Family Full Moon Ritual

This may be done at dinner time, in addition to your own ritual later in the evening. Place your moon candle (a large white candle, preferably unscented) in the middle of the table in a bowl made of clear or blue glass, if possible, and filled with water. Use your best dishes. When the meal is ready, establish a sacred time and say a mealtime prayer. Then one child says:

"Why is tonight special?"
An adult answers:
"Tonight is the Full Moon."
The child (or another one) asks:
"Why is that a special time?"
An adult answers:
"The Full Moon is our Mother
Who wraps Her arms around us.
She guards us and loves us
and tonight we return that love."

Another way to do this is for the adults to ask the children the questions and let them answer in their own words. As they grow, their understanding of the day will change and there will be a regular opportunity to express it. The mother then lights the moon candle. She holds it above the table and everyone says:

"The Goddess is shining, high in the sky."
She returns it to the bowl of water and everyone says:
"The Goddess is shining, here in our home."
Everyone crosses their hands on their breasts and says:
"The Goddess is shining, deep in our hearts."

Then have your dinner. At the end, clear away the dinner things. Leave your glasses and the moon candle. Set the table again with cakes and drinks. Then an adult says:

"We share the gifts of the Goddess with her and each other on the night when she rides high in the sky."
Pass the cakes around. While you do, one parent says:
"Mother of us all,
Watch over us.
Hug us
Hold us
Wrap us round with your loving arms
and keep us safe until the Moon is full again."

After the cakes are eaten, blow out the moon candle. Then pour the melted wax from it into the water. It will cool quickly. Use it to divine from, to see what the next month will bring. For young children, this is a game of "What does it look like?"

As the children go to bed, anoint them with the water, saying:
"May the Moon send you good dreams."

The moon water can also be used for sprinklings, offerings, or watering plants.