Full Moon October 2022: The Epic Spiritual Meaning of the Hunters Moon
The Full Moon in October 2022 is called the Hunter’s Moon. It marks the end of the harvest season and allows you to reflect on what you’ve accomplished this year and focus on what you’re grateful for.
The Hunter’s Moon derives its name from the hunting that takes place this time of year. Now is the season of the rut for Deer and Elk (mating season), and game are currently well-nourished. October’s moon brings the season of the hunt, preservation, and preparation for the icy cold days and nights to come.
Every full moon has its own name based on the month or the season in which it appears. Creating a name for each full Moon allowed people to reflect on each season and how it affects them AND the natural world. There can be some variation on the Full Moon names due to the origins from whence they came.
Most Full Moon names are English translations of Native American names, others are rooted in Celtic, European (Anglo-Saxon and Germanic), and more recent Neo-Pagan origins. I created a guide to each Full Moon, complete with their meanings and how you can celebrate
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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When is The Full Moon in October 2022?
September, October, and November’s Full Moons are a bit different than other months. Most Full Moon names coincide with the month they land in. However, the Full Moon landing closest to the Autumn Equinox is considered the Harvest Moon, and the following month is the Hunter’s Moon. Typically the Harvest Moon lands in September, but occasionally it lands in October (about every 3-4 years).
In 2022, October’s Full Moon is called the Hunter’s Moon and occurs on October 9th; its peak will be at 4:55 p.m. EST.
According to NASA, the name Hunter’s Moon was first used in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1710.
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October’s Full Hunter Moon Spiritual Meaning
The Hunter’s Moon spiritual meaning has Anglo-Saxon origins and is focused on internal work and self-reflection. We now begin the dark half of the year; accept and welcome the darkness with open arms and spirit.
Take a moment to look back in history at your ancestors and the lessons they can teach you. Before industrialism, people focused on harvesting and preparing for the coming of Winter. Failure to do so meant facing one’s own death or mortality.
You can feel the magical energy in the air right now as we head toward Samhain, and the veil grows thin. This increases your ability to communicate with your ancestors or loved ones. It’s an opportunity for spiritual growth, goal setting, gratitude, and finding ways to slow down and enjoy the season of Autumn.
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 Hunter Moon Alternative Names
- Sanguine or Blood Moon (English Medieval)
- Harvest Month (duninvdi) Cherokee Native American origins
- Kindly Moon (Chinese)
- Time When the Corn is Taken In (Apache Native American origins)
- Haustmánuður (Norse)
- Deer Rutting Moon (Cheyenne Great Plains Native American origins)
- Seed Fall Moon (Celtic)
- Changing Season Moon (Sioux Great Plains)
For a list of even more Native American Moon names, check out 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 Hunter Full Moon spiritual meaning can be a potent time for magic and rituals, as well as a beautiful time of inward growth and reflection. Here are some correspondences and intentions to help get you started!
Hunter Moon Spiritual Meaning And Intentions
- Balance
- Gratitude
- Transitions
- Divination work (Tarot, Scrying, Runes, Oujia, Pendulum boards, Celtic Oghams, etc)
- Psychic messages
- Afterlife
- Shadow work
- Harvesting
- Dreamwork
- Psychopomps (Greek – a spirit, human, or being who guides souls who have recently crossed over. Psychopomps help them transition into the afterlife from the mortal realm. I listed a few examples below)
- Ancestors or loved ones
- Hecate
- Hermes (Greek)
- Anubis (Egyptian)
- Aurora Borealis (Inuits)
- Cuckoos
- Shiva (Hindu)
- Azrael (Islam)
- Shaman
- Anito (Filipino)
- Arch Angel
- Grim Reaper
- Sparrows
Colors
- Ruby Red
- Dark Purple
- Black
- Burnt Orange
- Silver
- Deep Navy Blue
- Gold
Crystals
- Amethyst
- Black Tourmaline
- Quartz
- Obsidian
- Moonstone
- Bloodstone
- Carnelian
Full Hunter Moon Journal Prompts
- What do you know about your ancestors, heritage, and family tree? What would you like to learn more about?
- Create a mini bucket list and include how you’d like to celebrate October, Samhain, and Halloween.
- What lessons do you think your ancestors would want you to have learned?
- What were some “seeds” that you planted this last Spring and Summer? How did you help them to grow over the last few months? Are you able to reap the rewards of what you have sewn? What could you have done differently? How can you do better next year?
- Imagine you’re in the last stages of your life. What memories do you hope to have? What values and stories do you hope are told about you when you’re gone?
How To Celebrate and Ritual Ideas For The Full Hunter Moon
The Hunter’s Moon symbolizes a time of transition, divination, and balance. To help get you started, here are some spiritual correspondences and intentions to celebrate October’s full moon!
Prepare for Winter / Yule
Not only is this a lovely season for preserving our harvest for the Winter days ahead, but it can also be an amazing time to snuggle up and work on some DIY projects. There are many ways you can do this to honor the Harvest or Hunter Moon’s spiritual meaning.
Canning and food preservation are great ways to connect and mimic what our ancestors would have practiced in pre-industrialized times. You can also start preparing for Yule or Winter Solstice, by hand-making items to give away as gifts or use for decorations. Maybe start crafting your Winter Solstice Yule Log!
Try making vanilla extract to give to friends, family, and neighbors. You can also make an extract by using the herbs from your garden (mint, lemon balm, etc) or dry them and give them away as tea! Start making homemade soaps or candles. You can knit blankets, beanies, socks, sweaters, etc. Anything you can start preparing now will add some more relaxation and enjoyment once December rolls around.
Grimoire, Journaling, or Wiccan Book of Shadows
Now is the season for deep internal work, and journaling or working in your grimoire can be really beneficial. Don’t be afraid to look into that darkness and shadow work to figure out who you truly are!
No judgment; be as kind to yourself as you would a loved one! There is so much happiness and magic to be found in the darkness and gloom.
You can add celebration ideas, rituals, shadow work journaling prompts, or correspondences to your Grimoire, spiritual journal, or Wiccan Book of Shadows as well!
If you’d like to know more about creating your own, check out What’s the Difference Between a Grimoire and Book of Shadows OR An Ultimate List of Ideas To Put in Your Grimoire (over 100 ideas)
Embrace The Season
As the veil thins, take some time to contemplate the natural cycle of life. 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, 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 candle color meanings, magical elements, 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.
Deep Meditation
October is an amazing season to meditate beneath the moon. It’s still warm during the day, but chilly in the evenings. Place a picnic blanket in your yard and put on some headphones. (My personal favorite meditation is the Gateway Experience from the Monroe Institute, you can find many free versions of this with a quick YouTube search)
You can also play some relaxing music to help quiet your mind or your favorite hertz frequencies to help you align with your goals and intentions. You could also try playing some positive affirmation songs to help with manifestation. You can do this on a balcony, patio, or even just sitting next to a window and soaking in the moonlight.
Honor and Connect With Your Ancestors
Go through old photo albums and find ways to display or chronicle family photos. Connect with places like Ancestry.com to discover more in-depth information on your family’s history.
Do you have anything that has been passed down to you that you can add to your household decor, sacred space, or place on your altar? Speak to your family elders to hear stories and learn more about your heritage. Contemplate how you can connect with traditions your ancestors celebrated.
You can check out more of the Full Moon series here:
- Dark Moon Spiritual Meaning and Ritual Intentions
- New Moon Rituals, Intentions, Spiritual Meaning, and Correspondences
- Blue Moon Spiritual Meaning, Definition, and How To Celebrate
- Black Moon Spiritual Meaning and Ritual Intentions
- January Full Wolf Moon -Spiritual Meaning, Definition, and How To Celebrate
- February Full Snow Moon | Spiritual Meaning, Definition, and How To Celebrate
- March Full Worm Moon | Spiritual Meaning, Definition, and How To Celebrate
- April Full Pink Moon | Spiritual Meaning, Symbolism, and How To Celebrate
- May Full Flower Moon | Spiritual Meaning, Symbolism, and Rituals
- June Full Strawberry Moon | Spiritual Meaning, Symbolism, and How To Celebrate
- Buck Full Moon July Spiritual Meaning | Everything You Need To Know
- August Full Sturgeon Moon Spiritual Meaning, Symbolism, and Rituals
- The Delightful Spiritual Meaning of the September Full Moon
- November Full Hunter or Beaver Moon Spiritual Meaning, Correspondences, and Rituals
- December Full Cold Moon Spiritual Meaning, Correspondences, and Rituals
I hope you all found this helpful!! Enjoy the October Hunter’s Moon spiritual meaning and remember, as always…
Sources
Riddle, Bob. Moon Phases. Science Scope. National Science Teachers Association. October 2010. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43182907
