The Hunter's Moon

Where the name comes from

The name Hunter's Moon comes to us through the Old Farmer's Almanac, which recorded full moon names used by Native American peoples, notably the Algonquin, alongside names carried over from colonial and European tradition. It is the full moon that follows the Harvest Moon, which means it usually lands in October but can occasionally slip into early November. The name reflects the rhythm of the season: with the fields cleared after harvest, game was easier to spot, animals were fattened from summer, and this was the time to hunt and preserve food for the long winter ahead. For the communities who named it, this moon marked serious, practical work: gathering what would keep everyone alive through the cold.

The energy of this moon

The Hunter's Moon carries the energy of preparation, focus and honest stocktaking. Where the Harvest Moon is about gathering abundance, this moon asks a sharper question: what will actually sustain you through the darker months? It is a moon of instinct and discernment, of trusting your gut, sharpening your attention, and deciding what to store and what to leave behind. There is a quiet courage in it too. You are being asked to look at your life with clear eyes, name what feeds you, and let go of what only takes up space.

A simple Hunter's Moon ritual

1. Find the moon. Step outside or stand at a window where you can see the moonlight, and take five slow breaths, letting your attention settle into the present moment.
2. Take stock. On a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle and write two lists: on one side, what genuinely sustains you right now, and on the other, what drains you or no longer serves the season you are entering.
3. Choose and release. Circle one thing from the sustaining list to protect in the weeks ahead, then cross out one thing from the draining list and say quietly, out loud or in your mind: I release this, I do not need to carry it into winter.

Journal prompts

• What am I gathering right now, in my energy, relationships or habits, that will genuinely sustain me through the months ahead?
• Where is my attention or energy quietly leaking, and what would it feel like to seal that leak before winter?
• What instinct have I been sensing but not acting on, and what is one small, practical step I could take to honour it this month?