Full moon, fire bowl, and a quiet act of letting go.

The full moon is a natural moment of swelling and exposure. Anything you have tucked away—old habits, grief, frayed attachments—tends to rise to the surface. Many witches use this phase for a simple but potent working: write down what you are ready to release, then let it go through fire, earth, or water.

You might sit beneath the moon with a small fire-safe bowl or cauldron, feeding each slip of paper to the flames as you say, “I release…” You might bury the paper in a place that feels safe and consecrated, or dissolve it in water and pour it away. The important part is the clarity of the decision: this is what I am done carrying.

Use common sense with the elements. Burn only in a safe container away from dry brush. If you bury, avoid coated or synthetic paper. When the ritual is finished, a brief shower or hand-washing can mark the transition, as if rinsing off the last residue of the old cycle. Many witches end with gratitude—not because everything is perfect, but because they have created room for something better to arrive.

Emotional release can be surprisingly intense. Give yourself time afterward to ground: eat something, touch the earth, or sit quietly until your breathing and body feel settled again.

A single candle becomes the anchor for a new cycle.

Where the full moon swells outward, the new moon draws inward. It is the dark soil where new intentions take root. A classic new moon practice uses one candle as the focal point of a fresh beginning. The witch carves a word or phrase into the wax, dresses it lightly with oil or herbs, and lights it while speaking or writing the commitment they are making.

The candle does not have to be elaborate. Color correspondences can be helpful, but the heart of the working lies in the clarity of the intention: one candle, one purpose. As the flame burns, you might journal about the life you are calling in, sketch a sigil, or speak your plan aloud. Many witches check in with this intention at the first quarter moon, adjusting course the way a sailor might shift the sails.

Candle safety is part of the spell. Never leave it unattended, and keep oils or herbs minimal so the wick does not drown or flare. If something pulls you away, blow it out with the understanding that safety, not superstition, governs your magic. You can always relight and continue the conversation with the moon.

Water as a vessel for reflected moonlight.

Moon water is simply water set where the moon can reach it—physically or symbolically—and left to steep in that phase’s energy. For many witches, it is one of the first and most beloved practices. The water might sit on a windowsill, balcony, or altar overnight in a sealed jar, then be used for teas, sprays, cleansing, spell jars, or ritual baths.

When the water is meant for drinking, keep it indoors in a closed, food-safe container and start with clean, purified water. Outdoor jars are best reserved for non-ingestive uses, since dust, insects, or runoff can find their way in. In very cold climates, windowsills are kinder than frozen patios and cracked glass.

Witches often label their jars by both phase and purpose—“Full Moon – Clarity,” “Dark Moon – Banishing,” and so on. A few drops sprinkled on tools can refresh them; a splash in bath water can soften heavy energy after a difficult week. Used thoughtfully, moon water becomes a quiet, versatile ally.

Crystals, keys, cards, and charms resting under the moon’s steady gaze.

Charging under the moon is one of the gentlest ways to refresh a toolkit. Crystals, tarot decks, keys, herbs, and amulets can be laid out where the moon’s influence is present—on a rock at camp, a balcony table, or a bedroom windowsill. The practice is more about alignment than direct illumination: clouds and walls do not cancel the phase.

Physical wisdom still applies. Tarot decks warp easily in damp air, so they may prefer sheltered indoor charging. Cloth, herbs, and paper do not love dew. Some crystals fade in sunlight—amethyst, celestite, rose quartz—so it is best to bring them in before the next morning. Metal tools can chill and contract in winter, so watch the weather.

Many witches like to briefly smoke-cleanse items before setting them out, or lay them on a bed of salt to give the reset a tangible anchor. Whether you are tending one cherished pendant or an entire altar’s worth of objects, the principle remains the same: you are giving your tools a night to breathe in the same sky that shapes your own tides.

Crystals, candle, and a nonbinary witch in quiet conversation with the moon.

Crystals respond differently to light, and a common beginner worry is, “What if I charge them wrong?” In practice, stones are far more resilient than that. Moonlight tends to feel cool, reflective, and intuitive; sunlight is direct, warming, and energizing. The art is simply choosing the right light for the work you are doing and knowing which minerals are sensitive.

Stones such as amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone, selenite, and celestite usually prefer moonlight. They carry themes of intuition, emotional healing, dreams, and inner clarity, and many of them can fade or crack under harsh sun. Others—carnelian, tiger’s eye, red jasper, obsidian, and natural citrine—can tolerate a bit of gentle sun and sometimes seem to thrive with it, especially in the softer light of morning or late afternoon.

Avoid long, intense midday exposure and do not submerge soft stones like selenite, malachite, or calcite in water, regardless of phase. Whether you are laying crystals in a beam of moonlight, placing them briefly on a sunny windowsill, or resting them on earth or salt, remember that charging is less about perfect technique and more about attention. The stone responds to the relationship you build with it over time.