"Hunter's Moon"

 

Octobers Full Moon is known as the "Hunter's Moon" because before industrialism, people focused on harvesting and preparing for the coming of Winter. Failure to do so meant facing one’s own mortality. The moons bright light historically aided hunters tracking game through newly cleared autumn fields. 

After the harvest, cleared fields could make animals easier to spot, while moonlight provided additional illumination for nighttime activities. 

The Hunter’s Moon is one of the few traditional moon names that isn’t associated with the month itself, but rather with the timing of the autumnal equinox. While the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is always the Harvest Moon, the moon that follows is referred to as the Hunter’s Moon, and it makes its first appearance in either October or November.

Many cultures have celebrated the Hunter’s Moon, including the Celts, Native American peoples, and rural tribes of the British Isles and different cultures have also used other names for the October full Moon, reflecting local seasons, agricultural activities, and wildlife behavior.

It is also known as the Sanguine or Blood Moon (referring to the red-orange hue of low-hanging moons or the blood of the hunt), as well as the Travel Moon or Dying Grass Moon. 

The first recorded mentions of a "Hunter's Moon" began in the early 18th century. The entry in the Oxford English Dictionary for "Hunter's Moon" cites a 1710 edition of The British Apollo, where the term is attributed to "the country people". The names are now referred to regularly by American sources, where they are often popularly attributed to "the Native Americans".

The Hunter’s Moon is also associated with feasting. In the Northern Hemisphere, some Native American tribes and some places in Western Europe held a feast day. This feast day, the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, was not been held since the 1700’s. 

Somewhere between the trees and the stars, Samhein begins to stir… As the veil grows thin before Samhain, the Hunter’s Moon affects people spiritually — as do all Full Moons in the cycle of the seasons but with a greater intensity. 

It’s a strengthening Full Moon, awakening people’s inner willingness to fight and bringing an opportunity to grow your capacity for patience, courage, and power.

The spiritual  themes are protection, preparation, focus and remembrance. This is a strong full moon for warding your home, for gathering what you need before winter, and for honoring your ancestors and the beloved dead. 

Most full moons are associated with release, and the Hunter’s Moon is no different. Just as the trees shed their dead leaves during this month, you too must let go of what no longer serves you. Use this moon to sharpen your focus on what truly matters. Set aside what is wasteful, and prepare with care for the quiet months ahead. It’s also a wonderful time for gratitude and appreciation for what Nature has given us.

As we pass through the autumnal equinox, the days get shorter and the nights get longer. The temperatures cool down, and there is that particular earthy scent in the air as leaves begin to change color and fall. 

As night comes earlier and earlier, the moon is much more present in the sky for longer periods of time. We shift from the bright half to the dark half of the year.  All these changes turn our attention inside, away from the physical pursuits and sunny activities of summer, and toward internal reflection. 

Autumn is associated with both endings and beginnings, and many view October as a time to take action on your goals. If you feel inspired during the Hunter’s Moon, allow that energy to guide your progress.

Many people engage in releasing rituals during the Hunter’s Moon, writing down their insecurities or fears and safely burning or ripping up the paper. Follow what feels right to you. 

The Hunter’s Moon reminds us that even in the darkest nights, there’s a quiet kind of magic in the sky. A little mystery, a little nostalgia, and a thousand unspoken feelings wrapped in moonlight. Some nights aren’t meant to be explained, just felt. Get out and look up she really looks  beautiful tonight,  shining bright  and luminous. The peak of illumination will be Sunday into Monday at 12:12 am.