Walking with the Full Moon: A Gentle Autumn Ritual

Walking with the Full Moon: A Gentle Autumn Ritual

When September’s full moon rises on the 7th, it carries the quiet wisdom of the season. Often called the Harvest Moon, it illuminates both what we’ve gathered and what we are ready to release. It is a reminder that we, too, move with the rhythms of nature—waxing, waning, ripening, and letting go.

In a world that often asks us to do more, this moon invites us to do less. To pause. To listen. To simply be. One of the simplest, yet most powerful ways to honor this energy is through something most of us can do at any time: taking a walk.

The Full Moon Walk

This is not a walk for exercise or destination. It is a walk for the soul.

• Step outside under the glow of the moon—or during the day if night is not possible.

  
  

• Allow your senses to lead the way. Breathe in the crisp autumn air. Listen to the rustle of leaves. Notice how your body feels with each step.

  
  

• Imagine your worries, anxieties, and the noise of the mind loosening with every footfall, sinking gently into the earth.

  
  

If you wish, carry a small intention with you. Pick up a fallen leaf and whisper into it a burden you are ready to set down. When the time feels right, release it back to the ground, trusting that the earth will transform what you no longer need.

Listening Beyond the Mind

This practice is less about thinking and more about listening. Noticing what your body craves—rest, stillness, movement. Tuning in to what your soul whispers when the mind grows quiet. The full moon’s light helps us see what is hidden, not just in the sky, but within ourselves.

A Simple Ritual Addition

For those who enjoy a touch of ritual, you may anoint yourself before your walk with a grounding essential oil blend such as cedarwood, vetiver, and sweet orange. This creates a subtle anchor to the present moment and deepens your connection with the natural world around you.

A Reflection to Carry Home

After your walk, consider journaling with this prompt: 

“What am I carrying that no longer needs to walk with me?”

Let your words flow without judgment. You may discover that what needs releasing is lighter than you thought—or that clarity itself is the gift.

The September full moon does not ask for elaborate ceremonies or grand offerings. Sometimes, the greatest magic is in the simplest acts:

A walk beneath the stars, a leaf released to the wind, a breath that softens the heart.

May this moon remind you that you are held by the turning of the seasons, guided by the rhythms of the earth, and always connected to the wisdom of your own soul.