Full Moon Ritual Script - December 2025
I'm leading the Full Moon Esbat for my coven next month! It's been a while since I led a ritual due to life happenings, and I'm so glad I have the chance to again! If you’re using the script, please tag me in it!
DO NOT INTERACT: TERFS, SWERFS, TRANSMEDS, ANTI-TRANSUNITISM, TRANSPHOBIC, HOMOPHOBIC, EXCLUSIONISTS, CONSERVATIVE, NAZI, TRADWIVES, ANTISEMITIC, ANTI-BLM, ANTI-ASIAN, XENOPHOBIC, ABLEIST, ANTI-POP CULTURE PAGANISM
Guidelines
Thank you, everyone, for coming to Kindred Circle’s gathering.
Please feel free to place items on the altar or in the basket to be charged by the energy of our circle.
There will be opportunities for personal sharing during our time together. Please know that sharing is always optional, and you are always welcome to pass if you wish.
We seek to honor sacred space and help all of us feel welcome and safe by respecting the confidentiality of our circle and avoiding cross-talk.
Introductions
Let’s begin by introducing ourselves with our name, pronouns, and a brief response to the following question: “What is one thing you need to reflect on either before or in the New Year?”
Grounding
We gather tonight to honor and connect with the energies of the Cold Moon, allowing ourselves the comfort of this time together and with sacred Spirit.
I invite you to take a moment to get comfortable for a brief grounding meditation. Close your eyes if you wish, or you may prefer to gaze at our altar. When you are ready, take a couple of deep breaths.
Speak a little more slowly and allow brief pauses so that people can absorb and connect with the meditation instructions.
Gently press the soles of your feet into the ground, and imagine the energy of the Earth flowing into you. Breathe in the energy, and exhale the mundane that you carry with you. Feel your roots reach into Mother Gaia’s core, and take in her stability and healing.
Once you feel that your energy is stable and positive, sense the weight of your body as it rests in your chair. Feel how you are supported by the earth beneath you, and fed by the life-giving sun above. Take another deep breath, bringing your awareness back into your body. Wiggle your fingers and your toes, and gently open your eyes.
Circle Casting
To cast the circle, we will sing the following three times together: “We are a circle, within a circle, with no beginning and never ending.” Please stand as you’re able.
As I form the sacred circle with my wand, envision a warm, bright light of protective and healing energy forming as a giant sphere around the group.
ALL: We are a circle within a circle, with no beginning and never-ending. (x3)
Form circle deosil around the group with wand (x1) to the pace of the chant
Invocations
Please stand as you’re able and willing as we invoke the elemental spirits at the cardinal directions.
We will begin facing East, then turning South, West, North, and Center.
Caller for the East, please start us off when you feel ready.
East/Air Quarter Caller: Guardians of the East, we call upon you to watch over the rights of our Kindred. Powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Hail and welcome!
Light yellow candle.
ALL: Hail and welcome.
South/Fire Quarter Caller: Guardians of the South, we call upon you to watch over the rights of our Kindred. Powers of energy and will, guided by Fire, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Hail and welcome!
Light red candle.
ALL: Hail and welcome.
West/Water Quarter Caller: Guardians of the West, we call upon you to watch over the rights of our Kindred. Powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Hail and welcome!
Light blue candle.
ALL: Hail and welcome.
North/Earth Quarter Caller: Guardians of the North, we call upon you to watch over the rights of our Kindred. Powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Hail and welcome!
Light green candle.
ALL: Hail and welcome.
Center/Spirit Quarter Caller: Guardians of Above and Below, we call upon you to watch over the rights of our Kindred. Powers of grounding and balance, guided by Spirit, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Hail and welcome!
Light white candle.
ALL: Hail and welcome.
Ritual Intention Statement, Meaning & Symbolism
December’s Full Moon is often referred to as the Cold Moon. The name originates from multiple Indigenous American traditions, reflecting the harsh, cold nights that typically occur around this time of year. Other names given to it include the Long Night’s Moon, due to its proximity to Winter Solstice, the Oak Moon, and the Yule Moon. Winter has arrived with its bitter winds and long nights, and the moon is our guide through the pitch-black darkness.
In the cocoon of the night, the Cold Moon provides us with the space to step back and reflect upon the past year. What were your successes, but also your downfalls? But remember to give yourself grace. Use the past 12 months as stepping stones for the upcoming year, a foundation to adapt to any challenges that may arise.
The darkness provides a shadow, allowing for the introspection required for magick, such as shadow work and spiritual path exploration. Discover your inner strength and peace, and shed the things that weigh you down. The Cold Moon is under Gemini, which helps you find balance, harmony, and healthy communication.
In accordance with themes of death, rebirth, and change, the gods and goddesses of the Cold Moon include Hekate, Persephone, Athena, and Hades of Hellenic polytheism, Osiris and Hathor of Kemetic paganism, and Minerva of Roman mythology. The circle of life spins forevermore, and they watch over us as we make our way around it.
As the Full Moon rises above, bask in Her light and wisdom as you prepare for the cold weeks ahead.
Meditation
Now, I encourage you to get comfortable as we enter a meditative state. Slowly inhale through your nose, and then exhale through your mouth. Repeat this a few more times, and let your eyes flutter shut as we prepare to enter the theatre of the mind.
It’s a chilly night. Snow covers the ground and the needles of the trees around you as you stand on the edge of a dark forest. You wrap your cloak tighter around you, the wool providing warmth to help you brave the cold. You feel something becon you toward the center of the forest. A soft voice calls you from deep within. Come, my child, it whispers on the wind, join me in the shadow of the woods.
You follow the bright light of the Full Moon above, Her glory illuminating the path. Branches and snow crunch under your boots as robins flit from tree to tree above your head. You hear your breath and see the fog it creates on the wind as you progress deeper and deeper through the forest.
The scents of pine, cedar, and fir float on the air. It’s soothing, mixing with the scent of fresh, crisp snow. The trees, tall and aged, glow under the moonlight. They’ve seen the cold of Winter and phases of the Moon for centuries upon centuries, unwavering in their strength.
Finally, you reach the clearing in the heart of the trees. Standing in the middle is a large mirror made of black obsidian, framed by a weaving pattern of cast iron. Sit down, my child. The mirror calls to you, louder than before, and you’re pulled to sit down comfortably in front of the mirror. Your spine straightens just so as the roots of your body reach down into the Earth, your energy exchanging with the world around you.
Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing and empty your mind. The sounds of the forest still completely, as if they did so just for you. You listen to the mirror, allowing yourself to slowly enter a trance state. Now, look into my darkness. You obey the mirror, softly gazing upon its inky black reflection. Observe, my child. What do you see? As you gaze in the mirror, take note of any shapes, objects, or ideas that appear with you. Keep your mind open to the messages the Universe is sending out to you. Breathe.
Wait in silence for 60 seconds.
The mirror’s reflection begins to ripple, the images slowly fading away. The wind picks up again, and you hear the hooting of a Snowy Owl in the distance. Take these messages with you, my child. They will be of use to you in the months to come. You bow your head in respects to the scrying mirror, and turn to exit out the way you came.
Before you can exit the clearing, however, two glowing eyes stare out from you within the darkness, positioned before a tree. You think someone is here with you, a deity or spirit, but you rub your eyes to clear your vision. Upon reopening them, it’s revealed to be a stag, the antlers blending in with the long branches. It looks at you for a few more seconds before making its way back into the woods, leaving hoofprints in the snow.
These hoofprints, along with the Moon and Her shining light, guide your way out. As you leave the crisp air behind and make your way toward home, remember to hold onto what you saw this fateful night.
Workings
As part of our ritual, we’re going to do some interactive work! The Full Moon is the perfect time for divination, along with giving yourself some gratitude and self-congratulations. I invite each of you to pull a card from my rune deck.
Walk around with deck fanned and allow each person to pull one card.
Inspect the card. Look at the imagery in the artwork. If you wish, read its description from the booklet on the altar. Now, take this information in. Use the card as the basis for your self-reflection on the past year. It’s time to be grateful for your achievements and celebrate even the smallest wins.
Pass around papers and pens.
As you listen to your inner voice, take a paper and pen from the basket. Write your intention for the year ahead, based on the one about to end. Focus on what you need from the deepest part of your soul, what will serve you well as we power through the snow and wait for Spring to bloom. Once you’ve written your intention, fold it up and place it in the cauldron. We’ll light it at the end of the night, releasing our intentions into the night.
Cone of Power & Grounding
The Cone of Power is an extension of our Circle’s energy, often visualized as a silver cone of energy. It’s a container of our inner strength and purpose, and in magical workings, we raise and target our energy towards our goals. Our Cone will be harnessed with a chant, as follows. Let’s practice a few times until we get the hang of it.
ALL: Ancient Lady, Ancient Moon
Rising now above us
We gather in Your sacred grove
Asking that You bless us.
Let’s now connect hands, right over, left under. As we chant, I invite you to visualize the energy flowing clockwise through our circle as the chant grows in speed and power. Once the cone of power has reached its peak, we’ll call release to send our energy out into the universe.
Repeat louder & faster until energy is built, then call release.
Simple Feast
Now that we’ve released our energy, it’s time to ground back into the material plane. For ale, we have bubbly, ________________ provided by ________________, and still, ________________ provided by ________________. We also have our Nilla Wafers, provided by ________________.
Pass around wafers, cups, and drinks with a volunteer.
May you never hunger.
ALL: May you never hunger.
May you never thirst.
ALL: May you never thirst.
Blessed be!
Check-Ins / Sharing Final Thoughts
Before we close the circle, I’d like to open the floor for anyone who may wish to share, whether it be a poem, song, chant, anecdote, or story in the theme of tonight’s ritual, or anything from your personal experience tonight that you wish to share in this sacred space of community.
Once it seems nobody else wishes to share, thank everyone for sharing with the group and for being here tonight.
Devocations
Let’s stand once more to close the circle together. We will move in reverse order of how we called in the quarters, starting with the Center, then North, and so on.
Center/Spirit Quarter Caller: Guardians of Above and Below, powers of grounding and balance, guided by Spirit, we thank you for watching over the rights of our Kindred. May you be forever blessed. Hail and farewell!
Extinguish white candle.
ALL: Hail and farewell.
North/Earth Quarter Caller: Guardians of the North, powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth, we thank you for watching over the rights of our Kindred. May you be forever blessed. Hail and farewell!
Extinguish green candle.
ALL: Hail and farewell.
West/Water Quarter Caller: Guardians of the West, powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water, we thank you for watching over the rights of our Kindred. May you be forever blessed. Hail and farewell!
Extinguish blue candle.
ALL: Hail and farewell.
South/Fire Quarter Caller: Guardians of the South, powers of energy and will, guided by Fire, we thank you for watching over the rights of our Kindred. May you be forever blessed. Hail and farewell!
Extinguish red candle.
ALL: Hail and farewell.
East/Air Quarter Caller: Guardians of the East, powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air, we thank you for watching over the rights of our Kindred. May you be forever blessed. Hail and farewell!
Extinguish yellow candle.
ALL: Hail and farewell.
Circle Closing
May the circle be open, but unbroken, may the love of the Goddess be ever in your hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again!
ALL: Blessed be!
Closing Statements
Thank you for coming, everyone! Please join us for fellowship and gathering, along with drinks and snacks.
Bibliography
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