Full Moon
Celebrating, honest conversations, seeing clearly
The Earth is between the Sun and Moon, and the whole disc is lit. In astrology it is the culmination: things come to light, feelings run closer to the surface and results of the past two weeks become visible.
What this phase is traditionally good for
Celebrating, honest conversations, seeing clearly
What Happens at a Full Moon
At the full moon the Earth sits roughly between the Sun and the Moon, so the entire face we see is lit. The Moon rises at sunset, stays up all night and sets at dawn. It looks largest when it is near the horizon, but that is an optical illusion; its size in the sky does not change. Occasionally the Earth's shadow falls across it and we get a lunar eclipse.
The Traditional Reading
Astrologically the full moon is the culmination of the cycle: what you started at the new moon becomes visible. Feelings run closer to the surface, and conversations you were avoiding can feel harder to put off. It is traditionally a time for celebrating what has worked, having honest discussions and seeing clearly where things stand.
Many people say they sleep worse around a full moon. Some studies have suggested a small effect on sleep, and others have not found one, so it remains an open question. A bright bedroom is a simpler explanation, and blackout curtains are a reliable fix.
Ways People Use This Phase
The full moon is used for review and celebration: write down what has gone well in the last four weeks, say thank you to someone who helped, and be candid about what has not worked. Because the tradition associates it with strong feeling, many people also save difficult conversations for a day or two after, when things have settled.
Full Moon Myths Worth Dropping
Several folk beliefs are persistent and not well supported: that full moons increase crime, emergency-room visits or births, or that they make people "lunatic," a word that literally comes from luna. Careful studies have generally not found these effects. The belief survives because we notice busy nights that fall on a full moon and forget the ones that do not.