Is an eclipse the best time for a full moon ritual?

There are two different schools of thought about performing rituals during a lunar eclipse. Some say that eclipses supercharge your ceremonies. Others feel the energy is wonky and shouldn’t be trusted with important workings. I say, investigate!  Lunar eclipses occur twice a year, every year. You have lots of experience already.  But likely you haven’t been adding this into your personal store of knowledge.  So this is an excellent time to begin gathering data.

Lunar eclipses make for awesome viewing, but alas, this one isn’t visible from North America. (It will be visible from the Antarctic, Oceania, Australasia, Asia, Europe, Africa, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands.)  But its energy is everywhere.  And not just during the “eclipsing” hours. But in the days before and after.  Can you sense this?

The eclipse occurs on Friday, so think about the energy of the week.  Were people touchy or going crazy?   Or was it business as usual?  How are you feeling? Were you inspired to activity?  Or did you feel like pulling inward?  In other words, let your own experience teach you. The most sophisticated moonwork occurs through direct perception. Let the eclipse tell you what to do with it.

You don’t need to be a particularly soulful person to take great delight in the celestial gift of a lunar eclipse.  But if you are a soulful person, you’ll enjoy it more if you view it with your body instead of just your mind.  I mean the sensing part of your body–the trillions of cells inside. That’s because thinking about it–even beautiful concepts like the Moon is earth’s oldest temple holding the potency of countless prayers since the dawn of time–doesn’t help. You have to sink your awareness lower than mind: this is what it means to get naked under the Moon.

Even during eclipses — this is meant to be a relaxed and spacious state. Once you locate it, you can snap into it again, instantly. And just as easily, you can snap out.

I tend to think the best time for a full moon ritual is when you’re up for it.  But, after years of watching eclipses, I also tend to avoid magical workings during eclipses.  But I invite you to ask yourself this question: does this full moon taste or feel any differently than a typical full moon?  You need no other expert.  You’ve been traveling under this moon’s gaze your whole life, and journeying through eclipse seasons at least twice every year.   So what has Luna been telling you this week?  Slow down? Go for it? Shout from the rooftops? Or keep your secrets close?

Let 2023 become your year for touching the moon! Check out my monthly Moon Workshop here.