The Blood Moon: Spiritual Meaning and Rituals for the Total Lunar Eclipse

The Blood Moon is another name for a total lunar eclipse and it’s one of the most eerie, awe-inspiring lunar events. It occurs every one to three years when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon. As the moon moves through Earth’s shadow, the Full Moon’s surface appears to glow in shades of red, copper, or burnt orange.

The Blood Moon also carries powerful spiritual meaning. It’s a time of endings, deep transformation, and rebirth. (But, to be clear, it doesn’t mean it’s the end times.)

The energy of this lunar eclipse magnifies the magic of a Full Moon, while also adding an undercurrent of release and shadow work. Like the Black Moon is the intensified version of the New Moon, the Blood Moon is the amplified version for the Full Moon.

In this guide, we’ll explore the meaning of the Blood Moon, its spiritual meaning, myths and superstitions about it, and rituals you can use to align with its potent energy.

What Is a Blood Moon?

Astronomically, a Blood Moon is a Full Moon that occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon. On average, a total lunar eclipse happens once every one to three years, though the exact timing and visibility depend on where you are in the world.

“During an eclipse the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. Earth creates two shadows: the outer, pale shadow called the penumbra, and the dark, inner shadow called the umbra. The eclipse is noticeable once the Moon enters the umbra,” according to the National Air and Space Museum. The Sun’s longer red wavelengths are refracted into Earth’s umbra and when the Moon passes through those, it makes the Full Moon look red or orange.

Its exact color depends on the state of Earth’s atmosphere at the time. But it can be anywhere from copper-orange to deep crimson. A clear atmosphere gives the Moon a bright, fiery orange tone, while dust, smoke, or volcanic ash can shift it to a darker red or even brown.

The next Blood Moon is on March 3rd, 2026, on the night of the Worm Moon.

Those in the U.S. will be able to see a Blood Moon in totality that day. The next total lunar eclipse after this one won’t occur until December 31, 2028. It will be visible in most of the world except in the Eastern part of the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. You can find all the upcoming Full Moons in our Full Moon calendar.

What Is the Blood Moon’s Spiritual Meaning?

Spiritually, the Blood Moon amplifies the themes of the Full Moon and layers on the deeper energy of eclipse season: endings, transformation, and karmic shifts. This is a time when hidden truths rise to the surface, shadows are revealed, and cycles may come to a sudden close.

While the energy can feel intense or even unsettling, it’s also an invitation to release what no longer serves you and step boldly into your next chapter.

Some modern witches embrace these moons for shadow work and transformation while many choose not to work with eclipse energy at all, viewing it as chaotic, disruptive, and better suited for rest and observation than ritual work or spells.

Historically, both solar and lunar eclipses were often seen with awe or fear. They were sometimes read as omens of death, upheaval, or the fall of rulers, while in other traditions they were woven into myth as celestial battles. Here’s a look at how some cultures and religions felt about them.

• Norse mythology: Eclipses were explained as the wolves Sköll and Hati chasing the Sun and Moon. When they caught their prey, an eclipse occurred.
• Inca civilization: They believed a lunar eclipse meant a jaguar was attacking and trying to eat the Moon. The red color was the Moon bleeding.
• Mesopotamia: Eclipses, including lunar ones, were not good omens for the king and usually were believed to be a prophecy of his death.
• Christianity: In the Bible’s Book of Joel it reads “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come” and then in Revelation that, “the whole moon became as blood.” These were more meant to be symbolic, but many Christian traditions have interpreted lunar eclipses through this apocalyptic lens.

Energy of the Blood Moon:

• Transformation
• Rebirth
• Shadow work
• Release
• Sudden endings
• Heightened intuition
• Clarity

Simple Blood Moon Rituals

The Blood Moon intensifies the Full Moon’s themes of release, endings, and illumination by layering on the transformative power of a total lunar eclipse. Its energy is disruptive, catalytic, and deeply revealing, making it a bit challenging when it comes to spellcraft.

It brings hidden truths to the surface and closing cycles that are no longer meant to continue. This makes it a powerful time for shadow work, divination, and letting go, rather than manifesting or charging tools. Here are some Blood Moon rituals to consider.

1. Charge a Talisman with Lunar Eclipse Energy

Use this Agrippa-inspired method to “store” the energy of the Blood Moon for later use. Choose an object that resonates with the Moon, such as a silver coin, a crystal like selenite, or a bundle of lunar herbs such as mugwort, lemon balm, or jasmine.

During the eclipse, consecrate it, then engrave or mark it with the crescent glyph using a knife or your boline (avoid using your athame for carving). Then, hold it under the Bloom Moon while focusing on the energy you want to infuse it with. Once charged, this talisman can be kept for future rituals centered around the intention.

2. Releasing Ritual

The Blood Moon is a powerful time to let go of what no longer serves you. Write down the habits, relationships, fears, or energies you want to release on a slip of paper. During the eclipse, burn it in your cauldron, a fire-safe bowl, or a fire pit. As the paper turns to ash, visualize those energies dissolving and leaving your life for good.

3. Do a Tarot Reading

Because eclipses reveal hidden truths, a tarot spread can help you uncover what’s being shaken loose. Ask: What do I need to see that’s been hidden” and “what shift is this eclipse bringing into my life?” Record your insights in a journal or in our witchy planner so you can look back to see what has unfolded in the weeks that follow.

What Not to Do During a Lunar Eclipse

Many witches avoid working with eclipse energy directly because it can feel chaotic, disruptive, and difficult to harness with clear intention. Instead of manifesting, focus on release and insight. Here are a few things to skip during a Blood Moon:

• Don’t make moon water. The water will carry the chaotic frequency of the eclipse rather than supportive lunar energy.
• Don’t try to manifest anything. The energy is unstable and unpredictable.
• Don’t charge your crystals. Eclipse energy can reset or disrupt what you’ve programmed into them.

Journal Prompts for the Blood Moon

Journaling is a great way to work with the energy of the lunar eclipse. Here are some prompts to get you started.

• What truth am I ready to acknowledge, even if it feels uncomfortable?
• What cycles in my life are ending now? Or which need to?
• Which parts of myself have I hidden in shadow that are ready to be integrated?
• How can I step more fully into my personal power?
• What guidance do my ancestors or guides want to share with me?
  

Blood Moon Correspondences

If you are looking to do some magical work connected to the Blood Moon, here are some of the colors, symbols, and correspondences.

• Colors: Red, crimson, black, deep orange
• Deities: Kali, The Morrígan, Lilith, Inanna
• Crystals: Garnet, carnelian, bloodstone, obsidian, smoky quartz
• Herbs and Plants: Mugwort, yarrow, cypress, wormwood, sage
• Animals: Bat, owl, raven, snake, wolf
• Tarot Cards: Moon, High Priestess, Death, Hermit, Tower

Blood Moon FAQ

Are Blood Moons only on Eclipses?

Yes. A true Blood Moon only happens during a total lunar eclipse. This occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Full Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, it bends the red wavelengths, giving the moon its crimson glow when it passes through Earth’s shadow.

How Rare is a Blood Moon?

Blood Moons, or total lunar eclipses, happen about every 1 to 3 years. However, whether you can actually see one depends on your location on Earth and the path of the eclipse. Some years may bring multiple eclipses, while other years may have none visible in your region. The next one visible from the U.S. will be on March 3, 2026.

What Does a Blood Moon Mean?

Many see a Blood Moon as a time of endings, transformation, and deep release. Because it layers eclipse energy onto the Full Moon, it’s often linked to karmic shifts, hidden truths surfacing, and cycles coming to a close. In folklore and mythology, Blood Moons were sometimes seen as bad omens, celestial battles, or divine messages.

Should I Be Scared of the Blood Moon?

No. While ancient texts and myths often framed Blood Moons as ominous omens, in reality, they are natural and predictable celestial events. Astronomically, it’s simply Earth’s shadow casting a red tint on the Full Moon. Spiritually, the energy can feel intense, which is why some witches avoid doing spells during eclipses. Others embrace it as an opportunity for powerful inner work. Whether you lean into it or step back is up to you.

Why Are Some Moons Red But Not Blood Moons?

Not every red Moon is a Blood Moon. Sometimes the Moon can appear orange or red due to dust, smoke, wildfires, or volcanic ash in Earth’s atmosphere, which filter the light in a similar way. A true Blood Moon, however, only occurs during a total lunar eclipse.