Harvest Moon 2025: The Spiritual Meaning of the October Full Moon
The Harvest Moon 2025 marks October with a night full of intention and spiritual meaning. October’s Full Moon has been connected to harvest festivals and traditions for years.
As the Harvest Moon brightens the night, the sky holds even more wonders because it’s also a supermoon! According to NASA, the Draconid meteor shower also begins!
October’s Full Moon can be a little tricky! Most Full Moons are associated with the month they land in. However, the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is considered the Harvest Moon. In 2025, October’s Moon is closest to the Autumn Equinox (by one day), making September’s Moon the Corn Moon, and November’s Moon the Hunter’s Moon.
Please note that I make every effort to ensure this information is correct and accurate through my own experiences and referencing sources throughout AND at the bottom of this article.
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Table of Contents
When is The Full Moon in October 2025?
In 2025, October’s Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon. It takes place on October 6th and peaks at 7:26 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Each Full Moon phase corresponds to the season and time of year. Moon phases have names that come from many beliefs around the world, including Native American, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and more modern Neo-Pagan traditions. Each moon carries its own Moon Magic and spiritual energy.
Typically, the Harvest Moon lands in September, but occasionally it lands in October (about every 3-4 years). According to NASA, the name Hunter’s Moon was first used in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1710.
After the harvest moon comes the hunter’s moon, in the preferred month to hunt summer-fattened deer and fox unable to hide in bare fields.
Like the harvest moon, the hunter’s moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night
Royal Museums Greenwich – Why do we have special names for full moons?
Harvest Moon Spiritual Meaning
As the Harvest Moon rises, it asks us to gather what the year has given. Take a moment to recognize the abundance you have, not only in food or things, but in the lessons you learned this year. That’s the true spiritual meaning of the Harvest Moon.
However, even as our baskets are filled, the withering begins. Autumn leaves curl and shadows start to lengthen, showing us how harvest and withering are bound together in a cycle. Remember, endings are not failures, but the natural turning of Nature toward rest.
As we head toward the season of Samhain, ancestry beckons us. The same moon that lights the crops and the fading leaves also lit those who walked before us. Their presence weaves through the air in October, reminding us that every seed, every fading leaf, and every breath we take belongs to a longer story.
The sacredness of the moon has been connected with the basic rhythms of life and the universe. A widespread phenomenon, appearing in various eras and cultures, moon worship has engendered a rich symbolism and mythology.
The moon is viewed in terms of the rhythmic life of the cosmos and is believed to govern all vital change. The cyclical process of disappearance and appearance of the moon is the basis of the widespread association of the moon with the land of the dead, the place to which souls ascend after death, and the power of rebirth.
Britannica – Moon Worship
October Full Moon Alternative Names
Many cultures around the world have beautiful names for October’s Full Moon. These names beautifully reflect the connection between humans, Nature, folklore, communities, and historical influences throughout time.
Remember, most of these names applied to the entire month, not just during the full moon!
- Falling Leaves Moon (Binaakwe-giizis) (Ojibwe source: Ojibwe.net)
- Seed Fall Moon (Celtic) (source: Time and Date)
- Harvest Month (duninvdi) Cherokee Native American origins
- Haustmánuður (Norse) Autumn or Harvest Month (source: Nordic Culture – Skjalden)
- Sanguine or Blood Moon (Neo-Pagan origins)
- Freeze Begins on Stream’s Edge – Cheyenne Native American origins
- Whale Moon (South African origins) (source: Centre for Astronomical Heritage)
- Kindly Moon (Chinese)
- Big Wind Moon – Zuni Native American origins
For a list of even more Native American Moon names, check out the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association’s article here or Western Washington University’s article here.
Many names for the full Moon are culturally based and are not arbitrarily given. The full Moon for October is typically referred to as the Harvest or Hunter’s Moon.
For the Chinese, this is the Kindly Moon or Chrysanthemum Moon, while in medival England this was the Blood Moon.
Riddle, Bob – Moon Phases
October Full Moon Correspondences
The Harvest Full Moon’s spiritual meaning can be potent for magic, rituals, and a beautiful time of inward growth and reflection. Here are some correspondences and intentions to help you get started!
October Moon Spiritual Meaning And Intentions
- Withering (honoring what must fall away)
- Preservation (nourishment for the cold season ahead)
- Threshold (crossing from light to dark half of the year)
- Ancestry (communion with those who came before)
- Decay (finding beauty and wisdom in endings)
- Endurance (to last through winter)
- Hearth (centering home, protection, and warmth)
Colors
- Ruby Red
- Dark Purple
- Black
- Burnt Orange
- Silver
- Deep Navy Blue
- Gold
Crystals
- Amethyst
- Black Tourmaline
- Quartz
- Obsidian
- Moonstone
- Bloodstone
- Carnelian
Sacred Space and Altar Decoration Ideas
Feel free to decorate with any seasonal items from your area! These are just a few ideas to get you started!
- Small pumpkins
- Autumn leaves
- Skeletons or skulls
- Gothic candleholders
- Acorns or other nuts and seeds
How to Celebrate the Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon symbolizes a time of preservation, transition, divination, and balance. To help get you started, here are some spiritual correspondences and intentions to celebrate October’s full moon!
Check out Full Moon Rituals for even more ritual ideas!
Harvest Moon 2025 Journal Prompts
How I Celebrate October’s Moon
Hunters Moon Preservation Ritual
This Hunters Moon candle magic ritual combines the spiritual intentions of preservation, gratitude, and a connection with the afterlife. It allows you to honor and preserve what you cherish, appreciate, and enrich your spiritual journey with the moon.
Gather Your Supplies
- A small fireproof bowl, cauldron, or 6.5″ cast iron (this is what I use)
- A white candle (or any candle color of your choice)
- Matches or a lighter
- A piece of paper and something to write with
- A quiet, sacred space (try outdoors beneath the moonlight if possible)
Begin Your Ritual
Begin your ritual by cleansing the area in the method of your choice. Then set up your fireproof bowl on a stable surface where it’s safe to burn a candle.
Light your candle and take a moment to center yourself. Focus on your breath and clear your mind.
Grab your paper, write down what you’d like to preserve in your life, and specify what you’re grateful for (relationships, personal growth, traditions, etc.). Be detailed and vulnerable in these intentions.
Call Upon the Hunters Moon
Look up at the moon (if possible) and acknowledge its spiritual energy. Think about its meaning and connection with the season of the hunt, preservation, and the thinning of the veil.
Hold the paper with your intentions and say the following words aloud
Beneath the Hunters Moon’s soft light, I honor preservation on this night.
To the afterlife, a bridge I seek, Thank you for the blessings that I speak.
Protect what’s dear, both near and far, Guided by ancestors, like a shining star
Amanda Brethauer – The Peculiar Brunette
Light Your Intention
Use the lit candle to carefully burn the paper with your intentions. Place it in the bowl or cauldron to let it burn completely. As it burns, visualize your written intentions being released into the universe and forming a connection with the Otherworld. Try doing a candle flame reading as you watch your candle burn.
Reflect and Close
Sit in silence for a few moments and think about the intentions you burned and what you’re grateful for. Feel the protective energy of your ancestors and passed loved ones.
Let the candle extinguish, and remember to take a moment to thank the moon and your ancestors. Collect the cooled ashes in a small container. Use them to represent the preservation of your intentions and ancestral connection.
Preserve the Ashes
Find a meaningful place to keep your ashes, maybe in a small container or jar. Place it on your altar or in a sacred space in your home.
Revisit the ashes as often as you like! Hold them in your hands and remember everything you’re grateful for. You can also use them to make black salt and use them in future rituals.
Embrace The Season
As the veil thins, take some time to contemplate the natural cycle of life and the Pagan Holidays. Observe how Nature dies externally each season to rest and prepare for the light and growth of next Spring. Here are some ideas to help you embrace the October season!
- Visit a local cemetery. Bring fresh flowers to place on graves you connect with or who might need a bit of love. Read each headstone and imagine who they were and what they cared about in life.
- Since the veil thins the closer we get to Samhain or Halloween, it increases the opportunity to spot Fae! Learn more about how to incorporate Fae mythology origins or different types of Fae into your spiritual practice.
- The harvest season of October is traditionally a time for protection magic as well. You’ll see this rooted in the history of pumpkin and turnip carvings to guard the home and people from sinister or evil spirits. Draw or design your pumpkins with sigils, bind runes, symbols, animals, or spiritual meanings you’re drawn to, like sacred geometry or the pentagram.
- You could also spend more time researching spiritual paths or topics you’d like to learn more about, like How to Do a Cord Cutting Ritual, the Evil Eye, or types of witches. Start here if you’re a beginner witch.
- Embrace all things October: decorations, pumpkin spice everything, cozy blankets, bonfires, or whatever your heart and spirit connect to! Have fun, be free of judgment, and celebrate this wonderful season.
Divination Work
Practicing divination work during the Harvest Moon is very popular due to its close connection with October and the thinning veil. A magical blend of lunar and spiritual energies combine, making it a perfect time to seek spiritual insight!
The act of divination involves diving into your inner self, examining the past, present, and future, and communing with the Otherworld, ancestors, and spirit guides. Basically, the Harvest Moon and October season is perfect for exploring hidden realms and gaining valuable insights into your life path.
Here are a few divination techniques to help get you started!
I’d also recommend checking out my YouTube video on Beginner Candle Reading Divination | Wax, Flame, and Smoke.
Make Moon Water
Harness the potent energy of the Harvest Moon by infusing it into Moon Water, and creating a powerful tool for spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. It will contain the spiritual intention of the Harvest Moon, including preservation, gratitude, abundance, dreamwork, and a connection with the afterlife.
Remember, you can collect Moon Water during all the lunar phases, not just during full moons. For example, Moon Water made during a New Moon, is perfect for setting new intentions that represent fresh starts and new beginnings.
A Dark Moon is a time of introspection, self-love, and rest (emotionally, physically, and mentally). However, a Black Moon represents luck, creativity, and prosperity. Moon Water made during these lunar phases will also reflect these qualities.
Hunters Moon Apple Candle Ritual
This magical Apple Candle Ritual will harness the ingredients and power of the elements to manifest your intentions or desires. It will allow you to align your desires with the natural flow of lunar energy for positive change and protection.
Gather Your Supplies
- Apple (color choice is up to you; they have long symbolized love, knowledge, sin, and magic)
- Pillar or Taper Candle (any color of your choosing)
- Cinnamon (wards off negative energies; used for protection)
- Sugar (brings joy and the sweetness of life)
- A knife
- Fireproof small plate or bowl
- Matches or a lighter
Prepare Your Space
Set up a sacred space somewhere quiet, where you won’t be disturbed. Feel free to decorate your space with items related to the Hunters Moon or Autumn. For example, leaves, acorns, or moon symbolism.
Remove any negative energy from this space by doing your preferred method of spiritual cleansing.
Take a minute to clarify what your purpose is for this ritual. What do you want to protect yourself from? What sweetness and joy would you like to invite into your life during this lunar cycle? Feel free to write it down if you like.
Collect Your Apple
Slice your apple horizontally to find the pentagram inside, which symbolizes the five magic elements), as well as the magic within you.
Prepare and dress your candle by carving symbols or words into the candle, like protection or joy. Use the ground cinnamon and sugar to dress your candle. Remember to visualize your intentions coming true and a joyful protective energy surrounding you.
Check out my YouTube video for step-by-step instructions on how to cleanse and dress a candle.
Light the Candle
Carve into the apple bottom so you can place the pillar or taper candle inside. Place the candle and apple into your fire-safe bowl. Use matches or a lighter to ignite the candle’s flame. As you light it, say this simple affirmation
With this candle’s light so bright, I beckon protection and sweet delight,
Beneath the mystic Hunter’s Moon, May they bloom and aid me soon.
Amanda Brethauer – The Peculiar Brunette
Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and meditate on your intentions. Visualize the Hunter Moon’s energy forming a protective barrier around you, followed by happiness and sweetness filling your life.
Finish Your Ritual
When you’re ready, thank the elements and lunar energy. If you can, leave the candle and apple in place until they burn out completely.
Once the apple is withered and the candle is completely burned, bury them in your garden to release them into the Universe.
Is the Full Moon of October 2025 a Supermoon?
Yes, in 2025, October’s Full Moon is a Supermoon! According to NASA, there will be 3 Supermoons in 2025.
- October 6th, 2025
- November 5th, 2025
- December 4th, 2025
Because the Moon’s orbit wobbles and differs depending on where the Sun and Earth are in their orbits, the exact distance of these closest and furthest points varies, and some supermoons are closer or farther than others.
‘Supermoon’ isn’t an official astronomical term, but typically it’s used to describe a full Moon that comes within at least 90 percent of perigee.
NASA – Supermoons
Will October’s Full Moon Have A Lunar Eclipse in 2025?
No, October’s Full Harvest Moon will not have a Lunar Eclipse this year. However, there are two total lunar eclipses and two partial solar eclipses. Check out the chart I made below!
2025 Lunar and Solar Eclipses
Penumbra, (from Latin paene, “almost”; umbra, “shadow”), in astronomy, the outer part of a conical shadow cast by a celestial body, in which the light from the source [the Sun] is partially blocked—as compared to the umbra (q.v.), the shadow’s darkest, central part, where the light is totally excluded.
Britannica – Penumbra Eclipse
Is There a Black Moon in October 2025?
No, October doesn’t have a Black Moon in 2025. However, there was a seasonal Black Moon on August 23, 2025.
A Black Moon is a modern phrase that’s similar to the definition of a Blue Moon. However, it involves two NEW MOONS inside a specified time period rather than two FULL MOONS.
A Black Moon brings success and good luck. While a Black Moon is not an astronomical phrase, it’s honored and celebrated by witchcraft practitioners.
Full Moon Schedule 2025
I hope you enjoy Harvest Moon 2025; lots of love to you, and remember as always…
