As the leaves begin to turn and the air cools, the September Full Harvest Moon rises on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 10:34 PM EDT, marking a period rich with reflection, abundance, and change. This year, the Harvest Moon is full of power. The Harvest Moon is a supermoon this September and a partial Lunar Eclipse. In addition, it marks the arrival of the Autumn Equinox on September 22, a day of perfect balance with equal hours of light and dark. This celestial alignment offers a profound moment to reflect on growth, embrace transitions, and celebrate the bounty of life.
Names of the Full Moon
Known primarily as the Full Harvest Moon, this lunar event is named for its proximity to the Autumn Equinox and its assistance to farmers working late into the night under its bright beams. Other names for this moon include:
- Full Corn Moon
- Barley Moon, highlighting its deep agricultural significance.
- Singing Moon, reflecting the joyous celebrations during harvest time.
Meaning of the Harvest Full Moon Full Moon
The Harvest Moon not only lights up the night sky but also our spiritual pathways. As the closest full moon to the Autumn Equinox, it symbolizes a peak of bounty and reminds us of the importance of harvesting the fruits of our personal and communal efforts. This moon phase brings a deep sense of gratitude and fulfillment, as we gather not just crops but also the emotional and spiritual rewards of our labor throughout the year. It’s a time when we are encouraged to appreciate the abundance in our lives and to share our bounty with others.
Moreover, the Harvest Moon serves as a spiritual mirror, reflecting our need to prepare for the winter months ahead. Just as farmers use extended daylight to gather their crops, we are prompted to use this time to secure our emotional and spiritual harvests. It is a period for introspection—to assess what needs to be nurtured and what should be let go. The glow of the moon facilitates clarity and insight, guiding us through the process of release and renewal, which are pivotal as we transition from a period of growth to a state of conservation and reflection.
Zodiac Influences: Lunar Eclipse in Pisces
This year, the energy of the Harvest Moon is amplified by a partial lunar eclipse in Pisces. Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, is associated with endings, transitions, and the merging of different states of being. It embodies the vast, boundless nature of emotional and spiritual seas, urging us to dive deep into self-reflection and explore our psyche on a deeper level. This sign’s influence during the Harvest Moon brings a surge of intuition and sensitivity, opening channels to profound emotional insights and enhanced empathy towards others.
Virgo’s influence during this Harvest Moon is important because Virgo sits opposite Pisces on the zodiac wheel, creating a natural axis of balance between the physical and the spiritual. While Pisces encourages us to tap into our intuition and emotional depths, Virgo brings a grounded, practical energy that helps us channel those insights into real-world actions. Virgo is an earth sign, which emphasizes attention to detail, organization, and wellness—whether it’s physical, mental, or even spiritual health.
During this time, Virgo’s influence encourages us to take stock of what’s working and what isn’t. It’s an ideal time to focus on creating structure in areas of life that might feel disorganized or unsettled. This energy also helps us find clarity in what we’ve harvested—whether it’s actual goals we’ve achieved, lessons we’ve learned, or personal growth—and apply these insights in a tangible way. With Virgo guiding us, this Harvest Moon is not just about spiritual reflection but also about creating actionable plans for the future, especially as we move into the quieter, more introspective months of fall and winter.
2024 Autumn Equinox
Spiritually, the Autumn Equinox invites self-reflection and preparation. Just as the trees begin to shed their leaves, we are encouraged to let go of burdens that no longer serve us, making space for new growth. This act of letting go can be seen in the fall foliage, where leaves turn vibrant colors before falling away, a beautiful reminder of life’s impermanence and the constant flow of change. This season urges us to reflect on balance within our lives—considering how we manage light and dark, activity and rest, giving and receiving.
Furthermore, the equinox is a potent time for setting intentions for the coming months. It’s a period for aligning our lives more closely with our core values and grounding ourselves in preparation for a darker, inward-looking winter. Embracing the energy of the equinox means accepting both the endings and the beginnings that define our journeys, using this time of balanced day and night to anchor our spirits in stability and reflection. This deeper connection to the rhythms of the natural world helps to fortify our spirits against the coming cold and reminds us of the cyclical nature of life, offering a profound sense of continuity and resilience.
Ways to Embrace the Moon and Autumn Equinox
Crystal Choice to pair with the meaning of the full moon is Amethyst is renowned for its powerful spiritual properties. It is a stone of spiritual protection and purification, capable of cleansing one’s energy field of negative influences and attachments. Amethyst acts as a barrier against lower energies, stress, and unhealthy environments. It’s also known for enhancing intuitive and psychic abilities, promoting calmness and clarity, and helping to manage emotional highs and lows. Amethyst is particularly effective in providing insights into the dynamics of life, promoting sobriety, and helping one to recognize the root causes behind behaviors and emotional patterns. As such, it is perfect for the introspective energy of the Harvest Moon and the balancing influence of the Autumn Equinox.
Create a Gratitude Garland: In the spirit of harvest and thanksgiving, create a garland of gratitude. Write down things you are grateful for on pieces of paper or leaves, and string them together. Hang it in your home to remind you of your blessings as you transition into the colder months.
Host a Harvest Dinner: Celebrate the bounty of the season by hosting a dinner that features seasonal foods. Invite friends and family to share in the feast. Reflect together on the past year’s successes and challenges, embracing the community spirit and the nourishment that both food and companionship provide.
Moonlit Nature Walk: Take a walk under the light of the Harvest Moon, ideally in a natural setting. This can be a reflective practice—consider the changes in the natural world as it prepares for winter, and draw parallels to the changes you might need to make in your own life.
Join a Women’s Circle: If local to Rockville Maryland you can join us for a cacao ceremony, yoga, and journaling on September 22nd. Get your ticket HERE
Journaling to the Harvest Moon
- What are the most significant changes you’ve observed in yourself this past year?
- How can you release old patterns to make room for new opportunities this autumn?
- Reflect on a moment of significant balance in your life. What did it teach you?
- List what you are grateful for this season. How do these blessings affect your daily life?
Full Moon evening retreats are held monthly in Rockville, MD. These Sister Circle Wellness events are developed to help you step out of the roles you play and embrace the woman you are. Feel connected to women in your area, enjoy a night of relaxing, feeling safe and heard, good food and full moon centered activities. Signup for events and start adding more joy to your life.
