Full moons: They're spooky, they're exciting, and they're bursting with emotional lunar energy.
In astrology, full moons are all about endings. They shine their light on the past month, so you can take stock, spot problems, and tie up any loose ends. "Full moons have always been seen as moments in time in which the astrological energy comes to a climax," Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for Astrology.com, previously told Refinery29.
These celestial happenings can also occur in any of the twelve zodiac signs, and each lunation carries the traits of the sign it's in. A full moon in Leo may feel theatrical or dramatic, for instance, while a full moon in Gemini can bring about confusion.
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Each month's full moon also go by one or more names, such as the Wolf Moon or the Harvest Moon. The origins of these labels are a little hard to pin down, but they tend to match up with seasonal happenings; the Harvest Moon comes during the start of fall harvest season, for instance. They're thought to be derived from a mix of Native North American, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic month names, reports Newsweek.
Astrologers often recommend using full moons as an opportunity to spend some quiet time by yourself or with trusted love ones, reflecting on the past month and setting your intentions for the next one. To help you plan out these mini-meditations, though, you need to know when the moon will be full.
The dates for full moons in 2021:
28th January 2021: Full Wolf Moon in Leo
This full moon is known as the Wolf Moon because wolves tend to be most vocal around this time of year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It's also called the Hunger Moon or the Old Moon.
27th February 2021: Full Snow Moon in Virgo
The second month of the year is snowy, hence the name of this full moon. You may also hear it called the Midwinter Moon.
28th March 2021: Full Worm Moon in Libra
This one takes some explaining: In spring, the weather begins to warm and the worms begin to appear in the soil once again (yuck). This full moon is also known as the Wing Moon or the Spring Moon.
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26th April 2021: Full Pink Supermoon in Scorpio
Unfortunately, the Full Pink Moon isn't actually magenta-hued. Its name comes from the herb moss pink flower that blooms in early spring, though it's sometimes called a Frog Moon. This year, April's full moon will be as close as it can get to Earth, making it appear extra big and bright — a phenomenon known as a supermoon.
26th May 2021: Full Flower Supermoon in Sagittarius; also a total lunar eclipse
In May, blooms really start to blossom, hence the name Flower Moon or Budding Moon. This year's is also a supermoon.
24th June 2021: Full Strawberry Supermoon in Capricorn
June gifts us with a third supermoon in a row. The full moon is named after the short — yet sweet — strawberry harvesting season, but can also be called the River Moon or the Flowering Moon.
23rd July 2021: Full Buck Moon in Aquarius
July's moon is called the Full Buck Moon because it's normally around the time when the new antlers on bucks begin to show. It's also known as the Blueberry Moon.
22nd August 2021: Full Sturgeon Moon in Aquarius, and a seasonal blue moon
The Sturgeon Full Moon is named for the sturgeons of the Great Lakes; August is when they're most easily caught; August is also corn season, which is why this moon can be called the Corn Moon. The term seasonal blue moon refers to it being the third (sometimes fourth) full moon of a particular season — in this case, summer.
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20th September 2021: Full Harvest Moon in Pisces
The Full Harvest Moon is whichever full moon falls closest to the autumn equinox on 21st September; sometimes, it can occur in October. It's also called the Fall Moon or the Hunting Moon.
20th October 2021: Full Hunter's Moon in Aries
Colder weather used to signal a time to stock up on game for the winter ahead, which is why this luminary is called the Full Hunter's Moon. Sometimes, it's known as the Falling Leaves Moon.
19th November 2021: Full Beaver Moon in Taurus, also a partial lunar eclipse
This is around the time that beavers start preparing for the winter, inspiring the name Full Beaver Moon. It's also called the First Snow Moon.
18th December 2021: Full Cold Moon in Gemini
An easy one — the Full Cold Moon is called this because it's, well, cold in December! It's also known as the (equally logical) Big Winter Moon.