Magical Workings for The Full Moon

For many Pagans, the cycles of the moon are important to magical workings. It’s believed in some traditions that the waxing moon, the full moon, the waning moon and the new moon all have their own special magical properties, and so workings should be planned accordingly. If your tradition follows these guidelines — or if you think you’d like to time your magic based upon the phase of the moon — here are some tips on what sort of magic to perform during the various lunar stages.

The Full Moon

The full moon is the point at which we can see an entire side of the moon. For magical purposes, many modern Pagans consider the full moon to include the day before and the day after a full moon, for a total of three days. If your tradition requires you to follow the phases of the moon for your magical workings, this is a good time to do rituals focused on personal growth and spiritual development. Some examples would include:

• Spells related to increasing your intuitive awareness
• Healing magic
• Rituals that connect you closely with deity, such as Drawing Down the Moon
• Any magic related to developing your magical skills

For many Pagans, this is also a time to celebrate with an Esbat ritual. Dorinda is an eclectic witch who lives in Nevada, and she says, “Once a month, during the full moon, I drive out to the desert about half an hour away. There’s a spot that I go that’s really off the beaten path, and I can stand up on a hillside and watch the moon rise, and it’s just magnificent, because there’s no one out there but me. It’s always a very meditative experience, and I can really feel the connection that my body has to the full moon, as well as connecting on a spiritual level. This is when I call upon the gods of my tradition, ask for intuitive guidance, that sort of thing. I always feel so refreshed and aware afterwards, it’s almost hard for me to get to sleep when I get back home.”

Author

Patti Wigington

Published on ThoughtCo

The full Moon July 2025 comes when nature is in full-growth. Crops are either ripening or beginning to be harvested. The annual rite of you-pick strawberries wraps up in the beginning of the month and folks in the Midwest check to see if the corn is “knee high by the Fourth of July.” But why is the July full Moon traditionally known as the “Buck Moon” and what other names does this summer Moon go by in different cultures?

July 2025 Full Moon: Tuesday, July 10
Peak Illumination: 4:37 p.m. Eastern Time

Why Is The July Full Moon The “Buck” Moon?

Male deer antlers begin to grow in late spring. Antlers grow as fast as ¼ inch per day or one and one half inches per week during this period making them the fastest growing bones in the world. Antlers grow from the pedicel in the buck’s skull. The lengthening daylight in spring triggers the hormones that start the growth each spring. Buck antlers can easily be spotted in full velvet come July. Unlike horns, antlers are bones made mostly of calcium and phosphorus that the deer shed after mating season. Buck antlers lose their velvety coating, usually within a 24-hour period, closer to mating season in fall.

The “Salmon” Moon – An Alternative July Full Moon Name

American Indians in Alaska, including the Haida and Tlingit dubbed the July full moon the “Salmon Moon” for its timing with salmon runs. The Wishrams in the Pacific Northwest translates to “Salmon Go Up Rivers In A Group.” (Salmon migrate up rivers to spawn from spring through fall.) The sockeye salmon run typically begins in July and can last through October.

July is also a month when the summer runs of chinook and steelhead take place. Salmon spend anywhere from 1 to 6 years in the oceans before returning to their home rivers to spawn.

Gardening And Growth-Related July Full Moon Names

July’s moon is dubbed the “Time Of Much Ripening” by Mohawk in the Eastern Woodlands. There’s plenty of ripening happening across the United States. For the Shawnee in the Midwestern region, it is the Blackberry moon. (See our June Full Moon article for more berry-related names.) In the Northern Plains the Assiniboine noted the red berries while the Lakota named it “When The Chokecherries Are Black.” For the Algonquin from the Northeast to Great Lakes this is the moon when the “Squash Are Ripe.”

More broadly, the Zuni in New Mexico called it the “Limbs Are Broken By Fruit” Moon. Among Ojibwe it’s the “Blueberry Moon.” To the Oneida it is the “String Bean Moon.”

While the berries and fruits ripen, corn is various stages of readiness. The translation of the Cherokee Nation in the Carolinas is “Ripe Corn Moon.” Though corn in the Great Lakes region has a bit of time to go. The Potawatomi name this the “Moon Of The Young Corn.”

In Celtic culture the July moon names included “Wyrt,” “Herb” and/or “Mead Moon.” Wyrt is derived from an Old English word. A herbal garden in Old English language was a Wyrtyard. Wort is the modernized spelling of the word. Those familiar with the beer brewing process recognize wort as the sugary liquid drained from mash used during the fermentation process.

Gardeners and herbalists spot wort used in plant names like St. John’s wort, bishop’s wort and lousewort. Harvesting herbs should be done once the plants have enough foliage to maintain growth after cuttings. By July, most herbs can withstand harvesting.

In addition to medicinal and cooking applications of herbs, they can be used in the mead making process. Of course, one needs honey to ferment into the alcoholic drink. Come July, there’s plenty of nectar giving flowers in bloom for honeybees to make plenty of honey for mead making.

Hay bales are a staple of fall decorations, but July’s moon was known as the “Hay Moon” among Anglo Saxon culture.

Whatever it is called, the July full Moon is a time to appreciate the glory of summer ripeness!

Source: farmersalmanac.com

The July Full Moon, known as the Buck Moon, is the moon that rises during the hottest days of summer. Spiritually, this moon is tied to growth, culmination, and taking practical steps toward the life you’re building. Also, just as male deer’s antlers are nearly grown by this time of year, it’s a powerful moment to reflect on your progress and commit to your long-term vision.

While summer invites warmth and joy (as you experienced under June’s Strawberry Moon), this year, it falls in the sign of Capricorn. That grounded earth energy reminds you to stay rooted and focused on what truly matters. Not to say you shouldn’t frolic, but just don’t spend all summer only frolicking. It’s a time to blend the mystical with the practical.

Below, explore the spiritual meaning of July’s Full Moon, along with journal prompts and some rituals to help you work with its powerful, transformative energy. (For more Moon rituals, see our guide.)

What Is the Buck Moon’s Spiritual Meaning?

Spiritually, the Buck Moon is about determination, progress, and purposeful growth. It’s a time to reflect on how far you’ve come and to add focused energy to reach your next step. Like the young deer whose antlers are nearly full grown by midsummer, this Full Moon invites you to rise into your power and move forward with intention.

In 2025, the Full Buck Moon occurs on July 10 at 4:37 pm EDT in the sign of Capricorn.

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of structure, discipline, and long-term vision. While summer often encourages rest and … Click here to read the rest of this article Source: pagangrimoire.com