative energy.
December
The December full moon is known as the Cold Moon, Singing Moon or Wolf Moon by ancient Celts. It is a time to celebrate Yule or the Winter Solstice and the return of longer days. Spend time with family and friends and celebrate the beginning of winter.
References & Recommended Reading
Follow the Mabon House Adventures
Celebrating the August Super Moon
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The August full moon, also known as the Barley Moon and Sturgeon Moon, is happening on Thursday, August 11th at 9:36 pm (EST). It’s also a super moon, which means that the moon will appear bigger and brighter than normal. The full moon offers a time to reconnect with the earth and your inner self through your own spiritual path.
Early Moon Worship
Moon worship goes back to the earliest humankind. Every ancient civilization celebrated the moon in some form. Ancient Greeks celebrated Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, while ancient Romans called her Luna. Native American tribes looked to the moon to guide their planting and hunting. Even the Christian celebration of Easter is linked to the moon. Easter Sunday always falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon of the Spring Equinox. Today the moon is a central part of paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft and other Nature -Based spiritual paths.
The Moon & The Divine Feminine
The moon is considered by many as a divine feminine energy. The Moon rules below, while the sun rules above. The sun gives life and the moon gives a rhythm to that life. The ocean tides, female menstruation, and the natural rhythm of the planting season are all governed by the moon.
The moon is associated with goddesses of many different cultures including the Chinese goddess Chang’e, the Greek goddess Selene, the Roman goddess Luna, and the Zulu goddess Inyanga.
The idea of the Triple Goddess is also centered around the Waxing, Full and Waning Moons.
While the sun is constant in its appearance from day to day, the moon changes, shrinks and grows over the course of a month, offering different levels of energy and support to those who look toward it for guidance.
Full Moon Magick
The full moon represents abundance and progress. If you set intentions during the new moon, the full moon is when you may start to feel or see the results of your efforts.
The power of the moon is at its strongest when it is full and it’s a good time to cast spells, practice meditation and focus energy on achieving your goals. It’s also a time to seek clarity about your path forward. If there is an area in your life that is troubling you, sitting with the full moon and meditating can help you forge a path forward.
Did you know the best time to see the moon at its fullest is during the Moonrise? You can use this moonrise and moonset calculator to see exactly when the moon will be rising in your area.
The August Full Moon
The August full moon is known as the Barley Moon, Corn Moon or Sturgeon Moon. In ancient times, the first harvest of Lughnasadh was celebrated in August, making it a time to celebrate all the work and toil of the spring and early summer, while still planning ahead for winter.
Today, the Barley Moon offers a chance to pause and reflect on what is working in your life and what you would like to change. As autumn approaches with the start of school, holidays and general hustle and bustle of modern life, now is a good time to take stock and make a plan of how you want to spend your time. What do you want to be, do and have in life?
Are you celebrating the August Super Moon? Share in the comments!
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Full Moon Intention Setting
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well and safe. Just a quick note this week, as I am still playing catch-up from my vacation. In keeping with the spirit of Maine, the weather this week has included all four seasons. It was lovely and warm on Monday, cool on Tuesday, rainy yesterday and today we are expecting snow showers. Variety is the spice of life and the weather here never disappoints. I truly hope it is not snowing where you are. :)
A New Moon Series Printable
Over my vacation I was working on some new lunar printables. I know I still owe you the rest of the Celtic Moon series and I will get it out to you in the near future. In the meantime, I created a full set of full moon intention worksheets. I thought these would be fun and simple to use alone or add to your planner. I hope you like them!
I hope you have a lovely rest of your day and I’ll see you next week!
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