Your Full Moon Recovery Kit

For all us moon-sensitive folk 🌕

Have you ever felt like your mind was racing for no reason? You keep standing up from your desk and forget what you’re about to do, or you’re lying in bed and your brain is having two conversations over one another. You’re tossing and turning; on the verge of tears, then ecstatic.

If this is the case, chances are it’s a full moon tonight or the day before one. Go on, check.

Our next full moon is Thursday 10th July at 9:37 PM (BST) and falls in the astrological sign of Capricorn. The full moon that stands in the month of July is always called the Buck Moon, as July is the time when male deer begin to grow their antlers in preparation for the rutting season.

But, to be quite honest, I’m still reeling from June’s Strawberry Moon.

And I’m not kidding.

Photo by Cristofer Maximilian on Unsplash

As a witch and an extra-sensitive person, I have always been affected by the subtle (and sledgehammer) effects of the moon phases. The last full moon on 11th June, however, was something else.

The tears. The insomnia. The bone-quaking anger.

I had it all.

You may have felt these things too.

They say it’s par for the course when you’re attuned to the moon (or rather, “moon sensitive”), but no witch wants to feel this way.

June’s stressful Strawberry Moon inspired me to write this post about how we sensitive folk can best prepare for and recover from the full moon.

Symptoms of moon sensitivity include:

• insomnia

• fatigue

• intense dreams or spiritual downloads

• headaches

• brain fog

• appetite changes

• emotional outbursts (crying, wanting to scream)

• irritability (and taking it out on those closest to us)

• feeling overstimulated

• feeling extra creative

• sensitivity to noise or light

If you experience any of these, this post is for you 💛

Love you, moon, but please chill

In my book, The Wheel: A Witch’s Path Back to the Ancient Self, I spoke about my lifelong obsession with the moon (my very first word at 10 months old was, “moon!”).

The full moon for Pagans is a time for worship and letting go of past grievances, while the new moon can be a chance to work with the darker energies of the world or simply start anew as the lunar cycle begins all over again.

Traditionally, the moon is seen as providing a dark feminine energy to the world (the yin to the sun’s masculine, fiery yang). This belief has never quite gone away and, across the centuries, the moon has been reflected back at us time and time again in folklore, poetry and art, lighting up the shadows and the more hidden parts of ourselves through stories. The moon, cold and alone though she may seem, is intricately tied to all on Earth as she controls the undulating tides that ravage our coastlines, forcing new rock to form under the water’s immense pressure.

And, of course, around 60% of the human body is water…

Shelley called her a ‘dying lady, lean and pale’, but our moon is very much alive and fighting fit, a guiding and empowering light. Artemis, Luna, Selene – these time-old goddesses are still the embodiment of the moon’s feminine energies and there are people out there, an entire community, who work with her energies every month.

… which all sounds very romantic and serene until you’re sobbing and recording angsty voice notes at 2 AM.

Here is your Full Moon Recovery Kit to help you prepare for and recover from the Buck Moon.

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Your Full Moon Recovery Kit

Before the full moon

I’m going to say it now: preparation is everything and - in this case - it is an act of self-love and care.

In the days leading up to the full moon:

• mark it in your calendar. In bold font. Knowing when the full moons are is half the battle, as you can prepare for them several weeks in advance. Thankfully, my Google calendar marks them in as standard. Add them in for your personal safety.

• reduce stimulation. Go easy on the doomscrolling and caffeine and try replacing your phone time with something more calming, like drinking a herbal tea, reading a gentle book, or practising some yin yoga. This can be hard when we’re feeling spaced out or wired but, trust me, your nervous system says, “Cheers, mate” in advance.

• clear your schedule. This is not a day for socialising (unless you fancy a very public meltdown). Our emotional triggers are very close to the surface right now and even the nicest coffee date can turn into an ugly-cryathon. Give yourself permission to bow out of plans and block out your calendar for deep rest.

  

  Find a cat – write that down, write that down! ✍️

• cut down on the work stress. The full moon is the only meeting you need on 10th July! If you can WFH, amazing. This is a day for rest and prioritising comfort over output. I always ensure to never book anyone in for a Distance Reiki session on a full moon, as I know I am likely to have not slept well the night before.

• tell your loved ones. Those who love you most will likely know about your moon sensitivity already. Don’t feel silly - let your family and friends know that you’ll be going off-grid for the day and maybe ask them to be on hand with extra hugs if you know the tears might flow.

• get your comfies ready. A couple of days before the full moon, change your sheets and lay out your favourite PJs, two bags of your most soothing tea, a body oil, your journal and anything else that makes you feel cosy and special, so they’re ready to go. You might want to meal prep in advance just so you can do the absolute bare minimum when the moon comes around.

During the full moon

Into the thick of it! On the day itself:

• take a ritual bath. That’s better. Run your bath, then add Epsom or sea salt, alongside a few drops of lavender and rose oil. As the water pours, stir the bath water in a clockwise direction to magnify the soft and gentle qualities of your oil. Place a white candle on each corner of the bath, with a piece of rose quartz next to it, and play some gentle music. This is the reset you needed.

• ground yourself down. Take off your socks and head outside. Bare feet on the earth help to neutralise any chaotic energy that may have gathered inside you. Other grounding things to do include: sitting or lying on the floor, drinking oatstraw and rose tea, doing a guided meditation or visualising yourself with roots going down into the earth.

• regulate your nervous system. The full moon can activate the sympathetic nervous system - that trusty old fight, flight, freeze or fawn response - especially if you have experienced trauma or (like myself) are neurodivergent. Self-soothe with a weighted blanket, by dimming the lights, getting out in nature or, my favourite, by resetting your Vagus Nerve. I often recommend this to my Reiki clients as a way to reset outside of our sessions. Stimulate your Vagus Nerve by humming, practising alternate nostril breathing, or submerging your face in cold water for a few seconds.

• do a full moon ritual. In the spiritual world, the full moon is seen as a time of letting go. Create a sacred space in your home or garden and write down what you wish to release on small pieces of paper. Look up at the moon as you let the candle flame take away what you wish to release. You can find my own take on this Full Moon Letting Go Ritual in my book, The Witch’s Survival Guide.

• perform a cord-cutting ritual. On the theme of letting go, this is the time to release the jobs, people and experiences that no longer serve you. I like to use this cord-cutting ritual to sever ties with what “old me” found acceptable.

• support your sleep. This is a day to really take your sleep hygiene seriously: pop a magnesium tablet and drink it with warm milk/oat milk 20 mins before you go to bed; no screens after 9 PM; no caffeine after 4 PM - just gentle movement and soft light to lull you into your dreams.

• journal it out. As we’ve said before, emotions are running high right now - and you might wish to aim them straight at your nearest and dearest… which will require some backtracking in a few days time. Best to write it all down instead! In last week’s post, I shared that a Capricorn full moon is a good time to think about letting go of “seriousness” in your life. Use journaling to discover what you can release to make room for more fun.

• have a sleepover. If you really can’t bear the thought of “doing the full moon” alone, it’s time to go old-school and get together with friends for an evening of chocolate cake, candles and Gilmore Girls. Sometimes it’s best to band together for safety!

After the full moon

The recovery begins. This may take up to three days. If you follow the advice above, you may find your recovery time is much shorter than usual. But if you weren’t able to keep your stress levels low for whatever reason, now is the time to be gentle with yourself as you recalibrate:

• spend time outside. Remind yourself of reality and let nature give you a factory reset. Go barefoot, breathe in the cool morning air and know that things are on the up from here

• book in for a Distance Reiki session. A fast-working energy reset is just what the full moon ordered. Book in with me here.

• sleep in. This is not the day for 7 AM pilates. Please get some extra zzzs.

• nourish yourself. It’s been a rollercoaster, but your body doesn’t have to suffer any more. Opt for slow walks, gentle yoga stretches, root vegetable stews (to ground your Base Chakra) and all the veggies. You deserve deep care.

Top tips for dealing with moon sensitivity

1. Always take a note of the exact time the full moon falls at, so you know when your emotions might be at their peak. I use the Moon Phase Calendar app to find this out.

2. Don’t be upset with yourself. The moon is a powerful force that can take us off guard and activate our biggest emotions. Be extra kind to yourself as you come back down to Earth.

3. Accept this part of you. When I first discovered I was moon sensitive, I thought I could “heal” this part of myself and harness the moon’s power to make me “stronger”. But sometimes our sensitivity is our power. Know yourself and respect your boundaries as the ebb and flow of the moon’s rule reigns.

Have a blessed and gentle full moon, everyone. Drop your own full moon sensitivity hacks in the comments below!

I’ll see you next time, just two days after the Buck Moon 🌕

Sending love,

Jennifer x