12 Magical Ideas for the Harvest Moon

Make your fall extra magical with one of these enchanting harvest moon rituals.

At the harvest moon, lunar energy is at its strongest. The moon rises close to sunset, making the whole sky glow with moonlight well into the evening. Here are some fun and magical ways to experience the ethereal power of the harvest moon.

Harvest Moon Idea #1: Plant ornamental cabbage near your door.

Cabbage is a lunar-aligned botanical, and simply planting beautiful ornamental cabbage is a simple harvest moon ritual that will invite the moon’s radiant, receptive, refreshing vibrations into your home and life. They look gorgeous in planters or pots.

Harvest Moon Idea #2: Make apple tarts.

In China, the harvest moon holiday is called the Mid-Autumn Festival. One of its celebratory refreshments is the moon cake, which is said to be a favorite of the moon goddess, Chang’e. While apple tarts are not the same as moon cakes, they are similarly shaped, and you can certainly make them in honor of any moon deity from any culture, or, simply, the Moon Herself.

This little harvest moon ritual is also appropriate because apples are in season during the harvest moon, and are magically aligned with love, sweetness, and the Divine Feminine.

Harvest Moon Idea #3: Create a moonstone crystal grid.

Moonstones are moonlight in mineralogical form. They are particularly suited to soaking up the magical vibrations of the harvest moon to harness its power for a specific intention, such as deep sleep, increased intuition, or receptivity to blessings of all varieties.

For this harvest moon ritual, decide on an intention before you begin. (Hint: some appropriate intentions for the harvest moon would be increasing your intuition, bolstering your magical power, and celebrating your blessings.) Then arrange moonstones in a circle (or concentric circles depending on how many you have) around a larger moonstone piece in the center. It’s ideal to place the grid somewhere where it will catch the moonlight.

Harvest Moon Idea #4: Drink a harvest moon potion

If you add 3 drops moonstone gem elixir to your favorite wine or champagne, and hold your glass under the light of the moon for a minute or so, you will have a harvest moon potion. Drinking it is a simple harvest moon spell that will align you with the healing and empowering vibrations of the harvest moon.

Create one harvest moon potion for you, one for the moon, and one for anyone else with whom you may be celebrating. Toast to the magical vibes of the evening. Then drink. (And be sure to  pour the moon’s potion out upon the earth in tribute.)

Harvest Moon Idea #5: Offer mead to the moon and earth

Mead is created with fermented honey, and may be the oldest alcoholic beverage there is. As a sweet result of the industrious nature of honey bees, mead fits with the harvest moon’s tradition of celebrating how hard you have worked so far this year. Additionally, the harvest moon is a time to celebrate both the moon and the fruits of the earth.

So offer a glass or bottle of mead to the earth as well as the moon. With gratitude, pour the earth’s mead into the soil and the moon’s mead into a natural body of water. Finish this mystical harvest moon ritual by drinking some of your own! And contemplate the sweetness of life as you do so.

Harvest Moon Idea #6: Do a tarot reading

With lunar energy in full effect on the harvest moon, your intuition will be extra strong. For this harvest moon ritual, empower your tarot deck in moonlight, then do a reading for yourself or someone else (or both).

If you haven’t started your tarot journey yet, here’s a quick tutorial on how to get started. Alternatively, you can perform another type of divination or oracle reading.

Harvest Moon Idea #7: Meditate in moonlight

Maybe you want to keep your harvest moon ritual simple. If so, go outside and meditate in the moonlight for a bit. Or (if meditating sounds too formal), just sit there and soak in the beauty!

You might also like to do this guided Harvest Moon Meditation, indoors or out.

Harvest Moon Idea #8: Put dahlias on your altar

As I wrote about in The Magic of Flowers, Dahlias are in harmonious resonance with the receptive energy of the moon. And as a flower that blooms in fall in many parts of the world, Dahlias are an ideal flower to place on your altar during the harvest moon. You’ll notice they bring a wise, radiant energy into your space. Much like the harvest moon itself, dahlias assist you with shining light into shadows of your consciousness and discovering the deeper meanings of your dreams.

To read about the magical properties of Dahlias (and many other flowers!) check out this post.

Harvest Moon Idea #9: Bless grapes

Grapes are at their sweetest around the harvest moon.

According to Scott Cunningham in Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, grapes are also aligned with the moon and are magically employed to call in fertility and abundance. So try this delicious harvest moon ritual: place some grapes in moonlight for a few minutes and then eat them.

Harvest Moon Idea #10: Go for a night swim

The harvest moon is often in the water-ruled sign of Pisces. But even when it’s not, the moon itself possesses a deep, fluid, watery energy.

If weather permits, tap into your inner mermaid for this fun harvest moon ritual. Dive into a swimming pool or a safe natural body of water and immerse yourself in this moon’s blessings of healing, poetry, and psychic powers.

Harvest Moon Idea #11: Walk barefoot on grass

In many places, the harvest moon is a time when summery weather is almost gone. So before it’s too late, try this little harvest moon ritual: take your shoes and socks off and walk across the grass. It’s amazing how powerful walking barefoot on the earth can be for balancing and healing your mind, body, spirit, and energy field. And when you pair that with the moonlight, you will definitely feel a positive shift.

Harvest Moon Idea #12: Bathe a new broom in moonlight, then sweep

Last but not least, try this simple-yet-powerful cleansing harvest moon ritual for your home.

First, get yourself a brand new corn broom. Place it on a white cloth under the light of the moon and let it soak for an hour or two. Thank the moon, then immediately go inside and sweep your entire house. (In any area with carpet instead of a hard floor, you can just mime sweeping a short distance from the floor). Afterwards, stand in a central location and envision your entire home filled and surrounded with the radiant light of the harvest moon. Send positive visions of health, wealth, and happiness through the space.

Wishing you a most magical moon!

Are you planning to try any of these magical ideas for the harvest moon? Or are you going to do something else entirely? Please share your thoughts and plans in the comments below.

You may also like:

 5 Ways to Celebrate the Harvest Moon

9 Magical Things to Do in October

Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon Meditation