Harvest Moon Rituals: Celebrate Abundance & Let Go

What if abundance wasn’t just about what you gain—but what you finally let go of?

As the Harvest Moon rises and Mabon approaches, witches everywhere feel the call to gather what’s ripe and compost what’s rotten. This isn’t just seasonal—it’s spiritual. This is the Season of Reckoning.

Below, you'll find rituals rooted in American folk magic and traditional witchcraft to help you align with this turning point. Think: grounding, gratitude, and a little elegant decay.

What is the Harvest Moon, Anyway?

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox. It bathes the fields (and our lives) in extra moonlight, extending our time to gather—and reflect. For traditional witches, it’s less about astrological perfection and more about seasonal rhythm: what’s coming to fullness, and what’s beginning to fade?

Associated Magic:

• Closing cycles

• Gathering abundance (literal and metaphorical)

• Releasing burdens

• Preparing for the dark half of the year

Ritual 1: The Reckoning Jar – What Stays, What Goes

Purpose: To name and containerize what you’re keeping… and what you’re done carrying.

What You’ll Need:

• A small jar or two (mason jar, empty spice jar, whatever you’ve got)

• Strips of paper

• Pen (black for banishing, gold for gratitude if you’re feeling extra)

How-To:

1. Write down your wins, breakthroughs, and blessings—one per strip.

2. Write down what’s draining you, outdated goals, or bad habits—one per strip.

3. Separate into two piles: “Keep” and “Compost.”

4. Put the good in one jar to revisit all season.

5. Burn or bury the rest—ethically and safely.

Ritual 2: Moonlit Inventory – A Solo Harvest Walk

Purpose: To take stock of your spiritual “crops.”

You don’t need a forest. Your backyard, balcony, or nearest park path will do.

How-To:

• Walk slowly, barefoot if possible, under moonlight (or candlelight if you’re inside).

• For every step, name something you’re proud of harvesting this year—skills, boundaries, even surviving hard things.

• At the end, whisper a thank-you to the season and offer a token: spirits/ale, honey or cool, clean water given to the earth. (Keep your surroundings in mind where pouring things on the ground that could be harmful to other live things).

Want a Mirror for the Moment? Tarot Has You.

If your internal harvest feels tangled, don’t guess—divine. The 6-Card Fall Equinox Reading offers clarity, closure, and a compass for what’s next. 

✨ Get Your Personalized Reading Here 

Ritual 3: The Shadow Ledger – Magic for Business Witches

For the witches who run shops, hold services, or just juggle side hustles—this one’s for you.

How-To:

• Grab your planner, bullet journal, or dusty spreadsheet.

• Ask: What’s really been profitable—not just in money, but time, energy, joy?

• Mark what’s draining you. That offering you hate? That customer type you dread? Reckon with it. Circle it. Plan to pause or pivot.

Then light a candle and say:

“With this flame, I honor what has fed me,
And release what no longer fuels my fire.”

Don’t Just Harvest—Haunt Gracefully

This Harvest Moon doesn’t demand perfection. It offers a mirror and a scythe—both tools of clarity.

Celebrate. Grieve. Declutter your rituals. Let your magic evolve like the season does: fiercely, beautifully, and without apology.

If you’re craving more seasonal magic, there’s always more in our bi-monthly newsletter. Click the small menu in the bottom left corner of your screen—or return to the homepage and wait for the popup.