Blue Moon
The rare second full moon in a calendar month, for wishes, long-term goals and bonus energy.
Next: Sun, Dec 31, 2028, 11:49 AM ET
Where the name comes from
In modern use, a Blue Moon is the second full moon in a single calendar month, which happens roughly once every two to three years. That definition comes from a 1946 Sky and Telescope article that misread an older rule from the Maine Farmers' Almanac, where a Blue Moon was the third full moon in a season that held four. Both definitions are still used. The moon does not actually look blue, and the phrase "once in a blue moon" has long meant something that rarely happens.
Blue Moon magick
A Blue Moon is not tied to a season, so its themes come from its rarity. Many witches treat it as a bonus full moon, an extra round of full-moon energy to put toward something that matters. Because it comes along only once in a blue moon, it suits wishes, long-term goals and intentions you want to carry for the next few years rather than the next few weeks. It is also a good time to revisit a dream you set aside, to recommit to your spiritual path, or to try a working you have been saving for a special night.
Southern Hemisphere: Because a Blue Moon is set by the calendar, Southern Hemisphere witches can use the same themes of wishes and long-term goals, adapted to their own season.
Correspondences
A simple Blue Moon wish ritual
- Set a purple candle on a fire-safe dish and place a moonstone in front of it. Scatter a few dried jasmine flowers around the base. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Add a few drops of neroli oil to a diffuser in a ventilated room. Essential oils are never swallowed; dilute before skin contact and keep them away from pets.
- Light the candle and think about where you hope to be by the next Blue Moon, two or three years from now.
- Write your wish on a sheet of paper as a clear, positive statement, as if it were already part of your life. Date the paper.
- Hold the moonstone over the paper and read the wish aloud. Snuff the candle and seal the paper in an envelope to open at the next Blue Moon.
Journal prompts
- What wish have I been saving for the right moment?
- Where do I hope to be by the time the next Blue Moon rises?
- Which long-term goal deserves a fresh commitment from me tonight?
Blue Moon dates
Shown in your time zone. A Blue Moon is the second full moon in a calendar month.
- Sun, May 31, 2026, 4:46 AM ETMicromoon in Sagittarius
- Sun, Dec 31, 2028, 11:49 AM ETBlue Moon in Cancer
- Mon, Jul 31, 2034, 1:55 AM ETBlue Moon in Aquarius
- Sat, Jan 31, 2037, 9:05 AM ETSupermoon in Leo
- Tue, Mar 31, 2037, 5:54 AM ETSupermoon in Libra