How to Make Moon Water in Witchcraft (and How to Store and Use It)

Moon water is one of the simplest tools a witch can make: a jar of water, left out under the moon, then used in your spells, rituals and everyday magick.

Learning how to make moon water takes about five minutes and costs almost nothing, and once you have a bottle on your shelf you'll reach for it again and again. It's also a lovely way to start paying closer attention to the moon's cycle, which is at the heart of so much witchcraft.

Below you'll find the step-by-step method first, then what moon water is, which moon phase to choose, how to store it, how to use it, and how to stay safe with it.

How to Make Moon Water in 7 Steps

You will need: a clean glass jar or bottle with a lid (a mason jar is perfect), water, and if you like, a clear quartz or moonstone to set beside the jar and a slip of paper with your intention. Tap water is fine for cleansing and spellwork. If there's any chance you'll drink it or use it on your skin, start with clean drinking water.

1. Choose your night. Check the moon phase on our Moon and Magick Calendar. The full moon is the classic choice, but every phase has its own uses (see the table below).
2. Clean and cleanse your jar. Wash it with hot soapy water and rinse it well. If you like, pass it through incense smoke or sprinkle it with a little salt water. Our guide to spiritual cleansing has more ideas.
3. Fill it and hold it. Fill the jar with water, hold it in both hands and take a few slow breaths. Think about what you want this water to help with: healing, clarity, peace, protection, or simply the moon's energy in general.
4. Speak your intention. Say it out loud or in your head. Something as simple as "Moon above, bless this water with your light. May it bring me clarity and calm." is plenty.
5. Set it out. Place the jar outside, on a balcony or on a windowsill where the moonlight can reach it. Put the lid on, or cover it with a clean cloth, to keep out dust and bugs.
6. Leave it overnight. Bring it inside first thing in the morning, before the sun has been on it for long. Many witches feel strong sunlight changes the water's energy.
7. Thank the moon and label it. A quiet "thank you" as you bring the jar in closes the ritual. Write the date and moon phase on the label.

What if it's cloudy? Don't worry. The moon is still there and still in the same phase, even if you can't see her, and most witches find their moon water works just as well. If you live in an apartment with no outdoor space, a windowsill is perfectly fine.

What Is Moon Water?

Moon water is water that has been charged by the light and energy of the moon. Most witches make it on the night of the full moon, when the moon is at its brightest, but you can make it under any phase. The water is said to soak up the moon's energy and hold it, a little like a battery, so you can bring that energy into your magick later.

Water has always been linked with the moon. The moon pulls the tides, and in many traditions it rules emotions, dreams, intuition and the flow of life. In Wicca, the moon is closely tied to the Goddess (you can read more in Who Are the Moon Goddess and the Horned God?), and many of our rituals are timed by her phases. Moon water in witchcraft is a way of keeping a little of that connection with you all month.

There's nothing complicated or secret about it. Ask ten witches how they make moon water and you'll get ten slightly different answers. What matters most is your intention and your attention.

Choosing the Right Moon Phase

Each phase of the moon carries its own energy, so you can match your moon water to your intention. Our article on moon phases and simple rituals goes deeper, but here's a quick guide:

Moon phase	Energy	Make moon water for
New moon	Beginnings, rest, planting seeds	Setting intentions, new projects, quiet planning
Waxing moon	Growth and attraction	Money, courage, new friendships, anything you want more of
Full moon	Power, clarity, celebration	All-purpose magick, healing, psychic work, charging tools
Waning moon	Release and cleansing	Breaking habits, banishing, cleansing, letting go
Eclipse or blue moon	Rare, intense energy	Big changes and special workings (many witches rest during eclipses instead)

You can also match your water to the moon's zodiac sign. Water made under a Taurus moon, for example, is lovely for money and comfort. You can see which sign the moon is in each day on the Moon Calendar.

How to Store Moon Water

• Container: Keep it in a clean glass jar or bottle with a tight lid. Glass is best because it's easy to clean and doesn't hold smells.
• Place: Store it somewhere cool and dark, like a cupboard or the back of your altar, out of direct sunlight.
• Labels: Write the date, the moon phase and your intention on each jar so you know which is which.
• How long it lasts: For spellwork and cleansing, most witches use a batch within about a month and then make a fresh one at the next moon. Water you plan to drink belongs in the fridge and should be used within a day or two.
• When to throw it out: If it turns cloudy, smells odd or grows anything, pour it onto the earth with a word of thanks and make a new batch.

Some witches freeze moon water in an ice cube tray, so they always have a little on hand for spells and baths. Label the bag clearly so nobody adds it to their drink by mistake.

How to Use Moon Water

This is where moon water really shines. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:

• Cleansing your space. Pour it into a spray bottle and mist the corners of a room, your doorways or your altar.
• Anointing candles. Wipe a candle with a little moon water before candle magick to charge it with your intention.
• Cleansing tools and crystals. Rinse water-safe stones or wipe down your tools. Our guide on how to cleanse crystals lists which stones can get wet. (Don't soak tarot cards; a light mist on the box is enough. See how to cleanse a tarot deck.)
• In your spells. Use it as the water in jar spells, ink for sigils, or a base for floor washes.
• In your bath. Add a cup to a ritual bath (more on that below).
• For your plants. Water your houseplants or herb garden with it to share the blessing.
• Before divination. Dab a little on your forehead or wrists before reading tarot or scrying.
• On your altar. Keep a small bowl there to represent the element of Water.

A Simple Moon Water Bath

Run a warm bath and add a cup of full moon water, a handful of Epsom salts and a few petals or sprigs of lavender. Light a candle, turn off the main light and soak for at least fifteen minutes. As you get out, imagine the water draining away everything you're ready to let go of. For more ideas, see our guide to spiritual baths.

Moon Water for Your Garden

Green witches love giving moon water back to the earth. Waxing moon water is said to encourage growth, so it's nice for seedlings and new cuttings. Full moon water is a gentle blessing for herbs you plan to use in your craft. If you're growing your own, our list of the best herbs for a witch's garden is a good place to start.

Charging Moon Water With Crystals

Crystals can add their own energy to your moon water. The safest way is to place them next to the jar, or on the lid, rather than inside it. Clear quartz amplifies, moonstone strengthens intuition, amethyst brings calm, and rose quartz adds love and gentleness.

If you want a stone inside the water, only use hard, non-toxic stones like clear quartz, amethyst or rose quartz, and don't drink that water. Never add toxic or soft crystals: some dissolve, rust or release harmful minerals. Keep these out of your jar:

• Selenite and other soft stones, which dissolve.
• Malachite, azurite and chrysocolla, which contain copper.
• Pyrite and hematite, which can rust.
• Anything you're not sure about. Look it up in The Witch's Cabinet first.

Can You Drink Moon Water?

You can, but only if you made it for drinking from the start. That means clean drinking water, a clean, food-safe glass container that was washed in hot soapy water, a lid that kept everything out overnight, and no crystals, herbs or anything else inside. Keep it in the fridge and drink it within a day or two. Many witches add a splash to their morning tea or a glass of water as a small daily ritual.

Never drink moon water made from rainwater, stream water, tap water left uncovered outdoors, or anything that has had crystals in it. Don't drink a batch that looks cloudy, smells odd or has been sitting for a while. When in doubt, use it for cleansing or watering plants instead.

Moon Water Safety

• Only drink moon water made with clean drinking water in a clean, food-safe, covered container, with nothing added to it.
• Never put toxic or soft crystals in moon water, and keep all moon water out of reach of children and pets.
• If you add herbs or oils to a bath or spray, check they're safe for your skin and for any pets in the house.
• Bring jars in from balconies and gardens in the morning so they don't tip, freeze or crack.
• If you use a candle while making or using moon water, never leave it burning unattended.

Final Thoughts

Moon water is proof that magick doesn't have to be complicated. A clean jar, a little water and a few quiet minutes under the moon give you a tool you can use in almost every part of your practice. Over time, you may find that making it each month becomes a ritual in itself, a small way of checking in with the moon and with yourself.

Have you made moon water before? Which phase is your favorite?

Sources

• Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. Llewellyn Publications, 1988.
• Cunningham, Scott. Earth, Air, Fire & Water. Llewellyn Publications, 1991.
• Murphy-Hiscock, Arin. The Green Witch. Adams Media, 2017.

Check out our other articles:
Moon Phases and Simple Rituals
Spiritual Baths
How to Cleanse Crystals
Who Are the Moon Goddess and the Horned God?
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