The October full Moon is one of the most beautiful in the whole year.

When the leaves are turning, and the season palpably shifts, this potent Moon – known as the Hunter’s Moon – rises bright and sharp in the cool, dark skies.

This year, the Hunter’s  Moon arrives on Tuesday October 7th, 2025, at 04:48 UTC / 23:48 PT on Monday 6th.

Where the Harvest Moon celebrated abundance and gratitude, the Hunter’s Moon is a moon of focus, instinct, and preparation. Historically, this was the time hunters filled their stores for winter, guided by the bright light of the moon. Spiritually, it’s a time for honing your inner vision, clearing distractions, and moving with fierce intention.

This moon calls you to take aim – to get clear on what you want, release what no longer serves, and gather your energy close, like an arrow pulled taut in the bowstring.

The Spirit of the Hunter’s Moon

The Hunter’s Moon is a teacher of instinct. Within its autumn glow, it holds the balance between life and death, feast and famine, shadow and light. Just as hunters once used her light to track their prey, you can use this moon to sharpen your spiritual senses and cut through illusion.

When autumn comes, the year can feel like it’s slowing down. The long, slow decent into winter has begin, and the heat and dynamism of summer is long gone. But this isn’t a passive moon. Her energy is active, primal, and direct.

The Hunter’s Moon asks:

• What do you truly need?
• What are you pursuing?
• And what must be released so you can move without hesitation?

The Hunter’s Moon also carries protective energy. It’s a potent time to fortify your home and spirit for the darker half of the year, to gather resources (physical, emotional, and magickal) so you can thrive when winter sets in.

5 Rituals to Try Under the Hunter’s Moon

Here are five gorgeously witchy rituals to help you align with the fierce, clarifying power of the October full moon:

1. Flame of Focus Ritual
2. The Shadow Hunt
3. Arrow of Intention Spell
4. Forest Offering to Animal Spirits
5. Owl’s Eye Meditation

Read on for the full rituals…

1. Flame of Focus Ritual

The Hunter’s Moon is all about clarity and cutting through distraction, much like an arrow finding its target. This ritual utilises the fire element to burn away confusion, leaving only your truest intentions behind.

By working with the flame, you honour the moon’s energy of precision and sharpen your own inner focus.

• Light a single candle in a dark room.

• Write down your current goals or desires on a small slip of paper.

• Bring the paper in and out of the flame (safely) without setting it alight, and visualise the fire burning away distractions, leaving only what truly matters.

• Place the paper under the candle, letting the wax drip over it to seal your intention.

2. The Shadow Hunt

Every hunter must know what stalks them in return!

The Hunter’s Moon offers a perfect moment to face your fears, habits, or any old patterns that drain your strength. By naming and releasing these shadows, you reclaim your power and step into the energy of boldness and courage.

• Sit under the moonlight with a journal.

• Write down the habits, fears, or patterns that have been “hunting” you.

• Speak each one aloud, naming it with courage.

• Burn the list in a fire-safe dish, visualising yourself releasing the chase, and stepping into freedom.

For more lunar-inspired shadow work, get this interactive guide: the Moon & the Shadow

3. Arrow of Intention

The Hunter’s Moon teaches us about focus, direction, and knowing where to aim our energy, so nothing is wasted. This spell transforms a simple object into your personal arrow, charging it with your intention so it becomes a talisman of direction and purpose.

It’s a powerful, yet simple way to align your path with the moon’s fierce, guiding light.

• Find a feather, stick, or arrow-shaped object to serve as your symbolic arrow.

• Hold it in both hands and speak aloud the goal or desire you want to pursue this season.

• Place the arrow on your altar or carry it with you as a talisman, a reminder of your focus and direction.

4. Forest Offering to Animal Spirits

The Hunter’s Moon has always been tied to survival, and that vital balance between predator and prey.

Making an offering honours this sacred balance and can help to strengthen your connection to the instincts of the animal spirits around you. It’s a simple, humble ritual of protection, reciprocity, and respect for the cycles of life and death.

• Go to a natural space (woods, park, or even your backyard).

• Leave an offering of nuts, seeds, or fruit beneath a tree as a gesture to the wild creatures and land spirits.

• Speak aloud a prayer for balance: “I honor the hunt, the hunter, and the hunted. May instinct guide me, may balance protect me.”

5. Owl’s Eye Meditation

Owls are ancient symbols of hunters in the night, creatures who see what others can’t.

The Hunter’s Moon carries this same energy of piercing through illusion, helping you uncover truths and sharpen your intuition. This meditation channels lunar sight to guide you into deeper awareness and spiritual vision.

• Sit quietly under the moonlight and close your eyes.

• Imagine the moon’s glow forming into the eyes of an owl, watching in the dark.

• Breathe deeply, asking to see what has been hidden from you -truths, opportunities, or guidance.

• Journal any insights or visions that come, before giving gratitude to the Moon for her support.

The Hunter’s Moon is a time of precision.

It’s a moment to know yourself deeply, sharpen your focus, and gather what you need for the path ahead. Her light doesn’t just illuminate, it reveals, helping you see the truth of what is worth pursuing.

Step outside on October 7th, and let the silvery glow of the Full Hunter’s Moon guide you. Be the hunter: focused, aware, and aligned with the rhythms of the earth. The Hunter’s Moon reminds you that your instincts are sacred, and your path is yours to claim!