Full moon, new moon and eclipse rituals for releasing and attracting

Long before calendars on our phones, people lived by the moon. In India, Purnima (the full moon) and Amavasya (the new moon) still shape fasts, festivals and prayers. I find the moon's cycle one of the easiest rhythms to work with: it gives a natural time to call things in, and a natural time to let things go.

The rhythm of the moon

The moon takes about twenty-nine and a half days to go from one new moon to the next.

• The new moon (Amavasya) is the dark moon, a quiet time for rest, protection and fresh intentions.
• The waxing moon grows towards full. It is a time for building.
• The full moon (Purnima) is the brightest point, when energy and emotions often feel strongest.
• The waning moon shrinks back towards dark. It is a time for releasing.

A full moon ritual for releasing and attracting

The full moon lights everything up, so it is a good time to see clearly what you want more of and what you are ready to let go. A simple way to work with it:

1. Sit near a window or outside where you can see the moon, or simply face it in your mind.
2. Take a few slow breaths.
3. Write two short lists: what you want to attract, and what you want to release.
4. Read the "attract" list aloud as affirmations, in the present tense: "I am...", "I have...".
5. Thank the moon, and keep the paper somewhere safe.

Three nights of the full moon, then release until Amavasya

For the full moon of 30 January to 1 February 2026, I shared a two-part ritual that you can repeat with any full moon.

For the three nights of Purnima: attract. Each night, affirm what you want to bring in: good health, love, career growth, prosperity and positivity.

From the day after, until the new moon: release. Each day, affirm what you want to leave behind and free yourself from: an old belief system, a bad habit, negative energy, draining people or old patterns.

A good affirmation is short, positive and personal. If you find it hard to word yours, that is something I am happy to help with.

A new moon ritual for protection

The new moon is the darkest night of the month, and many traditions treat it as a time for protection and blessing. In this video I send protection, love and universal blessings to everyone watching.

To make it your own practice: light a diya, sit quietly, and imagine a soft light around you and your family. Then send that same light outwards to people you love, and to anyone who needs it. Amavasya is also a traditional day to remember the ancestors; my post on the Pitra Paksh ritual explains that side of it.

Eclipses: a prayer to protect your aura

Eclipses come in seasons, usually twice a year. A solar eclipse falls on a new moon and a lunar eclipse on a full moon. Spiritually, many people treat eclipse days as a time when sadhana, prayer and meditation feel amplified. For the August 2026 solar eclipse, when several planets were also lined up in the eastern sky before dawn, I shared an aura protection prayer, especially for nazar (the evil eye).

A simple eclipse practice:

1. Stay calm and stay indoors if that is your family's tradition.
2. Sit quietly and repeat a prayer or mantra you trust.
3. Imagine your aura, the field of energy around you, as clear, bright and whole.
4. Afterwards, wash your hands and face, and drink some water.

Please never look directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse without proper eclipse glasses.

A wish ritual for the fifth element

In the five elements of nature, the fifth is Akash, ether or space. It is the element of sound, openness and possibility, the space in which wishes take shape. This ritual works with that element and with direction, in the spirit of Vastu. It pairs well with the full moon, when intentions feel especially bright.

Tips for any moon ritual

• Keep it simple. Five sincere minutes are better than an hour of going through the motions.
• Write things down. Paper makes intentions real.
• Follow up with action. An intention needs a first step, however small.
• Be safe with fire. If you burn a paper, use a metal bowl and keep water nearby.

What these rituals are not

Moon and eclipse rituals are spiritual practices for reflection, intention and calm. They are not a cure for illness or a guarantee of any result, and they never replace advice from a doctor or other professional. If something feels too heavy to carry on your own, please reach out for support.

A healing session with me

If you would like help releasing what you are carrying, my Reiki healing sessions are a gentle place to start, and you are always welcome to send me a message.